Movies You Liked... But Never Want To See Again

[Leo656]

I was reading an article somewhere that got me thinking about this. Sorry if it's been brought up before. Anyways, was there ever a movie you saw, and you really, really liked it, but for one reason or another you don't think you'll ever watch it again?

The first one that came to mind for me is "Million Dollar Baby". I like Clint, I really like Hillary Swank, and boxing movies are usually pretty good. And it was a really, really good movie. But the ending... it didn't "ruin" it for me, as it was tragic, true-to-life and very powerful. It was completely believable and masterfully executed, and it stays with you long after the movie ends. But I don't think I could get through it again. I haven't seen the movie since the first time I watched it, even though I own it. I can't imagine myself watching the movie in its entirety without stopping right before the last fight, and that kind of makes me not want to bother with any of it. It was a brilliant movie, though, I really liked it, I just don't think I could get through it again (and the wife absolutely hates melancholy stuff - "Life is too short to watch sad and depressing stuff on purpose", she says - so even if I did watch it it would have to be while she was out, which is never).

What are some movies you really liked but for one reason or another (Sad, depressing, violent, just plain too long, etc.) don't think you would ever watch again? We always do "Movies You Like/Hate" but I'm not sure we've discussed the in-between as much. I'm curious what people here come up with.

[ObiWanFan4life]

Definitely "The End of Evangelion".

[Leo656]

As a courtesy to those of us who didn't see a certain movie, a few token details as to "Why" would be appreciated. :lol: Not mandatory but encouraged. Spoilers OK if tagged as such. Carry on. :)

[ObiWanFan4life]

Ok then. Watch Bennett the Sage' s review of the film. I think it sums up my reaction to it quite perfectly.

[AT-Man]

Eden Lake kept me on the edge of my seat, but I don't think I'd watch it again, because of how it ends and to me horror/thriller movies usually don't have very high re-watching value, although there are exceptions, but that's usually movies like Evil Dead or The Thing, which I don't like to be thrilled anymore, but just because they're so good for other reasons.

Then, if you want a movie I like a LOT but wouldn't watch again.... probably both of the Dark Knight movies and Inception. They were really good but I don't see me watching them again. I do watch Batman Begins again at times and, like, Memento. I guess there is no 10/10 movie I wouldn't watch again, but 9/10s there are.

[Jester]

Passion of the Christ. It's a very well made film about the last hours of Christ's life...but after seeing it once, I never had the whole, "I'd love to see THAT again!" feeling about it. It's very brutal and hard to just sit down and watch. I don't even think my parents' DVD has been out of the case.

[ObiWanFan4life]

Casino - Well-Acted, Shot and Masterfully Directed by Martin Scorsese. I've seen it multiple times, But that ending always leaves me unsettled. Nicky and Dominick are beaten to death in the cornfield

[Bauer536]

Oz, the Great and Powerful - while it was fun in some areas, James Franco was alright, the special effects weren't that special (mostly because of their overuse), and Mila Kunis sucked as the Wicked Witch. I mean, it's not really a great film, that it could have been if only it was done right. Even I think the Star Wars prequels and the Hobbit are always watchable than this.

[Leo656]

Ahhhhhh yeah, good call, Jester. I saw that in theaters, and liked it, but MAN that was uncomfortable. A few women left in tears partway through (C'mon, gang, it wasn't called "Jesus and The Easter Bunny and Rudolph Give Kids Candy On Valentine's Day" :roll:). I liked it, and I may see it again, but I'm in no rush.

