The Dark Knight New Aus Article: 'Batman to play second fiddle to Joker'

[graveyardtramp]

Please delete/merge if already covered elsewhere but couldn't find mention of it.

Melbourne's Herald-Sun newspaper (Australia) carried a brief article on THE DARK KNIGHT today, and tries to intimate in it that Ledger's Joker will overshadow Bale's Batman in the new movie.....

Ledger wings it as real Joker

ROBIN has always played second fiddle to Batman, but Gotham City's superhero could soon know what it feels like to be playing the secondary role if hype about Heath Ledger's turn as The Joker proves correct.

The smiling assassin is to overshadow Gotham City's superhero in the Batman Begins sequel The Dark Knight, according to frenzied fans around the world.

Dripping in smeared red, white and black make-up, the Oscar-nominated star has had chatrooms abuzz with Batman v The Joker banter since the first image of Ledger, hunched in a jail cell, was released.

The speculation intensified late last month when the first trailer for the film, featuring The Joker's evil cackle, was released in the US, reports film writer Erin McWhirter.

Critics have already began showering the Aussie actor with praise for his portrayal, with some claiming it makes Jack Nicholson's version from the 1989 Batman movie "look like a clown".

The Dark Knight will also be the first of the long-running series not to have Batman in the title. Director Chris Nolan has made no secret that the latest thriller will be extremely different to 2005's Batman Begins.

The filmmaker has also hinted that the story will revolve around the Clown Prince of Crime.

"The Joker, in his own way, is as much an icon as the Dark Knight is and that presents us with a tremendously exciting opportunity in terms of how we carry on our story and continue to explore the point of view of the character," he said.

"It's a pretty terrifying spectacle and he's a fascinating character."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23008020-5012974,00.html

 

[Micah12345]

so, this really isn't based on anything at all?

 

[Max Doobermin]

Cool little article. But I think I can say without a doubt that Bruce Wayne/Batman will be the focus.

Joker is the focus of the marketing because the Joker makes money. Plus, I would imagine that they want people to be used to the radically different portrayal before entering the theatre, so not to be distracted.

 

[Max Doobermin]

so, this really isn't based on anything at all?

Indeed. Based on chatrooms being abuzz.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

so, this really isn't based on anything at all?

Sounds that way.

 

[Monster]

Oooooooo, nice.

 

[Juha]

Damn...I don't know what to say. I hope that is not the case. Of course I'm glad if the Joker turns out to be as great as everyone has hoped. But at the same time I pray that TDK will be more about Bruce Wayne than about the Joker/Harvey Dent combined.

Obviously the Joker is going to steal some scenes, but I just can't believe that Nolan would let me down(and others who feel the same). He made Begins because he wanted to make a movie about Bruce Wayne. Now there are some new players in town but Bruce Wayne still has to remain as the center point of this franchise.

Director Chris Nolan has made no secret that the latest thriller will be extremely different to 2005's Batman Begins.

That is also something that always makes me wonder. Don't get me wrong, I respect Nolan's sequel policy. Even though TDK is a sequel, Nolan still wants it to be a completely different experience when compared to Begins. But just how different could it be? It still has to be a Batman movie.

 

[Eggyman]

They're not reporting news; they're reporting hearsay.

 

[Max Doobermin]

That is also something that always makes me wonder. Don't get me wrong, I respect Nolan's sequel policy. Even though TDK is a sequel, Nolan still wants it to be a completely different experience when compared to Begins. But just how different could it be? It still has to be a Batman movie.

Well yeah, but he has said it will have a different tone, and it will be totally different. I would imagine he means in tone, structure, and scope. It will be much bigger, it will have some different themes, a different tone, and it won't be an origin story. There were certain things that HAD to be done in BB to be an origin story. But this movie can be all out balls-to-the-wall.

And Nolan HAS said this movie will be different. I think it's because there are no real restrictions. There are more characters to use, and there's nothing weighing it down.

 

[Ibn]

'm not going to see the movie because of Batman. I'm going (as will millions of other people) to see the Joker. I'm going to see the Joker **** with Batman and blow some **** up and make things interesting for everybody else. Sooner or later, they're going to have to focus on the villain more. I mean how many different ways can they focus on Bruce Wayne. I've said it before, and I'll say it again and again. There is a good possibility that Heath is going to steal the show b/c the Joker is more of a standout character that Batman. His personality will draw peoples attention away from the brooding nature of bats. I love Chris Bale, but Heath is gonna **** on him in this movie, and after that happens, hopefully people will get off of Tim Burton and Jack's nuts and realize that this is the case

 

[Juha]

Nevah!

