The Dark Knight The Composite Christopher Nolan Interview Thread

[TheGary]

Wait, so is the Joker like the scarecrow is BB? A SECONDARY character? Cuz that's what it sounded like to me.

 

[CaptainClown]

He is more like a plot device from what it seems. In BB the main character was Batman not the villains. Non of the villains are going to be in it more than batman. As for you saying secondary villain no he isn't.

 

[TheGary]

I didn't say villain. I understand he is probably the only villain for the majority of the film, but they were talking like Harvey (Two Face) had more going on that Joker.

 

[CaptainClown]

Thats why I covered character in the beginning of what I said. Joker is a secondary character since the film isn't about him.

 

[Doc Samson]

I think he's simply pointing out, as many of us hoped he would, that the Joker will not be dominating the movie. I like this for a few reasons, but mostly because I felt for the first time in BB Bruce Wayne was the most interesting character, even moreso than his caped alter-ego. I like the Batman stuff of course, but in order for movies like these to resonate long after you've seen it, you have to care about the characters, and the hero in particular, something I never really did until BB. Almost all successful superhero movies have gotten that right, and the not-so good ones almost always miss that point. Letting TDK evolve into a action extravaganza focused on just the Joker would destroy everything they built in BB, and in the long-term, make it a much worse film. Not to mention the fact that Two-Face isn't exactly a boring character in his own right...

 

[SpinyNorman]

^^^ That's not it at all.

I think what Nolan means is that thematically Dent's story will be the core of the movie.

This movie is about the corrupting influence of evil and the inability to enforce justice on the world. Really, it is. Joker's mantra is, "There's no justice. There's nothing at all. There's just us." Dent, naturally, is going to be the golden boy figure who states the opposite. And we're going to see him get totally destroyed.

Ideals (Dent) meeting reality (Joker) is a fine backbone to any story. Batman is the one caught in between. He's too smart to completely get lost in Dent's vision, I bet, and when Dent falls from grace he's too good to get sucked in with him. He's going to have to tread a fine line.

 

[rashad]

I was afraid of this. Now Batman is gonna take a backseat to the villains.

You never told SHH you had one of these.

Because you've obviously seen the movie in all it's glory?


I'm kidding, but some of ya'll are jumping to conclusions about this article. And taking it out of context. It'll still center around Bruce/Batman.

 

[regwec]

This is probably the right way to balance the themes- I would hate to see Dent given a superficial gloss in a movie...again. Good to hear The Crowker is kept to a minimum!

 

[TheBatman072]

Sounds perfect.


Sounds like they're doing Harvey in the movie like he was done in Long Halloween. And they're doing Joker like they did him in The Man Who Laughs.

 

[The Geek Vault]

I don't knowk why but the mention that Joker has no story arc makes me nervous! Can someone please explains what's this means I don't know if I get what the writer is trying to say here

 

[HankVenture]

I don't knowk why but the mention that Joker has no story arc makes me nervous! Can someone please explains what's this means I don't know if I get what the writer is trying to say here

The Joker does what the Joker does, pure crazy through the movie. Without Harvey and Bruce/Batman its just a cluster of destruction. Bruce is the continual story from the first and Harvey the lead into the third, a structure behind the madness that is Joker.

 

[The Game]

I don't knowk why but the mention that Joker has no story arc makes me nervous! Can someone please explains what's this means I don't know if I get what the writer is trying to say here

I don't understand it too, the Joker just can't be a whirlwind that comes and goes

 

[Ama Zing]

I don't understand it too, the Joker just can't be a whirlwind that comes and goes

That is the Joker - a tornado that appears, destroys and leaves, unless it's the end of the book and then he's beaten by Bats.
It means that rather than having a beginning, middle and end, Joker just has what he has and does what he does. The story doesn't focus on him, doesn't cut back to him in his lair, doesn't reveal his scheming or backstory and doesn't show him growing as a character. He appears, is havok, and then is away again.
At least, that's my figuring of it, and how I think it should be.

 

[HankVenture]

That is the Joker - a tornado that appears, destroys and leaves, unless it's the end of the book and then he's beaten by Bats.
It means that rather than having a beginning, middle and end, Joker just has what he has and does what he does. The story doesn't focus on him, doesn't cut back to him in his lair, doesn't reveal his scheming or backstory and doesn't show him growing as a character. He appears, is havok, and then is away again.
At least, that's my figuring of it, and how I think it should be.

Exactly!

 

[The Game]

That is the Joker - a tornado that appears, destroys and leaves, unless it's the end of the book and then he's beaten by Bats.
It means that rather than having a beginning, middle and end, Joker just has what he has and does what he does. The story doesn't focus on him, doesn't cut back to him in his lair, doesn't reveal his scheming or backstory and doesn't show him growing as a character. He appears, is havok, and then is away again.
At least, that's my figuring of it, and how I think it should be.

LIAR

Only joking, I figured while this film would be vague about his story, they would provide some insight into his psyche and why he applies make up and what not

 

[StylishHokie21]

Joker has no story arc?

 

[TheBatman072]

LIAR

Only joking, I figured while this film would be vague about his story, they would provide some insight into his psyche and why he applies make up and what not

Have you read The Man Who Laughs?


Basically like that.

 

[SpinyNorman]

Joker has no story arc?

Can you see the Joker repenting about his crimes? Can you see him thinking for a moment? Can you see him being changed? Can you see him considering alternatives, thinking maybe I should be doing something different for once?

I sure can't. The Joker is what is known as a "static character." He doesn't change. At most, he might start bad and get worse.

