Wut I Think: BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE (Spoilers)
Negative buzz and bad weather surrounded Monday nights screenings of Batman: The Killing Joke, the highest-selling event in distributor Fathom Events history. Variety reports that Fathom has booked 1,075 screens for the companys biggest release to date, while Comic Book Resources adds that Fathom has expanded its initial one-night-only release to include a second evening Tuesday, July 26. But early ticket sales for the screenings preceded controversy surrounding the films adult content, particularly a s*x scene between Bruce Batman Wayne and Barbara Batgirl Gordon.
The film is based on Alan Moore and Brian Bollands brutal graphic novella The Killing Joke, one of DCs top sellers since its release in 1988. In the comic, Moore explores the origins of psychopathic Batman villain the Joker via a grim story that leaves Barbara Gordon shot in the stomach and paralyzed below the waist. That trauma is meant to shock Police Commissioner James Gordon, Barbaras father, into going insane, thereby proving the Jokers point that anyone is one bad day away from becoming just like him. Aside from that traumatic moment, Barbara is barely featured in Moore and Bollands comic.
In the film, howeverwritten by comics writer Brian AzzarelloBarbara has a romantic relationship with Batman prior to her paralysis. In fact, the two characters have s*x while still wearing their costumes. This addition to Moore and Bollands comic doesnt sit well with some fans, given how much older Bruce Batman Wayne is from Barbara in most Bat stories. At last weekends San Diego Comic-Con, Azzarello took the criticism head-on, insisting that Barbara is stronger than the men in her life in this story. Bleeding Cools Jeremy Konrad scoffed at Azzarellos claim from the safety of the peanut gallery: Yeah, by using s*x, and then pining for Bruce. Azzarello yelled back: Wanna say that again? p***y?
And Konrads not the only one who finds The Killing Joke unsettling. In a 1990 interview conducted by The Comics Journals Gary Groth, Moore insisted that he was uneasy with his storys dark content. He attributed his discomfort to his general ambivalence toward the adventure genre, a comic mode that he applauded Frank Miller for mining in his equally influential The Dark Knight Returns. Moore has since said that he thinks The Killing Joke doesnt say anything very interesting, and that he regrets both The Killing Joke and Watchmens influence on contemporary superhero comics. [Superhero comics] have lost a lot of their original innocence, and they cant get that back, Moore said in 2009. And, theyre stuck, it seems, in this kind of depressive ghetto of grimness and psychosis. Im not too proud of being the author of that regrettable trend.
Say what you want about Moores takeaway, but hes not wrong about The Killing Jokes influence. Early promotional material used for Warner Bros.s upcoming Suicide Squad movie introduced fans to Jared Letos version of the Joker using photographs modeled after Bollands now-iconic Killing Joke artwork. The Killing Joke is also now considered to be the Jokers canonical origin story, as well as a turning point for Barbara in numerous Bat comics (she remains paralyzed in almost all contemporary Bat stories). Moore and Bollands interpretation of the Joker is also probably the only common influence shared by Bat directors Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan.
But what do fans think? Not even a torrent of rain could stop ticket-holders from filling up a cavernous auditorium in Manhattans Union Square 14 theater. Many moviegoers knew nothing about the film going into it. Ed, a 38-year-old Manhattanite, had heard mostly positive feedback about The Killing Joke, and was eager to see-slash-hear Batman: The Animated Series voice actors Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprise their roles as Batman and Joker, respectively.
Not every ticket-holder was as optimistic as Ed. Ive heard scary, terrible things, said Mara, a 34-year-old Queens native, referring to Barbara and Bruces romantic relationship. Its just not right. That shouldnt happen except in fan [fiction].
Maras onto something. Theres a palpable unease surrounding Batman: The Killing Jokes big s*x scene. This sequence isnt explicit, but we do see Batman grabbing Batgirls hips right before she takes her top off (shes wearing a bra). The scene was met with bewildered laughs Monday, right up until the intentionally funny capper: a shot of a stone gargoyle overlooking the two heroes.
Audience members also laughed heartily at a scene where Batman warns Batgirl that small-time crook Paris Franz (yes, really) is only objectifying [her]. The s*x scenes ending is supposed to lighten things up; Batmans admonition, though, is an over-serious stab at making a comic-book character sound adult and self-aware.
Azzarello tries to give Barbara a meaningful role, but The Killing Joke can only really be taken seriously during scenes in which Hamill sells Jokers metaphysical spiel about the relativity of good and evil. Director Sam Liu doesnt always know how to film the Jokers more long-winded speeches, but Hamill single-handedly elevates his scenes. Some fans didnt care for the Jokers dialogue, much of which is taken verbatim from Moores original comic. One anonymous viewer complained that the screenwriters were trying to cram in as many SAT words as possible.
Still, I tend to agree with Maras take on Batgirl and Batmans relationship. Azzarello may be trying to give his version of Barbara more agency, but it doesnt quite work given how many of her choices are reactions to Batmans decisions. None of these decisions appear in Moores original comic, which suggests that Azzarello and executive producer Bruce Timm were uncomfortable having a major heroine like Barbara get tortured without at least giving her a little backstory first. So in this version of the story, Barbara realizes that shes addicted to the thrill of fightingand that scares her. Batman sees this in Barbara and tries to mansplain her own personality to her. He gives her orders, and she responds accordingly. The net gain of all that backstory is negligible.
In fact, the only times Barbara steps out of Bruces shadow are, first, when she chooses to have s*x with him, and, second, when she decidesbefore shes shot in the stomachto step away from crime fighting. These choices make it harder to see Barbara as a strong, independent heroine. Your enjoyment of Batman: The Killing Joke ultimately depends on how you take Barbaras storyand like it or not, the Joker didnt get the last laugh Monday.
XJack Nicholson re-created the psychotic whimsy of one of his most celebrated roles in Vanity Fairs May 1989 issue, just ahead of the films debut.
Photograph by Murray Close.Val Kilmerposing here for photographer Herb Rittsreplaced Michael Keaton in the third installment of Tim Burtons Batman films, Batman Forever.
Photograph by Herb Ritts.Jim Carreyon the heels of his success in The Mask, Dumb & Dumber, and Ace Venture: Pet Detectiveaptly played the Riddler.
Photograph by Herb Ritts.Tommy Lee Jones as D.A.-turned-madman Two-Face.
Photograph by Herb Ritts.Thankfully predating the bromance genre, Batman finally got some crime-fighting help in the form of Robin, played by Chris ODonnell.
Photograph by Herb Ritts.George Clooney and Chris ODonnell in the suits that launched a million nipple jokes. (April 1997)
Photograph by Herb Ritts.Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze, the franchises pun-iest bad guy to date.
Photograph by Herb Ritts.Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl, in the characters firstand so far, onlyappearance in a major feature film. (With three different actresses playing Catwoman in recent years, were due for a Batgirl comeback, right?)
Photograph by Herb Ritts.Uma Thurman as Poison Ivyone of the all-time best eco-friendly villains.
Photograph by Herb Ritts.PreviousNext
Source: http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/07/batman-killing-joke-premiere
