@Zack Morris If you say that those are the only good DC Movies, I’m assuming that you’ve never seen Batman Begins, The first 2 Christopher Reeve Superman movies, both Michael Keaton Batman movies, Watchmen, as well as (controversial opinion alert) Man Of Steel and Batman V. Superman: Ultimate Edition
TuWear there are other ways to pull that off. A sound effect of him hitting his head one time on the table would’ve done for every single shot. It was just easier for them to do it this way. Editing actually isn’t that hard. You tubers do it all the time.
HelloHamburger I never said he shouldn’t be remembered. In fact he should be talked about MORE, all I’m saying is their are safer ways to do that scene. He could’ve gotten brain damage.
Did the thumbnail change? I've been eyeing down this video for awhile just haven't clicked on it to watch yet but I swear the thumbnail was different and maybe even the title too a little? Or was that just another recent video about the joker from the dark knight also talking about to to introduce a villain
That, in my opinion, is the best thing about Heath's Joker. Not only is he acted superbly, but pretty much every single line of dialogue would fit the traditional Joker in the comics. His Joker might look different, it might sound and act different to other portrayals, but it's unmistakably the Joker.
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.
I had the same feeling. Then a friend pointed out that many stunt people would likely push even further and do more life threatening stunts, just to out do each other. Or win the awards. Could lead to a lot of harm, but I think they deserve more respect.
Hollywood doesn't value stunt work. They look upon it as a sometimes necessary component of making a movie . Like the lighting or set dressing . With digital technology advancements that have, in many instances, eliminated the need for stunt work , they value them even less .
I've watched & read lots on this movie. That's the first I've heard of this. Also makes sense considering how well put together the scene is & shown to us viewers
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.
Especially that eye-twitch while he said it. It adds so much more to the scene. And the almost inaudible chuckle when he refered to their meeting as a "group therapy session in broad daylight."
It's because, unlike most previous versions of the character who just did things to entertain themselves, The Dark Knight's Joker has a philosophy: the world is chaos. And he believes he's the only one who gets it. He thinks everyone ELSE is crazy, believing in silly made-up ideas like "law" and "justice" and "order" and "organization". He thinks HE'S the only sane one. And of course, he IS crazy. But crazy people cope with their lives by convincing themselves they're sane, but it makes them self-conscious when they're challenged on it. And so we have the only version of Joker who gets angry when people question his sanity.
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.
I think ultimately you are right...but there would still be an element of insecurity in there imo...bc you don't patiently tolerate others you have no use for if you are a psychopath if he could have killed them to achieve the goals he would have. Perhaps not insecurity in terms of self-doubt, but insecurity in the idea that he is forced to rely on others.
You do realize you are discussing two different Jokers? Yes same character, however, Joaquin's Joker, was not fully Joker yet. Ledgers Joker is what Joaquin's Joker will become.
Joaquin's Joker isn't some guy that is able to walk into a room full of mobsters. Ledgers Joker is one of the most dangerous criminals in the world. Phoenixs Joker is a mentally ill guy who was pushed over the top, he doesn't use automatic weapons or bombs, he doesn't hang people or burn them. He uses a revolver and only kills 5 people in the movie (as far as I'm aware).
@@h.cheema7818 absolutely. He is a self petty insecur mentally ill person. Most of mentally ill people in Arkham hospital might have done the same criminal activities. Arthur is a mentally ill criminal but not a Joker level criminal. I don't think he can put up a fight against Batman in any way. Because he doesn't have a crew and unorganized.
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
Actually the delivery of the "yeah" was kind of nervous. Like he was really understanding for the first time that these guys are dangerous and might take truly violent exception to his actions. But of course he was ready for that.
Ox TheUnlikelyContemplator Why, what would they do? Gang up on him? He’d blow everyone up. He clearly doesn’t really value his life as much as his message, and I don’t think he was bluffing. He knows everyone in there wants to live and wouldn’t make sudden moves that would get him to pull the pin. Nervousness would probably make him stop for a second before saying it, but Gambol has barely finished his question before Joker responds.
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
@@JamesSamson487 but joker killed with a eraser while john wick did it with the sharp side of the pencil, joker was more impressive and disturbing at the same time Edit : I draw nakked anime girls for a living so don't mind me
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.
