The Dark Knight Rises Colorado Shooting Shouldn't Stop You Visiting Cinema

As you undoubtedly know by now, something absolutely horrible happened on Friday. James Holmes walked into a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado, and opened fire, killing 12 people and wounding 58. It is one of the worst mass shootings in American history. Christopher Nolan issued this response to the tragedy:

€œSpeaking 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 theater 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.€

Nolan hits at one thing that makes this shooting so scary and troubling. The movie theater is not a place where the viewer is harassed. People who go to the movies can get away from whatever problems they've experienced throughout their day if only for a few hours. Movies can provide an escape. Now many people are understandably avoiding The Dark Knight Rises and movie theaters because of what happened, and that is what the shooter wants. Now he has made such an impact that some people can't disassociate The Dark Knight Rises and movie theaters with the shooting. So what should we do? Go see a movie. If it is at all possible for you to go see a movie without worry this week, do it. Many people put a great deal of work and care into making The Dark Knight Rises entertain its audience, and their work deserves to be seen. But it doesn't have to be The Dark Knight Rises, it can be any of the quality movies we have out now. Go see Moonrise Kingdom. Go see Brave. Heck, go see The Amazing Spider-Man (as a last resort). Movie theaters are struggling now because of VOD and pirating, and something like this could be the nail in the coffin. Don't let it be. We can't let this tragedy keep us in fear. We have to face the problem head on and overcome it. So grab some friends, buy some popcorn, and let your mind distance itself from the tragedy for a little while. Don't stop doing what you love because of this. I'll see you at the movies. You can donate to help the victims of Aurora, Co by clicking here.