Will’s View

Well, you’re either thinking “What in [insert deity’s name here]’s name is the deal with the title?” or “That’s an hilarious reference to that old 80s movie, those were the days”. This post is aimed at people of the latter variety, and is about those of the first variety.

Whilst down in Dunedin recently (see the map) I had a chance to wander down George Street. I had a music voucher in my wallet (which I was later told never expire. The wonders of modern technology!), and so made the decision to wander into the local music store and peruse their collection, what then transpired was inevitable but unforseen.

Having only a $20 voucher, I was determined only to spend $20 - preferably less, then I could spend the change on a drink or something - and as such started to look through the ‘bargain bin’ where everything is under $20. Sweet. Until this day I had thought of the bargain bin as the last place of refuge for those movies that went straight to VHS in the first place. Yes, that’s right, VHS, remember that? I expected it to be full of DVDs like that old movie ‘Towering Inferno’; Wayne’s World 2; and anything with Jean-Claude Van Damme in it.

But I was sorely mistaken. On closer inspection, there were ‘diamonds in the rough’. Amongst the seemingly rag-tag bunch there were in fact bargains to be had! I will spare you the details now, but the final decision came down to a dead heat between ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’, and ‘The Day of the Jackal’. They are both fantastic titles, and both of them I had seen before. No doubt they were re-runs as they were both released before I was of the movie-going age. Suffice to say that I ended up buying them both, feeling that they were historical artefacts that warranted owning in order to pass on to future generations.

Upon returning back to the place I was staying in Dunedin, I showed off my purchases to anyone who was around - as one does with new purchases of this calibre. To my horror and disgust, all of the people (bar one) to whom I showed the DVDs had never heard of either of them, let alone actually watched them. This upset me. Greatly. ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ is among the greatest films ever made, in my humble opinion. A true gem of the 80s, personifying the terrible fashion and the terrible haircuts those times are known for. It should definitely be the staple for any film student, and Ferris should surely be taken as a guide for the aspiring male.

‘The Day of the Jackal’ - an adaptation of the book of the same name- is a fantastic murder thriller which, whilst a little on the long side, I still consider to be much better than its modern-day counterpart, ‘The Jackal’. One wonders why they bothered.

To conclude, if you do want to live a fulfilled and wholesome life on this planet, I really must recomend that you watch at least one of these movies before you die. Please.

--> Well, you’re either thinking “What in [insert deity’s name here]’s name is the deal with the title?” or “That’s an hilarious reference to that old 80s movie, those were the days”. This post is aimed at people of the latter variety, and is about those of the first variety. Whilst down in Dunedin recently (see the map) I had a chance to wander down George Street. I had a music voucher in my wallet (which I was later (More...)

I was recently reminded of an interesting encounter with an exemplar group of Aussie males, and thought I’d share it and pose a few questions.

The story goes: Whilst strolling through Fawkner Park in Melbourne (for those of you not in Melbourne, it’s a park in a relatively upper-class part of town) I was treated to an impromptu game of soccer between six or eight young lads. On its own this isn’t exactly remarkable, strapping youths play soccer all the time. The real catch here is that they were playing it whilst holding stubbies of beer.

It was quite a feat to watch. There were penalty shoot-outs; impromptu games; and much heckling, all without a drop of precious amber ale spilt. On occasion I have been known to try and play sports while struggling to keep one hand upright with a beverage in hand. But being the not-so-sporty nerd that I am, it usually takes an inordinate amount of concentration to make sure I kick/catch the ball, so I end up having to make the choice that no-one envies: Do I face social ridicule and miss the ball, or do I let myself spill some of this precious drop?

It then becomes clear why some Aussie males have become so good at this balancing act. Australia isn’t like some countries, in that it has both open spaces in which to play ball games; and reasonably priced beverages with which to practise. Not to mention social standing is so broadly based that it depends both on someone’s ability to maintain the level of their brew and (in this case, conversely) someone’s ability to kick/catch a ball in sporting events.

The question then has to be raised: Is it a skill acquired from many years of playing footy with mates in the backyard with beer in hand, or is it a gene acquired through many years of inspired breeding? Is this a gene/skill I can acquire through similar determination, or am I doomed to a life of mediocre social standing?

--> I was recently reminded of an interesting encounter with an exemplar group of Aussie males, and thought I’d share it and pose a few questions. The story goes: Whilst strolling through Fawkner Park in Melbourne (for those of you not in Melbourne, it’s a park in a relatively upper-class part of town) I was treated to an impromptu game of soccer between six or eight young lads. On its own this isn’t exactly remarkable, strapping youths play soccer (More...)

Before I left for New Zealand yesterday - yes that’s right, I’m in NZ - I sat in the Melbourne pseudo-sunshine and enjoyed a few beverages and a parma with some friends at my local pub. We were there for some time, and I think we were the only people there for the most part (relax, it was a Monday).

