Blog Archives
For Now, This ‘JOKER’ Is Just a Teaser
“…smile and put on a happy face.”
With these words, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Comics, and ‘Hangover’ director Todd Phillips present the first teaser trailer for the much-anticipated film ‘JOKER.’ Starring the enigmatic Joaquin Phoenix–on and off-screen–DC Comics is attempting to replace one of two major characters within Gotham City for its current DC Expanded Universe (DCEU) in the Joker. Batman is next after Ben Affleck recently left the part.
For now, take a brand new look at ‘Joker.’
Unnerving, mysterious, weirdly entertaining and oddly intriguing. That sums up the Joker in Gotham City, whether on screen or in print.
While no actor will ever surpass Heath Ledger’s perfect performance as the Joker in ‘The Dark Knight’ directed by Christopher Nolan, Mr. Phoenix and Mr. Phillips have produced a snapshot of a captivating movie. It’s a patient and deliberate character piece that will unfold into dark fun within a gritty Gotham City in 1981.
They say comedy is tragedy plus time. That will be put to the test this fall as ‘JOKER’ arrives at a theater near you on October 4.
The Fallout From DC’s Superman Rumors
Please No. Please No. Please No!
As the creator and writer of a blog called Jimmy’s Daily Planet, this rumored breaking news today courtesy of the Hollywood Reporter has the potential to be sad in many ways.
While we await public reaction (or explanation) from Henry Cavill in the coming days, Mr. Cavill has said many times in past interviews–even quite recently–that he is was very keen on a ‘Man of Steel’ sequel with a more positive/Christopher Reeve/comic book feel. This rumored decision to part ways with the studio seems like it was (or would have been) strongarmed by DC because of bad movie planning and poor execution in the midst of trying to hit the reset button in the middle of its burgeoning–and not awesomely received–film universe.
It also seems like the bullish move by the power brokers of the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) to unnecessarily mirror Marvel’s cinematic playbook by growing too quickly too fast came back around with a painfully bruising left hook.
And potentially losing its Superman is a major–and foreseeable–consequence of that decision years ago.
Broadly speaking, DC Comics superheroes are better than Marvel. The actors in DC property films are better than the actors in the Marvel films. The writing has not been perfect for all of its recent films, but by-and-large DC screenplays are far superior to Marvel films.
Marvel will never create anything close to Richard Donner’s ‘Superman’ or Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dark Knight’ trilogy.
If DC’s cinematic planners would have just been patient and grown its extended universe slowly through gradual individual introductions of superheroes with interweaving storylines, then everything would be fine today.
They’d be able to handle moving faster than a speeding bullet at your local movie theater.
The Cinematic Fortress of Duopoly
Christopher Reeve is Superman. Christopher is Clark Kent. Christopher Reeve is Kal-El.
The portrayal, reaction and legacy of actor Christopher Reeve as all the above in Richard Donner’s 1978 cinematic classic and superhero benchmark ‘Superman’ changed the way we see the iconic character who believes in truth, justice and the American way. It’s nearly–if not completely impossible–to envision anybody surpassing Mr. Reeve in this acting role.
Flash forward to today and British actor Henry Cavill is giving the role a nice go. Reportedly, he wants to portray the man in steel more akin to Christopher Reeve in a ‘Man of Steel’ sequel.
Speaking of these two cinematic supermen on screen together…
Superman’s story is a hopeful one.
Happy Monday!
If this 2013 ‘Man of Steel’ teaser trailer doesn’t inspire you, then I don’t know what will.
Now go ahead and hit PLAY again.
Have a Better (& More Super) Week Than Last Week.