Joker 2 gave us 1 thing for the DC villain that I don’t think any other movie could

This article contains spoilers for Joker: Folie a Deux

Joker: Folie a Deux is shaping up to be a bonafide disaster in terms of box office and reception. While Joker Making over $1 billion globally over its theatrical run, its sequel will likely reach nowhere near those numbers. moreover, Joker: Folie a Deux had a remarkably terrible score on CinemaScore, and now holds the record for the lowest-rated superhero film. Of course, the movie all but sheds its comic inspirations, with Lady Gaga as a version of Harley Quinn called Lee, who more closely resembles Punchline, the Joker’s other girlfriend.

The film is also bogged down by an abysmal ending. I was never under any illusions that Arthur Fleck was the Joker who would later fight Batman. Any references to the rest of the Batman canon are fleeting Easter eggs. That said, the film’s final scenes, which see Arthur murdered by an inmate destined to be the “real” Joker, feel less like a Hollywood blockbuster and more like a Reddit fan theory. A better ending would have just killed Arthur without the extensive Joker connection or kept him locked in Arkham.

However, the decision to delve deeper into Arthur’s psyche could have paid off in a better film. as it says, Joker: Folie a Deux Takes some interesting risks, but the execution made me feel like the whole effort was a missed opportunity.

Joker 2’s depiction of the DC villain is something I don’t see in any other DC movie

Arthur Fleck is explored in intimate detail

Arthur Fleck is painfully, embarrassingly, sensitive man in Joker: Folie a Deux. Although his Joker persona is still a big part of the film, it is clear that our protagonist is not as engaged with the clown as audiences, both in real life and in his fictional world. Arthur’s descent into total madness isn’t as cut and dry as that Joker Made it to be. Instead of fully embracing chaos, he wants the same thing he’s always had: sanity. Very few films, especially those based on comic books, develop so heavily into what drives their characters.

Because he was mistreated his whole life, Arthur’s sense of identity became tied to how others perceived him. He kept away from those who harmed him and joined those who did not harm him. That’s why, when he captured, he primarily targeted those who antagonized him. then, Arthur found what he thought was acceptance as the Joker. The sequel deconstructs this idea by showing that Arthur’s embrace of chaos and dismantling social structures was rooted in his desire for admiration and love as well as the idea that maybe he could make a difference.

Arthur struggles with whether to let Joker go Throughout the film, as he faces down the possibility of the death penalty. During his time in Arkham awaiting trial, he has a friendly relationship with fellow inmate Ricky, who, like him, is victimized by the guards. Unfortunately, Ricky loses his life defending Arthur. This brings an already troubled man to the painful realization that none of his actions can change the oppressive systems that broke him. His decision to reject the Joker immediately correlates with the death of someone who treated him well, something he always wanted.

Why Joker 2 version of the Batman villain is so controversial

If Ricky demonstrates Arthur making and losing a connection with someone with no other motive, Lee points out that Arthur is forming a connection through a lie. After he admits that he is just Arthur, her interest in him dissipates as her attraction is to the Joker’s power and notoriety. This is a good realization for someone like Arthur, whose desire for acceptance has broken him before. however, His whole relationship with Lee was always a lie. She has the upper hand the whole time, an interesting flip on the Joker and Harley dynamic fans are used to.

The back-to-back twists of Arthur confessing, Lee leaving him, and the former Joker being murdered on his return to Arkham give viewers whiplash. This is doubly true because they came to see the same Arthur who led an angry mob in Joker. Regardless of Philip’s intentions, the hard truth is that he didn’t give fans what they wanted. If Joker: Folie a Deux was simply empty, and the controversy surrounding the film would not be so intense.

Phillips seems to have made the anti-Joker With the sequel. If I had to guess, I think he was proving a point about being made the face of a movement or concept. Arthur cannot live up to the expectations his followers place on him. Phillips resented the audience and ideals that formed around him Joker. Lee represents the audience that was obsessed with the Joker character And wanted more anarchy. Arthur was emotionally beaten down Joker: Folie a Deux And shatters his Joker persona because he doesn’t want to fill the role.

The character journeys are, in a way, Phillips expressing his displeasure to all the fans who took the “wrong” message of Joker. His message is clear: You’re not supposed to be a joker.

I’m glad Joker 2 took risks with its depiction of the Joker – even if it didn’t pay off

DC took a risk with Philip’s vision

Joker: Folie a Deux took a huge creative step. In this case, it looks like the gamble won’t work for DC or the audience. Phillips made the film with little studio supervision, the opposite of Marvel’s made-by-committee production strategy. I’m all for allowing writers and directors to have creative freedom. It’s amazing for a studio to take a chance on a concept as strange as a Joker-themed musical. However, did Warner Bros. or DC Syudios pay attention Joker: Folie A Deuxs production and completed test screenings, this mess could be avoided.

I am deeply disappointed that this movie does not stick the landing because even with the angle of deconstructing JokerIt could have been a powerful statement on identity. instead, Joker: Folie a Deux is equal parts boring and weird – not a winning combination.

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