I'm not *particularly* religious, so I went in simply curious to see how good of a movie it was. Discussing it with some of the more religious types in my family was awkward, as they somehow confused it with a documentary, repeatedly exclaiming things like "I had no idea they really beat the sh*t out of him so much! Poor Jesus!" when they really meant to say "That was a very graphically violent portrayal/interpretation of a well-known event that may, or may not have, happened in a way similar or identical to how it was portrayed in a big-budget film produced by the guy from 'Braveheart'." Somehow, some people really believed "Passion..." was a literal, step-by-step re-enactment, as if such a thing were even *possible* without some sort of portal that allowed a person to see into the past. But eh, it was a good movie. :lol:

"The Butterfly Effect" was another one. It was just ok, but considering it starred Kelso I was pretty shocked at how well-done it was. But I DO remember the entire theater's mood shifted about 5 minutes in when they revealed Eric Stoltz making kiddie porn with his very young daughter in his basement whilst her brother gets violently jealous watching someone else nail his sister instead of him... AWK-WARD! and the next hour and a half was very uncomfortable. The trailers made that movie seem like an "edgier" romantic comedy vehicle for Kelso, with some time-travel shenanigans thrown in; it turned out to be a dark and soul-crushing horror show. In the alternate ending, the main character commits suicide in the womb with his own umbilical cord, having decided through his various alternate lifetimes that the entire WORLD would be a better place if he was never born! Talk about NOT being a chick flick! :lol: Everyone walked out like, "I don't know WHAT the f*ck THAT was...." It was kinda funny. Nobody was complaining, but absolutely nobody had seen what they thought they had paid to see, either.

It was weird, but I liked it. But I'm in no rush to see it again.

EDIT: I dug "Oz", but it was under-whelming. It tried to be whimsical and overly-serious at the same time, and it took out some of the potential fun. I'd be up for a sequel.

[ObiWanFan4life]

Passion of the Christ. It's a very well made film about the last hours of Christ's life...but after seeing it once, I never had the whole, "I'd love to see THAT again!" feeling about it. It's very brutal and hard to just sit down and watch. I don't even think my parents' DVD has been out of the case.

The Torture Aspect somewhat deterred my enjoyment of the film.

[Leo656]

You just KNOW that it's some family somewhere's traditional Christmas movie, though. Somewhere, every year, someone looks at his wife and says, with no irony, "Honey, it's Christmas Eve. Tonight, before the kids go to bed, let's stoke the fireplace, pop some popcorn, have some hot chocolate with marshmallows and watch ol' Jesus get flogged for a few hours, whattya say?" :lol:

[ObiWanFan4life]

You just KNOW that it's some family somewhere's traditional Christmas movie, though. Somewhere, every year, someone looks at his wife and says, with no irony, "Honey, it's Christmas Eve. Tonight, before the kids go to bed, let's stoke the fireplace, pop some popcorn, have some hot chocolate with marshmallows and watch ol' Jesus get flogged for a few hours, whattya say?" :lol:

Yeah, Because nothing screams "Family Entertainment" like a 2-Hour long Torture Sequence. :lol:

[Leo656]

:lol: I ALMOST finished with that exact same line, except saying "Christmas Fun" instead of "Family Entertainment." :lol: Wacky.

[Seeks]

Probably Trance and Now You See Me. Both are incredibly cracking films [And both are ones that cannot be talked about without spoiling!], but there's content in it that you can't erase from your mind, meaning upon rewatch it's predictable. Perhaps in a couple of years time I may be able to watch them both again! :)

[Cure]

but there's content in it that you can't erase from your mind, meaning upon rewatch it's predictable.

Isn't everything predictable upon rewatch? Unless you have a terrible memory. But I guess waiting a few years to watch it again makes sense.

I can agree with everyone who said Passion of the Christ. Good movie, just not pleasant to sit through.

And with that, I'll mention Sleepers, too. Well acted and thought provoking, just awful subject matter.

It's about kids who get sexually abused in juvenile hall. Messed up.

[ObiWanFan4life]

And with that, I'll mention Sleepers, too. Well acted and thought provoking, just awful subject matter.

It's about kids who get sexually abused in juvenile hall. Messed up.

Sleepers is a great film, but in terms of violence, it's Sesame Street compared to Schindler's List, that movie's just one unsettling scene after another.

*Not to be rude of course*

[Lethal Lullaby]

For me it'd have to be "The Grudge" movies. I've seen all 3 and never want to see them again. They just really freak me out.

