Dark night of violence stains 'The Dark Knight Rises'
Yael T. AbouhalkahLife imitated art early Friday morning, resulting in the shooting deaths of at least 12 people at a theater during the first-night showing of “The Dark Knight Rises.”
As it should, this incident will spur more calls for gun control and more angst over America’s obsession with guns.
Yet look where some of that obsession comes from: The ultra-violent Batman sequel contains acts of terrorism, multiple deaths and all kinds of shoot-em-up special effects.
And this morning, an armed man walked into a darkened Aurora, Colo,, theater, dropped some gas canisters to the floor and began firing.
As of early Friday morning, 12 people were dead and about four dozen were reported wounded.
Wisely so, Warner Bros. today canceled its red-carpet walk in Paris, which was to have celebrated the opening of the blockbuster movie.
So what will happen to the movie now?
Some are speculating it will actually get pulled from distribution, which I can’t imagine happening because of one lunatic instigating this kind of incident.
Warner Bros. will, of course, be ultra-sensitive now to the repercussions.
In its statement, the company today said:
“Warner Bros. is deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident. We extend our sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims at this tragic time.”
The shootings prompted President Barack Obama and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney to condemn the acts of violence.
The incident stains “The Dark Knight Rises,” but likely will not stop its ascent to being one of the highest grossing movies of all time.
The movie ultimately could stand as a sad comment on our obsession with guns and deaths.
In this case, though, real life was much more worrisome than all the acts of terrorism that people saw on the screen during the Batman sequel.
George Hunsucker
Northland
10 months, 1 week agoAny “parent” that allows their children to see this movie should seriously question their ability to be a GOOD parent.
Any adult that sees this movie is merely condoning the Hollywood generated violence that affects our children.
Do the right thing, don’t support Hollywood’s destroying of our children via violent “entertainment”.
George Kirk
10 months, 1 week agoIt has nothing to do with the violence of movies. It has to do with the capabilities of this world to treat it’s mentally distrubed. We will problably find out soon that this person has battled mental problems for most his life. It won’t be surprising if he went off his meds recently. If you’re going to blame people other than the psycho himself why don’t you blame the media for sensationalizing stories like this, the mental health professionals who did not treat him well enough, the kids that bullied him, his parents for not hugging him enough, the tee ball coach who didn’t play him. Lets blame everybody but the disturbed person who carried out this attack.
George Hunsucker
Northland
10 months, 1 week agoSo George, you are saying repeatedly seeing violence whether it be a video game or a movie has no effect on children. Interesting concept, bit I am ignorant as you say… You need a mirror?
Lukas Kubik
10 months, 1 week agoIt just irritates me SO MUCH when people immediately go and criticize movies, or games, for being too violent and brand them as an inspiration for these psychos. George Kirk is absolutely right and this has nothing to do with the movie. The movie is a highly anticipated sequel to one of the best movies of 2008, according to critics it’s a hell of a movie and marking it as overly violent or saying there’s too much terrorism in it, you guys should come to your senses and be rational for a change. How many people see the movie in the end? Millions… How many go nuts and start shooting people? Well, there’s one already, but it’s hardly because of a movie that he probably hadn’t even seen, concerning it was the premiere. Better handling of gun control makes more sense and is a lot more productive than blaming movies for being too violent. We live in a free world, I’ve been watching VIOLENT movies basicly for 20 years, and I don’t go around shooting people, hell I don’t even beat people, or animals, worst thing I kill a fly every now and then. So to the writer of this article and to Mr. Hansucker again, be so kind and start using your brains a bit more.
Lukas Kubik
10 months, 1 week agoYea, George H., that’s probably what George K. is saying, and I’m nodding fiercely. Sane person does understand the difference between a real world and a movie/video game. I bet you have seen your share of violent movies if you’re being such a smartass here. Tell me, have you ever shot anybody based on your experiences with those movies?
George Hunsucker
Northland
10 months, 1 week agoI don’t watch them…..
If you zealots would read my comment, I said REPEATED exposure to this fantasy crap… I don’t question the right to make it, I just question parents letting their kids see it REPEATEDLY… Geez…
Charles Purvis
10 months, 1 week agoSome people, when they realize they’ll never be famous, decide to be infamous instead. We should not oblige them. Let their names go virtually unmentioned, so that they never read a newspaper or watch a tv program with their names mentioned among the likes of Speck, Gacy, Chapman and others who have been burned into the memories of society by publicizing their foul deeds. Let them rot in prison anonymously.
Lukas Kubik
10 months, 1 week agoIndeed Charles, I can’t but agree. Why give them publicity when publicity is obviously what a lot of these guys are after?
And to George H.: What’s REPEATEDLY in your opinion? Because those of us who like movies have seen loads of action/sci-fi/horror/historical/fantasy or any other genre that involves violence in some form. As to whether or not should these movies be watched by children, well, that’s kinda up to their parents. But children sadly grow faster these days. My 6 yo cousin can browse web and she can hardly read. If I get her on her favourite game site, she can navigate using pictures pretty darn well. By the age of 10, she’ll probably know a lot more than we knew in her age. That’s how it is, information and all kinds of stimuli pour into nowadays kids’ lives every day. Doesn’t mean they’ll turn psycho. And, might I add, you shouldn’t be really speaking on the subject, since you don’t really know what these movies are about. Because as you pointed out, you don’t watch them. Reading about it in media doesn’t quite cut it.
George Hunsucker
Northland
10 months, 1 week agoI would define repeatedly as at least weekly…
So, do your cousin’s PARENTS let her watch violence on TV or movies or allow you to show her violent video games?
I suspect I rest my case Lukas….
Lukas Kubik
10 months, 1 week agoWell, she watches stuff with her sister who’s 10, and let me tell you, some of that stuff would have seemed disturbing in my days. Things like Harry Potter and well, actually even some “fairytales” are nowadays quite violent :) Then again, lot of our traditional fairytales are kind of horror stories to begin with. And she was around a few days ago while I was battling some dragons and bandits in Skyrim, not that she’d be really watching, she doesn’t care for these things, you know, she’s a baby girl :D But she’s definitely aware of it, she’s even playing some games that could be labeled as violent, albeit it’s mouses and teddy bears marching against each other and just poofing out of existence, still…
She doesn’t really seem damaged, she’s actually pretty smart and well behaving little girl :)
Joe Jones
10 months, 1 week ago“As it should, this incident will spur more calls for gun control and more angst over America’s obsession with guns.”
How about calls for Holder being responsible for the gun murder of a Border agent and gun murders of HUNDREDS of Mexican citizens?
Or, as in the Guthrie Song “Deportees” shall we just say
Goodbye to my Juan, farewell Roselita
Adios mis amigos, Jesus e Maria
You won’t have a name when you ride the big airplane
All they will call you will be deportees
So when Mexicans are murdered because you get frothy and weak-kneed at the sound of Obama’s name, all those hundreds of murders are fine? And the gun running is OK? Hell after all, they are “JUST MEXICANS”
Incredibly shallowness and hypocrisy
Lukas Kubik
10 months, 1 week agoJoe, sorry, you’re not really speaking to the topic. Go and flame about poor Mexicans getting killed somewhere else, please. This discussion is about movie inspired violence, not about America’s infamous hate of “illegal aliens” :)
Richard L Wagner
10 months, 1 week ago” Dark night of violence stains ‘The Dark Knight Rises”
This is a rather tragic story for bad headline puns, don’t you think?