Through a Scannner Darkly

Now, answer honestly, when you saw the image for this did you really notice that it wasn’t Keanu? … Really?

I had a few problems with this movie.

I think including such a stellar cast in a film that’s essentially a tale of everymen; of nobodies is a mistake. Plain and simple.

I also think that the rotorscoping techniques are used here (much as in Linklater’s Waking Life) just for the sake of using it. Its removal from reality simply serves to detract from the point of the story; which is a gradual move away from sanity. When the central characters hallucinations begin to wind their way across the screen, they fail to contrast significantly with animation that preceded them.

Rotorscoping (as Linklater uses it) also fails to focus the eye. In a camera there is a depth of field which carries the audience about the screen and tells the story. This is also true of computer animation and its virtual array of cameras and lenses and of classic animation where different painterly techniques are used for the background and the characters. Here with every part in sharp focus; they eye wanders about and the audience, ultimately, grows bored.

I had an inkling halfway through the film that there was some profundity to be found there; that, if I concentrated hard enough and scraped away the layers of mediocrity I might find something of worth. But, after a while I concluded that I’d probably be better off reading the book.

Wong Kei’s

Wong Kei’s
41-43 Wardour Street
London
W1D 6PY

“No visit to London is complete without at least one visit to the Wong Kei.”: Rob – Monday, December 05, 2005

“I have been coming to this restaurant on and off for nearly 30 years. “: David Gower – Tuesday, November 15, 2005

“If you go to London, you can forget to visit Buchingam Palace, Trafalgar Square or Downing Street,but you can’t forget to visit Wong Key Restaurant”#: Andrea – Saturday, November 12, 2005

“The best chinese restaurant. I eat in wong key restaurant a lot of time when I lived in London”: Andrea – Saturday, November 12, 2005

(quotes taken from http://www.london-eating.co.uk/2971.htm)

“All of the above people are idiots” Billy. 12/01/2006

I’ve been told Wong Kei’s is something of a London institution. One of those famous places that you bring your out-of-town mates too as a London novelty. You know, like the Eye, or the Tate Modern, or Brick Lane, or some Soho back alley mired with cat urine, smelly leaking bin bags, and a plate of what could somewhere be termed food… ’cause really you may as well go there rather than pay for anything in Chinatown.

The rudeness of the staff, I’m told with good authority, is an amusing side to eating here. I haven’t found the staff to be particularly rude; just as bored and dismissive as in most other establishments in Chinatown. Certainly not rude enough to be unique and definitely not enough to entertain.

The food is dull and tasteless. I do like my soya and chilli condiments, but shouldn’t have to rely on them so heavily. So why do I keep going back? There is a simple reason as to why I enjoy eating in Chinatown (and no, it’s never been the food); it’s that I get to rant and bitch about it for months after the fetid experience. Unfortunately, when I’ve had a few and I’m in the area and peckish (and for some unknown reason can’t find Misato) I forget this simple fact. Invariably, as soon as the first spoonful of moist msg-laden goo passes my lips I remember. Which isn’t altogether bad, as I can at least look forward to the meal ending and the bitching begining.

Link to gmap
Billy: 7
Eoin: 2