[Ninjinister]

More or less, a majority of the films I saw in the 80's and 90's. And then I get crap for not remembering references to these films I've never seen more than once or twice, around 20 years ago.

[Captain PunchYouHard]

Pan's Labyrinth. It was a masterpiece, but I was depressed for days.

[CyberCubed]

Most horror movies. After you've seen them the suspense is gone and the stories usually can't carry them.

[Jester]

Kids. I think it's Rosario Dawson's first film but since it's a movie about the warped sex lives of bored teens one of whom has AIDS and is unwittingly spreading it to young virgins he loves to deflower it's a rough watch. It's so raw. The only reason I even watched it was it was mentioned in this book:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/TALKING-PICTURES-COREY-SCHMIDT-RONALD-MADISON-PAPERBACK-NEW-/00/s/NTg1WDQwMA==/z/20QAAOxy0P1SDLp2/$T2eC16V,!y0E9s2S65WwBSDLp2FZBQ~~60_35.JPG

[Leo656]

That movie was pretty f*cked up. And overrated as hell. I remember it came out when I was like 13, and it got so much hype (mostly from MTV and Rolling Stone, which are both still cool when you're 13) that I made a note to see it if I ever got the chance. Made the mistake of renting it with the wife one night; as soon as it was over she was like, "I really wish I could get those two hours back." :lol:

Not the worst thing I've seen but I didn't care much for it.

[Jester]

Yeah...kinda forgot the "movies you LIKED" bit when I posted it.

[RaphAndDonnie]

"The Wolverine" I liked it when I saw it in theaters. It was great. The action, the soundtrack... I might even pick it up on DVD when it comes out, if not to do anything but help complete my X-Men movie collection. But...I honestly could do without ever seeing it again.

It's a Wolverine movie with little continuity to the other movies. It's good for a one time view. Hell, none of the other X-Men even show up, except Jean in Logan's dreams. And Charles and Erik in the end credits.

[Hero]

Titantic I liked, but never care to see again.

There is probably a lot of movies I'll only like and see for only once in a lifetime. I guess it revolves around how much time chosen to spend on watching movies or doing something else.

[ObiWanFan4life]

I love the film Saving Private Ryan, but I don't think I'll be rushing to see it again.

[Ecto Jedi]

Surprised no one's mentioned Requiem for a Dream. Then again, I didn't much care for it.

[CyberCubed]

Pacific Rim. And yes, I'm being serious.

If I ever get an urge to watch the monster fighting scenes again there's always YouTube. The rest of the movie is throwaway.

[MikeandRaph87]

There is some truth to that. There are some great movies but I will get bored or not have the amazement held in the first and only viewing. I consider War Horse, The Patriot,Dr. Zhivago, and I Am Legend the four movies in that category atleast for me. I enjoyed each of them but I feel repeated viewing would lessen my appreciation of them and is best served as a one time only.

[Turtle-X]

Grave of Fireflies

[PApagreg]

Grave of Fireflies

Oh my god that left me in tears

[Dawnatello Turtle Chick]

Slumdog Millionaire - a very deep, moving and painfully beautiful movie, but the things the characters go through are so emotionally exhausting you don't want to watch it over. It was in all rights a well made and entertaining film, but you have to be in the right mindset.

[Master Splinter]

The first movie that came to my mind is Kids (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113540/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1). But that's how I feel about most of Larry Clark's movies.

I can only watch some punk aids infested kid spread it around once.

-ms

[Master Splinter]

Surprised no one's mentioned Requiem for a Dream. Then again, I didn't much care for it.

I would watch Jennifer Connelly over and over again in that movie. Darren Aronofsky is one of my favorites.

-ms

[Storm Eagle]

You just KNOW that it's some family somewhere's traditional Christmas movie, though. Somewhere, every year, someone looks at his wife and says, with no irony, "Honey, it's Christmas Eve. Tonight, before the kids go to bed, let's stoke the fireplace, pop some popcorn, have some hot chocolate with marshmallows and watch ol' Jesus get flogged for a few hours, whattya say?" :lol:

Yeah, Because nothing screams "Family Entertainment" like a 2-Hour long Torture Sequence. :lol:

I'm a Christian, but I couldn't help but laugh at that. Then again, I'm not really as strict as most Christians are.

