Ramadan is here. The decorations are going up and all the liquor bottles have been removed from the shelves and locked away. Everyone is hung over from their last night of drinking and more people are wearing the traditional garb and robes. You'd think the traffic would let up but it gets only more crazy. The horns never stop honking and there is a constant mass of cars going over the bridges. Along the Nile, it's somewhat peaceful, if you can tune everything else out. Evening prayer has started and it looks like sunset to me so everyone can eat now.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Most Hobbit minded people have already seen the latest installment so this is for those of you waiting for the crowds to go down. Part 2 is much better than part 1. This applies to all viewers. Where the gap happens if you have not read the book (including the appendices) you will probably like the whole movie. If you've read the book and taken the time to read the appendices, then you'll appreciate the back story that's presented here. The spirit of Tolkien is present and Desolation of Smaug fits well within what will become a 6 part movie. What I liked....The opening sequence. This is not in the book and I had to look it up in the appendices and sure enough, Gandalf and Thorin did meet in Bree. Thranduil and Legolas father/son relationship. I liked it. While only a mere mention in the appendices, in this movie we see Legolas loyal to his father. That Legolas doesn't mesh with the person he becomes and it will be interesting to see what happens to Legolas in the nex...
How is it that you keep ending up in the Middle East during Ramadan?
ReplyDeleteGo figure. Now it will almost become tradition. At least I'm not in Kuwait where it's illegal to eat! The hotel stock-piled up the fruit plates in my room for me.
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