After we had moved on to the second round of drinks, a most peculiar thing happened. One of the staff came out from the kitchen, bowl of chips in hand and said something to the effect of “Hey, we had some left-over chips in the kitchen, do you want them?”. The answer was of course yes, who has ever known me to turn down free stuff?

However, as the staff member was walking off after setting down the bowl, I got to thinking: Would it be rude of me to ask for some sauce as well? Because it is another well-known fact that chips need sauce, just as the world needs love, and Iraq needs Democracy. Well, maybe not that last one… So where does one draw the line? I know that one should “never look a gift horse in the mouth”, but what about just glancing at it? Or perhaps mentioning to it that sauce and chips go well together?

The day was saved when I kept my big gob shut, and then someone at the table took it of their own initiative to go get the sauce. So all ended well, but what if I had been a fool and asked for sauce as well…?

--> Before I left for New Zealand yesterday - yes that’s right, I’m in NZ - I sat in the Melbourne pseudo-sunshine and enjoyed a few beverages and a parma with some friends at my local pub. We were there for some time, and I think we were the only people there for the most part (relax, it was a Monday). After we had moved on to the second round of drinks, a most peculiar thing happened. One of (More...)

Sorry for my recent absence from this medium. I have been inundated with various assignments, and RageBoy rehearsals/performances. Whilst walking home from one particular show last week, I was most upset to find it had started raining. On the short walk home I was most surprised to see a young lad holding an umbrella for a girl, as the two hurriedly headed for shelter.

“Surprised?” you ask? Well, yeah. I had hitherto thought that ethics and chivalry were dying faster than the Ozone Layer. It is not often that one sees a person give their seat to an elderly person, or other such acts that would have been commonplace in past generations. Where did all the good manners go? Whatever happened to holding doors open for ladies, pursuit of the truth at all costs, and generosity of heart?

I cannot help but place the blame squarely on current societal trends in first world countries. We are surrounded by people who think primarily of themselves; who would rather buy the latest mobile phone than save or donate their money; and who often squander away that which they do not have whilst in pursuit of the idyllic suburbanite dream.

It must be said that the problem does not only lie with the ‘general public’. The large corporations which shape people’s images of themselves are also accountable. They approve and distribute the contrived and idealistic advertisements. I can recall a news story in recent times which reported that certain banks were giving their staff a larger commission for opening a credit card account than a savings account.

I know there is very little chance of changing any of this, along with all the problems of disease, famine, unjustified wars and global warming. But I suppose it is just nice to know that there is some last vestige of chivalry and decency tip-toeing around in these troubled times.

--> Sorry for my recent absence from this medium. I have been inundated with various assignments, and RageBoy rehearsals/performances. Whilst walking home from one particular show last week, I was most upset to find it had started raining. On the short walk home I was most surprised to see a young lad holding an umbrella for a girl, as the two hurriedly headed for shelter. “Surprised?” you ask? Well, yeah. I had hitherto thought that ethics and chivalry were (More...)

I am the sound operator for a show that the Union House Theatre is doing at the moment called Rage Boy (I would link it, but I can’t seem to get the Union House site to work…) [I know, it’s just a blatant plug, but it is related, really]. Whilst at a technical rehearsal yesterday I started quizzing some of my fellow techies on late 80s and 90s pop culture.

I truly felt old when I mentioned shows such as Charles in Charge, Step by Step, and Jem and the Holograms and I found a sea of blank faces looking back at me. What happened to early morning reruns of bad TV shows? Now all we get is Dr. Phil, Oprah and Days of our Lives!

These terrible, and yet timeless, shows made us who we are. The youth of today are being brought up on DragonBallZ and Pokemon, instead of the most wonderful Samurai Pizza Cats and Power Rangers. By lasting through these hard times, we came out mentally hardened for our lives ahead. The road would be hard, we would have to fight pollution and suffering. But we realised that with our powers combined we could captain this planet through the worst of it.

We were prepared for unexpected shenanigans and wealth by The Beverly Hillbillies; given valuable life-lessons about school and growing up by Saved by the Bell; and the world was made ready for the Olsen twins in Full House. Not only that, we were informed about the evil wrong-doings of KAOS, and the way was paved for mobile phone technology by the repeats of Get Smart.

Those were the days…

--> I am the sound operator for a show that the Union House Theatre is doing at the moment called Rage Boy (I would link it, but I can’t seem to get the Union House site to work…) [I know, it’s just a blatant plug, but it is related, really]. Whilst at a technical rehearsal yesterday I started quizzing some of my fellow techies on late 80s and 90s pop culture. I truly felt old when I mentioned shows (More...)