As for me, I think I'd have to say Mona Lisa Smile, Saving Private Ryan, We Were Soldiers, and Pitch Perfect.

[The Clerk]

Red State. The only Kevin Smith film that I don't want to purchase. It was alright, well written, but thinking on how messed up people really are in this world I could do without the reminder lol

[ZariusTwo]

The Dark Knight.

I like to think the movie can still live up it's legend by seeing it just the one time, because I went to see DKR so many times that I began poking holes in it, same with Batman Begins too.

[Ninjinister]

Pacific Rim. And yes, I'm being serious.

If I ever get an urge to watch the monster fighting scenes again there's always YouTube. The rest of the movie is throwaway.

I've not seen it, but what you say is completely at odds with what others have said.

Grave of Fireflies

I've seen it three times. Own it. Probably not gonna see it again unless I need to show it to someone.

[Krutch]

Wow, like minds much? I read the topic title and began thinking "okay, Passion of the Christ, Kids, Titanic..." Then read all your answers, lol. Okay then...

Might sound weird but as much as I loved Lord of the Rings, I haven't rewatched them since theatres. If I ever rewatched them I'd want to watch them all,and I just don't know if/when I'd ever want to do that again.

The Prophecy, which I'm afraid if I rewatch ill discover its nowhere near as good as I remembered.

[XERO]

Buried with Ryan Renolds. If Passion of the Christ was a 2 hour torture device, this would be 90 minutes of being in a f*ckin' box submerged in sand.

It was a intense yet amazing film, and one of Reynold's best performances, if not the best. If being stuck in a coffin manages to bring out the best in you emotionally, then that's gotta say something.

Still, it was a claustrophobic roller-coaster, with one of the most tragic, yet refined, endings I've ever seen.

I'd watch it once every blue moon, but not enough to go through the experience constantly. I haven't seen it in 2 years, actually.

[Dawnatello Turtle Chick]

Buried with Ryan Renolds. If Passion of the Christ was a 2 hour torture device, this would be 90 minutes of being in a f*ckin' box submerged in sand.

It was a intense yet amazing film, and one of Reynold's best performances, if not the best. If being stuck in a coffin manages to bring out the best in you emotionally, then that's gotta say something.

Still, it was a claustrophobic roller-coaster, with one of the most tragic, yet refined, endings I've ever seen.

I'd watch it once every blue moon, but not enough to go through the experience constantly. I haven't seen it in 2 years, actually.

Along those lines I'd also have to say 127 Hours.... not an experience I want to have twice, but I thought the movie was good- not GREAT, but good.

[XERO]

lol I actually liked 127 Hours more, mostly because I'm a James Franco fan.

Heck, if he was in Buried, it'd probably be my favorite Franco movie. :P

[CyberCubed]

I've not seen it, but what you say is completely at odds with what others have said.

I've seen it three times. Own it. Probably not gonna see it again unless I need to show it to someone.

The actual story and human characters in Pacific Rim aren't great, its about on par with the story you see in an average videogame.

[shuriken]

American Psycho. ALthough I could watch Jared Leto get killed over and over again for reasons I cannot fully comprehend.
Another One is Apt Pupil about some wierd kid that discovers that his old neighbor is a Nazi War criminal. It's a trippy movie for a few reasons.
If you ever wondered what an old Casey Jones getting beaten with a shovel looks like that happens.

Also SPartacus. I really enjoyed it but it is waaay too long and emotionally draining. By the time Spartacus dies You believe he's been on the run for years.

[Gin Rummy]

Blair Witch Project and other "Found Footage" movies I find have zero Re-watchability.

[Leo656]

I'll agree with that. I saw Blair Witch in theaters and was like, "That was neat," and ever since I have no reason to watch it again. It did what it was trying to do (as well as gave lots of people migraines, which it was NOT trying to do), but the replay value is nil. Once you've seen it, it's just a bunch of annoying dweebs walking in circles and crying. I'd say to someone who hasn't seen it that it's worth a look, but that's all.

