Masked gunman shoots 12 dead at Batman screening

[Goldash]

Been all over the news today, but: www.imdb.com/news/ni32429867

Gunman was a doctoral candidate in his mid 20's without a criminal record. Not many details yet but dude's in custody and seemed oddly calm when being apprehended. Seemed premeditated, especially considering he used tear gas. But killing kids at a movie? REALLY?

Motive unknown, but I guarantee there's going to be yet another debate about the content of violence and violent characters in film resulting from this. As someone who works in the media field, this debate's probably never going to go away anyway, but we're going to be hearing about this for a while now.

It's really sad these films have to be associated with real-life deaths --- Heath Ledger for the Dark Knight and now the victims of this shooting for Dark Knight Rises. Thoughts and prayers go out to the wounded and deceased.

[Goldash]

You know, one of the biggest thoughts running though my head as I heard this for the first time was, "God I hope this idiot isn't trying to emulate one of the characters from the Batman/Dark Knight movie series...went on CNN's "Live Blog" of the details and I see this:

[Updated 4:35 p.m. ET] Colorado shooting suspect James Holmes had colored his hair red and told police that he was “the Joker,” a federal law enforcement source with detailed knowledge of the investigation told CNN's Susan Candiotti.

( Source: news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/20...ple/?hpt=hp_t1 )

Ledger's Joker character in Dark Knight had green hair. You fail, psychotic gunman. Who knows if he was really trying to emulate Joker's actions, but if he's really trying to emulate Joker's actions, he's truly stupid. Shooting up a movie theatre of random, innocent people to be like your movie hero (providing he actually wanted to do such a thing) is not something I'd expect from a doctoral candidate without any criminal record.

[Rodney Xavior]

Problem is... It's never somebody you expect.

It's so sad. My wife manages a movie theater and even though we don't live anywhere near Colorado, I couldn't help but get chills. It could have been any midnight showing anywhere in this country.

Truly sad.

[DayWalker]

All i got i say is very sad and also reminds of columbine high school shootings that was sad event to contend with.

my prayers and hearts goes out to all the victims families and loved ones in Aurora .;

[Goldash]

I think Christian Bale helping the victims in Colorado was an amazing gesture for a guy who's notorious for his own personal issues. And it wasn't a photo op --- he chatted with the victims and their families in the hospital and attended vigils/memorials. Really awesome gesture by Bale and despite what he may have done in the past on movie sets or off the screen, I have gained so much respect for him as a person for not phoning something like this in or doing it for PR.

[Malaphesto]

and now there's a t-shirt
www.tshirthell.com/funny-shirts/pirating-movies-saves-lives/

[Goldash]

HAH! Good call, T-Shirt Hell.

^{That being said, I don't think they're being serious at all, they're known for silly t-shirts that blur the lines of good and bad taste.}