Joker Review Thread

~~AquaParade~~ · 08-31-2019, 12:45 PM

- Hope this is okay, mods.

Reviews for "Joker", which was screened at the Venice Film festival are now hitting the web! I'll get us started, but feel free to share more!

The film is a hit!

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/joker/

Quote:

Bold, devastating and utterly beautiful, Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix have not just reimagined one of the most iconic villains in cinema history, but reimagined the comic book movie itself.

https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london...-a4225396.html

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/re...review-1235309

https://variety.com/2019/film/review...ps-1203317033/

http://collider.com/joker-review-vid...witter/#images

And here is a rather negative review:

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/j...ie-review-2019

*Autbot_Benz* · 08-31-2019, 12:56 PM

So pumped for this and glad its being well received

*TigerClaw* · 08-31-2019, 01:06 PM

IGN gave it a 10.

~~AquaParade~~ · 08-31-2019, 01:24 PM

To think we have people calling the film a waste of time because it is not in the DCEU, or comparing Joaquins version of the character to SilentPool/BarakaPool.

This looks to be a game changer....

But be careful, I may have just read a mindblowing spoiler from a review linked to rotten tomatoes. I'll try and provide a link, but I'm a bit scared to go back and check if it's really a spoiler, tbh.

*CyberCubed* · 08-31-2019, 01:43 PM

~~AquaParade~~ · 08-31-2019, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

http://giphygifs.s3.amazonaws.com/me...Ji9y/giphy.gif

Yup. This film is going to make a lot of money.

*Leo656* · 08-31-2019, 01:52 PM

Interesting. I've only seen negative reviews thus far, albeit only a couple.

And as Andrew predicted, it is indeed an "Important Political Movie", right down to Joker's antics inspiring the common rabble to don clown masks and carry "Kill The Rich!" signs.

Looks like it's going to be tough to discuss this one while staying within the rules.

*MikeandRaph87* · 08-31-2019, 07:21 PM

Is there a reason given for this taking place in 1981? I assumed 2019,but what significance is that year to what they want to do with the 1940 created character?

*CyberCubed* · 08-31-2019, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeandRaph87

Is there a reason given for this taking place in 1981? I assumed 2019,but what significance is that year to what they want to do with the 1940 created character?

The King of Comedy came out in 1981 and Robert De Niro is in the movie.

*LeotheLateBloomer* · 10-22-2019, 08:45 AM

I'm super late in giving my thoughts but hey, I'm living up to my name, lol. I watched this movie twice so that tells you that I really enjoyed it. I really felt for this version of the character though it was hard to tell which scenes were all in his head besides the ones involving his love interest, obviously. Some theorized that the entire movie was all in his head except the very end scene.

*IMJ* · 10-22-2019, 09:24 AM

One thing I do get sick of is the familial or poetic connection that film makers put into movies thinking it will make things somehow more artistic. It's become a trope.

"The villain knows the heroes secret ID because it makes it more personal". "The villains actions actually catalyze the murder that creates Batman". "The villain and the hero are lifelong friends who cry together at the end of the movie before one of them dies". "The villain is the father figure to the hero to create drama"

It's become a trope and a cliche, especially in superhero movies. That's also part of the reason why Ledger's Joker was so good. He was just there. And Batman had to stop him.

*Voltron* · 10-23-2019, 02:43 AM

Joker's dip in the chemicals was always a solid and present part of his past. Everything else was not. It contrasts with Bruce's background, where everything is known and expanded upon to the point that there are no secrets with him. It makes sense that his antithesis would be a mystery.

I don't think it makes him scarier to be unknown, though. I think it makes it more difficult to empathize with him, though. That's important, since it keeps the Joker pure. Any redemption arcs or tear jerking back stories are typically lies he's using to manipulate or delusions he's using to justify his behavior.

*Leo656* · 10-25-2019, 03:57 PM

The cinematographer tries to clarify one of the things people are speculating and debating about, giving a conclusive answer from the perspective of the people who made the film. Spoilers, obviously.

https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/jo...84505/#respond

Spoiler:

What I find entertaining and annoying are the people in the Comments who see fit to argue with the people who made the film about what actually happened. I'm all for leaving some things open for interpretation, BUT, I'm also really big on taking what filmmakers say they intended at face value. If a person says, "I/We made this thing, and what I intended was This," it's kind of arrogant for another person to insist otherwise. Like there's "interpretation" and then there's Facts, y'know?

Anyway. For better or worse it looks like we have an official answer on how that scene was intended to be received. Whether a person agrees with it or not is their own prerogative, of course, but I choose to take them at their word.

*Andrew NDB* · 10-25-2019, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo656

What I find entertaining and annoying are the people in the Comments who see fit to argue with the people who made the film about what actually happened. I'm all for leaving some things open for interpretation, BUT, I'm also really big on taking what filmmakers say they intended at face value. If a person says, "I/We made this thing, and what I intended was This," it's kind of arrogant for another person to insist otherwise. Like there's "interpretation" and then there's Facts, y'know?

Like TMNT (2007).