"Titanic" was ok, but it was also the most overrated movie of the modern age. I'm not going out of my way to avoid it (I mean, if nothing else, there's Kate Winslet's nude scene), but if I never saw it again it wouldn't bother me.

Good stuff, guys! Let's keep it rollin'! Opinions are free!

[raph27]

Iron Man 3. I'll just laugh at the Mandarin's threats.

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

And with that, I'll mention Sleepers, too. Well acted and thought provoking, just awful subject matter.

It's about kids who get sexually abused in juvenile hall. Messed up.

just read the imdb parents guide that tells you what content is in it. now i feel sick

[shuriken]

^^I like sleepers. The only reason I could rewatch it is because of all of the great performances and the ending. Great great ending.

[The Sewer Lord]

Stephen King's It (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099864/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1). This explains everything:

http://global3.memecdn.com/hi-pennywise_c_1815185.jpg

[Leo656]

The only reason I have a problem rewatching "IT" is...
that thing with the guy cutting his wrists. I have an over-active imagination and anything with slit wrists or throats really creeps me out.

[CyberCubed]

Elysium. Good sci-fi flick, have no desire to see it again.

World War Z....decent for a one-time viewing.

Pacific Rim, as I said above I'd only rewatch the monster fighting scenes on youtube if I get the urge.


Hell....almost all recent movies give me the feeling of, "Yeah this was OK," but not something I'd watch again.

In fact out of all the movies this year the only ones I plan to buy on blu-ray are Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Wolverine and maybe Iron Man 3.

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

In fact out of all the movies this year the only ones I plan to buy on blu-ray are Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Wolverine and maybe Iron Man 3.

what about 'Man of Steel'?

[CyberCubed]

what about 'Man of Steel'?

Forgot about that, I'll probably pick that up too. Wasn't a huge fan of Man of Steel but it'll be good to watch on blu-ray.

[AT-Man]

The only reason I have a problem rewatching "IT" is...
that thing with the guy cutting his wrists. I have an over-active imagination and anything with slit wrists or throats really creeps me out.

I have the same with human jaws ripped apart. It's the most grotesquely scary thing I can imagine.

[Leo656]

Everyone's got their switch. I can handle a lot but for some reason sh*t with throats and wrist/neck veins makes me wanna pass out sometimes. I never have, but I do get a little sweaty. I think because it's really hard for me to NOT imagine what something would feel like when I see it.

Dropped a boxcutter on my hand once that just missed my wrist by less than an inch and it bled insanely, and kept bleeding for a couple days. I couldn't get to a hospital so I had it bandaged with like a dozen "butterflies" and a sh*tload of gauze and medical tape. I had nightmares for three days about it, and all I saw when I closed my eyes was all the blood. I had to recompose for a second there just typing about it. I still have a hideous scar. Since that happened, seeing stuff like that in movies has been a lot more unpleasant. :ohwell: At least it's usually over quick, and the filmmakers have sense not to dwell on it.

[AT-Man]

For now The Conjuring goes into this category, while I really liked it, I'm not in hurry to see it again, maybe only a few parts. So it has the same problem that every other horror movie, that ain't Evil Dead 2 or The Thing.

[Sword Slicin' Leo]

Water for elephants, i didnt like when Christoph Waltz beat the elephant

[The Sewer Lord]

Everyone's got their switch. I can handle a lot but for some reason sh*t with throats and wrist/neck veins makes me wanna pass out sometimes. I never have, but I do get a little sweaty. I think because it's really hard for me to NOT imagine what something would feel like when I see it.

Dropped a boxcutter on my hand once that just missed my wrist by less than an inch and it bled insanely, and kept bleeding for a couple days. I couldn't get to a hospital so I had it bandaged with like a dozen "butterflies" and a sh*tload of gauze and medical tape. I had nightmares for three days about it, and all I saw when I closed my eyes was all the blood. I had to recompose for a second there just typing about it. I still have a hideous scar. Since that happened, seeing stuff like that in movies has been a lot more unpleasant. :ohwell: At least it's usually over quick, and the filmmakers have sense not to dwell on it.