The scariest part of this moment to me has always been the feral glare he shoots as he finishes the line "Ah, it's gone." As if to say "Now that I have made myself clear". Absolutely brilliant acting in the smallest mannerism.
I mean i think it's just the way he looks at everyone in the room, just that alone, how he quickly but persistently stares at them helps drive home that unpredictable-predator vibe that he very well emanates
@@deezyboss3135 bro i know right? but it is very strange to me how that would offend him you know? like why would he care even for a sec what a bunch of random gangsters think about him? but then again this is proof he is just human after all
@@eyreika4040 yeah you're right he is just human after all the proof to me is when he tells people abt how he got his scars one of the stories is that his dad did it to him so as you said , he was just a nrml kid who grew up in some hard conditions ... And thats the best thing abt him no superpowers or anything from this kind just pure madness and psychology knowledg as he manipulates everyone .
Here’s my take: The Joker temporality sides with Bane. In fact, he revels in the chaos Bane has thrown the city into, and sort of runs the show, indirectly, within it. Gotham has become his toy, one he can twist and manipulate however he wishes, thanks to Bane. However, once he learns of Bane’s true objective: the destruction of Gotham, he turns on him. He and Bane were proving what people can be like under pressure, something the Joker is shown to want to do, but if the “specimen” was destroyed, the Joker wouldn’t have much left to play with. As he mentions to Batman, he “completes him,” showing that he still wants Batman and Gotham to exist, not due to any good will, but simply because they’re “too much fun.” While he doesn’t team with Batman directly, he does throw a wrench into Bane’s plans that helps Batman win the day indirectly. When all is said and done the Joker disappears. No one knows what happened to him after the events, all they know is that he’s out there, somewhere, waiting to return. And when he does, the Bat will rise to the occasion. Probably not the best but I hope it sounds alright
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.
I’ve always seen him saying that him verifying he’s not crazy, all his decisions are his own. He’s not psychotic, he’s just being this destructive because he thinks it’s fun. It makes him scarier
My two cents, I think he’s fed up with dealing with them. He knows he has to work with them, but he despises their beliefs and lack of anything beyond self interest. He could be absolutely insane, definitely but to me it almost seems like the way you’d act, well if you’re going to meet someone you don’t like, you know they act in a certain way that’s obnoxious and you’re already dreading it. And then when it happens, you feel fed up and irritated for even trying. I think that’s what’s going through his head on a different scale of course. He’s probably irritated and wishing he could just kill these people he looks down on. Which to me point more towards Anti Social Personality Disorder, Sociopathy or Narcissism, not full blown delusion or insanity at all.
Now, a crazy person who’s convinced that he’s always the sanest person in the room does unpredictable, wild things? That’s what you call a terrifying villain.
@@Xannyphantom905 What are the attributes of a "sane" person? Someone who never takes risks? Someone who is polite? Someone who works hard but not too hard? Is it even clear what a sane person looks like and acts like? "Sane" is essentially just a word that people use to label a person they feel doesn't go out of the boundaries of what they think a civilized and normal person should act like. I think the point of the original comment was to point out that when a person you consider sane proves you wrong for whatever reason (e.g. Harvey Dent), you become alarmed/shocked.
@@caucandyellow a sane person doesn't blow up hospitals, or do any of the terrorist shit joker does. let's not try to overcomplicate things, you know exactly what sane is
Now that you mention it, the stunt actor does immediately do a facial expression that suggests he's well aware his head is gonna get slammed into the table. It's a quick scene, but slowed down, you can tell this is choreographed. In any case, stunt actors really deserve way more praise and attention than they get. This dude is basically like a professional boxer - taking potentially lethal blows to the head for his career.
I know. And I am actually thinking if it was necessary. There is also a possibility that the stunt is faking being blacked out to get more pay. Which I cannot blame on the guy. He has to squeeze as much as he can on banging his head on a table.
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.
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!