Bruce Wayne is by far the most interesting character of the Batman universe IMO. And Bruce Wayne should never have to play second fiddle to anyone. The Joker is "just" an absolute. He is fascinating as a concept but as a character and from a psychological point of view he's nowhere nearly as interesting as Bruce Wayne.

 

[Max Doobermin]

Nevah!

Bruce Wayne is by far the most interesting character of the Batman universe IMO. And Bruce Wayne should never have to play second fiddle to anyone. The Joker is "just" an absolute. He is fascinating as a concept but as a character and from a psychological point of view he's not nearly as interesting as Bruce Wayne.

This is true. But everyone likes some Joker action. Ibn is wrong in the sense that there isn't much to do with Batman. Joker will steal the show, but the focus can still be on Bruce and Bats. Bruce has a lot of growing to do, and it can take the bulk of several movies to do it. He's an ever growing character. Joker will never grow. However you interpret him, he is what he is. No room for change. He indeed is an "absolute." So as much as I love Joker (and I love that Joker ) Bruce/Batman should always be the focus.

 

[jmc]

One does get the feeling that like it or not, this will be The Joker's film.

 

[Boom]

Most of this stems from the huge hype circulating around Ledger's performance. So in that regard, this article is correct.

However, I doubt very much that the film itself will have The Joker overshadow the main character. It's just that people have become so excited about this new take on the J Man, that he's become the main topic amongst the fanbase.

 

[Prefix]

The article isn't judging the film itself, but is making a comment on how everyone is excited to see the Joker, instead of Batman.

 

[El KnightoDarko]

People have already seen how Bale plays Batman in the first movie, i.e. he is a known quantity. Hence, the comparatively lesser hype.

If TDK had been the first Batman movie in the new franchise, there would be equal (if not more) conjecture about how Nolan would portray Batman.

 

[Doctor Baywatch]

Critics have already began showering the Aussie actor with praise for his portrayal, with some claiming it makes Jack Nicholson's version from the 1989 Batman movie "look like a clown".

Eh... well...

Nevermind.

 

[Nivek]

They're not reporting news; they're reporting hearsay.

It's a shame that some guys opinion is distributed as a news piece.


"In other news, Nivek is incredibly disappointed that Nolan didn't do more with the Jokers design, seemingly going against general comic book knowledge that the Joker has a overall bizarre appearance. Also, he continues to be amazed by people calling themselves Batfans who have no respect for the source material by giving the film makers carte blonche. Also a reminder, Grey and Black is a better choice for urban camouflage than all black."

Just because thats my opinion doesn't mean s#!t.

 

[DoctorJones]

Joker hype. But rest assured, the Joker is the villain, but an absolute evil. Nolan has already said the main arc is about the differences and similarities between Bruce and Harvey in taking down this maniac.

 

[Final Night]

People have already seen how Bale plays Batman in the first movie, i.e. he is a known quantity. Hence, the comparatively lesser hype.

If TDK had been the first Batman movie in the new franchise, there would be equal (if not more) conjecture about how Nolan would portray Batman.

Yep. I agree. The buzz pre and post (provided Heath delivers the performance it appears he's going to), but that doesn't change what the movie will focus on. Simply the perception of who gets the most attention.

 

[DonnyLebeau]

It is just a ploy similar to X -men 3 hyping up the Phoenix or Spidey 3 hyping up Venom, when had about 17 minutes of screen time combined.

Joker will certainly have more time than that, but the story will not revolve around him to the point where you see Batman only after seeing Joker.

Part of the mystique and suspense of the character is seeing less of him and wondering.. when we will pop up next? The trailer was just a way to attract people into the theatres and mark my words, the story will deal more with Batman becoming a scapegoat for Gotham than Joker becoming an empathetic villain.

 

[Paste Pot Pete]

However, I doubt very much that the film itself will have The Joker overshadow the main character. It's just that people have become so excited about this new take on the J Man, that he's become the main topic amongst the fanbase.

Yeah, it all depends on what one means by overshadowing.

If we're talking about who/what audiences are going to be talking about as they exit the theatre, you can better believe it'll be the Joker. That's just the nature of the beast.

But I think, in this version of the series especially, the audience's "sympathy" (for lack of a better term) will always lie with Bruce. I think Begins established him as a character worth watching, and not just a vehicle for set-pieces against more interesting, colorful villains.

Basically, Joker will be the "oohs" and "ahhs" (as he should be) but Batman/Bruce will remain the heart of the movie.

 

[Voyeur]

That's a stupid assumption by the article. Nolan's words about The Joker don't at all suggest Batman is "second-fiddle".

 

[batmaluco]

Well, for me, Batman and the Joker are just perfectly complementary characters, where one enhances the other one, making such delightful spectacle.

 

[Farren]

so, this really isn't based on anything at all?

Nope, nothing at all!

It's times like these that I start to question the accuracy of all mainstream media...