More controversy "Joker": The theaters prohibit the costumes; Aurora families involved

The controversies surrounding Warner Brothers' "Joker" movie are not amusing.

The $ 55-million film depicting the rise of Batman's rival with a face of forced clown forces Landmark Theaters, the country's largest independent film channel, to extend its ban on facial masks and guns. toy to include the spectators dressed in any costume during the theatrical tour of the film. .

Since the shooting of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado, at midnight, most movie theaters in the country have not allowed clients or employees to wear masks and face paint, or wear toy weapons. However, body suits were generally allowed. "The Dark Knight Rises" featured Batman struggling with the Joker.

The families of the victims of this shooting also asked the Burbank-based studio to take special precautions during the release of this film, including not showing the film at the theater where the shooting took place seven years ago.

Five families have sent a letter to Warner's new CEO, Ann Sarnoff, asking him as well as the studio "to be part of the growing group of business leaders who understand that they have the social responsibility to ensure our safety to all. "

This letter asked the AT & T parent company to stop donating money to politicians who withdraw money from the National Rifle Association and Warner to donate to groups that help victims of gun violence. The response scandalized those who sent the letter.

"With other survivors of the Aurora shoot in 2012, we wrote @warnerbros to express the sorrow and concern aroused by their new movie Joker. Quite frankly, we found that their response was lacking, "tweeted Sandy Phillips, whose daughter was killed during a large-scale shootings.

The studio's response: "Armed violence in our society is a critical issue and we express our deepest sympathy to all the victims and families affected by these tragedies," said Warner Bros., adding, "Our society has has long been donating to victims of violence, including Aurora, and in recent weeks, our parent company has joined with other business leaders to call on policy makers to adopt bipartite legislation to combat this epidemic . "

In 2012, Warner Bros. donated $ 1 million or more to charities defending victims of the Aurora shootings.

Cinemark, who owns the Century Aurora Theater where mass filming took place, apparently would not have the intention of showing "Joker".

On October 4, this image published by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Joaquin Phoenix in a scene of "Joker". He is alarmed by the violence presented in a trailer of the movie "Joker", with relatives of the victims of the 2012 movie Aurora.

Nevertheless, the film raised concerns. Earlier this week, the military newspaper "Stars and Stripes" reported that Oklahoma's military commanders had been warned of the potential threat of violence during the theatrical release of the upcoming movie "Joker", although officials of law enforcement are not certain theaters likely to be affected.

The paper wrote that a memo from the command of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Army had alerted commanders in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, about an intelligence bulletin that an organization Texan law enforcement working with the FBI had uncovered "disturbing and very specific discussions on the dark web" about the possible targeting of an unknown theater for a mass shot at the release of the 4 October.

Sandy Phillips also said that she had requested a meeting with studio officials, including Dee Dee Myers, the former press secretary of former President Bill Clinton, but that she had been pushed back.

Even within the Aurora families, Warner Brothers' actions regarding this film and their concerns diverge. "I know Sandy Phillips did not think the reaction of the Warner Brothers was enough, but for me it was that," Tina Coon, whose son survived the Aurora shooting, told FOX Business. "I think they made a very nice statement, so for me, I'm satisfied. But I know that Phillips are not. "

The R-rated film is expected to bring in $ 80 million during the box office opening weekend and will only increase the pain of the families affected by the Aurora shootings. "My son Tanner was in the movie theater during filming and he is suffering from post-traumatic stress so far," said Coon. like that. "

"The Dark Knight Rises" presented the late Heath Ledger as the Joker for which he won an Oscar. This new film stars Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, a comedian and sick clown in the new movie. His character struggles to integrate into society and becomes a villain over the course of the film.

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Regarding the growing controversy surrounding the film, Joker director Todd Phillips (no relation to Sandy) told critics and concerned people via an interview with IGN that people should watch the film before making a judgment. "The film makes statements about lack of love, childhood trauma, lack of compassion in the world." Phillips said, "I think people can handle this message."