PG No 13 Christian Bale, Gary Oldman and Aaron Eckhart all gave fantastic performances (especially Bale) that are often overlooked due to just how good Heath was in that movie
Liam Neeson Cillian Murphy Heath Ledger Aaron Eckhart Tom Hardy actors roster as villains like this, plus the prowess of Bale, Oldman, Caine.. The Dark Knight trilogy is art
one of my favorite less noticeable aspects of this scene is the russian mobster guy, the one who said "I want to hear proposition"... and when he asked how much joker wanted joker said "half" everyone starts laughing... but the russian mobster remains stonefaced. he knows if anyone could kill batman it would be him so hes taking spending the money that seriously.
Yeh absolutely. The guy that played him had such subtly about him that you could almost feel what he was thinking, like you knew his motivations in life and what would impress or sway him.
...and the Russian believing him helps the audience to believe him, too. The Russian appears the toughest and most intelligent/educated of all of them, except maybe Lau, who checked out.
It still hurts that Ledger is gone. This would’ve given so many more opportunities to more films that showcase his quintessential level of character acting
I mean I get what you’re saying with him not selling out to the system, but also hear me out: what if you wanted to get paid appropriately for the time and effort you put into a project by adding one extra second? However by doing so you’d be mocked by your own audience for being a sell out?
What I loved about Nolan's interpretation is that he made this movie feel as if this could happen in our life and isn't just some fantastical other universe, no its looks like our streets and our criminals. All the characters were human Even the feeling of Bruce Wayne's gadgets were seemingly believable.
@@lavenderwalrus9875 the only thing improbable was his pain management, but he was so far gone from reality that he didnt mind it. in the past there have been criminals who seemingly are invincible to pain, but yes not nearly to that degree.
@@lavenderwalrus9875 Not entirely implausible but he was definitely stretching things, extreme pain tolerance or not, there's going to be some issues with that wound festering and the eye not being moisturized if he's running around doing stuff instead of being in a hospital.
When he showed the inside of his jacket was full with grenades and said, "Let's not *blow* this out of proportion" it felt more than just an intimidation tactic. The mob bosses wanted him to shut up because he was calling all of them out saying they're doing it wrong. He was not scared of them and he showed them that by revealing he was going to kill not only them but himself too. To me he said, "You wanna kill me? That's fine. I got nothing to lose. If I die, I'll die knowing that I was right because I'm that convinced. The question is, can any of you say the same? If not, then you really do need me."
My dad never took the batman movies seriously, (thanks to Tim Burton) So when I begged him to take me to see this one, He was sort on the fence about it. It was this scene that I heard my dad whisper in the movie theater, "oh wow" I could hear in his voice a shock of surprise, He wasn't expecting such a violence at a quick scene. Especially from a 'superhero' movie. This scene taught him, that this was no ordinary batman movie, And this scene taught me That They weren't going to hold back with anything they're going to show. This scene taught us that The Joker was no longer a comic book villian with stupid cheesey one liners and guns that comedically go "bang' , No this scene brought he joker to life Suddenly made him terrifying, Evil, and unsympathetic.
Even the fact that Joker would have BLOWN HINSELF UP along with the other gangsters with the grenade jacket, shows how unhinged and unfrightened he is. It shows that if he cant have it his way, no one can have it any way at all, hed rather destroy his own own opportunity as well as other gangsters to kill batman. He could care less if his plans succeed or not, and thats truly terrifying.
i see it as the joker knows he has displayed himself as unstable and deranged to the gangsters so he knows for a fact they wouldn’t doubt that he would pull the pin. he knows they wouldn’t challenge it
When Heath first walked on set, no one knew what to expect. Now Michael Caine is a consumate actor. Yet he was so dumbfounded that he forgot his lines. Heath just went ahead with the scene like there was no problem.
I remember sitting in the midnight premiere of this movie. The theater had like 6 screens showing it and every auditorium was jam packed. When the pencil trick happened, there was an audible gasp in the room and then silence. It didn't matter what the Joker had to say next; he had everyone's undivided attention.
...."ok, I want to drive."... similar moments....just one had a quote attached to introduce the change....whereas this whole scene was the Joker manipulating the gang members to give him control.
