The Dark Knight The Man Who Laughs: The Joker Thread 2.0

[drsmoo]

It seems that in Jonathan Nolan, this rendition of the Joker isn't quite human, but a type of mythical devil of some sort.

http://creativescreenwritingmagazine.blogspot.com/

At around 65% through the interview


"For me the most interesting version of the character is one who was never made at all, just an elemental force. In my imagination, there is no beginning or end to this character, he's kind of always existed. That first frame in Imax, where you see him from behind and he's holding a mask, to me it's as if the moment before that shot he just was conjured out of thin air. Y'know? He's a bit of a devil."

A few moments later, after discussing the Nicholson version (he loved it) and how he feels that giving The Joker a backstory is reductive of the character, he says:

"I think The Joker is and always will be. You see different versions of him in every culture, for thousands of years. Different names, Loki, the trickster, Coyote stories in American traditions." He then says he found it very appealing how in Batman #1 he had no back story, he was "just there."

 

[[A]]

Spoiler

I'm an Agent of Chaos !!!!!
pic by Andre@s

Oh great picture!

 

[Coleman Reese]

It seems that in Jonathan Nolan, this rendition of the Joker isn't quite human, but a type of mythical devil of some sort.

http://creativescreenwritingmagazine.blogspot.com/

At around 65% through the interview


"For me the most interesting version of the character is one who was never made at all, just an elemental force. In my imagination, there is no beginning or end to this character, he's kind of always existed. That first frame in Imax, where you see him from behind and he's holding a mask, to me it's as if the moment before that shot he just was conjured out of thin air. Y'know? He's a bit of a devil."

A few moments later, after discussing the Nicholson version (he loved it) and how he feels that giving The Joker a backstory is reductive of the character, he says:

"I think The Joker is and always will be. You see different versions of him in every culture, for thousands of years. Different names, Loki, the trickster, Coyote stories in American traditions." He then says he found it very appealing how in Batman #1 he had no back story, he was "just there."

His Joker screamed beelzebub to me. He has a corrupting psychology. He has this uncanny ability to get in your mind and twist it. Just like the devil assuming you believe the various Christian interpretations of the devil.

 

[PyroChamber]

I'm an Agent of Chaos !!!!!

pic by Andre@s

You know, that should be Joker's new nickname.

You've got Harlequin of Hate, Ace of Knaves, and of course Clown Prince of Crime. So how about The Agent of Chaos, particularly for this Joker?

 

[sv2]

Eww look how long some of Joker's fingernails are.

 

[Beanjuice]

yeha and he's got makeup all over his hands

 

[FoJacob]

Eww look how long some of Joker's fingernails are.

LOL. He's not exactly a guy who spends a lot of time on personal hygiene. I mean, look at his hair. How long has it been since that's been washed, I wonder? Wonder if Heath grew his fingernails out or whether those were put on by the make-up department? I'm guessing, judging by his dedication to the role, that those were probably really his. I also wonder if the hair was a wig/partially a wig or whether that was all his, including the greenish tint.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

Speaking of hygiene... and this is a serious question...

I wonder if the Joker minds missing the toilet every now and again?

 

[Manosman]

LOL. He's not exactly a guy who spends a lot of time on personal hygiene. I mean, look at his hair. How long has it been since that's been washed, I wonder? Wonder if Heath grew his fingernails out or whether those were put on by the make-up department? I'm guessing, judging by his dedication to the role, that those were probably really his. I also wonder if the hair was a wig/partially a wig or whether that was all his, including the greenish tint.

I'm pretty sure its his hair, they most likely put a lot of product in it to make it look dirty, as for the color, I have seen pictures of heath with his daughter around the time of filming and he had a green tint in his hair.

 

[CFE]

Very nice 'TDK' Joker Tribute I found:

[YT]hFFJI2EQR8M[/YT]

CFE

 

[up2nogood316]

yeha and he's got makeup all over his hands

dude, its ok right after this he washes his hands!!

i agree with who ever said 'agent of chaos' should be used as a nick name for the joker. especially heaths, hes most definetly more 'agent of chaos' than 'clown prince of crime'.

i thought it was cool the way the film constantly made links between the joker being like a dog. He says about how hes like a dog chasing cars, the way he hung his head out the car - like dogs do, near the end when hes standing there with the dogs - almost as if hes one of them and then when they're attacking batman, hes right there with them, joining in.

 

[Rincewind]

^ And Two-Face called him "a mad dog" before he killed Maroni.

 

[up2nogood316]

I was considering making a thread about this, but thought i might aswell post in here about it.

What do people think is gonna happen with the joker now in the sequel. He's not been killed off, so do people think he'l make an appearance? if so who do you think should be cast to play him? i personally thought months ago that it should NEVER happen, its HEATH and heath alone should be the joker, etc... but times past now and we've seen him and hes truely immense, so good that i actually want him brought back.

My opinion is that if someone is brought in to do it, they should try to almost imitate heath. now i dont mean that in a corny copy cat way, but in a way thats almost tribute like. someone who could act in a similiar way that resembles heath in TDK. I spoke to some people about this after watching the film, and we all agreed that Johnny Depp could possibly do a good job! i never EVER thought id ever feel that way, but i honestly would love to see him give it a shot!

