Jared Leto IS The Joker - - - - - Part 14

[RadioSha]

Leto is a terrible Joker.

You've seen it?

 

[TheVileOne]

You've seen it?

Yes.

 

[IncognitoWalrus]

Leto is a terrible Joker. He does some slightly interesting things, but he's simply not The Joker.

I don't know if it was him or the way the scenes were paced, but he really didn't make much of an impact.

 

[Wolfgangamadeus]

Leto is a terrible Joker. He does some slightly interesting things, but he's simply not The Joker.

What do you mean by he's simply not The Joker? In terms of antics or?

 

[TheVileOne]

He's very out of place in the movie. He's also in no way really a bad guy

 

[CapedCrusader14]

Kinda glad to see (unfortunately) that I'm not alone in my thoughts that he really isn't The Joker.

 

[TheVileOne]

Kinda glad to see (unfortunately) that I'm not alone in my thoughts that he really isn't The Joker.

Probably because he's not a bad guy. He's practically a teddy bear.

 

[CapedCrusader14]

Probably because he's not a bad guy. He's practically a teddy bear.

 

[Wolfgangamadeus]

He's very out of place in the movie. He's also in no way really a bad guy

Oh ok so more to do with the writing than Leto's performance.

 

[TheVileOne]

Jared Leto is more like a moody rockstar who is a big fan of The Joker, or like some kid who joined The Jokerz gang in Batman Beyond who idolizes The Joker. But he never becomes The Joker.

Also, I'm not angry at all about this. I understand why they went this way. They needed to make something totally different to avoid comparisons with Ledger. They needed a different type of Joker. However, in doing so, it never quite works.

 

[Wolfgangamadeus]

Jared Leto is more like a moody rockstar who is a big fan of The Joker, or like some kid who joined The Jokerz gang in Batman Beyond who idolizes The Joker. But he never becomes The Joker.

Also, I'm not angry at all about this. I understand why they went this way. They needed to make something totally different to avoid comparisons with Ledger. They needed a different type of Joker. However, in doing so, it never quite works.

Oh ok I see what you mean. That makes sense. Wonder what all the fuss about the method acting was then.

 

[IncognitoWalrus]

Oh ok I see what you mean. That makes sense. Wonder what all the fuss about the method acting was then.

Just overblown marketing, as usual.

 

[Penguin]

What are the interesting things that he does in the film?

 

[CapedCrusader14]

I was quite surprised to see that my original consensus on seeing his appearance being a guy dressed up/idolising The Joker seemed to carry over into the performance in general in some ways.

 

[IncognitoWalrus]

What are the interesting things that he does in the film?

Spoiler

He just seduces Harley, convinces her to jump in a vat.

Crashes that sweet Lambo into the river.

Strong arms a scientist into helping him deactivate Harley's neck bomb, but fails to get her out of Midway City.

Shows up at the end to break Harley out of prison.

 

[CapedCrusader14]

Spoiler

He just seduces Harley, convinces her to jump in a vat.

Crashes that sweet Lambo into the river.

Strong arms a scientist into helping him deactivate Harley's neck bomb, but fails to get her out of Midway City.

Shows up at the end to break Harley out of prison.

Those first two parts you mentioned there as well just rush by without anytime to let it soak into the audience.

 

[TheVileOne]

I was quite surprised to see that my original consensus on seeing his appearance being a guy dressed up/idolising The Joker seemed to carry over into the performance in general in some ways.

Spoiler

I feel like this could be redeemed if it turns out he's a pretender and Jason Todd and not the real McCoy

 

[IncognitoWalrus]

Those first two parts you mentioned there as well just rush by without anytime to let it soak into the audience.

Yeah, I was surprised the editing for the chase scene during the Kimmel clip was EXACTLY what was in the movie.

 

[CapedCrusader14]

Spoiler

I feel like this could be redeemed if it turns out he's a pretender and Jason Todd and not the real McCoy

If that were the case then I'd wonder why they'd even do that twist at all

Yeah, I was surprised the editing for the chase scene during the Kimmel clip was EXACTLY what was in the movie.

So was I, I was quite shocked actually. Not to mention the visual filters playing over it at times were just messy.

 

[TheVileOne]

I was quite surprised to see that my original consensus on seeing his appearance being a guy dressed up/idolising The Joker seemed to carry over into the performance in general in some ways.

You pretty much nailed it.

 

[redfirebird2008]

Jared Leto is more like a moody rockstar who is a big fan of The Joker, or like some kid who joined The Jokerz gang in Batman Beyond who idolizes The Joker. But he never becomes The Joker.

Also, I'm not angry at all about this. I understand why they went this way. They needed to make something totally different to avoid comparisons with Ledger. They needed a different type of Joker. However, in doing so, it never quite works.

I give him credit for having the guts to even take on that job. Heath's performance is pretty much unbeatable. Very very difficult shoes to fill, even for a very talented actor like Leto. Also makes you wonder what else Ledger might have done in his career with other roles. Big time loss for movie fans.

 

[TheVileOne]

Ledger casts a big shadow. I feel like in many ways this was almost an impossible task.

 

[redfirebird2008]

Ledger casts a big shadow. I feel like in many ways this was almost an impossible task.

It didn't help that they went in a visual direction that was even less faithful to the comics than the Ledger version. Tattoos all over the face and body? The chrome mouth? I think following up Ledger, they really needed to pick a classic comic and be as faithful to that visual style as possible. As far as characterization and acting choices, that was probably doomed no matter what.

 

[CapedCrusader14]

And there are a couple moments where his voice did sound a tad Ledger-ish.

 

[TheVileOne]

It didn't help that they went in a visual direction that was even less faithful to the comics than the Ledger version. Tattoos all over the face and body? The chrome mouth? I think following up Ledger, they really needed to pick a classic comic and be as faithful to that visual style as possible. As far as characterization and acting choices, that was probably doomed no matter what.

I think in trying so hard to be different they went too far. The tattoos and chrome mouth are just too off-the-wall and outlandish for The Joker. It's a different visual take, but I just can't for the life of me ever imagine The Joker sitting down to get those tattoos. I feel like he would sooner shoot a tattoo artist then get his body all inked up for that amount of time.

Now granted, Ledger's Joker was also a bit different too. They gave him the messy makeup and the scars on his face. Some people weren't into that at first, but it ended up working. I think OK, Joker having a bit of scarred face for that crooked smile sort of works. Having muddy makeup kind of works.

But then again, Ledger's Joker is not one who was "created" by Batman. No chemical plant accident. No bleached skin. It's just makeup. They did deconstruct his Joker a lot. But at least they sort of got that psychosis down.

Leto's Joker doesn't have much psychosis at all.