THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

Nolan Defends Batman Fans

Says death threats prove their passion.

The Dark Knight Rises director Christopher Nolan defended fans who made death threats at critics who gave his film negative reviews on Wednesday at the movie’s London premiere. “I think the fans are very passionate about these characters the way a lot of people are very passionate,” he said. Review-aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes suspended user comments after vitriolic, threatening discourse from Dark Knight Rises fans. Nolan also scoffed at Rush Limbaugh’s assertion that the movie’s villain, Bane, is a purposeful dig at Mitt Romney and his controversial ties to Bain Capital: “I’m not sure how to address something that bizarre, to be honest. I really don’t have an answer for it; it’s a very peculiar comment to make.”