Now, does that diminish him at all? No. Look, once again, at Hannibal Lecter. Here's a character who never changes at all. Absolutely no minute of the film is given to his introspection. He doesn't debate things, and nothing happens to him that changes his character or how he sees or relates to the world.

If anything is going to happen, we're going to understand more about his character, but he'll never change. Therefore, it has no arc - it's not going anywhere.

This is why I think Joker won't be taking up all the spotlight in this movie. The Joker is an element other characters react to more than a character who is consistently reacting to the world in new and different ways.

He doesn't do anything new. He just wants to burn it all down. He's new to other people, but in the frame of the story I very much doubt if the Joker is going to change his MO.

 

[StylishHokie21]

Can you see the Joker repenting about his crimes? Can you see him thinking for a moment? Can you see him being changed? Can you see him considering alternatives, thinking maybe I should be doing something different for once?

I sure can't. The Joker is what is known as a "static character." He doesn't change. At most, he might start bad and get worse.

Now, does that diminish him at all? No. Look, once again, at Hannibal Lecter. Here's a character who never changes at all. Absolutely no minute of the film is given to his introspection. He doesn't debate things, and nothing happens to him that changes his character or how he sees or relates to the world.

If anything is going to happen, we're going to understand more about his character, but he'll never change. Therefore, it has no arc - it's not going anywhere.

This is why I think Joker won't be taking up all the spotlight in this movie. The Joker is an element other characters react to more than a character who is consistently reacting to the world in new and different ways.

He doesn't do anything new. He just wants to burn it all down. He's new to other people, but in the frame of the story I very much doubt if the Joker is going to change his MO.

I see what you're saying. I just hope The Joker won't end up like the Scarecrow in BB.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

And they're doing Joker like they did him in The Man Who Laughs.

Sounds more like the joker from the long Halloween and dark victory...

"The Joker, he sort of cuts through the film -- he's got no story arc"

 

[SpinyNorman]

I see what you're saying. I just hope The Joker won't end up like the Scarecrow in BB.

I can't see him being so minor. The Scarecrow was mostly there to be ornamental and fulfill a plot device. He added a new level to the movie, sure, and he did a fantastic job, but his lines probably didn't go past 20 or 25 or so.

The Joker is the issue in this movie. I think a big part of this movie is going to be the idea that there's nothing making people be good. Dent and Batman are both going into this with the idea that what injustice there is in the world can be fixed, with a good heart and enough effort. They're going to be stunned by the idea what Gotham can produce something that can resist all forms of change and then mount enough of a force to bring the whole city to a standstill.

That's The Joker. The Joker is a product of pure indifference. He essentially says, "The world is not half as good as you think it is. Look what I can do, look at what I can get away with. There's absolutely nothing making me or anyone else be good. That's how crazy and hilarious all of this is."

You know that scene where Alfred is telling Wayne, "You can be the outsider. You can make the decisions no one else can make. Gotham needs you."

He's talking about killing The Joker. Making the decisions that the courts and the police legally cannot do? He's definitely saying, "You should kill this thing. You would be morally justified in killing this thing."

But of course, that's what The Joker wants. Morality isn't real to him, and he means to prove it. Even if he gets himself killed, he'll do it.

This immense challenge to morality is really going to be the heart of the movie. A. that this thing can exist and then B. can I live with myself if I break my own rule and murder him?

 

[CaptainClown]

I dunno if he is saying you should kill.

 

[SpinyNorman]

I dunno if he is saying you should kill.

I'm pretty sure he is. We already know that part of the movie is The Joker daring Batman to kill him. ("Tonight you're gonna break your own rule..." and "Come on! Hit me!") We also know, from I believe Anjow, that (I guess I'll spoiler this)

Spoiler

At one point in time, Batman has the opportunity to kill The Joker. He doesn't, and later The Joker kills Rachel, and Dent winds up blaming Batman for it.

Clearly a lot of this movie is about how Batman needs to take out The Joker, and about the moral choices involved in murder. Batman has one rule, and that's that he doesn't kill. The Joker's going to escalate things to the point where everyone but Batman is saying that if you have the chance, just get rid of him. The police can't handle him, and as Alfred said, "You can be the outcast. You can make the choice that no one else will face - the right choice," in reference to "People are dying."

 

[Reflectionist]

"I'm no executioner."
"I will go to Gotham and I will fight men like this..." And I forgot the rest of that line.

 

[StylishHokie21]

I can't see him being so minor. The Scarecrow was mostly there to be ornamental and fulfill a plot device. He added a new level to the movie, sure, and he did a fantastic job, but his lines probably didn't go past 20 or 25 or so.

The Joker is the issue in this movie. I think a big part of this movie is going to be the idea that there's nothing making people be good. Dent and Batman are both going into this with the idea that what injustice there is in the world can be fixed, with a good heart and enough effort. They're going to be stunned by the idea what Gotham can produce something that can resist all forms of change and then mount enough of a force to bring the whole city to a standstill.

That's The Joker. The Joker is a product of pure indifference. He essentially says, "The world is not half as good as you think it is. Look what I can do, look at what I can get away with. There's absolutely nothing making me or anyone else be good. That's how crazy and hilarious all of this is."

You know that scene where Alfred is telling Wayne, "You can be the outsider. You can make the decisions no one else can make. Gotham needs you."

He's talking about killing The Joker. Making the decisions that the courts and the police legally cannot do? He's definitely saying, "You should kill this thing. You would be morally justified in killing this thing."

But of course, that's what The Joker wants. Morality isn't real to him, and he means to prove it. Even if he gets himself killed, he'll do it.

This immense challenge to morality is really going to be the heart of the movie. A. that this thing can exist and then B. can I live with myself if I break my own rule and murder him?

Great points. Can't really argue with anything here.