Official Joker SPOILERS/Discussion Thread

Holy shite, that was powerful.

It was a slow burn, but once he got in full costume and left the apartment, it was fricking unbelievable.

I read the other day where someone said, (maybe it was Todd Phillips) that comic book adaptations are today's Shakespeare. You don't go to a play and say, "Holy frick. They're re-doing Hamlet? AGAIN?!"

Heath Ledger is still my favorite version, but this was the most sympathetic take on the character I've ever seen.

Wow, I’m gonna have to sleep on this one. I thought it was kinda boring until the last 25 min. Then it really takes a dark turn, but it’s so good if you don’t disturb easily. Perfect ending. That red suit and make-up is going to dominate Halloween this year guaranteed

All I know so far is that The New York Times trashed it so its a must see.

Joaquin Phoenix deserves Oscar buzz for his performance. Absolutely amazing.

Imagine if Heath was still alive to reprise this role.

I was pleased at how they broke from the traditional Joker story arch. I was expecting him to jump off into a life of crime, and then develop a copycat following. And that's not what happens. Most of the development from Man to Joker happens basically in isolation. He's entirely disconnected from the social protest movement that's developing along a parallel tract. So he seems kind of astonished that he becomes the face of the movement. It's like the Reluctant Anti Hero.

I thought it ended rather abruptly. I think it could have used another 15 mins to flesh out the Joker in his new role as the centerpiece of the Gotham Antifa.

I don’t think anybody gives enough credit to that automatic exit door for creating the Joker.

GODDAMN, I LOVED THAT MOVIE.

They nailed it down to little details like you rarely see Arthur walking downhill until he makes the full transformation. When he's fighting who he is, he's always trudging and fighting his way uphill, up staircases, etc. When he finally loses it completely and stabs the guy in the throat and quits fighting who he is and embracing it is when you finally see him walking downhill, dancing lightly down the staircase as full-blown Joker.

One of the other touches I noticed in Phoenix's portrayal is that weird flatfooted way he runs. Arthur is a professional clown. Think about how clowns walk and run because of those giant arse shoes they wear. It would be second nature for Arthur to run that way after so many years as a performing clown. Phoenix nailed the character down to that level of detail.

Also, was anyone else kinda shocked the first time you see Arthur without his shirt on and realized how much weight Phoenix lost for the role? It was like the first time I saw Christian Bale in The Mechanic or Tom Hanks in Cast Away.

ETA: The Machinist, not The Mechanic.

Man, when I found out Phoenix was going to be the joker I was pretty stoked. I felt like I saw their vision and “got it” before I ever saw him in the makeup.

BUT

I never could have imagined that they would finally get that straight up lunatic joker from the comics brought to the big screens and holy shite did JP nail it.