Bad story bro. Bad story. Bad.

Anyway, my problem with the movie was

the actual "unpleasantness" Pennywise provides. While watching the movie, the thought of him appearing while me being in the bathroom never escapes my head.
Not to mention him turning into a spider. A clown and a spider? That's just too much.

[Jester]

An American Crime (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0802948/). Good...but very brutal. My wife screamed at Catherine Keener's character and most of the kids, too.

[The Stryker]

I liked The Last Stand in theaters.

I feel like if I watched it again it would just completely fall apart.

[shuriken]

I liked The Last Stand in theaters.

I feel like if I watched it again it would just completely fall apart.

I kinda feel that way about TMNT (2007)...

[Leo656]

I kinda feel that way about TMNT (2007)...

Yeah, I don't watch it much for that very reason. I like it, but I want to keep liking it and I know it's not terrific. After I saw it in theaters and watched it once on DVD I didn't see it again for like 5 years.

[shuriken]

Just saw Bug yesturday. It was good but really wierd and unsettling. Ashley Judd was great in it but I never want to watch it again. It's just too much

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Batman Begins and Dark Knight. They were both decent enough, but I have no interest in seeing them again- especially Dark Knight. Ledger KILLED the Joker for me. I will always imagine Jack when I think Joker. I don't know WHO Heath was playing, but it wasn't the Clown Prince of Crime....

[FlogginMcMurryZombiePizza]

Off the top of my head, probably World War Z.
Great book, and I met Max Brooks and he was awesome and very cool.
I just felt the movie didn't exactly work out, and I love a good zombie movie.
This is one that's like "eh, it was ok but I'll not see it again".
I'll watch Romero's worst film before seeing WWZ again.

I felt it could have been much better, but I was pulled out of the movie a lot, such as with the dog piling zombies. I get that they did it like insects, as they showed in the opening credits. There were other various plot holes kinda moments that pulled me out of the movie.
Probably the best bits of the movie are when the outbreak first starts.

And I really disliked the forced-down-your-throat ending message of "Vaccinations saved the world! Now get your shots!".

And for the record, Pacific Rim will be a Day 1 BluRay purchase for me.

[Leo656]

Batman Begins and Dark Knight. They were both decent enough, but I have no interest in seeing them again- especially Dark Knight. Ledger KILLED the Joker for me. I will always imagine Jack when I think Joker. I don't know WHO Heath was playing, but it wasn't the Clown Prince of Crime....

That's kind of odd, since any similarities between the Joker in the Tim Burton movie - any of the characters in that movie, honestly - and their comic book counterparts was purely coincidental. Nicholson, in particular, played the exact same role he does in every movie: Jack Nicholson, only in that movie it was "Jack Nicholson, only this time he's dressed like a clown." It wasn't particularly a stretch (they even named Joker "Jack" to better accommodate the actor), but it wasn't exactly a spot-on portrayal, by any means.

It was fine, I mean I like Jack and everything, but he was a bit too "cute" and way too charming. Joker's a psychopath, a total nihilist, and everyone in a room with him should feel extremely uncomfortable at all times. When he appears, the viewer/reader should be equally fascinated and horrified by what he might do, and afterwards, they should feel a little sickened by what they've seen. He is supposed to be literally the worst type of human being possible, a walking nightmare. And I feel like Nicholson only scratched the surface of the character's potential, while Ledger - who I was ready to hate - fully embraced it. Some of the character's more horrific moments from the comics - like breaking into the home of an elderly couple and skinning them alive, just for fun, as seen in the "Joker" graphic novel - are things I could never see Nicholson's version doing, but would seem perfectly fine for Ledger's interpretation to do.

Mileage will vary, obviously. But I definitely thought Ledger's version was more closely aligned with the comics. It was still its own entirely separate version, but it was closer to the source.

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

Hmmm, films i like that i would never see again....

