The Colorado Movie Theater Shooting

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/20/us/colorado-theater-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

CNN seems to have the most information and video clips so far. At least in the time I've been searching.

This is positively devastating. My heart dropped and has remained, heavy in the pit of my stomach, since I woke up today and read about the shooting at the theater in Colorado. To think a few hours ago I was writing my post, feeling wonderful after seeing The Dark Knight Rises. I almost feel selfish for feeling so happy. I had no idea what was going on across the country.

My heart, my weighted heart, goes out to all of those affected by the shooting. Everyone is in my prayers.

What inspires this type of evil? Why does it exist? How could someone do this?

An event like this casts such a dark shadow over the Batman series. I wish it didn't. I feel as if there is a darkness that will follow this series and other comic book movies to come. My boyfriend just texted me: "I'm not sure I want to watch [the news]. I'm actually upset because this guy ruined something incredible, and hurt so many people that love Batman." I couldn't have said it better.

All I can hope for is that all movies, but especially comic-book movies, survive this. One act by an undeniably evil person should not affect something so wonderful and genuinely good, forever.

What type of people were injured in this shooting? Adults and children. Adults and children who love movies. Adults and children who love comic books. That might be the most upsetting aspect of this--that the gunman injured innocent people who were in the theater just to watch something they love and look up to. These people were fans. What logic could have brought the gunman to believe that fans of anything deserved to be hurt?

I hope that people remember to blame the shooter and not the film. The character of Batman stands against everything that this man represents, as do all comic book heroes. Let's not forget that.

The Dark Knight Rises

It's 4:17 AM.

I saw it. It was amazing. I don't think I have enough words in my vocabulary (which is comprised of three languages) to express how much I loved this film.

It might be the fatigue, but I honestly cannot think of anything I didn't like about this movie.

Well, I have a question about how far a nuclear bomb needs to be in order to not be detrimental to a city and the surrounding wildlife environment around it. However, that's pretty much irrelevant.

Because The Dark Knight Rises was UNBELIEVABLE. I am in awe over what a well-crafted story it was. How does someone do that? How do you link so many elements together? My dorky-English-self definitely saw that the symbolism in some of the shots was undeniably intentional and incredibly poetic.

Here's just a few bullet points (without any spoilers):

• Anne Hathaway. I love her. I loved her even before the makeover in The Princess Diaries. I knew she was going to be an amazing Catwoman, and she was. Dear Christopher Nolan, thank you for not making Catwoman crazy, obsessed with cats, obsessed with cat jokes, blonde, disgustingly skinny, and/or over-sexualized. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I wish I could write spoilers. I spoke of symbolism? Watch the end and and think about the title.
• Bane. Tom Hardy. Bane. Tom Hardy.
• Effing cool gadgets.
• Evocative dialogue.
• Christian Bale, the best Batman to date. Although embarrassingly, I grew up loving George Clooney as Batman. I attribute this to Batgirl being in the movie and my overwhelming love of superheroines in the media.

I can't think anymore. I'm so tired. I just want to drift into a happy, wonderful, post-movie, fuzzy-feelings sleep.

MK says...5/5. 10/5. 100/5. Go see it. The end. Goodnight.