bain’s beat
The DArk Knight BY DAN BAIN
I
t’s blockbuster time again, and this year’s cinematic crop seems to have an abundance of superheroes. Okay by me, as I enjoy movie adaptations of comic books. I know what this makes me – geek, dork, fanboy, manchild, friendless…doesn’t matter. I’m not afraid to go to these movies, even if I go by myself. This summer it’s bound to be easier than it was in 2008 – or as I remember it, the summer of the bat. The winter 2008 teaser for “The Dark Knight” had me wearing out my mouse button on replays as I counted the days until the movie’s release. I spent long months isolating myself from possible spoilers, waiting in fear and glee for July 18th. The big week arrived, and advance showings received rave reviews. The same people who’d vilified Heath Ledger for daring to play a gay cowboy, now praised him for daring to play a mass-murdering psychopath. This movie was obviously a tour de force. I considered taking the day off, but had to attend a meeting with my executive VP.
One thing setting me apart from other geeks is my willingness to forego opening day for a shot at continued employment. (Too bad the latter didn’t work out, but that’s another story.) I thought it would be fun to see the movie with other geeks over the weekend, so I posted an invitation to my writers’ group. We decided on a late Sunday morning showing, a plan that was shattered by – of all things – a bat. Christopher was taking swim lessons that summer, but the Saturday morning of opening weekend – 24 hours before the intended movie-going experience of this geek’s lifetime – something strange happened at the pool. As we walked toward it, we noticed everyone else quickly getting out of it. I sensed it would be a bad idea to continue with that week’s lesson. I mentioned this to Amy, his instructor,
who volunteered to investigate – along with several young boys who’d just arrived. They pushed into the crowd on the other side of the pool and raced back, tearing across the concrete in an effort to be the first to report the news to their family: “Dad! Somebody said they found a piece of turd in the pool!” I turned to Christopher, who was caught between disgust and delight at the idea that someone had literally, as the saying goes, “dropped the kids off at the pool.” When Amy came back with an
“I spent long months isolating myself from possible spoilers, waiting in fear and glee for July 18th.” incredulous look on her face, I was sure it must be true. “Somebody pooped in the pool, huh?” I asked. She looked at me not only as if I were
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6/23/11 6:14:23 PM