Chloé Bach arts@theotherpress.ca POP CULTURE PURCHASES — The Dark Knight Warner Bros. The biggest blockbuster of 2008, The Dark Knight was released on Blu-Ray and DVD just before Christmas in several different versions. After smashing box office records during its run in theatres, The Dark Knight became this year’s “it” gift for the Christmas season. Directed by Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight is the latest installment of the re-launched Batman franchise. Starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhall and Aaron Eckart, The Dark Knight is one of the best, and most action-packed movies of all time. It follows Batman’s war against crime in Gotham City and the introduction of his greatest foe in the comics, The Joker. Heath Ledger, who passed away shortly after filming was completed, has been lauded as the primary reason for the movie’s success and is a possible nomination for best supporting actor at the Oscars. If you buy any DVD in 2009 make it The Dark Knight; it’s one of the best films you’ll ever see. —Garth McLennan Dude Beer This beer is an amazing example of how good branding adds to the consumer experience in mystifying ways. If you think soberly about it, there’s really no connection between the label on the bottle and the liquid inside. Molson Canadian would taste the same if it was made in America. Granville Island beers would taste the same if they were made in Port Coquitlam. And Dude Beer would taste the same if it were called “You’re An Idiot If You Buy This Beer.” Yet, despite being overpriced and tasting pretty nasty, having a party where you get drunk off Dude Beer is hilarious. Are we just suckers for a name? Is it that easy to take advantage of our need to identify ourselves based on the products we purchase? It’s sad to think that the answer to those questions might be yes, but at least time this we can blame it on the fact that we’re drunk. Bottoms up! — Chloé Bach Jaydiohead Minty Fresh Beats Jay-Z’s raps have been mashed up with several bands before, most famously with The Beatles on The Grey Album and with Linkin Park on Collision Course. So combining him this time with Radiohead isn’t the most original idea, but it definitely works when done this well. Jay-Z’s raps are already epic, but blending them with familiar Radiohead songs like “Karma Police,” “Paranoid Android,” “15 Step” and more of their best tracks from recent years is a combination that just explodes out of your speakers. The timing is perfect too, as both acts haven’t put out a new album in over a year, so right now dedicated fans are hungry for more. Already this album has become an internet sensation, and rightfully so. It’s available as a free download on at jaydiohead.com. I’m not particularly fond of mash- ups in particular, but this album, done by someone who is obviously a big fan of both acts, brought me a new appreciation for the songs that were used on it. It cuts out most of Thom Yorke’s vocals, leaving just Radiohead’s music for Jay-Z to bust his rhymes over. The matching of moods between Jay- Z’s lyrics and Radiohead’s beats is amazing, especially the combination of “Optimistic” with “Moment of Clarity” to create “Optimistic Moment.” “Dirt Off Your Android” is a ridiculous name for song, but the track is killer. There are a few songs where the presence of Radiohead is too much in the background, but aside from that this album is the bomb. —Mark Fisher The Noodle Box By Leah Giesbrecht ~a Slurp some fire into the icy, slushy days of winter with a meal from The Noodle Box. Located at 1867 West Fourth St. in Kitsilano’s trend-of-the- moment shopping district, The Noodle Box dishes out spicy, mouth-watering Southeast Asian food. Offerings include rice dishes, curries, soups and tasty concoctions featuring udon, egg or rice noodles. Most menu items include fresh Asian greens, crunchy bean sprouts, fresh, aromatic herbs like cilantro and a wedge of sour lime. Each dish can be made with your choice of tofu, pork, chicken or prawns. You can also choose the level of heat your dish is made with, from mild to meltdown hot. Be careful, a meal made with a medium level of spice will usually start eyebrows sweating and noses sniffling. Prices range from around $10 to $15. The Spicy Peanut Box is a perennial favourite and its intense, fragrant flavours are a good way to wake up taste buds over-saturated with stodgy holiday fare. The dish, based on thin egg noodles coated in a garlicky, gingery peanut sauce is crunchy, creamy, savoury and satisfying. Mixed in are slices of red pepper, bok choy, bean sprouts, cilantro, crushed peanuts and deep fried green onion. Prawns make a great accompaniment. Another good choice is the Thai Tom Yum Soup, which is hot, sour and refreshing. Made with rice noodles, it contains mushrooms, peppers, greens, sprouts and fresh herbs. Served with tofu, this is the type of meal that leaves you feeling nourished and energized. The Noodle Box has booth and bar seating; from the bar, you can watch the chefs tossing your meal in a sizzling wok atop the flaming gas range. There is no table service, but orders are placed with and called out by the cashier. With high ceilings, concrete floors, and a great mix of music played at a volume that makes the windows shake lightly, this is a hip, lively place to catch a quick, delicious 1. va Fork This