The way he stops talking, starts talking again, then stops, and finally decides to say something completely different. That's what makes it real. The imperfections in the way that he talks, the little nuances in his facial expressions, the tiny moments of frustration. Sometimes simply not knowing how to make himself be understood by these powerful men sitting across of him. Literal chills. Anyone can write a lecture for a bad guy where he unravels his plans and shows his menace to the viewers, and any actor can perform such a role. But it's not entirely human. That's exactly where politicians often fail for the exact same reason. People don't buy it because it doesn't seem genuine and natural. Instead, he decided to bring some uncertainty, some turmoil, some chaos into the mix. Like in real life. He's not a mastermind and he certainly doesn't have an end goal he's working towards. He's not very interested in obtaining massive amounts of wealth or power, which he illustrates later on in the movie when he burns a giant tower of cash. He even tells Harvey Dent to see him as a dog just going after anything that moves, following his instincts blindly, not having any particular purpose behind it all. The only lie he tells Harvey is that chaos and randomness is the only way to make things fair. In fact, the opposite is true. Chaos and chance will only result in unfair situations; either someone gets rewarded or someone gets punished without deserving it. Which is the Jokers exact point. He doesn't care about justice. He couldn't care less about fairness. All he wants to see is chaos and anarchy. And he strongly believes most people are like him in that regard. That peace and order are just social constructs and when left to their own devices, people will rip each other apart to either survive or come out on top. It's actually quite tragic when he finds out that he's the odd one out. People are not like him. He's mentally unwell and people as a species reject most of the things he stands for. When push comes to shove, people actually gather behind the symbol of the Batman and reject the Joker.
Enjoyed your comment but watch the movie again and look at each of Joker’s social experiments which are based on game theory scenarios. Joker has a world view opposite from Batman’s. I agree with you on that. Batman believes people are generally good and Joker believes people are all about self and those closest to them. He does not believe in moral codes or social responsibility. This you already know. So what does Nolan do? Through Joker’s tests of Gotham’s citizens and Batman does he show people doing “the right thing?” Sometimes yes but for the most part, no. Not really. You have Batman letting five people die before he relents planning to turn himself in. You have the cops and many citizens calling for Batman’s head turning on him. You have citizens and a police officer trying to kill the accountant to protect loved ones in the city’s hospitals. You have the City’s top symbol of the law kill five people and threaten to kill an innocent boy to punish his father out of grief and vengeance. Joker called all of this saying people drop their code (moral, legal, ethics, loyalty) when the going gets tough…and that is exactly what happens. Batman / Bruce and Gordon are steadfast. But there are precious few others. Bruce is willing to face the music and goes to turn himself in when his trusted circle is telling him not to. He saves Reece despite the fact that letting him be killed would solve his blackmail issue. And he suffers the exact same loss as Harvey (the love of his life) but does not go homicidally vengeful. In fact, he prevents Joker from falling to his death so that Justice can be served on him to honor what Rachel stood for. Meanwhile Harvey completely abandons his code. I read where Nolan said that the movie title The Dark Knight refers to Harvey equally as much as it does to Batman. He knows what he intended but I think they actually switch by the end of the movie with Batman acting more like a white knight. Now here’s the somewhat trickier part. Remember the ferry boat experiment? When you watch it next time, take note of the results of the vote on the citizens boat. They vote by vast majority to blow up the convicts. Not their finest hour. It’s wrong to kill right? But what would YOU do? What would any of us do? That’s one of the questions Nolan is asking us the audience to consider after we walk out of the theater. Then on the convicts boat, we have one man who is a criminal by his actions to be the one person who steps up and makes the morally correct choice not to kill. He makes the decision for everyone on his boat when he throws the trigger overboard. What gave HiM the right? This is much like Batman who is a vigilante but we the fans “allow” him because we know he’s acting from a moral place but not a legal one. His incorruptibility and the strength of his moral code are proven time and again - withstanding Joker’s attempt to break him, but at the end of the day, Batman is acting under his own authority and not any obtained from the citizenry or the legal system. We understand he’s doing what he thinks he should because he can and because of his family’s legacy but still. So to what degree can an individual act without his actions adversely affecting the rest of society. One man can bring hope but one man can bring despair just as easily. Is it then better to think of society and humanity as a whole first before self as Bruce does? Is that where hope lies? All this to say, this movie is not a glowing endorsement of Gotham’s citizens. The Ferry Boat lab rats don’t blow each other up but only because none of the citizens had the will to act out their majority voted sentence upon the convicts. I think we’re meant to come away with the impression that there’s room for improvement when it comes to human behavior, what we stand for and living in accordance with consistency not only in good times but in bad. I came away feeling like Nolan was saying “we can all do better”. Not just “Joker was wrong. People are good. Batman was right.” So to speak. Why? Because going back through the plot it’s clear that Joker correctly predicted Gotham’s behavior more often than he was wrong. Just my take.
