Gotta a sitter coming in for the kids tonight because jane has a work function and I’m going into town to meet up with her afterwards.
Was kind of hoping for a grown up night, something like a champagne and string quartet at the art gallery. But this is Brisbane of course, so it’ll probably a cup of greasy chips and coke at the bus stop listening to some crazy man do his tourette’s routine.
Or maybe we’ll just have a quiet dinner somewhere.
I have to pick up a copy of The Watchmen to write an essay on commission, and I have some xmas vouchers that need spending so that’s also a possibility.
Right now though it’s time to cook knock up the kids dinner. Gnocci with tomato and butter sauce.
From this place on the globe, from this perspective, it sounds like paradise, and I hope you are whispering “linger, for thou art fair…”
You reminded me of this old theory, that I cant read a book/Graphic Novel until I’ve seen the film, as I will go into the film with too much foreknowledge and will lack “The Matrix” effect. ie back when The Matrix came out I had no forewarning of what it was about, going in as a blank slate and loved it. Same for a special midnight screening of The Crow at Indooroopilly many moons ago.
End of thought being I cant read Watchmen till I see the film (although drooling over the trailers is permissable).
Opinions?
YOU BASTARD. YOU TOLD ME YOU LIKED MY BUS STOP ROUTINE.
That change you threw at me wasn’t FOR the routine was it?. I thought .50c pieces at 20 feet was unusual.
+++End of thought being I cant read Watchmen till I see the film+++
Uh… what?
If you’re going to go into Watchmen as a blank slate and get hit with it for the first time, then why wouldn’t the GN be the best place to start? Why is it going to spoil the film and not vice versa?
Moko I thought his skill with the coins, pretty much bouncing them off you into the hat was astounding! Hell I even gave him coins to watch it again, though I noticed he saved the smaller denominations for distracting you.
Ahh, part of my theory appears. The written word can only convey so much, even in the far more talented hands that appear hear. To hear the spoken word will provide tone and emphasis. To see the still frame can provide evocative images, but the all encompassing visuals, combined with sound tracks and visual effects have always trumped all of that for me.
To use the written word to describe the feeling of having my daughter hug me pales in comparison to seeing the facial gestures, to look into her eyes, and to hear her giggle.
I hope that explains it a little better, but then, maybe it doesnt…….
I can’t wait for your faux chat up line!
“a cup of greasy chips and coke at the bus stop listening to some crazy man do his tourette’s routine.”
-from ‘Stuff To Do In Brisbane’ by the Greater Brisbane Tourism Bureau
And I thought nothing would beat the four guys banging on the big plastic buckets outside Soldier Field in Chicago!
Wait a sec. Greasy chips, a coke, and a tourette’s? How’d you know my Friday night routine?!
For a second there I thought you were going to pick up a screener copy of the movie. That would be SWEET.
One of the guys at the cigar shop gets screeners and he brings them in for us to view – just saw Gran Torino last week. Clint Eastwood rocks.
I’ll see your tourette’s guy and raise you a one legged tap dancer with a trained monkey.
R.
You’re leaving town soon–I’d go with the quiet dinner. Also, if you haven’t already dialed this in, consider renting a US cell phone for your trip for ease of communication and probably a lot cheaper than calling and being called internationally.
Don’t you have a copy yet JB? I’m shocked! What have you been doing with your life?
Get it, read it, think and read it again.
I’m with my fellow Matthew on this one; get the GN and read it first. Why wouldn’t you? (OK, I ‘spose that reading one of Moore’s books after seeing a film of it will come as a wonderful surprise. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen anyone? That is a great GN full of clever literary allusions and great action that Hollywood completely fucked up).
That said I reckon Watchmen may well be a good movie due to whatsisname from 300 being in charge and hence probably won’t mess around with the script.
However Moore always said Watchmen was designed to showcase what GNs could do that Film and literature couldn’t and he succeeded. Watchmen is full of beautifully designed details that just wouldn’t work, except possibly for watching it on DVD and replaying scenes and zooming in on details.
I’m a big fanboy just in case you hadn’t guessed. One of the three best Graphic Novels ever written, if not the best.
Jeez JB, did you give the Hovercraft Pilot the night off? Getting a bus into town… What next, making the bunnies redundant due to the credit crunch???
Can I help the US trip with a couple of small tips for flying in the US ?
Cheers
The Monster
Tip away.
Ok.. depending on your routing, ie BNE-LAX-JFK return…
and I am assuming you are flying a combo of Qantas and American Airlines…Would be handy to know if you are in Business or Economy.. but for arguments sake… lets say economy…
First most important thing is seat selection.
Go to http://www.checkmytrip.com and add in your booking reference from qantas. this will bee something like ” A6YT7K ” and your surname.
This will show you all of your flights in the booking. The there is a little + sign at the bottom.. click on this and this will show if you have been allocated a seat and where it is. If not you can ring Qantas and ask for one. They wil stop allocating once they hit a certain number of seats allocated though , so sooner rather than later is better.
To get the best seat go to www. seatexpert.com or http://www.seatguru.com and look for your airline and plane type.
They will show the best seats on the plane to ask for. Go back to checkmytrip and see what is available. Ring Qantas and ask for those.
If you are on any American flights, there is ample ways to upgrade to “First”.
You can use what is known as eVIPS which can be obtained from a ExPlat AA Frequent flyer.. You may know some if you ask around…(hint) they are legal to trade and you can upgrade to First for up to 3 flights in one direction. ie LAX-ORD-JFK.. they are usually traded for around us$400, but are well worth it. you can also book an instant upgrade if booking direct with AA for not much more than the economy fare. good value, and excellent for using a Qantas FF number with as you can get many status Credits as they clock in as a First class airfare…. I know of many who have obtained Qantas Platinum from a weekend of flying First in the USA…
Just bear in mind, that AA First is NOT like Qantas First.. it is barely Qantas Domestic Business…
Also if you have Qantas Club you can gain access to the AA clubs and are entitled to free drinks….ask when you arrive for the drink chits.. the bar tenders will require a tip though….somewhere around a $1 is worth it.
If you are flying United, there is a few other things I can add but is generally the same.. except they have a simpler upgrade system..especially from here in Australia.
Also there is some hotel chain deals that can be very worthwhile in the upgrade area..
Feel free to ping me direct for more specific advice.
Cheers
The Monster
I second what McKinney says. I got a US cellphone as soon as I arrived in the states and it made everything so much easier.
I just got a cheapo handset, woulda cost me less than $100 all up including the calls.
wow, The Watchmen GN I though was GREAT Your are in for a treat.
For sure, Alan Moore is a great writer. Watchmen is up there with The Sandman and Maus. Although Maus isn’t fictional so I guess it can’t be called a Graphic Novel exactly…