The movie review aggregator web site RottenTomatoes.com has suspended user comments on reviews of "The Dark Knight Rises" after commenters reacted harshly to negative reviews of the film and directed threatening remarks at critics and one another.

t's the first time the website has ever had to take this step.

The movie had a 100% fresh rating until Marshall Fine of the movie blog Hollywood & Fine posted the first negative review, comparing the film to Transformers and setting off a backlash as Batman fans reacted to the film's perfect record being tarnished. Some were simply angry. Others expressed violent intent.

Eventually, the anger turned inward and the commenters began fighting amongst themselves. The wave of vitriol and aggression became too much for the Rotten Tomatoes staff.

Matt Atchity, the site's editor-in-chief, told The Associated Press Tuesday that it was the first time RottenTomatoes.com had suspended user comments, saying it "got to be too much hate based on reactions to reviews of movies that people hadn't even seen."

He added that comments would likely be re-opened by the end of the week. This would coincide with the film's Friday opening, which will allow the angry commenters to actually see the movie and form opinions based on that.