Probably 'Schindler's list', now i think about it.

[Prowler]

I guess comedies like "Borat" or "40 Year Old Virgin" apply because while funny, the jokes don't exactly age well, especially Borat. Although, to be fair, I did re-watch Borat back in 2008. I remember watching it at the cinema back in 2006(I think) and finding it hysterical, but then I re-watched it a couple of years later on DVD and barely could manage a chuckle.

Another movie I liked the first time I watched it but disliked it the 2nd time was "The Day After Tomorrow". I don't know why, but I liked it a lot the first time I watched it.

[plastroncafe]

I'm seconding "Schlinder's List," and adding Charlize Theron's "Monster," and Ellen Page's "Hard Candy."

All three are brutal, visceral, amazingly well crafted movies that I will never watch again if I can help it.

"The Shape of Things" was also mindf*ck, but that just left me feeling dirty.

[Mzx10484]

Mulholland Drive by David Lynch - very strange and impressive - but one time is enough !

[Hamato Yoshi]

I don't mind if I've heard the jokes before or seen horror films before , they still entertain me ;)

Wasn't he named Jack Napier as a tribute to Alan "Alfred" Napier who'd just died , that's what I heard ?

[TMNT_Guy]

Joker's a psychopath, a total nihilist, and everyone in a room with him should feel extremely uncomfortable at all times. When he appears, the viewer/reader should be equally fascinated and horrified by what he might do, and afterwards, they should feel a little sickened by what they've seen
I'll give you that, but don't forget that he is known as the CLOWN prince of crime. He's the Joker, where are the jokes and dark humor? The Joker in The Dark Knight was just too serious for me, he just felt like a completly different character.

The only scenes in the movie where I thought "Now THAT'S the Joker." Include the opening scene "Naw, I'm just waiting for the car." The "magic trick" he does with the pencil and finally during the hospital scene when his bombs have a delay in them.

That's just me, though.

[Leo656]

It's supposed to be more ironic than a description. The fact that someone who looks like a clown is really an inhuman monster. Just like Catwoman got her name because she was a cat burglar and over the years somehow people identified her as a woman with a cat fetish who purrs, which is incorrect. People get hung up on nicknames and descriptors.

Perfect example: In the first Joker story printed after he killed Robin/Jason Todd, the plot centered around an imposter Joker who had surfaced, and his behavior - jokes and clown-like behavior over violence and mayhem - were a dead giveaway to batman and Gordon that this guy wasn't the real Joker. Det. Essen specifically stated, "The Joker's M.O. is bad jokes..." only to be corrected by Gordon, "NO. He's NOT a comedian." Again, the visual is supposed to be ironic. I know that in the 60s when everything was watered down for the Comics Code, he became a simple clown, but it may as well have been a completely different character altogether.

Again, the scene in the "Joker" graphic novel sums him up. He and an accomplice break into the home of an elderly couple. The accomplice asks him, who lives there. Joker replies, "Who cares?" And then he skins them alive and laughs about it. Not very "clownish". Because he's NOT a clown. He's the Devil. He's a monster. He has no soul. Big difference.

Those scenes you described from the movie are very good representation, but again, what they got right wasn't necessarily that he was "being funny", but that he was being a psychopath and HE was the only one "in" on the "joke". It's a subtle but important distinction.

And the bomb scene was a "happy accident", the pyro didn't go off as expected and Ledger was just keeping in character because the cameras were on, and it turned out to be such a good shot they left it in. More a testament to his immersing himself in the role than anything.

[TMNT_Guy]

Those scenes you described from the movie are very good representation, but again, what they got right wasn't necessarily that he was "being funny", but that he was being a psychopath and HE was the only one "in" on the "joke". It's a subtle but important distinction.
I'll admit my knowledge of the character mostly comes from The Killing Joke graphic novel, Batman the Animated Series and the Mad Love graphic novel.

When I think of the Joker, I think of the most disturbing scene in the Killing Joke: When the Joker strips Commissioner Gordon naked, chains him up, places him on an amusement ride and shows him naked pictures of his daughter all while singing a song about how Gordon just needs to go loo-oo-oony. That going crazy will end his suffering.

