Posts from ‘Popular Culture’
The case for Signs
Last night I managed to catch the M. Night Shyamalan film “Signs” on television and whilst watching wondered why I don’t own it already on DVD or Blu-Ray (I don’t own it on Blu-Ray because it’s too bloody expensive on Blu-Ray) because I really love the film.
That’s right, I really love the film Signs.
Yes I know.
Water.
Okay for those of you who have not seen the movie Signs and don’t wish to be spoilt then you should really just go elsewhere right now. Or alternatively you should go rent the film now and watch it then return immediately.
Yes I know that the water is like acid to the aliens is pretty stupid. No actually it’s really stupid, around 70% of the Earth is covered by water. If water is like acid to you why would you go to a planet that is covered in the stuff. Then if you look at the idea that the aliens were harvesting people then why would they want a food source that was 55% to 78% bloody painful to them?
Talking about it on Twitter with the guys from the Geek Tragedy Podcast we likened it to the Xenomorph from Alien with the acid for blood thing. You go to a planet where it rains down acid, three quarters of the planet is under oceans of acid, the plant life is acidic, the main inhabitant sweats out acid?
So yes I am well aware of that fundamental flaw in the storyline and I think it is a remarkable shame as the rest of the film is pretty much awesomeness on toast.
But as my wife and I were discussing last night it never actually says that it is the pure water that does the deed, it’s an assumption that is made and admittedly not helped in the movie as they are vague regarding the defeat anyway. Even when I first saw the film I just imagined it was something in the water rather than the water itself but after hearing the theory over and over from many critics I also adopted the disdain for that aspect of the film.
So now I’m reclaiming the film.
See from now on I’m going to remember that the aliens are probably extraordinarily sensitive to chlorine which is generally added to our drinking water worldwide. I mean chlorine kills bacteria and other nasties so why not aliens? Maybe even the slightest trace amount reacts as it does in the movie with their bodies.
That’s my theory and I’m sticking with it.
Imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery and that’s all very well and good until someone actually copies you and then you reconsider how flattered you are that someone would out and out copy you.
Of course if the effort is made to at least differentiate a little, deviate enough to show your mark then maybe it’s a little easier to swallow.
Such is fact of life in the popular culture universe. If you are popular then there will be similar material produced in order to try and catch some of the overspill. Currently Twilight is probably a good example in the book world, with their distinctive covers I’ve lost count of the number of knock off covers trying to cash in on the chances that your dodgy great aunt might pick up the wrong book by mistake.
Then others argue that Twilight itself is derivative of its own predecessors and I am of course in no argument there although I don’t condemn on this basis either. One of those predecessors was Buffy the Vampire Slayer which was a trailblazer most certainly, now take a look at these two covers:
The first is from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and features an iconic publicity shot from either season one or two, the second is from the Vampire Academy series:
All I’m saying is that they could have tried not going down that path. OR are we going to call “homage” in this case?
With this being the first day in Movember I thought it might be cool to have a look a five truly great moustaches from popular culture.
5. The Stranger – The Big Lebowski
The mysterious cowboy narrator played by Sam Elliot who has pretty much one of the most impressive moustaches in Hollywood. I mean really has a man’s face ever demanded a moustache more? I suspect it has it’s own trailer on set and a separate contract for appearances.
4. Doctor Strange
I keep intending on reading the original Doctor Strange comics, it’s on my list because apart from the impressive handle bar moustache I don’t quite get the character yet he’s been going strong for years. He’s a master of the occult, or is that ‘the’ master of the occult? And for mighty Marvel magic cross overs he is the go-to guy.
When he first started out (technically a villain named Dr Strange was the first appearance… oh sorry forgot the comic book geek alert) he had the pencil moustache like Tony Stark or Clark Gable’s but it developed into either a full handle bar moustache or a hybrid pencil handle bar moustache depending upon the artist. Of course today he has succumb to public pressure and grown the goatee despite the handle bar moustache being sported quite proudly by men such as Nick Cave.
3. Lando Calrissian
I have no idea why Lando is so damn cool, it must be something to do with the moustache. I mean the guy betrays everyone’s favourite character yet still doesn’t get his arms ripped off by a Wookie and is given the chance to redeem himself. I know that they were thinking ‘Damn he could have tipped us off but sheesh that moustache is neat so lets trust him’.
Of course his costume is pretty sweet too, it serves to enhance the moustache and not overwhelm it… OK I’m going to stop staring at Lando’s picture now and grow my manly moustache.
2. Tony Stark
You want to know what slowed up the production of the Mark II Iron Man armour, Stark was trying to work out a way so people could still see his impressive Clark Gable pencil moustache and protect his identity as well. Obviously even his brilliant mind couldn’t work out the problems and ultimately he let the idea go. Safe in the knowledge that when he did remove the helmet that his rocking moustache would still be there.
Of course being a trend setter Stark adapted his moustache throughout the years to reflect the times but unlike Dr Strange (who secretly was copying Stark’s facial hair) Tony didn’t go the handle bar, knowing it was more manly to go the Magnum PI.
Then something horrible happened.
Tony abandoned the moustache and grew it into a goatee?!? (which of course Strange copied…)
1. Magnum PI
The gold class of moustaches, untouched by changes in style, a consistent winner.
So remember that I’m growing a Magnum PI Mo for Movember and I’m looking for donations to go to really great cause, men’s health which often gets overlooked.
You can follow my progress over at http://au.movember.com/mospace/204841/ or go directly to the donation page and throw my mo growing endeavour some cash!
