Aftermath of the Colorado theater shooting

I wrote yesterday my direct link to the shooting at the Century 16 theater shooting during the midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises. I went online this morning and we are already seeing the aftermath of the shooting. Not only are 12 people still dead but the effect on Warner Bros., Christopher Nolan, and the entire country is a bit overwhelming.

1. Warner Bros. has announced it will not report the opening weekend box office numbers for The Dark Knight Rises out of respect for the victims and their families.

“Out of respect for the victims and their families, Warner Bros. Pictures will not be reporting box office numbers for The Dark Knight Rises throughout the weekend. Box office numbers will be released on Monday.”

 2. AMC Theaters has banned costumes and face covering masks for moviegoers and several TV networks, including NBC and CBS, have pulled TV spots and trailers for The Dark Knight Rises. The new trailer for Gangster Squad was also pulled from before the film due to the fact that there is a scene in the trailer of a hit squad opening fire on a movie theater. It has also been rumored than Warner Bros. is currently revising the main theatrical trailer and the current TV spots to edit out a majority of the violence and weapons.

3. In addition to the costume ban, several theaters have increased security both outside and inside the theater complexes. Both private security and city police officers have been brought into several theaters to patrol around.

4. The director of the recent Batman trilogy, Christopher Nolan, also made a statement regarding the theater shooting.

"Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of 'The Dark Knight Rises,' I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community. I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families."

*sigh*
This is just sad, guys. It's so close to home for me, literally. I am shaken. However, I did still go see The Dark Knight Rises at a different theater last night. My review will be up soon.

Gunman kills 12 and shoots 70+ at Colorado movie theater

This is one of my two local movie theaters and I am happy to say I was not at the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises that was massacred by a gunman, James Holmes. The gunman opened fire in Theater 9 of a Cinemark theater in Colorado killing 12 people, including a 6-year old, and wounding over 70 with a semi-automatic assault rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun. He also used gas canisters and supposedly used flash-bang grenades.
The story is, as of right now, that Holmes entered the theater as a normal viewer, exited out of the emergency exit, propped the door open, and returned approximately 20-30 minutes later dressed in military tactical gear (aka, riot gear) setting off gas canisters and grenades and opening fire on the rest of the people in the theater. When he was apprehended by police outside the back entrance of the theater he apparently referred to himself as The Joker and his apartment is booby trapped with IEDs (aka, improvised explosive devices).

I am shocked and upset. I could have, and would have, been there if I didn't work early today. If I would have had an afternoon shift today I would have been there for the marathon including the midnight showing. I am shaken as hell. I am happy they caught the asshole. I hope he's happy with himself for killing 12 people including a child. I can't believe this.