This summer, like last summer there are a number Comic Book movies coming out. Avengers has already come out & from what I hear is awesome (I have yet to see it. Long story on why I haven't). The next up is The Dark Knight Rises, the final chapter in Christopher Nolan's trilogy of Bat Movies (The other 2 being 2005's Batman Begins & 2008's The Dark Knight). As you you can tell by the title of this post I do not plan on seeing the movie in theaters.
Why not? It's not that I have anything against director Christopher Nolan, he makes good movies. Christian Bale as Batman has done a fine interpretation of the character. I don't have against anyone else involved with the movie. I'm sure The Dark Knight Rises will be fine & will make tons of cash. I just don't feel like seeing the movie. But why not? Anyone who knows me & my hobbies would assume that this would be my thing! It's a comic book movie & I like comic books! I saw Batman Begins in the theaters with my Grandmother (which made for an interesting conversation post movie). I thought it was fine movie. Not sure all the movies I saw in 2005 but I most likely would have put it on my list of Good movies I saw that year. Go forward 3 years & we get to my problem: 2008's The Dark Knight. My "problem" is not really with the movie it's self. It's with the film's fans.
People seemed to loose their fricking minds in regards to the movie. Actually, they loose it regarding a major element of the movie. It's main villain: The Joker, portrayed by the late Heath Ledger. Now I haven't seen the full film but from the clips I've seen He didn't a fine good with the role. He made it his own. He wasn't a retread of the Jack Nicholson version Joker from 1989's Batman. He wasn't the Joker the Animated Series. He wasn't the Joker from the comics, which I'm fine with. I don't mind that the movies change elements, that they don't quite match up to the comics. They are separate things.
As I said, my problem is it with the fans. I don't mind that you liked the movie. I don't mind that you liked Joker from the movie. I do mind you cramming it down my throat. This is partly in regards to the movies catchphrase "why so serious" which got run into the ground & then continued to be used for a few months beyond that. It was everywhere. I couldn't escape it. This over exposure of the character made me to start to resent that version of the character & movie he was in. I still like The Joker as a character, he's a great villain. I can still enjoy the movies Heath Ledger made before his death.
The Joker form The Dark Knight has never been a favorite look of mine. I got why they went with that look & was fine with it. It had some interesting points. I'll admit it does look cool. But it just wasn't my thing. I was prepared to move on. Let it have it's moment in the sun & then move on to the next look but THEY won't let me. I think the movie got a bit over hyped due to the passing of Ledger, which was sad & still is. He should still be making movies. As I said it's not about him & the character. It's more about the fans.
I still sort of cringe at the usage of the phrase "why so serious", I feel a bit sad when the only version of the Joker I see people dressed up is the one for The Dark Knight. I do like it when I see people take that version of The Joker & do something with it, change it up a bit, make it their own.
I seen similar fan reaction lately with Tom Hiddleston's Loki (the main villain from The Avengers) but I'm more fine with it. Maybe since there isn't such a quotable catchphrase attached to that character that people can drive into the ground. Maybe that his costume isn't as easy to put together (Most of the items for Ledger style Joker costume could be found at your local Goodwill right off the rack). There could be a number of things.
I'm not exactly sure what I exactly wanted to say with this post. Not sure if I actually said what I wanted but this is something that has been on my mind the last few weeks as people ramp to the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises & my general lack of interest in the movie. I haven't even seen any of (many, many) trailers. I'm well established in the comic book fandom that I don't really need to go looking for info regarding the movie. It came to me. I of course ignored most of it. It's just not my thing.
I don't really know what the next version of Batman we'll see on film. I do know that there will be another version. There is always another version. Will it be my thing? Who know! I'll just have to wait & see.
Until nest time: Stay Jazzy Everyone!
- Brian
