The Dark Knight Joker Scars: Accidental; self inflicted?

[inlers87]

Oh yeah. Definately not for kids. I'm just wondering how far they're going to push it. I mean, people are talking about how dark it is going to be, but I just have this feeling like it's going to be darker than most expect. Like, "Frank Miller's Joker with the poison cotton candy" dark.

 

[Marx]

Oh yeah. Definately not for kids. I'm just wondering how far they're going to push it. I mean, people are talking about how dark it is going to be, but I just have this feeling like it's going to be darker than most expect. Like, "Frank Miller's Joker with the poison cotton candy" dark.

I think it could very easily be darker than most are expecting. Miller's Joker is a good example.

 

[Mr. Superhero]

Heath's Joker is going to be a combination of the Joker from both "The Killing Joke" and "Arkham Asylum". While I agree that Frank Miller's Joker is pretty dark, I still maintain that he was best portrayed in the two aforementioned stories. In TKJ, we get to see how far this guy is willing to go, and just how cruel he can be. In "Arkham", we get to see how downright f*****g merciless this guy is, and the amount of amusement he draws from doing what he does. Both books, more than any other, totally define the character, IMO. You could show those two stories to virtually anyone, and that person would then know exactly how crazy and frightening this guy is.

That said, I suppose Frank Miller's Joker illustrates the more gritty side of the character, which will most definitely be utilized in TDK. The part in TDKR, where the Joker cracks him own neck with a smile on his face, totally appitimized the character. But in terms of character persona, I can see this Joker being very accurate to the Joker from "Arkham Asylum", even moreso than TKJ.

 

[CaptainClown]

I don't necessarily see how Bats reaction was such a bad thing. I'm pretty sure that's a theme TDK will play heavily on, too.

Fact is, Joker is a force of nature that Bruce didn't expect at all, so it's understood why he'd be so confused during their first few meet-ups.

As for the origin, I honestly didn't mind it. Yes, Joker's history has always been referred to as ambiguous. But for a character who we're not supposed to know before the clown facade, he's had quite a few origins ironically enough.

I always preferred a pre-Joker who was always a little screwed up in the head. Never made sense to me for one terrible accident to completely do a 180 on a person's psyche. Adding in the hitman element and compulsion for daredevil acts, helped develop the character and explain his trademark behavior.

figured you would be the one to respond to my post.
Batman freaking out is not the huge problem I had, Batman calling a hitman is though. It seems like he felt he could not solve the problem, so he calls a hitman to fix everything; is batman going to do that everything he is confused now?
As for the origin of the Joker that was kind of fine, weird though that Joker encourages people to finish school though.

 

[-Crusher-]

weird though that Joker encourages people to finish school though.

well the joker is supposed to be really intelligent. insane yes, but intelligent.

 

[inlers87]

well the joker is supposed to be really intelligent. insane yes, but intelligent.

Hopefully. That, to me, makes the villain. And it makes him even scarier. Just some bat**** insane guy is what Batman deals with everyday. A calculated maniac with no moral compass, however, gives Joker the edge. He's the only thing besides bats that can scare Batman I think: sheer, planned, maniacal, murderous glee.

 

[-Crusher-]

he scares batman because he is the opposite of batman, bruce knows that while he tries to save life and up hold justice, the joker wants to take life and let anarchy reign down. he also knows that if he is willing to dress as a giant bat to succeed in his goal, the joker will do whatever it takes to succeed in his.

 

[Marx]

he scares batman because he is the opposite of batman, bruce knows that while he tries to save life and up hold justice, the joker wants to take life and let anarchy reign down. he also knows that if he is willing to dress as a giant bat to succeed in his goal, the joker will do whatever it takes to succeed in his.

The Joker truly is Batman's opposite. Without Batman, there would be no Joker. As much as I loved (and still do love) B89, I am thrilled to see that The Joker is actually going to get in to the action and mix it up a little!

 

[-Crusher-]

yea, ledgers joker is going to much more down n' dirty then jacks was.

 

[gwynplaine]

I like the scarred smile very much and I'm very happy it looks nothing like Ichi the killer (Kakihara ?) Cool movie but I'm glad they did something fresher and different.

