Harry’s Back

I don’t just mean that Harry Potter is back on the big screens after what seems like a very long wait – I mean that the Potter series is back on track after a somewhat disappointing fifth installment.  Of course there were aspects of the book that had to be skipped in Half-Blood Prince, and there were quite a few scenes that were done differently.  The important part, however, is that it worked – and it worked really well.

It was well paced, dramatic, funny … seeing such a film (as with all major franchises with a loyal fan base) is always the best atmosphere to experience.  You could talk endlessly about what was dropped – and we did.  You can discuss at great length the subtlest changes in actions and event that actually led to quite significant differences in the characterisation and personality of the main characters. The very important fact remains though that we enjoyed it throughout and came away feeling good.  Can’t wait for the next one … two … whatever. 

Of course, no trip to the cinema would be complete without something to eat first.  And of all the new restaurants to open up recently in Chatswood our favourite has simply got to be New Shanghai (sister restaurant to the one in Ashfield) in the Lemon Grove.  It was simple, filled (relatively, it was only 5pm) with locals, and the food was incredible.  Our favourite has to be the soupy dumplings, the xiao long bao.  So many pork dumpling are good, but a little lacking in something, but these were perfect.  Seriously, as a meal for two you can’t go far wrong with a delicious and filling combination of the 14, 16 and 19 (pork xlb, famous new shanghai pan fried pork bun, shallot pancake).  Just go in and order those three; you won’t be disappointed.

No To Watching The Watchmen

If you want to read in detail about the literary depth of Alan Moore’s Watchmen graphic novel, or want to hear about it’s troubled transition to film, then this is not the place for you.  The internets are filled with millions of words on these topics.  This post is just a brief brain dump of my thoughts having seen the movie last night.

• Watchmen is a great comic that I like very much.
• Watchmen is a terrible movie that I struggled through.
• Ignoring anything that I had read, I went in excited – but left disappointed.
• I really didn’t miss those bits of the comic that were omitted, such as the comic in a comic.
• The faithful recreation of panel to frame is impressive, but it just doesn’t work.
• Some of the casting is great, the rest is just a waste.
• At 2 hours and 40 minutes it was sooooo looonnnggg.
• I see what they were trying to do with the soundtrack, situating the film in the 80s, but it was quite horrendous and incredibly jarring.
• The film just didn’t work.
• Which is a shame.