After three years of waiting for a new Batman movie to come out, I watched The Dark Knight last night with Thea. I bought tickets to the midnight showing a couple weeks ago. We showed up about an hour early and the theatre was already full, so we could only find seats together in the third row from the front. I was pretty disappointed because I was straining to see the whole screen and all the teenagers around me were annoying.
And then the movie started.
When I watch The Silence of the Lambs, Beauty and the Beast, Raiders of the Lost Arc or some other iconic, classic movie, I wonder what it would have been like to see them on opening night. To experience movie magic communally with an audience.
I had wanted to gather a group of friends to watch Batman with me, to recapture the fun and excitement of watching The Lord of the Rings together. Although there are still a bunch of people with whom I’d like to watch it… and I will… last night was one of the best movie experiences I’ve ever had. Even with the guy beside me checking his text messages throughout the movie, or the guy behind us who kept kicking my chair, to the guy in the back laughing at non-funny moments… just to be annoying, I think.
We, all of us, got caught up in the movie. Cheering and clapping, laughing and gasping.
I feel like I should give it time to settle before I start spouting superlatives in describing the movie.
Nah… it’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. Heath Ledger is mind-bogglingly good. It’s going to be one of those movies that I watch again every year for the rest of my life. After I see it a half dozen times in the theatre. I can’t wait to see it again… from somewhere nearer the middle of the theatre.
Filed under: General Nonsense | Tags: ice cream, prince edward county, vacation
Obviously we still have internet access on our little vacation out here in Prince Edward County. We’re heading to the beach soon, but Thea’s getting some sort of spa treatment. So I’m down in the lounge updating the blog. We took some pics of the bed & breakfast we’re staying at here.
It’s really relaxing. I had apple pie ice cream last night. Apple pie ice cream.
Filed under: General Nonsense | Tags: baby in slow motion, exorcist, exorcist baby
Who knew a baby laughing in slow motion could sound so unholy.
Thea and I traveled to Stratford to watch Hamlet this afternoon. I really enjoy live theatre.
While watching, my mind wandered to my Shakespeare studies and I found myself analyzing the play and its themes and whatnot. Apparently I still can’t turn it off. I don’t read much fiction anymore because I’m usually unable to simply enjoy it at face value, I must deconstruct.
It’s interesting that a profession and past-time so denigrated during Shakespeare’s lifetime is now attended by the literate and cultured. The toothless and grimy from 1608 are replaced by educated and uptight (myself included).
Hamlet itself seems so versatile, which might the reason it’s so frequently adapted and filmed. Any given director can change the focus or period or tone and come up with wildly different yet equally valid interpretations.
Anyway, I love Shakespeare. We have four Complete Works, and I have a bunch of antique copies of the plays. A couple weeks ago we visited an excellent used book store in Waterdown called Pickwick Books. We were just browsing but Thea noticed a beautiful leather-bound copy of the Sonnets where the owner was working (he restores old books.) Apparently somebody asked to have it restored but had never returned… so I bought it. I couldn’t help myself… and it’s glorious. 1912. Parchment paper.
We’re at Thea’s parents’ house. Moments ago, Lola, the grandmother, said to Thea, “You’re fat.” Now I’m in the basement, absolutely livid. I came so close to saying something, but somehow was able to relatively keep my cool. I want to smash her on the head with something.
I don’t understand this part of Filipino culture, where it’s OK to tell someone they’re fat. Even when they are clearly not overweight by any stretch of the imagination. Has anyone seen Thea? Is she fat? Even if she was fat, wouldn’t it still be a completely inappropriate thing to say?
I guess it’s not only a Filipino thing. My aunt told me I was getting fat at my parents’ Canada Day bash. I didn’t like it, but was able to not take it too seriously because when I look in the mirror, I think I look pretty good, even if I’ve clearly put on a few pounds in the past couple years. When Thea looks in the mirror, I think she sees fat.
So I’m infuriated. And I can’t say anything because it would be disrespectful and cause a kerfuffle.
Filed under: General Nonsense | Tags: Batman, batman begins, super friends, The Dark Knight, the lord of the rings
I’m a little excited about the upcoming Batman flick, The Dark Knight.
I’ve bought tickets for opening night already. I’ve taken to scouring the internet for reviews and opinions and scoops. I have to quickly switch sites when Thea walks in because my Batman obsession bothers her. Which isn’t to say that she suppresses my personality, only that she gives me a hard time, just as I do when she watches 7th Heaven, the worst TV show of all time.
Anyway the reviews are almost universally ecstatic. I’ve been waiting my whole life for an amazing Batman movie. Batman Begins definitely had moments. It also had Katie Holmes.
I remember when Batman ‘89 came out. Until then I was only familiar with Batman from Super Friends or the old 60’s TV show. Suddenly Batman was dark and serious. I found the Batman action figure from the movie in the black garb, and when I brought him home he outed the old blue-and-grey Batman as an imposter in front of Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and the Flash. A pivotal moment in my childhood.
I haven’t been this excited about a movie since The Lord of the Rings ended in 2003.
When driving I’m more aggressive than I should be, as are many people it seems. While not a danger to other people, I don’t think, I do have a tendency to focus on getting places as soon as possible rather than enjoying the journey. And I have to quash the impulse to correct the poor driving of my neighbours on the road.
Living in Burlington for almost a year now, Thea and I have taken to calling a certain inconsiderate manoevre “The Burlington”: pulling onto a road when there clearly isn’t enough time to do so, forcing oncoming cars to slow significantly. It happens to us probably once a day. How can these people think they have the right of way, or that it’s safe to pull in front of fast-moving cars? It drives me nuts. And I’ve laid on the horn quite a few times.
Also, if people learned to us the entire entry lane on the highway to reach a reasonable speed before merging and to not hover at the speed limit in the passing lane, things would move more smoothly on the highway.
I used to be a pretty timid driver. I think when I learned to drive standard with all the guttural roars from the engine, driving a car with a little more power than a Ford Escort, I gained some confidence on the road.
In general I’m pretty judgmental. Two people have given notice at work, and I’m ecstatic. Nice people, terrible workers. I try not to mention work too much on this thing because a Google of my name will bring up the blog, and I don’t want to upset my coworkers. But some of the people I work with put little effort into their job. I don’t love having to be nice for hours straight, but I muster up a smile because it’s my job. When I see other people checking text messages between each customer, making personal phone calls while I’m still working, chatting with friends… I want to say something. I desperately try to suppress the negative feelings because I’m not the boss and it’s not my business, but I find it difficult not being frosty to them sometimes. Especially when they complain that a manager told them to serve a customer instead of chatting.
Ah, the love of Christ is flowing through me.
