The Dark Knight From LatinoReview: Joker Intro SPOILERS!

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

I absolutely love the fact that The Joker is putting a bounty of sorts on Batman's head.

It's not a fact.

 

[ActuallyRobin]

I absolutely love the fact that The Joker is putting a bounty of sorts on Batman's head.

cant escape it really :]

 

[Chaos Bringer]

Why would the Joker have a grudge against Batman if they haven't met each other yet?

isn't there supposed to be some anime with a middle tale of what goes on between begins and knight ?

joker is already existing in the end of begins... perhaps in this middle tale we'll learn why there's a grudge.

 

[Jokers_Wild]

Yes, so the scene that begins the film is not where the story actually begins. Good point, well done. So, let's say the mob 'hires' Joker to go after Batman, but then they lose focus and interest in Joker. Maybe they even screw him over. Joker robs the bank to become the center of attention again, maybe get some revenge on the mob. (Bet his gang doesn't know his real motivation!) That all hangs together nicely as far as I am concerned, and is consistent with the confirmed details (the sides, the teaser) that we have.

This out-of-order theory also explains why the Joker is wearing a mask. By this point, his face is probably well-known, and he's something of a target. The bank manager, therefore, recognizes him, as the 'sides' dialogue implies. He says 'WHAT are you?' not 'WHO are you?', and he knows that Joker has a 'different' agenda ("Criminals in this town used to believe in things. Honor. Respect."). He's not saying this because Joker robs his bank, which he believes to be suicidal (he says as much before the mask comes off). He says this because he knows about other things Joker has done, and they make no sense to him.

Like the bank manager, WE also recognize Joker when we see him. So by presenting the bank scene out of order at the beginning, Nolan starts the film off by giving the audience a dramatic 'reveal' of the character. (Remember how Batman 89 handled this reveal, with Joker stepping out of the shadows?) No wonder he thought this scene was important enough to shoot with IMAX.

Normally, a thief burning money stolen from a bank would not actually wipe out that money. That money is insured by the Federal Government. Maybe since it is 'grey market' money it isn't properly insured, however. I suppose they can work around that point. Anyway, as others have said, the scheme does sound quite Jokerish. He's not motivated by money per se, and isn't THAT what Alfred was really saying in that teaser dialogue?

Remember, the FDIC only ensures accounts for up to $100,000. I'm sure the mob would have millions of dollars in those accounts.

 

[Naite22]

I haven't read it myself (I just copied and pasted this)

It sounds ****ing badass! simple, yet so cool... The teaser just doesn't make sense than (but I know it's just a teaser). Alred says, "in their desperation they turned to a man they didn't fully understand"... But if this is legit, it seems to be the other way around. The Joker goes to the mob!

 

[brobdingnag]

I haven't read it myself (I just copied and pasted this)

Wow, I mean Begins was boring but I think they have found new levels of boring for this one.

 

[Naite22]

^ dude!.... I think you better get out of here before you get flamed! Go watch Fantastic Four instead... Sounds more appropiate for your age.

 

[king Nav]

bb
is boring no doubt
too long and not many fights!
it needs to feel more comic book like
were there's a fight everyother page!

 

[TheBatman072]

^ dude!.... I think you better get out of here before you get flamed! Go watch Fantastic Four instead... Sounds more appropiate for your age.

Owned.

 

[CeeJay]

King Nav, just how old are you, mate?

 

[king Nav]

cee jay
do u know how to have a laugh
so serious
batman fans

 

[Juggernaut33]

Well, these first 5 minutes do offer a concise explanation of who Joker is. Take another look at what the bank manager says in the sides. Joker apparently believes in nothing. His motivations are unfathomable (and you always fear what you don't understand...). Also, look at the manager's reaction - he is terrified. Then Joker shoots him in cold blood.

I find this consistent with Nolan's remarks.

And yes, this may have come after the Joker's faked death. That's another possible reason for the mask, then - he's supposed to be dead, after all. Naturally, the bank manager would be shocked to see the face of a 'dead' man under the mask.

Ok but...

Spoiler

EXT. BANK - DAY
MASK-WEARING THUGS prepare to break into a bank

GRUMPY
Four of a kind. Let's do this.

Chuckles checks his automatic weapon.

CHUCKLES
Four guys? That's it?

GRUMPY
There's two on the roof. Every guy is an extra share. Six shares is plenty.

CHUCKLES
Seven shares. Don't forget the guy who planned the job.

