Joker

[Barry]

I saw the Joker movie today (2019) on a regular screen, not Imax.  The picture was great, but this is an intimate film and there is no need for Imax.

The surround sound was used very effectively. It gave great depth to the movie and added to the surreal effect of the photography.

The creative palette the original comic book architects used was so deep that writers for generations and in different fields were able to expand on their conceptions and keep the characters current and popular. You do not need to know anything about Batman, or super-heroes to be absorbed by the movie.  Although there are clever references that become part of the story and therefore are thoroughly laid out and Batman fans will be pleased.

I have never seen a movie like this before.  It references, perhaps emulates, Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and King of Comedy with a little Clockwork Orange thrown in. Cleverly, Robert DeNiro is a talk show host here, I guess he got the job after Jerry Lewis leaves!

Rather than give a spoiler summery, let me state, simply, that this is a two hour movie where of Joaquin Phoenix gives an incredible performance of a disturbed man plummeting from bad to worse.  Self-destructive, as is the fictional 1970s world around him, every time he is elevated to something better, he tears it down. He is on the screen for the entire two hours and you can’t take your eyes of him.

There is some violence here, but not at all as much as I read about.  I saw the PG-13 version of the film, not the R rated one because I close my eyes at certain points. But it is a disturbing movie in s many ways, I was never comfortable, I was always on edge.

The Joker was no laughing matter.

3 ½ stars out of four.

Spoiler Alert, Don’t read this line: Of course, we get the 100th version of the fate of Bruce’s parents.

[David Vaughn]

I've heard you'll need to take a shower after this movie because it makes you feel so dirty and depressed. Not a pick me up type of film, right Barry?

[Barry]

Well, all I needed was to wash my hands after I saw the movie! It is not a movie I would go to if I was in a depression! It is not a feelgood movie!

[tripplej]

Thanks for the review. I Will get this on dvd once available.

[TRainH2O]

Thanks for the review, Barry. This one has really had a lot of press time with theater management being worried about possible violence. What a crazy, messed-up time we live in.

I want this one on Blu-ray. I'm hoping by Christmas but that's wishful thinking.

[AVSCraig]

Thanks for the review. I Will get this on dvd once available.

dvd ? Are you one of the folks still buying those ? 

[AVSMike]

My son and I went to see the Joker at the movie theater. Good movie, but not the type of movie I would buy. As others said, very dark.

[Barry]

I agree with you, Mike! I doubt if this is a movie I ever wanna see it again

[tripplej]

dvd ? Are you one of the folks still buying those ?

Yea, well, I do get blu ray as well but I get those for the big production one's like "endgame".

This one seems to be more drama so dvd.

[AVSCraig]

Yea, well, I do get blu ray as well but I get those for the big production one's like "endgame".

This one seems to be more drama so dvd.

It's all about getting the best audio and picture quality available for me. I don't have any DVD's any more - all Blu-ray or if available on 4K UHD, it's 4K all the way. 

[tripplej]

I don't have 4K tv/receiver/anything so for me it is 1080p for now and blu ray are still more costly for me and I can usually get dvd very cheap.