Lord Richard Attenborough dead at 90

[B.D.F.]

Probably best known as the old man with the mosquito embedded in his walking cane in the original Jurassic Park movie, I better remember him from Bridge on the River Kwai, The Great Escape and The Sand Pebbles. And of course, for his lifetime peaking achievement of directing Gandhi.

An excellent actor, a gifted director, it is too bad that his romantic version of Ghandi is so far removed from the reality.

Nevertheless, he made his mark on cinema and lived a long time. Here is to you, Mr. Attenborough. 

Brian

[VirginiaJim]

Another great actor on their next journey.

[sanmo]

"it is too bad that his romantic version of Ghandi is so far removed from the reality."

You must have some interesting perspective of Gandhi. Care to elaborate?

[B.D.F.]

Are you quoting your own post? I am not following who said what in your post....?

As far as the romantic version of Ghandi, that is very true IMO. Ghandi was a nationalist and did succeed if freeing his country from a colonial power but the results were mixed at best- not one but TWO civil wars, incredible poverty and hardship for dozens of millions of people. His political desire was anarchy and wanted the entire country's economy based at the level of villages- in other words, a nation of a billion people with less infrastructure than a mid evil English vassal of 1200 AD. I won't even go into his thoughts on electricity, medicine, education and a host of others but they were odd at best, and doomed all of India to a horrible existence at worse.

I still think 'Ghandi' was a great movie, as long as you realize it was about as historically accurate as 'Star Wars'.

Brian

"it is too bad that his romantic version of Ghandi is so far removed from the reality."

You must have some interesting perspective of Gandhi. Care to elaborate?

[sanmo]

I did not know there was confusion about who was being quoted.
No offense, but I cannot at this time, tell if you are nuts or just horribly misinformed.

[B.D.F.]

Does it have to be one or the other? Not possible to be both of those things at one time?

Brian

I did not know there was confusion about who was being quoted.
No offense, but I cannot at this time, tell if you are nuts or just horribly misinformed.

[sanmo]

True, but being misinformed can be easily rectified. There is less optimism regarding nuttiness.

[Rhino]

True, but being misinformed can be easily rectified. There is less optimism regarding nuttiness.

  Hey Brian, I think maybe he's seen some of the Kirby posts.

[Strawboss]

Liked his work. I didn't realize he was that old. A true professional.

[gPink]

Liked his work. I didn't realize he was that old. A true professional.

Kirby? Haven't you seen his picture?

[B.D.F.]

He'll figure out what's what when Mr. Elkhoof thumps him on his big toe- steel toed boots be damned!

 

But on a serious note, Ghandi was a nationalist and it is hard (I won't say it- this is a serious note) to fault any nationalist as they can do nothing but oppose those who would / are oppressing nationalism. That said, I think India could have made a better transition to an independent nation than the way it did go. Colonialism was dying and while it may have taken longer for India to gain independence, I believe it could have been done with more assistance from Britain and a LOT more gracefully for the Indian population. And I think they would be better off today too had it gone a little differently.

Kirby's posts about India would be very different; with that little guy, everything is about the nuts..... always with the nuts.

Brian

Hey Brian, I think maybe he's seen some of the Kirby posts.

[B.D.F.]

Don't know that I agree- there has been great progress in the treatment of nutocity (the correct term I believe); I find that often what appears as simple ignorance is really something much, much worse- vehemently clinging to incorrect beliefs for purely emotional, and irrational, reasons. Not so easy to rectify that.

Brian

True, but being misinformed can be easily rectified. There is less optimism regarding nuttiness.

[Strawboss]

I have a Kirby vacuum cleaner, but I know not this Kirby dude you are referring to.

[B.D.F.]

Oh, and BTW- Ghandi often slept with his niece, with her being nude, to test his devotion to celibacy. Outstanding idea: if he failed, it would be incest. If he succeeded, it would be pointless idiocy. Either way, a most decidedly odd thing to do.... I was going to say in my opinion but it was his inner circle that eventually talked him out of this practice. So let me say in many opinions.

Brian

True, but being misinformed can be easily rectified. There is less optimism regarding nuttiness.

[B.D.F.]

Well, we really do not know if Kirby is a dude or not. See, the parts one would normally check are just not there. In fact, that whole (maybe a bad choice of words) area is expanded to about a 1" opening. Between that and the area of his lower face also being a fairly large hole, when you point Kirby into the wind, he whistles.

Of course I tried checking it the old fashioned way, by showing him pornographic images of both male and female squirrels but he remained equally stiff (Easy Boys!) in both instances. I really hate to believe Kirby is bisexual so I am just thinking the test was inconclusive.

Brian

I have a Kirby vacuum cleaner, but I know not this Kirby dude you are referring to.

[Strawboss]

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Concerning Ghandi and the movie, when in doubt, print the legend.

[VirginiaJim]

Sorry, Brian.   Had to modify your subject title (pun intended).

[B.D.F.]

Hey- no prob. Just one more thing I do not understand about the English- peerage.

Brian

Sorry, Brian.   Had to modify your subject title (pun intended).