I still remember the first time I watched this film in the theater. Ledger's performance was electric, every moment that the Joker was on screen held the entire audience captive and anytime he wasn't I felt a severe longing for his return. I just wanted more, to see his portrayal of this iconic villain grow and develop even further. I instantly knew it was a masterwork and felt that for the first time someone actually "got" the Joker and was bringing him to life. Jack Nicholson's performance is awesome, Joaquin Phoenix's performance is great, and honestly somewhere between all these interpretations lies the true madman. But Heath's embodiment of the Joker I feel is the heart of the man and the others are the extremes and limits to which he goes.
This title made me realize why The Dark Knight is so great. You chose the introduction to the joker, and yeah.. that's a great scene, but is it the best? For me, I think I prefer the jail break scene, but that's the point, there's so many top notch scenes that keep working and that's why Nolan's work always stands out. It's not that one moment is particularly good, it's that there's consistently great scenes that come so often that they you have to accept the entire movie as "great". This is what happened in the Prestige, and Inception, and it's why The Dark Knight will be near impossible to beat for super hero movies.
They tried that, but apparently they couldn’t get the shot right as he had to slow down too much to pull the pencil. Remember, if he doesn’t get it in time, that pencil is going right into his head.
I always thought the changing stories was just part of his reading people to better get in their heads. That's why he goes with daddy Issues for one, and then for the next he makes it a love story. It's really all for his audience.
BoojumFed exactly, I hate when people just make up their own stuff without realizing that Nolan took some inspiration from the killing joke but most notably took tons of inspiration from Batman year one for Begins, and tons of inspiration from the long Halloween for the dark knight.
exactly and was done first. don't get me wrong both are great just Jack Nicholson joker performance is so over look. IMO the best joker still with ledger either being tie or very very close second.
I actually think Nicholson’s joker was more frightening because you knew that he could actually hurt you because he was a mean dangerous gangster before he became the joker and it only made him meaner and more sadistic because he was so badly hurt and he wanted to hurt other people even more after his accident The ledger joker was terrifying in a more low key, psychological way and was scary because he could fuck with your head and was always manipulating people, but I never felt like he could hurt you in a fight like the Nicholson joker could. And the Nicholson joker was just meaner and would blow up on you for any reason, he had anger and rage seething below the surface
@Henry Knauss Phoenix played the joker as a mentally deranged villain who was betrayed by his country and by everyone around him. It was Incredibly done and if you dont appreciate that you should probably stick to pointless violence in films
One of my favorite parts is where they call him crazy and he licks his lips and says he's not. His eyes, his facial gestures, mannerisms.......................SOOOOOOOOOOOO good!
An actor and character so good ppl still analyze and talk about it 12+ yrs later. And scenes/acting so good we can still feel as if watching them for the first time after watching and rewatching the scenes and movie multiple times
Joker: (Sarcastically) “AH Ha Ha Ha Ha ah... ah.....” And I thought MY jokes are bad.... 😐😑 That STILL gives me chills every single time he shows up....
They really got the relationship between Batman and the Joker. "Kill you? What would I do with out you?" They are both at opposite ends of the madness scale.
You forgot to mention the part before the scene, where all the gangsters are forced to undergo a frisk and metal detector pass, but the Joker just strolls right in, suggesting he was either in the building beforehand, or knew of a second (secret) exit. The fact that he left the same way he came suggests the latter. Either way, he was able to stay armed, when all the gangsters were unarmed - In their own meeting place no less.
