T-shirt intimidates airplane passengers

[robinb]

It's like Napoleon Dynamite, not everyone will like it but those who do know each other.

I saw Napoleon Dynamite and was completely underwhelmed. I think I went into it expecting too much.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

OK, folks, here is your homework. This weekend, find time to either read or watch The Princess Bride.

If you are an adult under 70 and have not seen the film, you are out of the loop, and are teetering on the edge of fuddy-duddy territory. If you have seen the film, watch it again and enjoy the good times. Watch it with your kids -- they will be running around pretending to wield a sword and quoting "prepare to die!" for at least a week.

The film is one of the funniest of all time, and has probably contributed more common catch-phrases to American culture than any other films besides (perhaps) Casablanca, the Wizard of Oz and the original Star Wars trilogy. The performances are classics, and it is on the AFI's list of 100 Best Film Comedies.

For those of you who have not yet done this assignment, THIS is the real Inigo Montoya:

(That would be Mandy Patinkin, age 34, in a really goofy wig and moustache.)

As to wearing the quote on a plane, meh, no biggie. Total over-reaction. Obscenity on a shirt is one thing, but this wasn't obscene in any language, and it is an easily-explained joke. The FA should have just told the "concerned" passengers that it was a tagline from a movie, and that it referenced a medieval sword duel.

I was surprised to read that men loved this movie and considered it a man-flick.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adVOWBDM-_8&feature=player_detailpage

 

[NotUrsula]

Oh oh but what if you have seen it and think it's dumb and have no desire to rewatch it (me)??

Then I'm afraid that I will have to tell you that your comedy gene is short an allele or two. Perhaps you should see someone about that.

I'll grant that taste in comedy varies (for instance, I don't care for the Stooges), but with a film that has a meme this universal, admitting that you don't care for it shouldn't preclude being aware that it is a cultural touchstone. IMO, cultural touchstones are always worth exploring, if only to find out why they resonate with SO many people.

FWIW, I don't care for the Godfather films and have never seen them in their entirety. However, I'm familiar with the often-quoted lines and their context, because I feel that understanding the cultural significance of the films is more important than whether or not I personally enjoyed them. Being part of one's culture always comes easier when one is not making a point of being an iconoclast.

 

[TifffanyD]

"I'm not an ambi-turner" ya, that one kills me too. LOL
But you would know the quote if you saw it on a shirt, I mean "Luke I am your Father" LOL

hah oh, of course.

I like

"Mer... MAN!!!!", "*cough cough* I think I have the black lung", "I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!!!!"... oh, so many...

 

[abdmom]

I do not think you know what this word means

25 great quotes from Princess Bride

 

[TifffanyD]

Then I'm afraid that I will have to tell you that your comedy gene is short an allele or two. Perhaps you should see someone about that.

I'll grant that taste in comedy varies (for instance, I don't care for the Stooges), but with a film that has a meme this universal, admitting that you don't care for it shouldn't preclude being aware that it is a cultural touchstone. IMO, cultural touchstones are always worth exploring, if only to find out why they resonate with SO many people.

FWIW, I don't care for the Godfather films and have never seen them in their entirety. However, I'm familiar with the often-quoted lines and their context, because I feel that understanding the cultural significance of the films is more important than whether or not I personally enjoyed them. Being part of one's culture always comes easier when one is not making a point of being an iconoclast.

LOL yes I know the quotes and hear then regularly, unfortunately. I think I end up disliking it more bcz I hear so much about it and get even more tired of it. Just not my thing

 

[sam_gordon]

Then I'm afraid that I will have to tell you that your comedy gene is short an allele or two. Perhaps you should see someone about that.

I'll grant that taste in comedy varies (for instance, I don't care for the Stooges), but with a film that has a meme this universal, admitting that you don't care for it shouldn't preclude being aware that it is a cultural touchstone. IMO, cultural touchstones are always worth exploring, if only to find out why they resonate with SO many people.

FWIW, I don't care for the Godfather films and have never seen them in their entirety. However, I'm familiar with the often-quoted lines and their context, because I feel that understanding the cultural significance of the films is more important than whether or not I personally enjoyed them. Being part of one's culture always comes easier when one is not making a point of being an iconoclast.

I've never seen the Godfather films, but I still know some of the oft-quoted lines. I just saw Apocalypse Now last year, but I knew some of the lines from that beforehand. I'll be honest, until this thread, I've never needed to know any Princess Bride quotes (that I know of).