Kevin Munroe, writer/director of the film: "It takes place after the old movies and is in the same universe. Period."

Fans: "But iiis it, though?"

08-31-2019, 12:56 PM	#2
Autbot_Benz Hellblazer Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Ventura California Posts: 8,275	So pumped for this and glad its being well received __________________ I respect what FW cartoon did for the turtles franchise but it is the most overrated and hard to watch of the 3 turtles cartoons.

08-31-2019, 01:06 PM	#3
TigerClaw Mutant Tiger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Hialeah, Florida, USA Posts: 13,815	IGN gave it a 10. __________________

08-31-2019, 01:52 PM	#7
Leo656 The Franchise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,696	Interesting. I've only seen negative reviews thus far, albeit only a couple. And as Andrew predicted, it is indeed an "Important Political Movie", right down to Joker's antics inspiring the common rabble to don clown masks and carry "Kill The Rich!" signs. Looks like it's going to be tough to discuss this one while staying within the rules. __________________ "I left some words quite far from here to be a short reminder... I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever..." "But hey... I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know." nWo Tech: The Official Thread Poison of the Technodrome Forums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr...awnHgDz1ceDcfA https://theroxxshow.blogspot.com/

08-31-2019, 07:21 PM	#8
MikeandRaph87 Jedi Master Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: JLA Satellite Headquarters Posts: 11,131	Is there a reason given for this taking place in 1981? I assumed 2019,but what significance is that year to what they want to do with the 1940 created character? __________________ Michelangelo: This looks like a job for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Raphael: Sheesh, Mikey this ain't a cartoon!

10-22-2019, 09:24 AM	#11
IMJ Emperor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Midwest, U.S.A. Posts: 6,987	One thing I do get sick of is the familial or poetic connection that film makers put into movies thinking it will make things somehow more artistic. It's become a trope. "The villain knows the heroes secret ID because it makes it more personal". "The villains actions actually catalyze the murder that creates Batman". "The villain and the hero are lifelong friends who cry together at the end of the movie before one of them dies". "The villain is the father figure to the hero to create drama" It's become a trope and a cliche, especially in superhero movies. That's also part of the reason why Ledger's Joker was so good. He was just there. And Batman had to stop him. __________________ Wave 1 Collectibles Online Market Watch Blog Collection Photography

08-31-2019, 01:24 PM	#4
~~AquaParade~~ Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 8,450	To think we have people calling the film a waste of time because it is not in the DCEU, or comparing Joaquins version of the character to SilentPool/BarakaPool. This looks to be a game changer.... But be careful, I may have just read a mindblowing spoiler from a review linked to rotten tomatoes. I'll try and provide a link, but I'm a bit scared to go back and check if it's really a spoiler, tbh.

08-31-2019, 01:43 PM	#5
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 41,031

10-22-2019, 08:45 AM	#10
LeotheLateBloomer Foot Elite Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,973	I'm super late in giving my thoughts but hey, I'm living up to my name, lol. I watched this movie twice so that tells you that I really enjoyed it. I really felt for this version of the character though it was hard to tell which scenes were all in his head besides the ones involving his love interest, obviously. Some theorized that the entire movie was all in his head except the very end scene.

10-23-2019, 02:43 AM	#12
Voltron Handsomest Boy in School Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Realm of SJW Posts: 4,642	Joker's dip in the chemicals was always a solid and present part of his past. Everything else was not. It contrasts with Bruce's background, where everything is known and expanded upon to the point that there are no secrets with him. It makes sense that his antithesis would be a mystery. I don't think it makes him scarier to be unknown, though. I think it makes it more difficult to empathize with him, though. That's important, since it keeps the Joker pure. Any redemption arcs or tear jerking back stories are typically lies he's using to manipulate or delusions he's using to justify his behavior. __________________ I AM FOR ACTUAL! . . . and the White Savior. . . and the Right Hand of God. . .

10-25-2019, 03:57 PM	#13
Leo656 The Franchise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,696	The cinematographer tries to clarify one of the things people are speculating and debating about, giving a conclusive answer from the perspective of the people who made the film. Spoilers, obviously. https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/jo...84505/#respond Spoiler: As I theorized, the filmmakers tried to present Arthur only killing people who had "done him wrong" before the end, therefore he spared Sophia. What I find entertaining and annoying are the people in the Comments who see fit to argue with the people who made the film about what actually happened. I'm all for leaving some things open for interpretation, BUT, I'm also really big on taking what filmmakers say they intended at face value. If a person says, "I/We made this thing, and what I intended was This," it's kind of arrogant for another person to insist otherwise. Like there's "interpretation" and then there's Facts, y'know? Anyway. For better or worse it looks like we have an official answer on how that scene was intended to be received. Whether a person agrees with it or not is their own prerogative, of course, but I choose to take them at their word. __________________ "I left some words quite far from here to be a short reminder... I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever..." "But hey... I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know." nWo Tech: The Official Thread Poison of the Technodrome Forums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr...awnHgDz1ceDcfA https://theroxxshow.blogspot.com/