Evening folks. You've probably already heard, but early into the wee hours this morning, a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado underwent a great tragedy when a gunman let loose during a midnight screening of Dark Knight Rises. It was a senseless crime, and I hope they get what they deserve. But for now (and eternity, actually), I'm just there in spirit for the affected people who were either killed or injured; they were just fans going out to celebrate a good time, and unfortunately paid an unnecessary price.
There is something that's been ticking my mind for a few days now tho, specifically revolving some of the hardcore fandom surrounding Dark Knight Rises. I don't know what it is about the movie (well, I can certainly speculate, given that both Begins and Dark Knight were fantastic films in their own right), but there seems to be a very small, yet very passionate, segment of the fanbase that has been outright spiteful to anyone and anything that dares to challenge the film as being none other than 'Perfect'. I noticed this upfront when I visited Rotten Tomatoes, catching a glimpse of comments surrounding the first negative review. That section literally exploded in moments with all sorts of derogatory comments aimed specifically at the reviewer. I'm talking death threats-like comments here, folks. Granted this is the most anticipated film of the year bar none, but for fuck's sake...it's just one negative review, and not an especially damning one at that.
Now, fast-forward a few days later up to the first midnight screenings ushering the film onto the general public, and we get this senseless tragedy in Aurora. I can't speak much of the gunman's mindstate (and, for sake of respect of the affected, I won't mention his name), but with the miniscule number of facts that have poured in, he sounds a lot like an extremist hardcore Batman fanatic, or at least a hardcore extremist Nolanite. And, make no mistake, I'm not trying to plaster this insane guy as the face for the crazies in either the Batman or Nolan fanbases, not even the ones posting slamming comments. Fairly sure 99% of them would never even think of doing what this guy has done. Having said that, though, it does at least illustrate a case of where fandom goes too far, a point where it maybe needs to be reigned in, before it becomes too late.
I'm absolutely sure Nolan will comment on this even soon, if he hasn't already. I know he will not condone this sort of act, and it's absolutely shameful Dark Knight Rises' premier is being saddled by this sort of episode. I also hope the media doesn't jump down the film's throat and insinuate it somehow promotes this sort of horrific violence. But the health of any fandom means that the rationale, healthy fans have to do their parts to keep the unruly, irrational ones in check. I consider myself a fan of Batman and Nolan's Batman films, absolutely. Because of that, I hope to do my part-even if it's just microscopic-to show how against I am to these sorts of incidents, whether they be physical or virtual.
Nonetheless, I also hold the creators themselves in a high position of responsibility, and I have to be honest...I didn't like the fact Nolan defended the sort of fans that bad-mouthed and threatened some of the critics of these negative reviews. Personally, I see those sorts of fans as the kind that turn new people from joining what's otherwise pretty awesome, and one can't blame them. I hold that sort of action against him, but he's allowed to say and feel as he wishes.
There's an even bigger angle I could attack this from; again, we don't know what was going through the gunman's mind, but things couldn't have been clicking for him on all sides personal, professional, economic etc. However, this isn't the best time to do that. I likely shouldn't have even delved into bringing up my own personal feelings on "that segment" of the fanbase. In the end, I just feel personally for those who have suffered this hell. We're in a time of diminishing hope and future prospects, and fewer things we can call dear and near. Maybe that's why certain extremists in fanbases attack with such vigor,...maybe that's why the worst of the worst go to do insane acts like killing people. Yet, I'm certain those same factors are part of the reason there are fans who like to bask in the good that can be had, to cherish those times with fellow like-minded people and living the grandness of life, even if for just a moment, even if they're critical of that great energy along the way. But they don't deserve to be discriminated against for it,...and they sure as hell don't deserve to die for it. Let's all try to work together, and marginalize the occurrence of these tragedies for our and future generations.
I'm signing off for tonight. L8r folks.
There is something that's been ticking my mind for a few days now tho, specifically revolving some of the hardcore fandom surrounding Dark Knight Rises. I don't know what it is about the movie (well, I can certainly speculate, given that both Begins and Dark Knight were fantastic films in their own right), but there seems to be a very small, yet very passionate, segment of the fanbase that has been outright spiteful to anyone and anything that dares to challenge the film as being none other than 'Perfect'. I noticed this upfront when I visited Rotten Tomatoes, catching a glimpse of comments surrounding the first negative review. That section literally exploded in moments with all sorts of derogatory comments aimed specifically at the reviewer. I'm talking death threats-like comments here, folks. Granted this is the most anticipated film of the year bar none, but for fuck's sake...it's just one negative review, and not an especially damning one at that.
Now, fast-forward a few days later up to the first midnight screenings ushering the film onto the general public, and we get this senseless tragedy in Aurora. I can't speak much of the gunman's mindstate (and, for sake of respect of the affected, I won't mention his name), but with the miniscule number of facts that have poured in, he sounds a lot like an extremist hardcore Batman fanatic, or at least a hardcore extremist Nolanite. And, make no mistake, I'm not trying to plaster this insane guy as the face for the crazies in either the Batman or Nolan fanbases, not even the ones posting slamming comments. Fairly sure 99% of them would never even think of doing what this guy has done. Having said that, though, it does at least illustrate a case of where fandom goes too far, a point where it maybe needs to be reigned in, before it becomes too late.
I'm absolutely sure Nolan will comment on this even soon, if he hasn't already. I know he will not condone this sort of act, and it's absolutely shameful Dark Knight Rises' premier is being saddled by this sort of episode. I also hope the media doesn't jump down the film's throat and insinuate it somehow promotes this sort of horrific violence. But the health of any fandom means that the rationale, healthy fans have to do their parts to keep the unruly, irrational ones in check. I consider myself a fan of Batman and Nolan's Batman films, absolutely. Because of that, I hope to do my part-even if it's just microscopic-to show how against I am to these sorts of incidents, whether they be physical or virtual.
Nonetheless, I also hold the creators themselves in a high position of responsibility, and I have to be honest...I didn't like the fact Nolan defended the sort of fans that bad-mouthed and threatened some of the critics of these negative reviews. Personally, I see those sorts of fans as the kind that turn new people from joining what's otherwise pretty awesome, and one can't blame them. I hold that sort of action against him, but he's allowed to say and feel as he wishes.
There's an even bigger angle I could attack this from; again, we don't know what was going through the gunman's mind, but things couldn't have been clicking for him on all sides personal, professional, economic etc. However, this isn't the best time to do that. I likely shouldn't have even delved into bringing up my own personal feelings on "that segment" of the fanbase. In the end, I just feel personally for those who have suffered this hell. We're in a time of diminishing hope and future prospects, and fewer things we can call dear and near. Maybe that's why certain extremists in fanbases attack with such vigor,...maybe that's why the worst of the worst go to do insane acts like killing people. Yet, I'm certain those same factors are part of the reason there are fans who like to bask in the good that can be had, to cherish those times with fellow like-minded people and living the grandness of life, even if for just a moment, even if they're critical of that great energy along the way. But they don't deserve to be discriminated against for it,...and they sure as hell don't deserve to die for it. Let's all try to work together, and marginalize the occurrence of these tragedies for our and future generations.
I'm signing off for tonight. L8r folks.
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