Day 8, and so much more.
A lot has happened since I last wrote, but it's not all completely official yet. As soon as it is, I'll let you know all the juicey goss. Suffice to say that all that's happened is also the reason this entry has been delayed a few days. I know it's way more than a week since I started, but I'm only on day 8. Will endeavour to get back on form... and now... the meme.
TV Meme day 8- A show everyone should watch
The Problem With Men
Not many people saw this when it was on, and I wouldn’t have seen it myself if I hadn’t found it at a throw out sale on VHS for about $4. It’s a documentary about men’s health. Until I saw it I thought I wasn’t doing too bad. Turns out I’m pretty fine, but I keep an eye on myself more than I used to.
The four episodes deal with general health issues, why men don’t take better care of themselves, the risks we don’t think about, erectile problems, the prostate, testicular cancer and preventative measures, including plenty of interviews with men who’ve been affected, their families and doctors.
There are other shows that address these topics, but ‘The Problem With Men’ has something extra… it’s piss funny. Hosted/narrated by John Clarke, a man I would call one of the funniest this country has ever produced, if he wasn’t a New Zealander.
The start and finish of each episode features Clarke and his long time comedy partner Bryan Dawe (look them up on you tube. The interviews are great, and their sitcom ‘The Games’ is a classic) sitting on a couch about to watch the show. Then Clarke makes his wry, unique narration that addresses the important issues and treats them seriously. So it’s helpful and sensible, while also being hilarious. Clarke takes it seriously and entertains at the same time, so the issues actually get past the male inclination to not pay any attention, which even inspired the title of the first episode, ‘The Life Cycle of the Ostrich’.
It’s funny and it’s an eye opener. People don’t really think about men’s health as much as women’s or children’s. So everyone should watch this show (if they can find it), because it could make all the difference and stop them losing someone important to them.
Movie Meme day 8- A movie that you’ve seen countless times
The Court Jester
What’s not to love? Every line a classic. Danny Kaye’s best film. Basil Rathbone on fine form. Great songs, Legendary comedy bits. A Robin Hood inspired setting. Angela Lansbury as the sexy young blonde! Brilliant sets. Ah man, I’ve sat through this movie so many times. Here’s some more examples of why I’ve watched it so many times:
- Fergus: I am Fergus the ostler.
Hawkins: Whogus the whasler?
- Take that horse and put it back under that idiot.
- The snapping in and out routine.
- ‘Good stock. Good battle. Goodbye.’
- ‘Hawkins, how many times must I tell you to stay out of my clothes?’
- The often overlooked scene where Hawkins pretends to be an old man. ‘YOU DO AND I’LL BREAK EVERY BONE IN YOUR BODY!’
At the time this was made Danny Kaye was told he was washed up. So he pulled every string and called in every favour that he could for one last shot… and resulted in one of his biggest hits.
Here’s a very quick summary. Usurper on the throne. Real heir being kept hidden by rebel group, led by The Black Fox. Hawkins works performing for the rebels, in love with his female commanding officer, Jean. When soldiers raid the forest looking for them, the rebels scatter. Hawkins and Jean take the heir to a new hiding place, but meet up with a famous court jester who is en route to perform at the new King Roderick and his daughter Gwendolyn. Jean takes the jester prisoner and orders Hawkins to disguise himself as the jester and infiltrate the castle. Then he can allow the rebels to gain access and overthrow Roderick. Meanwhile there’s a bunch of conspiracies and secret plans going on inside the castle. Back stabbings, songs, dancing, a bizarrely long knighthood ceremony, bare handed pig wrestling, swinging back and forth on a rope, midgets, I live for a sigh I die for a kiss I lust for a laugh HA HA, or so much more. I’ve left most of the best stuff out.
The ‘pellet with the poison’ routine is, in all seriousness, one of the best comedy routines ever put on film. It’s up the with the best of the Marx Brothers, or Abbot and Costello.
To sum it up, ‘The Court Jester’ is easily alongside ‘Local Hero’ for me. And like ‘Local Hero’ I can easily sit down and recite all the dialogue as it plays through, including singing all the songs. (one of them is my lullaby of choice when I’m required to sing one)
Please, if you haven’t seen it, do so. It’s available through various websites, usually cheap. And there’s bits of it on Youtube. Here’s the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr8hPi93xZQ&feature=related
I first saw it as a little kid and it never lost it’s charm. Though for many many years we only had a Betamax copy my grandfather had taped off the TV, but the tape had run out ten minutes before the movie finished. So I had to wait nearly 20 years before I actually got to see the ending.
