Plans, stories, and why the Joker is no joke

July 23, 2008

Last weekend was, in the common vernacular, “a hell of a weekend.”  Let me explain.

Fridays are always fun in general, but Fridays where dinner and drinks are paid for are even better.  After work, I met Hanne and her family over at the Bridgeport Brewpub and Brewery, which I haven’t been to in at least two years.  I could wax poetic about how much I liked the old Bridgeport Brewpub and Brewery, but you know what?  I do that every time I write about it.  Well, it’s been two years, though, so I’m about due.  I loved the old Bridgeport Brewpub and Brewery.  It was all brick and wood and their pizza was awesome and they had a long wooden bar and wooden tables and the whole thing was awesome.  Then they renovated and “Pearl-ized” the joint so that it’s upscale and high-priced and the food isn’t as good anymore.  But at least their beer is the same.  OK, I’m glad I got that out of me.

So, I met Hanne and her parents for beers and dinner, and I had a begrudgingly tasty black bean veggie burger along with a pint of their new Hop Czar Imperial IPA along with the most perfectly-poured Black ‘n’ Tan ever.  Seriously.  Look at that.

That’s a work of beauty, I tell you.  That’s the Hop Czar on the bottom, and their Black Strap Stout on the top.

After dinner, Hanne and I tried to get into a showing of The Dark Knight, but the cinema downtown was unsurprisingly sold out for both upcoming showings, and I didn’t feel like waiting around until 10 PM for the next one.  So instead, we bussed it across the river and had a couple of drinks over at Crush, which is the stylish gay bar a few blocks from our house.  They have some awesome drinks there, needless to say.

Saturday morning, we again met up with her parents for breakfast, and then I got the rest of the morning to myself while Hanne tooled around out at IKEA.  I didn’t feel like fighting the crowds, so I went home after breakfast.  Skip to the evening, and you’ll find us waiting in line to see The Dark Knight.

I like Batman.  I’ve always liked Batman.  I used to watch reruns of the campy 60’s TV show when I was a kid, I was practically obsessed with the 1989 Tim Burton version, and I thought Batman Begins was the best portrayal of Batman ever to hit the big screen.  I was wrong.

The Dark Knight is appropriately titled without specific reference to Batman because the movie really isn’t about him.  It’s about a circle of people in Gotham City and how each of them deals with unfolding events.  Batman resorts to vigilante justice, the new District Attorney Harvey Dent uses the law, the new police commisioner Gordon uses his allies, and the Joker…well…the Joker is the reason for the unfolding events.  He’s an agent of chaos, someone who doesn’t want money, doesn’t want power, doesn’t want respect.  He just wants to screw things up for everyone else.  Heath Ledger was unrecognizable in the role, both looks as well as demeanor.  If I didn’t know it was him ahead of time, I wouldn’t have known it was him.  He played the role so well, I would easily place his portrayal of the Joker at or near the top of the most evil and scary villains ever placed on film.  Hannibal Lector has nothing on this guy.

The rest of the movie was as good as you’ve heard it is, and this movie will easily go down as the greatest movie based on comic book characters made, at least, until the next best one comes along.  But it certainly surpasses anything so far, even this year’s extremely well-made Iron Man.  They’re different movies, of course, whereas Iron Man is an action movie, The Dark Knight is a crime drama.  It’s almost like comparing The Empire Strikes Back to The Godfather, Part II.  You know they’re both good, they’re both two of the best-crafted movies ever made, but which is better?  Personal preference.

But seriously, that was the best movie I’ve seen in years.

After the movie, I had the singular pleasure of going in to work.  This was not a spontaneous action to fix something that broke while I was out having a good time, but this was planned maintenance scheduled to last…well…pretty much all night.  I arrived at 11 PM and found my boss already here, and so we got to work with our respective projects.  And we got everything done.  I didn’t get home until 5:30 AM the next morning, but I cleared out about a dozen things I’d wanted to do, and I feel much better about the condition of the servers and network I’m responsible for right now.  To make up for working all night, I’m taking this Friday off, but that couldn’t come at a better time.

You see, tomorrow marks the beginning of the 21st Annual Oregon Brewer’s Festival, the pinnacle of Craft Beer Month.  72 different breweries, 72 different beers, four days to try them all.  This year I came across a great deal where I bought two $5 mugs, a program, and 37 $1 tokens for a mere $30.  Granted, those 37 tokens are to share between myself and Hanne, but Hanne doesn’t drink too much and so I’ll likely get the bulk of those token.  Plus, I have three from last year and however many my Dad will give me that he can’t use.  The plan for my day off on Friday is to get a haircut in the morning, have lunch with Hanne, and then head over to the brewfest around 2 or so to beat most of the crowds.  I plan on meeting up with my Dad and Hanne’s Dad in addition, so we’ll likely have a great time.

Saturday should be a big day, too.  Hanne and I are having what feels like our fifth of sixth BBQ of the summer, this time having both of our families attend in full since Hanne’s Mom is in town for a few weeks.  We’re planning a mighty feast, everything from the Self family summer tradition of beef cubelets and Walla Walla Sweet onion rings to shrimp skewers to sangria to grilled polenta.  It’s going to a hell of a dinner, and will probably be a hell of a cleanup, too.  I think we’ve got most of the meal planned out, but we’re going to have to make a trip or two to the store as well as the Farmer’s Market on Thursday.  I have need of numerous tomatoes for salsa, among other things.

So, that’s my week.  Aside from a concert on Sunday and my one year review tomorrow, there’s not too much else going on, thankfully.  I think I’ll grab some more coffee and see if I can find something to do.

Posted in Beer, Family, Food, Geekery, General, Hanne, Movies, Work