I debated many times in my head on whether to do this or not. After all, this site is all about the fun that entails in every single thing we review. If we hope to accomplish SOMETHING here at Adventure Amigos, it’s so that you can come home after a long day at work, crack a beer (if your significant other allows beer by the computer) and read. Read our daily thoughts on technology. On beer. On food. On books. And, yes, on movies. So, you may be asking, “if that is your purpose, why is there an avatar of Batman with a memorial next to him? Why are you bringing up something so heinous as what tragically happened at a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado in which 19 people were killed and 39 more injured in the worst public shooting in history?” This question registers a simple answer: because something that everyone who has come to our site at one time or another has at least one thing in common with us at Adventure Amigos. We all love movies. And, the sanctity of that love was violated.

I don’t know about you, but there is something about going into a darkened movie theater that feels sacred to me. You see, even in our darkest of times, we can count on people who have honed their craft to throw their images onscreen and for at least a couple hours, you are put in the hands of a filmmaker. Right before the film starts, you can almost hear yourself say, ‘bring it on. Let me see what you have in your sleeve that thrills me. Accelerates me. Amazes me.” Lots of times, this is not what happens. But, there is no better feeling than being on the edge of my seat laughing, crying, and reacting to the loud sounds from the speakers and moving images on the screen. However, one thing that seems to escape most people is that in this entire running time, we are vulnerable. Vulnerable because we are in the dark. But, we should feel safe. And, I guess that is the point of what I am trying to say here.

When I first decided that I had to say something about this, I went through ways in just how I wanted to do it. At first, it was going to be through a dedication in the beginning of our next Amigo Radio Show. After all, hearing the words that I have to say spoken could be looked at as more personal. However, my good friend and owner of this site David Mayne proved once again how brilliant he is by telling me to write it out. It’s brilliant because all of you have come to the site at one time or another, and read what I have had to say about your favorite (or not so favorite) movies. And, for this, I thank you guys. It makes me feel good to know that you put your faith in my words as much as you put your faith in someone like Christopher Nolan’s images. The fact that someone whom I will not even call by name walked into a movie theater and murdered people such as yourselves in cold blood makes me, as your writer of these reviews, sick.

In the end, I feel that Warner Brothers and the makers of The Dark Knight Rises are handling the aftermath correctly. Nolan has released a classy personal statement. Warner Brothers announced they would make a ‘substantial donation.’ And Christian Bale has shown a healthy amount of class by showing up in person, no entourage in site, to wish the victims well. You may be saying, ‘they shouldn’t have to do this.’ And, I for one would agree with you. However, the conclusion I came to in thinking about whether to get my words out there is that I have close ties to Colorado. I have many family and friends that I love dearly who live there. I also know that our future Amigo Radio guest Marcey has spent a substantial amount of time there. In fact, with her being from Australia, she has had nothing but great things to say about the fine state of Colorado since she’s been back. The thought of anyone I am near and close to being slaughtered for going to a movie in this or any other state is very disheartening. And, while I know for a fact that none of these people have ties to anyone that was there, one of my favorite podcasts Now Playing has an editor whose friend was killed in the incident. This is where it hurts and hits home. Which is why, without calling attention to it blatantly, we want to dedicate our next Amigo Radio Show to the memory of anyone who was affected by this tragedy. Sure, I may be no more than someone whose words you read. But, I am also someone who sees how full the screenings of the film since the incident have been and can’t help but smile. Smile at the unity of people not wanting to give up their love of movies. And, while I will for now on be keeping a close eye on anyone who walks into a movie after it starts for at least a couple months, I want to urge everyone to once again go to that dark place and see that movie you have been aching to watch. Let yourself be taken in by what the camera sees, and what your mind takes in. Because, no one wins after a good movie has excited you for two hours more than you. And, the ones you love, who you dragged by both arms to see it with, but ended up liking it as well.

Aurora, Colorado;

From everyone here at Adventure Amigos, our thoughts and prayers are with you.