I’ll shut up now. You just watch it to see if it deserves such praise. I’m sure you’ll agree that “The candidate passes!”
TV Meme day 8- A show everyone should watch
The Problem With Men
Not many people saw this when it was on, and I wouldn’t have seen it myself if I hadn’t found it at a throw out sale on VHS for about $4. It’s a documentary about men’s health. Until I saw it I thought I wasn’t doing too bad. Turns out I’m pretty fine, but I keep an eye on myself more than I used to.
The four episodes deal with general health issues, why men don’t take better care of themselves, the risks we don’t think about, erectile problems, the prostate, testicular cancer and preventative measures, including plenty of interviews with men who’ve been affected, their families and doctors.
There are other shows that address these topics, but ‘The Problem With Men’ has something extra… it’s piss funny. Hosted/narrated by John Clarke, a man I would call one of the funniest this country has ever produced, if he wasn’t a New Zealander.
The start and finish of each episode features Clarke and his long time comedy partner Bryan Dawe (look them up on you tube. The interviews are great, and their sitcom ‘The Games’ is a classic) sitting on a couch about to watch the show. Then Clarke makes his wry, unique narration that addresses the important issues and treats them seriously. So it’s helpful and sensible, while also being hilarious. Clarke takes it seriously and entertains at the same time, so the issues actually get past the male inclination to not pay any attention, which even inspired the title of the first episode, ‘The Life Cycle of the Ostrich’.
It’s funny and it’s an eye opener. People don’t really think about men’s health as much as women’s or children’s. So everyone should watch this show (if they can find it), because it could make all the difference and stop them losing someone important to them.
Movie Meme day 8- A movie that you’ve seen countless times
The Court Jester
What’s not to love? Every line a classic. Danny Kaye’s best film. Basil Rathbone on fine form. Great songs, Legendary comedy bits. A Robin Hood inspired setting. Angela Lansbury as the sexy young blonde! Brilliant sets. Ah man, I’ve sat through this movie so many times. Here’s some more examples of why I’ve watched it so many times:
- Fergus: I am Fergus the ostler.
Hawkins: Whogus the whasler?
- Take that horse and put it back under that idiot.
- The snapping in and out routine.
- ‘Good stock. Good battle. Goodbye.’
- ‘Hawkins, how many times must I tell you to stay out of my clothes?’
- The often overlooked scene where Hawkins pretends to be an old man. ‘YOU DO AND I’LL BREAK EVERY BONE IN YOUR BODY!’
At the time this was made Danny Kaye was told he was washed up. So he pulled every string and called in every favour that he could for one last shot… and resulted in one of his biggest hits.
Here’s a very quick summary. Usurper on the throne. Real heir being kept hidden by rebel group, led by The Black Fox. Hawkins works performing for the rebels, in love with his female commanding officer, Jean. When soldiers raid the forest looking for them, the rebels scatter. Hawkins and Jean take the heir to a new hiding place, but meet up with a famous court jester who is en route to perform at the new King Roderick and his daughter Gwendolyn. Jean takes the jester prisoner and orders Hawkins to disguise himself as the jester and infiltrate the castle. Then he can allow the rebels to gain access and overthrow Roderick. Meanwhile there’s a bunch of conspiracies and secret plans going on inside the castle. Back stabbings, songs, dancing, a bizarrely long knighthood ceremony, bare handed pig wrestling, swinging back and forth on a rope, midgets, I live for a sigh I die for a kiss I lust for a laugh HA HA, or so much more. I’ve left most of the best stuff out.
The ‘pellet with the poison’ routine is, in all seriousness, one of the best comedy routines ever put on film. It’s up the with the best of the Marx Brothers, or Abbot and Costello.
To sum it up, ‘The Court Jester’ is easily alongside ‘Local Hero’ for me. And like ‘Local Hero’ I can easily sit down and recite all the dialogue as it plays through, including singing all the songs. (one of them is my lullaby of choice when I’m required to sing one)
Please, if you haven’t seen it, do so. It’s available through various websites, usually cheap. And there’s bits of it on Youtube. Here’s the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr8hPi93xZQ&feature=related
I first saw it as a little kid and it never lost it’s charm. Though for many many years we only had a Betamax copy my grandfather had taped off the TV, but the tape had run out ten minutes before the movie finished. So I had to wait nearly 20 years before I actually got to see the ending.
I’ll shut up now. You just watch it to see if it deserves such praise. I’m sure you’ll agree that “The candidate passes!”