Tag: film

Stupidity

October 25, 2025

“I’m impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it.” “I’m afraid my people haven’t. I am very sorry. I wish it were otherwise.” This is a conversation from the movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still” released in 1951.

These lines were given by Klaatu, the visitor from outer space, and a representative of the U.S. President who was trying to determine the reason for his arrival on Earth. An otherworldly organization wants to warn all earthlings of their emanate destruction.

The producers of this movie were trying to demonstrate some points about our society at the time. This quotation is indicative of what many thought of the Cold War at that time. If you have not seen this version of this classic, find it on any of the streaming services and view it.

I know you may not remember this movie because it came out before we were born. A few of you may have seen it in the theaters in the early fifties. Most of us only know of it from DVDs, videos, or even VHS tapes.

My first recollection of it was in the early 60s, on NBC Movie of the Week aired on Saturday nights. Mom and Dad were out that night, and my brothers and I watched it after our oldest brother put our younger sister to bed. It began at 8:00 pm at her bedtime.

Another interesting clip from this movie has the visitor from space, who is calling himself Carpenter, being interviewed by a radio reporter. The newscaster asks him, “I suppose you’re just as scared as the rest of us?” “In a different way, perhaps. I am fearful when I see people substituting fear for reason.”

It is here that the reporter decides to move on to someone else. Start a conversation that others do not wish to have, and they always walk or run away. It is a human reaction. We are either afraid to learn new things or worried that we are being talked down to.

How do you feel when a friend tries to point out a flaw in your personality or actions? My reaction is usually a defensive strike or fleeing. We always want to be correct and often refuse to hear that we are not. Especially if you are a politician.

The story of this film is about the lives of humans, and especially Americans. We react with violence at the least provocation, and it is shown on the news every day, even today. Society is not better than it was in the 1950s. We have more toys and time to waste on them, but no more patience and understanding for each other.

The newest version of this film alters the story to make it work with the 2008 view of what it might mean if Earth reaches a technological ability that would endanger other lives in our universe. I hope you realize that this is fiction.

The real worry for all of us is each other. You never know who might be out to destroy you. Keep reading my columns, and I will explain more about how to protect yourself in this dangerous world full of stupidity.

©Copyright 2025 by Charles Kensinger

A Marvel fan

September 12, 2025

The anchor and weather prognosticator were discussing a story they had aired about the casting of Reed Richards in an upcoming Fantastic Four movie. As I sat and watched these two young Marvel comics fans, I wondered if they realized how old these magazines are.

Marvel Comics #1 was first published in October of 1939 by Timely Publications. This book included The Human Torch and Namor the Sub-Mariner. Captain America first appeared in March of 1941. The man we know as Stan Lee was with Marvel from the beginning and took over leadership of Timely in 1941.

The name was changed to Marvel Comics Group in 1961. In November, the Fantastic Four first appeared. Reed Richards as Mr. Fantastic, Sue and Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm make up the team. Spiderman appeared for the first time in 1962.

My favorite mag was the Amazing Spider-Man. It debuted in 1963. I had been reading the stories about Peter Parker and grabbed the new comic the minute I saw it. He was a teenage science nerd. In the third grade, I was also a science geek. I did not want to be bitten by a radioactive spider. I just wanted strength, clinging ability, and Spidey sense.

The Hulk was a character that I did not particularly care for. I think it was the idea that Dr. David Banner became angry and morphed into the green monster. This may be the reason that, when I grew up, I no longer liked the color green. Maybe it was all the green Marvel villains that turned me off as well.

When Matthew Murdock was introduced as The Daredevil, he became a favorite as well. The comic book world was changed by Stan Lee after he took the lead of Marvel Magazines. He’s also the creator of Iron Man. Heroes became a mainstay of the industry, and the popularity of the cartoon-type books bottomed out except for young children.

I was never an X-Men, Silver Surfer, or Nick Fury Fan. Captain America was more like Superman than I had thought a Marvel Hero Would Be. Thor, the Sub-Mariner, and Doctor Strange were other characters that I was not fond of.

Let’s get back to The Fantastic Four. I always thought that Ben Grimm should have had the nickname Rocky instead of The Thing. I enjoyed the fights with Johnny as The Torch and Ben. If they had lived in my home, it would have been Sue and Johnny who would have had fights.

I felt like Reed Richards and Sue Storm took entirely too long to become engaged. I found it enthralling to have a married team as part of a group of superheroes. Without them, I am not sure that Pixar ever would have made The Incredibles the way they did. The family concept seemed to me to stem from The Fantastic Four.

Are you a fan of comics or graphic novels? What is your favorite magazine, character, or publisher? Do you have any stories you would like to share? Comment below, and if you do not want your comments shared with everyone, tell me, and I will read and respond, but not share with other readers. This is my site, and I can do that.

©Copyright 2025 by Charles Kensinger