We as an audience find this horrible, sick, disturbing, while to the Joker it's a game; just one big joke. We didn't need several scenes of him asking people if they know how he got his scars to do that. But alternative character interpretation and all.

No denying that Heath gave an excellent performance, I just feel the script could have been better. I just remembered another scene from The Dark Knight that felt Joker-esque to me: "I just want my phone call."

[MsMarvelDuckie]

I'm with TMNTguy here. What I've always liked about The Joker is his strange and often macabre sense of humor. He doesn't just kill like a "normal" psychopath, he does it with irony and sadistic schadenfreude in mind. There's a line from one of they comics that comes to mind when I think of Joker- "Anyone can butcher. A true artist does it with class." He said this to another psycho killer, ironicly enougb, right before turning on him §during a team up. I feel like Jack embodied this aspect far better than Ledger. He was closer to what we got in B:TAS, which I feel is the perfect deiction of him- albeit slightly sanitized for kids cartoons.

[Leo656]

The cartoon struck a good balance, at least as close as they could get on 90s TV. Killing Joke, also, is great. Again, though, I can more easily see Ledger's Joker going that dark, and doing those things. Jack, sure, but Heath more so.

I'unno, once again, to me the fact Jack was just playing himself in clown face waters it down a little bit. I love it for what it was, but he was almost too easy to like, and he seemed more goofy than threatening. And you're never supposed to fall in love with the villain. It's an easy trap to fall into when doing villains. For all Ledger's flair, he was such a lunatic he remained someone you wanted to see get beat in the end. I feel Nicholson and certain other portrayals of Joker make him too likeable. The writers can't contain their love for such an interesting character and get too "Cutesey" with it.

I don't know, it's a wrestling psychology thing. "The heel can't ever turn into the babyface." Jack's Joker, you honestly didn't want to see die at the end, he was such a showman. Heath's, it's like, "This kind of person really shouldn't exist, he's a human cancer. Just KILL HIM already!" Which to me, means they nailed it better.

I will forever mark the F*ck out for that "Party Man" scene, though. Joker absolutely murders a bunch of people and then dances spastically to Prince. Absolutely he does that. That sh*t was glorious. :lol:

[TMNT_Guy]

I feel Nicholson and certain other portrayals of Joker make him too likeable. The writers can't contain their love for such an interesting character and get too "Cutesey" with it.

I don't know, it's a wrestling psychology thing. "The heel can't ever turn into the babyface." Jack's Joker, you honestly didn't want to see die at the end, he was such a showman. Heath's, it's like, "This kind of person really shouldn't exist, he's a human cancer. Just KILL HIM already!" Which to me, means they nailed it better.

Hmm. Never thought of it that way. Just goes to show you how strong of a character he is; Writers can focus on just one part of his personality and still find an audience for him.

[Leo656]

Since he's such a multi-faceted personality to begin with, it's very easy to do. :)

I have a soft spot for Romero's version, for example, since it was the first I was exposed to as a kid. And based on the character of the era as well as SOME parts of his personality, it was OK. But it's not the best way to do it either, for me. It's valid. It's not "incorrect". Nicholson's is valid. It's not "incorrect". Same with Ledger's. They all hit different notes of the same character. Heath just honestly surprised me by having his version overwrite the others in my personal headspace. :)

[shuriken]

"The Shape of Things" was also mindf*ck, but that just left me feeling dirty.

Yeah it really does. I like it but it's the furthest thing from a feel good movie. Niel LeBute is great at creating really great characters with terrible charcter flaws. Saw Your Friends and Neighbors recently and I felt pretty dirty afterwards as well.

[NameGoesHere1066]

The Purge.

I thought it was a good movie but after I saw it I felt no real desire to pop it back into the dvd player and see it again. The storyline takes a certain amount of suspension of disablief and I think that is why I can't rewatch it. I might find my self taking it apart and nit picking and then it will lose it's impact.