This Is The Right Way To Introduce The Joker

Joker has taken the film world by storm and in the process reenergized talks about The Dark Knight. The comparisons are easy to see as the two Joker performances are what define each film, the Dark Knight resulting in an Oscar. It's a movie that to this day, still stands tall within the superhero genre. I wanted to break down the scene that I think best typifies what made the Dark Knight work so well and what it is that makes that scene itself, work.

Tracks by Lethel Nedle and the amazing Dexter Britain!

[Nerdstalgic]

What is the best AND worst superhero movie?

Twitter: @nerdstalgicyt

[alexc.]

Can’t believe I went all this time not knowing that dude blacked out three times. The unsung hero of this film, seriously.

[tatianakemline]

Also, it’s how Joker killed the guy that’s important. Everyone in that room has probably killed before. Shooting a gun wouldn’t have impressed or scared them. But killing someone with an everyday object? That’s terrifying

[flordeespinart]

I still believe the Oscars, and ALL AWARDS for that matter, need a "Best Stunt Actor" and "Best Stunt Actress". they should be recognized and held to the hight of best actor/actress awards.

[James-bgvl]

The sacrifice the guy made when he blacked out 3 times for a 10 second clip is impressive

[malcolmhatfield]

My favorite part of this scene is when one of the gangsters says “you think you can just steal from us and get away with it?” To which the joker responds, “yeah.” Like he’s almost shocked how dumb these guys really are, and he knows they can’t do anything to him

[kingofthefountain]

I always registered the Jokers hesitations in this scene as waning patience. He seems like he’s doing his best to talk these dudes through the process rather than just kill everyone. I don’t sense any insecurity from this joker, he has no self pity. It’s one of the biggest differences between Heath’s Joker and Joaquin’s Joker.

[jaypunzalan]

Joker: im gonna make this pencil disappear
Johm wick: ahhh the pencil trick, it never gets old

[edmilsonlennon]

This clip just makes me wonder what Heath Ledger would do if he was in the dark knight rises

[greygreygray]

This scene terrified me as a kid because I thought that actors actually died when they died in a movie and getting a pencil shoved through your skull seemed like the worst way to go.

[TurtleGamers]

It's actually quite chilling the way he reacts when the other gangsters in the room call him crazy and a freak. "I'm.. not.. crazy."
It's not what you would expect someone like him to say. It hints that he's still fully aware of what he's doing.

[mcurran]

"Ha ha ha ha ha hee hee hee ho ho ho, And I thought my jokes were bad."

[gladiatorscoops]

When I first heard Heath Ledger was cast as Joker I was so disappointed, that moment I saw the pencil disappear into that guys eye I completely changed my mind on him. He was a sensational Joker.

[oAvalono]

I don't care how much they may have paid that stunt guy, it wasn't enough.

[brandonbouchez]

Heaths acting in this movie has to be considered one of best performances ever

[mitchellkleinholz]

The slight stutter when they call him a freak is what really makes this scene shine, in my opinion.

[tanyacockle]

A "crazy" person doing unpredictable, wild things can be scary, sure.


A sane person doing unpredictable, wild things? Starts to make you worry

[belajar_menggambar]

This is the only joker i watch more than 100 times..

[professionalmemeenthusiast]

I love how ambiguous Heath's delivery of "no I'm not... no I'm not" is. It could mean dozens of different things. Maybe he's not actually confident he's telling the truth and feels somewhat crazy? Maybe he's absolutely certain he's sane and is trying to be as clear as possible in expressing that. Perhaps he knows full well it's a lie and is struggling to even get the words out? Maybe he's saying it in a resentful and bitter way because he's been called crazy many times before and he's actually vulnerable and looking for approval. With how open-ended and mysterious his inflection and tone is here it really could be any of these.

[jayymack]

I love that The Dark Knight still, and likely always will, get ALL the praise it deserves. Chris Nolan, Christian Bale, and the UNMATCHED Heath Ledger gave us something really special in 2008. Whew, chills!