Batman director laments theatre tragedy

The Dark Knight Rises director Christopher Nolan has lamented the "senseless tragedy" of the massacre at a Colorado movie theatre showing his latest Batman film, calling the attack "unbearably savage".

The Oscar-nominated filmmaker, who cancelled the French premiere of The Dark Knight Rises and a media junket in Paris hours after the shootings, said the killings violated the "innocent" place he calls his "home" - the cinema.

"Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew ... I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community," Nolan said on Friday, referring to the town where the massacre occurred.

"I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie."

British-American Nolan is director of the Batman trilogy that started with Batman Begins in 2005, The Dark Knight in 2008, and The Dark Knight Rises in 2012.

He wrote and directed 2010 thriller Inception, which won four Oscars out of the eight categories it was nominated for. In 2002, Nolan was also nominated for best screenplay Oscar for Memento.

"I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime," Nolan said.

"The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me," he added.

"Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families."

Photo: Director Christopher Nolan (centre) with stars of The Dark Knight Rises, Christian Bale (left) and Anne Hathaway (right)