 

[mhsjax]

OK, folks, here is your homework. This weekend, find time to either read or watch The Princess Bride.

If you are an adult under 70 and have not seen the film, you are out of the loop, and are teetering on the edge of fuddy-duddy territory. If you have seen the film, watch it again and enjoy the good times. Watch it with your kids -- they will be running around pretending to wield a sword and quoting "prepare to die!" for at least a week.

The film is one of the funniest of all time, and has probably contributed more common catch-phrases to American culture than any other films besides (perhaps) Casablanca, the Wizard of Oz and the original Star Wars trilogy. The performances are classics, and it is on the AFI's list of 100 Best Film Comedies.

For those of you who have not yet done this assignment, THIS is the real Inigo Montoya:

(That would be Mandy Patinkin, age 34, in a really goofy wig and moustache.)

As to wearing the quote on a plane, meh, no biggie. Total over-reaction. Obscenity on a shirt is one thing, but this wasn't obscene in any language, and it is an easily-explained joke. The FA should have just told the "concerned" passengers that it was a tagline from a movie, and that it referenced a medieval sword duel.

I will watch the movie. Maybe not this weekend,d but I will try, tonight in fact. If it doesn't work out, I will catch it next weekend.

 

[Ember]

Just wait a little longer. Soon we'll all be flying naked for security reasons and these sorts of things won't be an issue.

Regarding the shirt, people have too much time on their hands. If it had said, "Scotty, two to beam up," would people be uncomfortable that the man might make interstellar contact and make off with another passengers child? Besides, I'm sure he only meant for the six fingered man to be mostly dead... Lol

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

When Inigo Montoya and his famous quote becomes a threat to passengers on an airplane, the terrorists have won.

 

[sookie]

Yep, well I never saw the movie. Sorry, I don't find it amusing. NOt on a plane, not in these times. Just goes to show you, they will let anyone wearing anything on a plane these days. It is in very poor taste.

really???

 

[sookie]

When Inigo Montoya and his famous quote becomes a threat to passengers on an airplane, the terrorists have won.

Amen!

 

[ford family]

Then I'm afraid that I will have to tell you that your comedy gene is short an allele or two. Perhaps you should see someone about that.

I'll grant that taste in comedy varies (for instance, I don't care for the Stooges), but with a film that has a meme this universal, admitting that you don't care for it shouldn't preclude being aware that it is a cultural touchstone. IMO, cultural touchstones are always worth exploring, if only to find out why they resonate with SO many people.

FWIW, I don't care for the Godfather films and have never seen them in their entirety. However, I'm familiar with the often-quoted lines and their context, because I feel that understanding the cultural significance of the films is more important than whether or not I personally enjoyed them. Being part of one's culture always comes easier when one is not making a point of being an iconoclast.

And the rest of the world has to be in tune with your culture?
Do you spell patronising with an "s" or a "z"?

ford family

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I think that's an awesome shirt, and wish I had one for myself!

I also think that there are many people in this country, and undoubtedly other countries, who become somewhat irrational when flying due to anxiety. I can imagine, that for some of those people, who might be sitting on a plane doing their very best not to think about death, that shirt might contribute to their anxiety. Even though I do not think that, rationally, that shirt is the slightest bit scary or inappropriate, I can sort of understand why someone would have that particular reaction.

Given that, I don't think it's awful for the flight attendant to recognize the anxiety and ask, once, nicely, if the passenger happens to have another shirt handy. Now, to be clear, this is not a rational response. Clearly if the guy is a terrorist wearing an ironic shirt, he'll still be a terrorist if he changes his shirt. But, perhaps, not actually seeing the shirt will help the other passengers feel stronger and more able to handle the flight.

If the passenger responds the way he did, kind of laughing it off, explaining that it was a line in a movie, and explaining that he didn't bring a back up shirt, then I think that an appropriate response for the flight attendant is to go back to the nervous Nellies, and say gently "I just spoke to the gentlemen with the shirt. He's such a nice man! It turns out that the shirt references some movie for teenagers. In fact, when he said that I realized that I watched that movie with my sister when I was a teenager. I can't believe a forgot that! So, he's not dangerous at all, he's just a nice guy who likes funny movies. Can I get a pillow? A mint? Would you like some complementary headphones?"

I think that if I owned that shirt, and hadn't seen this thread, I might well wear it to the airport. It looks comfortable, and it might not occur to me that people might even notice the word "die". On the other hand, if it did occur to me I'd probably throw it in the suitcase to wear on a different day and choose another shirt. Not because I have to or because the shirt is offensive, but because, it doesn't hurt to be considerate of others.

