The Dark Knight Extends 'til Dawn

This from the New York Times:

"In a frenzy, fans have bought so many late-night tickets for the July 18 opening of the next Batman movie that theaters in places like San Diego, Chicago, and even Eagan, Minn., are scheduling 6 a.m. screenings for those who can’t get in at midnight or 3 in the morning."

It seems likely, they're going to see Heath Ledger's last on-screen performance. It'd be easy to read this news as morbid, as vultures picking over the dead, but I find it exciting and uplifiting in a way.

Ledger's death was shocking and tragic. Mainstream America didn't realize he was struggling with depression, anxiety, extreme insomnia and was lost in a mix of prescription drugs. His death was sudden and sad. This film provides an opportunity for people to sit together in a dark room and appreciate him and his talent, silently, as a group. It will be cathartic. It will be public grieving. Which I have said before, I am a big fan of.

I'm sure, given the nature of entertainment reporting nowadays, the hoopla surrounding this film will get disgusting and overbearing. But for now, I love that people are flocking to see Heath Ledger's last role. It makes me much happier than having them buy his action figure. At least they'll get an experience out of this. He was an amazing talent. He was outstanding in Brokeback Mountain, and also, something a lot of people forget about, Billy Bob Thornton's son who commits suicide in Monster's Ball. Wow! Knocked my socks off.

I think The Dark Knight is something we all should see in the theaters, because we should be together to mourn the loss of this great young actor.