The Dark Knight

Sure it's just another Batman movie designed to rake in millions of our hard-earned dollars.

Or is it?

Folks, this is the best movie I've seen in years. It has a few flaws, but only an extremely jaded person would cling to such distractions. If you care about the cynical world we live in, if you care about what it means to be a moral person, if you care about civilization, you must see The Dark Knight. It will take you where you need to go, and show you what you need to see. This movie is profoundly relevant to our current geopolitical situation, and the fact that so many average people are going to see it gives me hope for the future.

And by the way, Heath Ledger really was one of our greatest actors. His passing only serves to verify and magnify the meaning of his final, greatest performance. Forget about Anthony Hopkins, Jack Nicholson and the rest. Heath was the real deal. He was able to take us on a journey into darkness and in the process give us back our souls. What a shame to lose him so soon.

I'm going to see The Dark Knight again, not for the entertainment, but for the feeling of hope that it gave me.

Crissi and Jason's Belated Wedding Gift

Trinchero Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

I've been snooping around, trying to find a Cabernet that retails for less than $15 that I actually like. Most of them, the American ones anyway, taste like Koolaid and might as well be a cheap Australian Shiraz--full of overdone, fruity dreck. This wine is not one of them. The Trinchero Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 is a low-alcohol (13.3%) wine of medium extraction with no signs of aging. The nose contains many of the classic Cabernet notes, along with a wonderful menthol component that immediately created an "ah ha" moment for me, since this is something I often notice in Bordeaux or even in some American Cabs like the amazing Three Saints, wines with greater complexity and balance. In the mouth the Trinchero has (drumroll here) surprising balance, with excellent acidity (good with food) and decent length. Nice dark fruit flavors predominate (black currant) with hints of leather, asphalt and some vegetal notes. Not as complex as a higher-priced wine, but still very compelling at $13. This wine is what I would like to see more of: a nice balance of Bordelais and New World style. So much better than the syrupy-sweet efforts (think McManis, Yellowtail) and worth trying on its own or with your next red meat meal.

My score: 87 points