 

[NotUrsula]

And the rest of the world has to be in tune with your culture?
Do you spell patronising with an "s" or a "z"?

ford family

Normally an "s", fwiw. The Princess Bride sells well throughout the English-speaking world, but yes, most popular in the US.

However, I didn't say that everyone anywhere should be familiar with US cultural icons (and I think I covered that when I said that the FA should have explained to the "concerned" that it was a film quote -- and if she did not know initially, she would probably have discovered it after speaking with the passenger wearing the shirt.) What I said was that this film is a touchstone in my culture, and that I feel that it is important to be able to recognize those, even if I don't happen to be fond of them.

By extension, that generalisation would apply to whatever culture one happens to live in. (For example, most Frenchmen have at least a passing acquaintance with Tintin, and a Frenchman who did not recognize the character would be a bit unusual.)

As for the "homework" assignment, that was tongue-in-cheek, of course, and aimed at the mostly-American demographic of this board. Still, TPB *is* generally considered by American film critics to be one of our funniest films, so I have no regrets about recommending checking it out.

 

[ford family]

Normally an "s", fwiw. The Princess Bride sells well throughout the English-speaking world, but yes, most popular in the US.

However, I didn't say that everyone anywhere should be familiar with US cultural icons (and I think I covered that when I said that the FA should have explained to the "concerned" that it was a film quote -- and if she did not know initially, she would probably have discovered it after speaking with the passenger wearing the shirt.) What I said was that this film is a touchstone in my culture, and that I feel that it is important to be able to recognize those, even if I don't happen to be fond of them.

By extension, that generalisation would apply to whatever culture one happens to live in. (For example, most Frenchmen have at least a passing acquaintance with Tintin, and a Frenchman who did not recognize the character would be a bit unusual.)


As for the "homework" assignment, that was tongue-in-cheek, of course, and aimed at the mostly-American demographic of this board. Still, TPB *is* generally considered by American film critics to be one of our funniest films, so I have no regrets about recommending checking it out.

I've never heard of the film despite having been employed by a US company for forty years and working here frequently and now here, after retirement, seasonally.
I guess that makes me an out of the loop fuddy duddy.
By the way, Tintin is Belgian. But as it is not your culture I wouldn't expect you to know that.

ford family

 

[pixiewings71]

I saw Napoleon Dynamite and was completely underwhelmed. I think I went into it expecting too much.

hah oh, of course.

I like

"Mer... MAN!!!!", "*cough cough* I think I have the black lung", "I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!!!!"... oh, so many...

I always do that cough and say I have the black lung. The tiny cell phone always kills me. What about~
"What is this? A center for ants? How can we be expected to teach children to learn how to read... if they can't even fit inside the building?"
"The building has to be at least... three times bigger than this!"
(yes, I cut some out lol)

I will watch the movie. Maybe not this weekend,d but I will try, tonight in fact. If it doesn't work out, I will catch it next weekend.

I hope you enjoy it

I've never heard of the film despite having been employed by a US company for forty years and working here frequently and now here, after retirement, seasonally.
I guess that makes me an out of the loop fuddy duddy.
By the way, Tintin is Belgian. But as it is not your culture I wouldn't expect you to know that.

ford family

You've been employed for a US company for 40 years and you've never heard of The Princess Bride? Even my friend who hasn't seen it knows that quotes. Maybe someday you'll watch it and enjoy it.

Here's another favorite scene....but really, the whole movie is my favorite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC6dgtBU6Gs

Oh, or this one......"only slightly less well known......" LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_eZmEiyTo0

Oh......wait for it.....LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP5-qJSzDUg

I could do this all day but......lol

 

[TifffanyD]

I always do that cough and say I have the black lung. The tiny cell phone always kills me. What about~
"What is this? A center for ants? How can we be expected to teach children to learn how to read... if they can't even fit inside the building?"
"The building has to be at least... three times bigger than this!"
(yes, I cut some out lol)

I see that and raise you one ORANGE MOCHA FRAPPUCINO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (hold the freak gasoline fight)

 

[The Wise One]

when inigo montoya and his famous quote becomes a threat to passengers on an airplane, the terrorists have won.

this.

 

[phorsenuf]

When Inigo Montoya and his famous quote becomes a threat to passengers on an airplane, the terrorists have won.

No truer words.