@@ebutuoytikcus4352 i always just assumed he threatened his way in using the grenades strapped to his chest. Literally all he would have had to do is catch any dude at the door off guard, and get his foot inside and he could threaten his way into just about anywhere(depending on how motivated each person he encounters is to dying on the job)
One of the things I love about his "Joker" is the makeup on the sleeves of his jacket and fingers of his gloves,an important detail showing he puts it on himself I also noticed in the trailer for "The BatMan" when Bruce takes off the cowl he has black makeup around his eyes (instead of magically disappearing) also it's messy and smeared from fights and applying it himself, a tiny but significant detail that makes it feel more authentic.
This was the perfect introduction to, in my opinion, the perfect Joker. When he did the pencil trick I found myself half-suppressing a giggle...it was "funny in that way that we're not supposed to laugh at (just like, with his co-star Christian Bale, the film American Psycho is also a surprisingly funny movie), with a guy getting a pencil in his brain but having made it "disappear." As for Ledger being the "perfect Joker" in all the cinematic depictions I'd absolutely expect the Joker to try to kill me...with Ledger you actually might walk away alive because it amused him at the time to do so.
Another video to love! ^_^ I'm curious about your take on the 2019 Joker film, especially compared with the portrayal of The Dark Knight's Joker. I'm still torn on the 2019 movie. Some things I like about it, others left me wanting a bit more from it. Happy to answer deeper questions/have a discussion!
O thank god for you. I couldn’t place it and I began frantically scrolling to see if someone had identified it. Thank you so much. I can rest peacefully now. Love that song. Haven’t heard it in fucking ages.
I was working at the cinema when this movie came out. With my staff discount I saw this movie in the cinema 4 times (something I don't usually do) as well as seeing parts of the movie many times as I was working. This scene was unquestionably the most tense scene in the movie, both when I was working and when I saw the movie with friends. All except the 3rd time I saw it with friends ... The 3rd time, when this scene came up and Joker did the pencil trick ("Tadaaah! It's ... Gone ...") someone in the back row started laughing histerically. As soon as he did, the whole theatre errupted in laughter. From that moment onward, the tense thriller was lost and in it's place we were watching a superhero movie with a whacky-funny villain. That one moment completely broke the spell, and changed the entire movie from that point. Every time the Joker was on screen the audience was in stitches. So I agree with NerdTastic, this moment really was pivotal, and with even a small change in perspective it completely changed the movie. (It was still a great movie as a comedy though)
I always liked the fan theory that Joker was a wounded veteran. He had seen, done, and felt too much, and it broke him. The only thing left that made sense to him, was to tear down the system that creates people like him every day. "Nobody is the villain in their own stories."
I remember sitting in the theatre watching this scene and thinking "Heath's gonna get an Oscar for this." This scene was the moment I decided that there could be a Joker other than Jack (I grew up with that movie, I don't care if you like it.) Obviously I was aware, along with the rest of the world, that Heath had died some months earlier. But I don't think that softened my expectations any. Rather, I didn't lower my standards because he had just recently died. Actually, I kind of went in ready to be harsher on him because at the time, it was suggested that he was so disturbed by this character that he started doing hard drugs and overdosed. Which we now know isn't really true. But my thought process was "how can you possibly let a BATMAN character bother you that much? It's a comic book character for kids!" Anyway, I'm glad my ignorance didn't keep me from seeing the film and I certainly agree that it's one of the all-time greats.
1:55 Something I'd add here is the fact that the Joker was not invited to this meeting, yet he knew exactly when and where it was being held. So he not only ripped the power from the most powerful, but he did it entirely unexpectedly and in the criminals' "safe space," so to speak.
One of the subtle details from the pencil scene that I think really sells his frame of mind is the moment right after he slams the guy's head. He sits down quickly, but clearly is completely focused on the chair and his posture on it, pulling it forward to suit his whim. While swift, it's only once he's adjusted himself that he bothers to return focus to the room around him for a wry, clearly indifferent wave of the hands, clearly indifferent to the reaction of the others beyond having their attention.
Thank you for showing us more layers and meaning to this scene and this Joker. I had no idea the time and detailed effort put forth, and I appreciate this all the more now.
Cool discussion! Driving a pencil into a human's eye is also an incredible display of accuracy and physical skill, like hitting a bullseye at 100 yards. The characters in the movie are not technically superhuman, but they do have comic-book level abilities above those of normal people. This one act shows that Joker is close to a match for Batman's established physical prowess by eliminating a tough gangster with the same ease as the Dark Knight. Also feel really sorry about that stunt guy! Ouch!
