Verbal Diorama

Perennial Christmas classic Lethal Weapon redefined the buddy cop genre with its festive setting, unique characters and the undisputed chemistry between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Shane Black's screenplay combined humour and action and made it a benchmark for future action films, and Richard Donner's direction brought a skilled touch to the film's pacing and storytelling.

Unlike other buddy cop or action movies of the 80s, it also explores deep themes of depression, grief, and trauma, particularly through Riggs's character. Lethal Weapon broke new ground by incorporating themes of emotional vulnerability in its portrayal of masculinity.

The cultural impact of Lethal Weapon is also prevalent, particularly how it addresses themes of race and the changing portrayal of law enforcement in cinema. The narrative resonates differently in today's context, especially regarding ongoing discussions about police conduct and racial dynamics in America.

Lethal Weapon isn't just as a successful action film, but as a poignant commentary on friendship, trauma, and societal issues, as well as the power of found family - even if the dinner's aren't all that great...

I would love to hear your thoughts on Lethal Weapon (1987) !

Before I begin, I notice that Chancellor Jarnathan is not present...?

I'm back from an extended break, deciding to do an episode on Dungeons & Dragons, and its fifty-year history and legacy as the most popular TTRPG in the world.

Easing myself back into podcasting slowly, then, because it's safe to say nothing has impacted geek culture like Dungeons & Dragons, since its debut in 1974. It evolved from its early iterations to mainstream popularity, especially with the rise of its fifth edition. It wasn't without its controversies, though. Its associations with the 'Satanic Panic' significantly affected its public perception in the 1980s, and led to Evangelical Christian groups linking it with suicides.

This isn't the first time Dungeons & Dragons has been adapted to the screen either, with the popular 1983-1985 animated series, and the not-so-popular movie in 2000, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves started its earliest conception in 2013, and had plenty of delays along the way.

Despite ongoing rights issues and a global pandemic, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves remarkably manages to honour D&D's legacy and lore, while ensuring authenticity for fans, and accessibility for non-fans and casual moviegoers alike.

Despite its critical success, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves faced challenges at the box office, mostly due to some Italian plumbers, but also a fan backlash against owners Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast. This movie deserves to find an audience, and hopefully it will, once Jarnathan arrives...

Interested in finding out more about D&D or listening to others' campaigns? Here's some great indie D&D podcasts:

Hello, I'm Em. And yes, I'm a podcast host. No, I said cappuccino. I'm here to talk to you about something very important. And no, it's not about me or my podcast. I'm here to talk about subliminal messages in rock and roll music. Or as it's simply known in some cultures, 'rock music'.

You see, for years the government has been wisely coercing teenagers to buy products they normally wouldn't want, just to get their money.

Fact! Kids don't have bills to pay. Fact! They don't pay taxes. But! They do babysit and hold minimum wage jobs that earn them wads of cash as substantial as, well, my body of work.

But kids today aren't dumb. They're not gonna buy just anything. That's why the government has been planting small subliminal advertising suggestions in today's rock music. The results? We can now get these kids to buy just about anything. We can have them chasing a new trend every week. And that is good for the economy. And what's good for the economy... is good for the country. So God bless the United States Of America - the most ass-kickin' country... in the world!

And god bless Josie and the Pussycats!

(Let's hope this episode isn't a "take the Chevy to the levy" situation. Du Jour means seat belts! Du Jour means crash positions!)