GRUMPY
Yeah? He thinks he can sit it out and still take a slice - he’s out of his mind.

CHUCKLES
You gonna tell him that?

Grumpy flashes a gun.

GRUMPY
Right after I put two in his heart.

CHUCKLES
If you can find his heart. Some say he ain't even human.

GRUMPY
You mean the chicken ****s who believe in ghost. That you?

CHUCKLES
Hey, guys harder than the both of us are afraid of him...

GRUMPY
Look, you wanna hang back and tell scary stories, be my guess. Just means a larger share for me.

CHUCKLES
You know what? You're onto something.

GRUMPY
What?

Chuckles aims his weapon at Grumpy.

CHUCKLES
Less guys. Larger shares.

They are conscious that they are working for the Joker. No for me this theory doesn't work. The Joker's introducing in The Dark Knight will be taking place at the beginning of the storyline. Don't think it will be a flashback.

 

[Naite22]

bb
is boring no doubt
too long and not many fights!
it needs to feel more comic book like
were there's a fight everyother page!

What a crock of bull. ALL superhero movies have a feel of beeing comic-book-like, EXCEPT BB! That is why it stands out, comprende?!.... Batman from 89' had that feel you're looking for, so watch that instead. Begins took a completely different direction than any other superhero flick had ever done before (and that is why it's GREAT!)... Oh, and it's anything BUT boring!

 

[Darknightnomis]

Cool...if true.

 

[king Nav]

no u dont get it
i want more fights -action u know

not bruce talking to alfred all the time or rachel in court u know

i want batman to fight everynight from small gangs to mafia type orgainisation

i dnt like b89 coz he was a wimp got thrashed by a black goon
he got destroyed
i dnt see bale getting kicked about like keaton lol

 

[brobdingnag]

^ dude!.... I think you better get out of here before you get flamed! Go watch Fantastic Four instead... Sounds more appropiate for your age.

Sadly enough both FF films were better than Begins, and they were average at best. They were far more true to the source material than any of the Nolan stuff has been to the Batman stuff. You see, Batman doesn't wear armor, he wears cloth. Also, the joker doesn't wear makeup, his face is bleached white. The Batman of Batman Dead End is the only authentic portrayal of the character on film to date and the new films haven't done anything to change that.

 

[Darknightnomis]

bb
is boring no doubt
too long and not many fights!
it needs to feel more comic book like
were there's a fight everyother page!

This kind of "thinking" leads to superhero movies like BATMAN and ROBIN.

I blame it on a generation growing up on IMAGE comics.

 

[TheBatman072]

This kind of "thinking" leads to superhero movies like BATMAN and ROBIN.

I blame it on a generation growing up on IMAGE comics.

*shudder*

 

[brobdingnag]

This kind of "thinking" leads to superhero movies like BATMAN and ROBIN.

I blame it on a generation growing up on IMAGE comics.

It didn't more action it needed better action. The action scenes were just awful. Shaking the camera around to the point where you cant even tell what you're looking at doesn't make up for good pacing and choreography.

 

[Darknightnomis]

It didn't more action it needed better action. The action scenes were just awful. Shaking the camera around to the point where you cant even tell what you're looking at doesn't make up for good pacing and choreography.

What did you say? Was that English? I don't understand.

 

[Schlosser85]

I'm very dubious of this report. Why would The Joker already have a grudge against Batman at the very beginning of the movie? Plus, the teaser and some set reports we've had made it sound like the mob goes to him for help with Batman, not the other way around. Also, how many times have we heard the "I had lunch with a WB executive"/"I overheard Chris Nolan in a restaurant"/"My sister's cousin's best friend is Heath Ledger's hairdresser"?

 

[Keyser Soze]

I was going to avoid this thread....then somebody posted this on "The Man Who Laughs: The Joker Thread" without any warning, so I just said "meh" and came over here.

Sounds good, if true. For one, it silences my fears that The Joker would just be a normal criminal during this opening bank robbery, and that we'd see how he becomes The Joker. Going by this scenario, he's The Joker right from the start, which is awesome.

 

[shapeshifter]

makes sense in a joker kind of way

 

[Steelsheen]

I haven't read it myself (I just copied and pasted this)

hmm very interesting, its funny in a twisted kind of way, very Joker

 

[Crow222]

The whole Joker asking the mob to get Batman for him, kind of contradicts Caine saying "They turned to a man they didnt fully understand" in the teaser