 

[Rincewind]

Well, it can be done - I mean, once you saw it, you can figure out Heath's little mannerisms and apply them yourself, you can mimic his voice and it's not that hard to find somebody who vaguely looks like Heath and give him the tons of make-up, which conseal the features well enough.

However, the question is (at least to me) - is it worth it? What would be the point? To have a 2-3 min. cameo in Arkham? Or to have another movie in which Batman and Joker play it all again? Both ways don't work, IMO. The first (the cameo) would be pointless, and the second (the whole movie) would be repetitive.

Move on to other villains, I say. Do the Riddler or Bane real justice, like did to Two-Face. Introduce Catwoman for a more strong and sexy female presence than Rachel. Or shove in new villains (Black Mask, Killer Croc, Firefly etc.), who have never been seen in a live action movie before. Anything, but not new Joker and surprisingly alive Two-Face...

 

[Ace of Knaves]

i dont think you can just move on to other villains, joker is as much part of the batman mythos as batman himself in my opinion. and if my memory serves me correctly joker used to break out of arkham almost at will "its just the interval before my next great performance!!". i think paul bettany could do a good job, he could at least look like him. and if the jokers been locked up maybe his personality could change slightly? like maybe he would become more insane and maybe miss "playing" with batman.

 

[secretsquirrely]

Very nice 'TDK' Joker Tribute I found:



CFE

for love of god no. Just no. this would have been great if they didn't use that damn music. I am so sick of hearing it in fan film tributes -_- it doesn't fit Joker, it doesn't fit Harry Potter, it doesn't fit Spider-man....so why the hell is everyone using it?? and why is it so hard to use TDK music for a TDK char? or atleast something with more quality than this??

sorry...really needed to get that out.

/rant

 

[Squidarella]

Definitely love the Joker/dog motif...and we don't think of dogs as very chaos centered, but it dies make sense...the contrast of a tame dog with a wild dog, or a mad dog...and dog eat dog world, etc...that's the kind of world the Joker believes in. I love that he has a pack of dogs at the end, and how he hangs his head out of a window like a dog. Strong reoccurring thematic elements, yay!

 

[up2nogood316]

However, the question is (at least to me) - is it worth it? What would be the point? To have a 2-3 min. cameo in Arkham? Or to have another movie in which Batman and Joker play it all again? Both ways don't work, IMO. The first (the cameo) would be pointless, and the second (the whole movie) would be repetitive.

i understand what your saying, but to me personally, i wouldnt find it repetitive, i want to see more. i mean, were people bored with darth vader after 1 film? hell no! many evil villains have lasted more than 1 film. And with a character like the joker, there are so many ways that prevent it from becoming boring or repetitive.. sure hes killing people and trying to kill people all the time, but look at all the different ways hes doing it!? pencil in the eye. blowing up buildings, attempting to blow up boats, blowing up PEOPLE, shooting people, knifing people, burning people alive, etc. id love to see what he comes up with next time, and i mean whats he gonna dress up as next?

i think there are plenty of ways they could keep this joker character fresh for a long time. and of course people would be interested in seeing how the new guy (DEPP hopefully) holds up. I have full confidence this could work. i believe in chris nolan.. i believe in johnny depp lol!

 

[Rincewind]

And I as well see where you are coming, but is that all? To see what new ways he will find to kill people and how he is gonna dress up next? These things are well and good, but if they would be the SOLE purpose to have Joker again, then I say "no" to it louder than ever :P

 

[Beanjuice]

i understand what your saying, but to me personally, i wouldnt find it repetitive, i want to see more. i mean, were people bored with darth vader after 1 film? hell no! many evil villains have lasted more than 1 film. And with a character like the joker, there are so many ways that prevent it from becoming boring or repetitive.. sure hes killing people and trying to kill people all the time, but look at all the different ways hes doing it!? pencil in the eye. blowing up buildings, attempting to blow up boats, blowing up PEOPLE, shooting people, knifing people, burning people alive, etc. id love to see what he comes up with next time, and i mean whats he gonna dress up as next?

i think there are plenty of ways they could keep this joker character fresh for a long time. and of course people would be interested in seeing how the new guy (DEPP hopefully) holds up. I have full confidence this could work. i believe in chris nolan.. i believe in johnny depp lol!

incorrect. i lose all faith in nolan, and batman in general if that happens. good actor, no way close to joker

 

[Ace of Knaves]

its all about BETTANY!!!!!!!!!

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

Paul Bettany could've been good, but I dont think he coulda topped what Heath did.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

oh yea no doubt, no one can top heath now IMO. but i mean i cant really see anyone else coming close to doing it apart from bettany. hes not really a high profile actor and i like that. he usually goes for the edgier roles and i like that. and overall i just think hes a damn good actor.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

I love Bettany he's in one of my favorite films of all time Gangster No. 1!

 

[Bads316]

Gangsters a great film and Bettany is awesome in that. Personally against a re-cast of any kind but Bettany over Depp any day.