The long awaited day is finally here and yet I find myself having to wait another week.

I’m hazy on the exactly when it was christened but July 18^th 2008 has been known as “Dark Knight” day since my early childhood; ever since CK informed me that it was to be the day Christopher Nolan’s sequel to the excellent Batman Begins would get its worldwide release. As CK is our resident movie Yoda, it never occurred to me to actually check the date for myself.

For the last 5 months I’ve seen awful movie after awful movie, almost without fail (Kung Fu Panda and Ironman notable exceptions) and each time I consoled myself with the thought that Dark Knight Day was fast approaching. I have longed for this movie like no movie since Return of the King, and its done nothing but toy with me. With each image, each brilliant teaser and trailer that’s been released my anticipation levels have been ratcheted up and up, skilfully, mercilessly, so that I now find myself in near hysteria with my need to see this movie.

This movie has actually amplified my fear of death/serious injury because were I to meet my maker before July 18^th 2008, I would not get to see this movie. It’s actually made my life more precious to me than it already was, giving me yet another reason to live.

A week ago I received a punch to the gut. CK was wrong and because of the need for a stupid London premiere, the UK and so by default Ireland, would not be getting the Dark Knight until a week later, July 24^th. (CK, I hold no grudge against you, it was an honest mistake).

Today was supposed to be one of the happiest days of my life, but I have to wait whilst America, Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Panama, Taiwan, Singapore, Peru, Hong Kong, Greece, Argentina, Egypt and even the Philippines don’t.

I get the hype. The existing stream of glowing reports on the final product and Ledger’s already near mythic performance, will now morph into a raging torrent, making it harder to ignore, harder to endure.

Life is not fair.