The Dark Knight Why 'Jack' should be the Joker's name

[Kevin Roegele]

1. A Jack is the weakest of the picture cards in a deck. A Joker is a wild card.

2. Jack was used in Tim Burton's Batman.

3. It's been used in the animated series.

4. It's been heavily implied in the comics.

 

[Shoemeister]

Ummmmmm.......



..... sure.

 

[Seen]

Your first reasoning was the best. The others ... meh. Any connotations to the previous movies should be avoided IMO.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Yes, his name is usually Jack so if they're going to have an origin, definitely. But I'd rather no origin, let's try to stay away from the ways of B'89.

 

[Batty Belfry]

Your first reasoning was the best. The others ... meh. Any connotations to the previous movies should be avoided IMO.

I agree.

 

[AndrewGilkison]

Why can't he just be called Joker?

 

[Sun_Down]

His name is probably THE least significant aspect of his character or this movie. It really does not matter.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Your first reasoning was the best. The others ... meh. Any connotations to the previous movies should be avoided IMO.

Jack is also what he's been called in origin stories in some comics.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

His name is probably THE least significant aspect of his character or this movie. It really does not matter.

Character names are important.

 

[Seen]

Jack is also what he's been called in origin stories in some comics.

The film begins with him already as The Joker. I suspect Nolan is bypassing the origin completely, given the ending of the last pic.

 

[Shoemeister]

Your first reasoning was the best. The others ... meh. Any connotations to the previous movies should be avoided IMO.

That's how I feel. The card parallel is very cool. The other reasons... naaaaah.

 

[Seen]

Character names are important.

Depending on the characters. The only name that is important to THIS character is The Joker.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Depending on the characters. The only name that is important to THIS character is The Joker.

Have you read the script?

 

[Seen]

Have you read the script?

Do I need to? Why would he need to be called "Jack" when he's The Joker from the getgo? I think him having no name merely adds to the mysteriousness aspect to the character, especially since he has no origin in the film.

Less is more. The best villains start out with little to no back history as possible. Boba Fett anyone?

 

[Seraphartman]

I do not even remember anyone diving into the Joker's origin much anyway so it probably would be best to have it as a mystery and Jack was the only other name I ever heard him be called when talking about his past. However I do not know what stories have been told about the Joker.

 

[BubbaGump]

Hush Returns does not count as heavily implied in the comics.

 

[General Vulcun]

For one, Nolan has said that TDK picks up directly after Batman Begins, so I imagine there'd be no origin.

 

[Sun_Down]

Character names are important.

Give me one good reason why.

 

[Stringer]

Unless they go deep into his backstory he doesnt need to have any name but The Joker.

 

[Lucius Cipher]

Who f**kin' cares?

 

[Mr.Clay]

No way, that's a list of the reasons why he shouldn't be called Jack. The Joker is such a better character when he's regarded as something more like a force of nature, and that happens because he's not understandable, and he's mysterious. Stuff that personalizes him, like a name, just isn't doing anything for his character other than weaken him.

 

[BubbaGump]

Give me one good reason why.

"Batman"

 

[Sun_Down]

"Batman"

Mmmmk...."Tuna". Are we done saying random irrelevant things now?

 

[weezerspider]

90% or more of Batman comics have The Joker's name as an unknown. What was that line Joker himself once said? Something like " Sometimes I remember my past one way, sometimes I remember it another way. I have a past, but I like it to be multiple choice". It was something like that. There is NO need for The Joker's real name. Heck, he doesn't even know it.

 

[Seen]

"Batman"

Of course character names are important. Keyser Soze anyone?

But like I said, it depends on the character. The Joker is someone who doesn't necessitate a first name like a normal person because he isn't a normal person. So it doesn't apply to him, whereas it might apply for others (like Batman).

In any case, a name doesn't define a character. To change up a slogan from Batman Begins -- "It's not my name that defines me ... but who I am underneath."