 

[ArkhamAsylum]

I like the scarred smile very much and I'm very happy it looks nothing like Ichi the killer (Kakihara ?) Cool movie but I'm glad they did something fresher and different.

speaking of which...did TDK intentionally release that first close up joker pic to look almost EXACTLY like the cover of the ichi movie?

 

[ArkhamAsylum]

 

[gwynplaine]

speaking of which...did TDK intentionally release that first close up joker pic to look almost EXACTLY like the cover of the ichi movie?

Interesting remark, I never thought of it before.

 

[Stotch]

 

[The Shape]

i still like the accidental scar first and then the self inflicted scar later to even out the two

I really think this is what happened. Look at the Joker's face in pictures, and this is especially obvious in that first shot that was ever released. One side of his face is mangled, while the other looks like it was done on purpose.

 

[sglass03]

I really think this is what happened. Look at the Joker's face in pictures, and this is especially obvious in that first shot that was ever released. One side of his face is mangled, while the other looks like it was done on purpose.

I think that's what's so great about this version of the Joker - it really is up in the air. The audience's imagination, their own speculation, is always better than the "official" explanation, and I think Nolan realized that. Did Joker do it to himself? Was it an accident? Was it on purpose? Did someone try to off him? Was it a combination of both - did someone cut one side, and he finished the "smile" by cutting the other?

What I love about the character - besides the inherent - is the heir of mystery. No real name, no real past, no real origin. I think we're finally getting that version, thank Jeebus - no acid vat, just pure audience speculation.

 

[The Shape]

I think that's what's so great about this version of the Joker - it really is up in the air. The audience's imagination, their own speculation, is always better than the "official" explanation, and I think Nolan realized that. Did Joker do it to himself? Was it an accident? Was it on purpose? Did someone try to off him? Was it a combination of both - did someone cut one side, and he finished the "smile" by cutting the other?

What I love about the character - besides the inherent - is the heir of mystery. No real name, no real past, no real origin. I think we're finally getting that version, thank Jeebus - no acid vat, just pure audience speculation.

"Whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you...stranger."

That's all we need to know.

 

[gwynplaine]

]"Whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you...stranger."[/B]

That's all we need to know.

I love that quote.

 

[aaron smith]

I really think this is what happened. Look at the Joker's face in pictures, and this is especially obvious in that first shot that was ever released. One side of his face is mangled, while the other looks like it was done on purpose.

I like that idea as well. Someone did it to one half, and he inflicted the other half himself.

 

[BatSpider]

I like that idea as well. Someone did it to one half, and he inflicted the other half himself.

Interesting thought

 

[Ama Zing]

I like that idea as well. Someone did it to one half, and he inflicted the other half himself.

That would be a very interesting take on it. Really shows just how damn crazy he is.

 

[BatSpider]

I like that idea as well. Someone did it to one half, and he inflicted the other half himself.

Trying not to be like Two-Face

 

[Nepenthes]

The scars point to a clear origin in violence, crime and misfortune. The Joker is hanging out with proffesional crooks at the beginning of TDK - it's not hard to make conclusions about his past. The audience will know that the Joker was once a regular criminal - albiet most likely unhinged, deranged or simply of fragile mind - who fell out-of-favour with his fellow colleagues and was subsequently 'murdered' or maimed, as is the protocol in the criminal world. But what would cause other criminals to turn on the Joker? The reasons are evident in the prologue - the guy's a massive ********. So there you have it, the origin is halfway complete.

I'm still holding out that the Cop&Thug scene in the sides isn't merely misdirection. "You buried people here....where can I find your boss?" "He'll find you ha ha"

 

[nickyg641]

I think the line "Whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you stranger" implies accidental. Something terrible happened to the Joker, and he survived it, having become "stranger" because of it.

Because, otherwise, wouldn't it imply that he attempted to kill himself?

 

[BatSpider]

I think the line "Whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you stranger" implies accidental. Something terrible happened to the Joker, and he survived it, having become "stranger" because of it.

Genious, Awesome theory!