The Dark Knight Rises opening night was marred by a (likely insane) killer shooting an assault weapon in a Colorado movie theater at the audience.
So I have a whole story about my Batman opening night experience -- but gratefully it's nothing that big.
I also have a whole bunch of movie critiques. Equally 'not that big'.
I don't want some idiot with an assault rifle to hijack my need to comment and critique. So I'll go ahead anyway, but in the end I'll return to a brief talk about him.
I had a late dinner @ 10pm or so, and as I was driving home around 11pm, I saw the opening. I thought, 'let me check it out'. Tons of people were wearing costumes: some Batman inspired, some not, many just funny & weird. It was excting. And then I discovered it was completely sold out. I was about to leave, but a guy walks up and says, "Hey, you want my ticket? I can't see the show -- I've got a final to study for." I said sure, the guy ran into the theater, and then minutes later gave me his black wristband. I walked in showing the wristband, and I was in.
Yep, I got in for free on opening night ~ 5 min's before the first showing. SO that was *cool*.
Now to the movie.
*SPOILER ALERT* don't read more if you haven't seen & don't want to know yet.
Here we go:
"The autopilot doesn't work" x4
"Only a little kid climbed the wall" and your spine is broken -- oops, you're ok.
"the bomb will go off" ... in 8 months (!!!) - but luckily, with 10 seconds to spare, Batman saves the day.
I'm Batman, I can kick the crap out of hundreds of thugs -- except a girl with a knife...?
I'm Batman -- I can kick the crap out of hundreds of thugs... But a girl with a knife? Ow! I'm stabbed!
I'm Batman -- my spine is busted, would you mind hanging me from a rope & giving me a spinal karate chop? Haya!! Fixed. Thanks.
I'm Batman -- I've got no cartilage, badly healed bones, scar tissue, etc etc. But if I put this leg brace on, I'm fine...!
I'm Batman -- I'll go scare the crap out of baddies -- just let me put this black eye makeup on...
Catwoman -- can beat up tons of guys, but needs Batman b/c ... I didn't really understand what implied motivation was there at all. And why does he like her? Isn't she a thief, etc? That was a bit confusing...
Alfred the Butler -- "I've served you your whole life as Bruce and as Batman, but today I'm quitting because ..." no real reason except to have a fun twist at the end. Yawn.
The persistent annoying cop -- "My name is blah blah blah", at end a lady asks "why don't you go by your real name?" B/c it's stupid and I would've gotten teased -- Oh how I'd have loved to have heard that response! Or at least let him be NightWing & skip ... yech.
Bain -- let's put heavy effects on his voice, then hide his mouth. Gee, no one can understand his endless pontification? Is this good b/c the writing is bad?
Bain -- I'm going to leave you here (where, exactly? Somewhere in a hole), Batman, with a flat-screen and cable TV so you can watch me smash your city, and oops -- there's a convenient healer to take care of your broken spine. HA HA HA (evil laugh)
Bain -- I'm a big guy, but b/c my master was your master, Batman, I can fight as well as you. Better even. Guess you should've used a gun?
Catwoman -- no one can find anything on her, except Batman who can get her info in ~ 5 minutes?
Didn't Bruce Wayne go broke in this film also? How exactly did that happen again?
And what was with building a nuclear reactor under their reservoir? Are other companies doing this?!??!
I could say more, b/c I felt that this movie sucked WORSE than the other 2, but that's pretty much enough.
Now to the killer -- there is simply no excuse for opening fire on a room full of theater goers. Even if the movie has characters who do the exact same thing. I truly believe that sane folks should not have a problem differentiating films from reality -- but insane paranoid schizophrenics might have a harder time. Which says to me that so-called "PG" movies with death counts of >100 people may not be good for unbalanced people.
I was saddened and angry that a killer took this stuff seriously -- but I am not running around saying "he is bad" or "he is evil" or anything. It seems that unstable people who watch violent films might feel like they're getting a message which is encouraging them to do stuff like what's in the movies. Heck, we already now have real-life 'caped crusaders' running around various cities!!
