Fifty-Ninth

Have you ever had a relative who shares the same interests as you, but who has absolutely terrible taste?

I ask because I find myself in this situation with my father. Like me, he's a Sci-Fi fan, which is likely where I caught the bug, but while my tastes run to Firefly/Serenity, Heroes, new Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek TOS, Star Wars, he prefers material such as old Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek Next Generation (but only the new, really terrible movies), Planet of the Apes (the series). His DVD collection exists solely to pollute the planet's atmosphere in a variety of unspeakable ways.

His last pearl of wisdom came when he recently borrowed by DVD copy of Shogun, he later called my up to tell me that it wasn't as good as he remembered and that he much preferred The Last Samurai to it, as it was "Much more believeable". My heart broke a little inside, and I just couldn't bring myself to tell him that Shogun is actually based on/inspired by a true story. Don't get me wrong - I really enjoy The Last Sumurai, my girlfriend and I watch it regularly, but does it present anything like a realistic view of Meiji-era Japan? Christ no, it doesn't even present a geographically correct view of Japan.

I won't lie to you - there is a part of me which enjoys scanning his 'collection' every time I visit, then revelling in the smug, superior feelings that follow. Still, there's a part of me which despairs for him later on. Particularly as he's getting on in years now, so he's not likely to change his ways.

P.S. The Planet of the Apes series boxset was thrust upon me roughly six months ago. It lies, unwatched, at the bottom of my DVD collection, a place I fully intend for it to stay until I'm (hopefully) prompted to return it.