Talking Noggins - What are you wearing right now?

If you missed the new installment of Talking Noggins on Memorial Day, you can read it here: http://heavyink.com/galleries/2057#goto11

Today, the Noggins get dressed for success! http://heavyink.com/galleries/2057#goto12

And if I were to include some director’s annotations for today’s installment, here they are…

These aren’t the 1950s, and white collar jobs don’t require a suit and tie anymore. They don’t even require a white collar. Nowadays, polo shirts are considered “all dressed up” at the office. When I worked in the corporate world, the company allowed the dress code to get so relaxed that people started wearing shorts and flip-flops on Fridays. Craziness, I know. Sure, many working folks dream of wearing shorts and flip-flops to the office. But come on, what’s next? The four day work week? The degeneration of office dress code means the beginning of the end of civilization as we know it.

The tracksuit represents the ultimate in swank work attire and is the uniform of a futuristic utopian society. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracksuit So what would you like to wear to work?

Regarding predatory behavior, here’s an incredible video of water buffalo versus lions in the Serengeti. The lions get their prey, but the water buffalo take a stand. And there’s a killer croc too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM

And for me, David Carradine made kung fu cool. Check out his website, where you can get signed pictures of the legendary actor. http://david-carradine.com/index.html Snatch the pebble!

Rob, have you seen Circle of Iron?

Dan! I googled Circle of Iron and watched this crazy clip with the old man sitting in the container of oil…because he wants to rid himself of his bottom half?!

So would you recommend I track down the DVD? What’s your review of Circle of Iron?

So, yeah – the whole thing is that crazy.

I thought this was a really really great BAD movie, if you know what I mean. The acting is abysmal, the cheese factor is extremely high – in a failed “trying for a totally cool zen/fantasy/myth feel” sort of way (that feeling that Kung Fu captured very successfully, I think). OTOH, it’s got David Carradine playing FOUR DIFFERENT ROLES—INCLUDING A MONKEY !!! , and Christopher Lee in a bit part at the end.

But I actually dug into it a bit today and was very surprised at what I learned…

The screenplay was written by Stirling Silliphant, who, it turns out, wrote tons of famous, successful stuff. It was based on a story by Bruce Lee and James Coburn, who presumably intended to act in it! It turns out the Silliphant was a student of Bruce Lee’s (so was Coburn, which I had already known). Lee, of course, was involved in the development of Kung Fu, but lost the role to Carradine, IIRC because producers assumed no one would watch a show starring an Asian. Lee died in 73, and the movie wasn’t released until 78. I don’t know when it was actually filmed, but presumably it was after Lee was already dead.

So: weird, kind of hippy/dippy/trippy, kind of cheesy, kind of fun. If it was on in front of me, I’d watch the whole thing again.

Not to be confused with the WW2 movie Cross of Iron, which actually does star James Coburn, and which is awesome through and through.

If it was on in front of me, I’d watch the whole thing again.

I know what you mean. A really really great BAD movie is meant to be watched when you’re flipping channels late at night or on a lazy Sunday afternoon. And I’m guessing it’d be difficult to find Circle of Iron on DVD. Wonder if it ever airs on cable…

Regarding David Carradine (4 roles including a MONKEY?!), I sent him an email yesterday. Wanted to offer the courtesy of letting him know that I’m using his name in that day’s Talking Noggins, and if he’d prefer that I not, well, I’d substitute something like “that kung fu guy”. Now, I wouldn’t always do this—email a celebrity. For example, the Martha Stewart reference from page 11 didn’t prompt me to write her a note. But I felt compelled to reach out to Mr. Carradine. We’ll see if he (or his personal assistant) replies.

I watched a clip from Cross of Iron, and that looks sweet. I love WW2 stories.

Yah-Chah! New Talking Noggins today.

I assert that you should watch both movies!

Just did a title search on DirecTV. Neither of the recommended “Circle” movies appears on the programming schedule. Just “Circle of Friends”...

Hmmm. If you’re sufficiently flexible, ethically speaking, you could google “circle of iron torrent”....

Today, the Talking Noggins discuss dressing for the job you want, not the job you have.

So, um, what are you wearing right now?