S’sup all you Olde English sippin’, home lounging crew….

I’m conscious of the fact that I haven’t presented you with any stare-inducing eyeball stimulation by way of my Blunted review of things worth watching for a while now. I’ll hold my hand up to it. I’ve been slack.

Things have been “as fast-paced as one who has sexual relations with their female parent” (hectic as a motherfucker) here at Blunt HQ of late, and my time has been taken up with all manner of other stuff rather than trawling the ‘net looking for things for you people in webland to watch. However, I’m nice. So I’ve made up for it by putting this selection together for your bloodshot retinas. Empty the ashtray, grab that can of O.E., sit back and enjoy

I will try to put up more “Things Worth Watching” posts on a more regular basis. But please bear with me. As I say, things are really hectic for me at the moment, but I will strive to keep my promise to you all!

Gizmo

Right. This is brilliant, but I can’t take the credit for finding it. Major thanks to SdZ at Level 1 for bringing this to my attention. This film was made in the 1980’s, and is a collection of footage of inventors and generally made scientists, displaying their discoveries which were to change the world. Of course, they didn’t.

Worth watching just for the daft flying machines, and the crazy woman who goes over Times Square in the 20’s on a zip wire, by her teeth. There’s also all manner of time-saving devices, robot thingys, and general odd contraptions from the 20th Century. An interesting, funny (for the wrong reasons) and heartwarming look at the spirit of innovation, and a good reference point for how much has changed in this world in the last 100 years. Top Stuff.

Ross Kemp On Gangs – Cape Town

Yes, I know its Grant (“get down the arches, you slag”) Mitchell doing his Sky TV thing. And I know it’s been about for a while. But, this documentary does deserve a mention. Mr Kemp takes a trip to Cape Town, South Africa, and takes a look at the structure, and culture, of some of the areas most notorious street and prison gangs. There are some very honest and rather chilling interviews with gang members who you really wouldn’t want to piss off. The “John Mongrel” character is cold to the bone. (big up the Ras Pizzler for using Mr Mongrel samples in his new tune!)

Also of note is the Prison Guard dude, who’s worked there for years and is absolute gem of a bloke. Nominate him for a Nobel Prize. I couldn’t do his job for all the Nikes in Taiwan. A good documentary. Watch it and remind yourself why it’s good to be on the outside. Unless, of course, you’re in one of those comfy open prisons, with wi-fi, sittin’ around in your comfy shoes eating Mars bars. Ya blaggers!

(Now, I did go to get this video off Google, but it’s in about 6 parts. Not good. The link I’ve put in for Mr Kemp’s gang business comes from the site TV Links, which is a jolly good site as it goes. I’m having some trouble linking directly to the video in question, but if you follow the TV Links hyperlink, it’s easy enough to find)

Not So Easy

Now, Evil Knievel is an absolute legend. No question. I’m of the age where I grew up with that shit. Evil wind-up toys, shooting the plastic bike and figure down the stars and crashing into the living room door, mashing up the skirting boards and all that. Just about every kid wanted to be Mr Knievel back then. It normally meant building ramps with your mates for your bikes so you could try to do some kind of jump. This normally resulted in self-injury, cycle damage, and a good clip round the ear from a disgruntled adult.

Anyway…I digress. I’m older and wiser now, and don’t take to throwing myself round on a bike. It’s too much like hard work. I’d probably pull something. This film, however, is a motorcycle safety video, talking about the basics of motorcycle riding. It’s narrated by Peter Fonda, the “original easy rider”.

Chew a cigar, fire up the steed, and head off down the open road. At least you’ll be able to do it safely when you’ve watched this.

Wife-carrying Championships

Those Europeans are tapped in the head. I know some of them eat snails, some wear clogs, and they all talk funny. However, this film takes the biscuit. Somewhere in the arse-end of Finland, they hold a competition. A wife-carrying competition. Basically, the idea is to stick your beloved on your back, and run with her though an obstacle course in a forest, in the shortest time possible. Damn. You wanna make sure your girl ain’t chunky, otherwise it could be a mission. Like I say, they’re a bit of an odd lot out there in Europe….Must be something to do with the fact it’s so dark in winter for 3 months of the year.

Right. That little lot should keep you going for a little while. If you enjoyed this televisual feast, don’t forget to check out the other films in our video section.