Joker 2 Can Fix A Batman Movie Villain Problem (By Copying Burtons Penguin)

Joker 2 Can Fix A Batman Movie Villain Problem (By Copying Burton’s Penguin)

The planned Joker 2 faces a huge problem in making Arthur Fleck sympathetically despicable – but might find inspiration in Batman Returns’ Penguin.

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Joker 2 Can Fix A Batman Movie Villain Problem (By Copying Burtons Penguin)

Batman Returns’ Penguin might present a solution to Joker 2’s biggest obstacle. 2019’s Joker was a comic book movie in the very loosest sense. A mostly fresh interpretation of DC’s Joker origin, Arthur Fleck gradually evolves from mild-mannered misfit to mother-murdering maniac in a strikingly complex psychological portrait. The greatest trick Joker pulls, however, is inviting viewers to feel sympathy toward Fleck. Yes, he kills people, starts a riot, and is habitually coercive, but this Joker is only as “mad” as the world that created him. His earnest attempt at stand-up comedy and honest desire to be adored, combined with moments of mercy (Fleck spares Gary for being nice to him) leave the audience conflicted about whether to cheer or jeer Joker’s rise. It’s also hard to hate a character when they’re dancing awkwardly down a staircase. Thus, the aforementioned sequel obstacle is created.

The original Joker is a standalone story that offers precious little room for continuation, but after making too much money to be left alone, Joker 2 looks incredibly likely. Problematically, a follow-up won’t be able to repeat the same ethical waltz with Arthur Fleck. Achieving renown via the murder of a famous chat show host, Arthur Fleck inspires a social revolution and fully embraces the mantle of “Joker,” even causing the infamous Wayne murders. In Joker 2, Fleck will unavoidably be a bona fide supervillain, free of the pathetic, underdog qualities that made him somewhat endearing initially. Fleck as a straight-up criminal changes the character entirely, removing a key ingredient behind Joker’s success – the ambiguity.

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An answer can perhaps be found in the most unlikely of places – Tim Burton’s Batman Returns. While the Caped Crusader’s cinematic endeavors have provided some iconic movie villains, very few of them have been remotely sympathetic, with Danny DeVito’s Penguin performance a lone exception. With Catwoman an antihero in Batman Returns, Penguin is undoubtedly the villain of the piece. The beaked baddie’s evil masterplan is to murder every firstborn son in Gotham City, easily ranking among the most depraved schemes Batman has thwarted on the big screen. And yet, Penguin’s backstory – a baby unwanted by his parents and cast into the sewers – incites empathy regardless. Despite his wicked nature, a tear still comes to the eye when a dead Oswald Cobblepott is carried away by his family of penguins after the final battle.

The other important connection between Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker and Danny DeVito’s Penguin is how both villains are created by their respective societies. Oswald’s upper-class parents abandon the child for looking the way he does, and Penguin is later manipulated by evil business mogul, Max Shreck. The villain’s burning anger is a direct response to the brutality and injustice of Gotham City, and exactly the same can be said of Arthur Fleck’s Joker. Joaquin Phoenix’s Clown Prince is molded by Gotham’s ineffectual mental health resources, class stigma, and political corruption.

In Batman Returns, Danny DeVito’s Penguin hits that most coveted of moral sweet spots. He’s the archetypal DC villain, complete with henchmen, deadly designs, and a lethal umbrella – and yet Oswald still comes across as a somewhat sympathetic character. With this in mind, perhaps there’s hope for Joker 2 after all. Arthur Fleck could embark upon his new career as an infamous criminal, every bit as evil as past incarnations of the Joker have been, but so long as the sequel copies Batman Returns by regularly referencing Arthur’s sad past and reminding viewers that Gotham’s real enemy is the city itself, Joker 2 can keep the ethical split in Fleck’s persona alive. And if that fails, just make him dance down some steps again.

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Link Source : https://screenrant.com/joker-2-batman-movie-villain-problem-burton-penguin-copy/

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