Batman fan or not, everyone is excited to see The Dark Knight Rises, the latest of the Batman movie franchise.

Unfortunately, the premiere of the movie ended in tragedy in a movie house in Aurora, Colorado when a masked man threw a smoke bomb and open fired on moviegoers.  Twelve people died and 38 others were wounded in the incident, but earlier reports stated that 14 people died.  The assailant has been arrested but his identity has been kept from the public but authorities stated that the gunman was a native of Aurora.

Warner Bros., the company who released the film, was saddened by what transpired and released a statement:

“Warner Bros. is deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident. We extend our sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims at this tragic time.”

Because of the incident, the authorities in New York beefed up security for the weekend premiere of the movie, but Parisians are taking things more seriously – they’ve cancelled the premiere in a movie theater in Champs-Elysees Avenue, for fear or the same thing happening in their neck of the woods.

We at SiliconANGLE extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victims in this mindless shooting.

This situation just makes me wish that Batman was real.  Sounds juvenile but aren’t we all hoping that a superhero would rise up and bring an end to all these crimes?

Since superheroes aren’t real, we’ll just have to live with the ones we read in comic books or the ones we see in movies.  But that doesn’t mean we can’t pretend to be one, right?

Our favorite Batman apps

The Dark Knight Rises Z+
If you want to be in Gotham City or feel like you are part of the movie, this app is the bomb!  It give you Augmented Sound so you’d hear things as if you’re actually in Gotham City. You also have access to over two hours of exclusive music including the extended “Origins” soundtrack.  Plus, this app lets you fly the BAT with actual movie sound effects to get you in the zone.

“I’m hoping to give fans of this beloved trilogy the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the soundscapes and atmospheres of the world of the Dark Knight,” Hans Zimmerman, creater of the movie soundtrack, said.  “This new app allows users to be part of the film in a way that goes beyond the movie screen—it’s the difference between looking at a photo of a river, and being able to drop your hand over the side of the boat and feel the currents of the water tug as the river takes you on a journey.” Hans Zimmer

The Dark Knight Rises
This app for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices is from Gameloft.  This app lets users play as the Dark Knight to fight off the biggest threat Gotham has ever faced – Bane.  Deal with hostage situations, bomb squads, jailbreaks and car chases to prove that you’re the true protector of Gotham.

Batman gadgets and gear

Nokia released  a special edition Lumia 900 just for the occasion – the Dark Knight Rises Special Edition.  This limited edition Windows Phone comes with a Batman logo laser-etched on the back, with exclusive Dark Knight Rises themes and applications.  Though it has the same specs as the regular Lumia, it looks tough and sleek, just like the Dark Knight.

Keep your files safe with a Dark Knight Rises 8GB USB Flash Drive  or a 4GB Batmobile thumb drive.  Keep your side table looking cool with a lava lamp or a collapsible desk clock.  Bring your room to life with a great Batman poster to finish off the look.

You don’t have to attend ComicCon or don a costume to be like the Dark Knight.  You can wear a custom designed Converse sneakers, a simple shirt, accessorize with a cool necklace or a simple etched bracelet.

If you’re a woman, you can still have Batman inspired clothes and accessories without compromising your girly-girly side.  Start off with a simple pair of earrings, put some nail art, and finish off with Batman inspired flats.  You don’t have to over do it and go crazy by wearing Batman clothes.  Just keep it simple.