It’s been a tough go in the movie world for DC lately. The latest Superman/Justice League/Aquaman movies were not great, and were not well received. In fact, in the last few years only Wonder Woman has been a hit for the comic franchise. While they definitely seem to be kicking butt on the small screen (The Flash, Supergirl and most recently [Teen] Titans are all available on Netflix), particularly over Marvel’s continually cancelled shows, Marvel is definitely the champion at the box office. Admittedly, I’ve always been a bigger DC than Marvel fan. I have been a Hal Jordan/Green Lantern fan since I was a kid and while I have definitely enjoyed the Marvel movies, I have felt continually let down by DC. I had really high hopes for the Green Lantern movie starring Ryan Reynolds, but it was a definite stinker. His turn as Deadpool (Marvel) has definitely been incredible and very entertaining, I’d happily watch those movies any time. Not so much the Green Lantern movie.
In any case, I think many DC fans were really excited to hear about a new stand alone Joker movie being released. It had been discussed for years, but no one really seemed willing to take it on. How do you put together a movie about one of, arguably, the most iconic comic book bad guys of all time? Who would dare take that on? Well, earlier this year it was announced that Todd Philips had written a screenplay, it had been green lighted and…drum roll please…Joaquin Phoenix (yes, Johnny Cash) would play the Joker. There was much excitement in comic book fandom land! Would it be an origin story or a caper? Who would play Batman? Would Batman even appear? What story line would they follow? Weeeeeelllllll….it turns out that not only will there be no Dark Knight in the movie, the movie doesn’t follow any comic story line at all. It IS an origin story, but it seems that Philips has completely re-imagined the Joker from the ground up.
Will it work? I’m skeptical. I know that there is going to be a lot of backlash from the comic book fandom about not following an established story line but, I’m more concerned with the movie being GOOD. I like Joaquin Phoenix and I think he’d make a great Joker but I’m worried that it just isn’t going to be a well executed movie. The trailer (see it below) definitely doesn’t bring the Joker that I know to mind, but I am definitely open to a new Joker. I guess we’ll just have to wait until October to see for ourselves!