I don't think anyone will ever outdo Heath or Nicholson. They played very different Joker's but they were great at it. Especially Heath. While Hamil will forever be the voice of the Joker for animation Heath's performance set a standard that's impossible to approach let alone meet.
The interrogation scene is arguably, the best scene in this movie. The Joker just playing with Batman and switching coordinates to kill who Batman actually cares more about, it's terrifying
The only other great villain introduction on par with this (IMO) is that of Daredevil's Wilson Fisk, whereby you only see him once Matt Murdock finally gets a henchman of his to say his name. The reveal happens shortly after the confession and the henchman killing himself because of the slip. We then cut to "The KingPin" from the behind, slowly panning on him as he stares blankly at a painting he is associating with such a dark story, which we find out later on in the series (it reminds him of the poorly painted wall he was forced to stare at whilst his father beat his mother). Great work on the Marvel side of things, but still a step behind the Joker's. Great video. I have subscribed because of it :)
I personally feel like the pencil trick was not only pre-meditated, it was also a great to establish how many steps ahead he is. From the 1st question, to the henchmen attacking, and finally the respect it delivers.
One thing I noticed watching this, just how much of a part sound design plays. If you're watching on a sound system with good bass, the impact thunders around you. You physically feel a part of the impact
This is the most memorable scene in that film. It slips some as the movie progresses into comic-book land. Its only competition in my book is Chigurh in "No Country for Old Men." He holds that power throughout the film.
It needs to be said, and it's a super underrated role, but Eric Roberts Sal Maroni was just amazing. No matter what situation he's in, he always seems bemused, aloof, and has the illusion of control, even if we the viewers know he's not.
Probably one of those vids that will get recommend to you in like 5 years and has like 10M views and your just like 'ight lemme watch this'. To u say hello from the past Wed april 6th 2020 (Yes we were in quarantine at this time)
For me, probably the most impressive result from Legder's and Phoenix's Joker is that I see the Joker as human and not as a farcical comic book character (Leto on the other hand...). Legder and Phoenix make you fear them, yes, but at your weak moments they also make you almost sympathize with them. That sort of charisma in a villainous character, in acting, is scary. And there are select scenes in the Batman movies which are masterpieces for this. I wanted Joker to whoop them all in this scene.
What is the best AND worst superhero movie?
Twitter: @nerdstalgicyt
Spider man 2 for the best. And Green lantern for worst.
Favorite: Watchmen
Least Favorite: Fan4Stic
Most disappointing: Dark Knight Rises
Most underrated: Also Watchmen
Most Overrated: Winter Soldier
Justice League is the worst
Megamind and Justice League
@Zack Morris If you say that those are the only good DC Movies, I’m assuming that you’ve never seen Batman Begins, The first 2 Christopher Reeve Superman movies, both Michael Keaton Batman movies, Watchmen, as well as (controversial opinion alert) Man Of Steel and Batman V. Superman: Ultimate Edition
Can’t believe I went all this time not knowing that dude blacked out three times. The unsung hero of this film, seriously.
And that's fine apparently. Risking brain damage for a second of film.
We dont even see the contact, so it's pointless.
@@Crippycooke No, but we hear and feel the contact whether or not we see it.
TuWear there are other ways to pull that off. A sound effect of him hitting his head one time on the table would’ve done for every single shot. It was just easier for them to do it this way. Editing actually isn’t that hard. You tubers do it all the time.
Jt parker Yes, there are other safer ways, but he should be remembered for doing it this way for something so little yet impactful(in two ways).
HelloHamburger I never said he shouldn’t be remembered. In fact he should be talked about MORE, all I’m saying is their are safer ways to do that scene. He could’ve gotten brain damage.
"Ha ha ha ha ha hee hee hee ho ho ho, And I thought my jokes were bad."
That was actually a good joke
“Ah ha ha ha hee hee ha ha ha ho ho ha ha”
Did the thumbnail change? I've been eyeing down this video for awhile just haven't clicked on it to watch yet but I swear the thumbnail was different and maybe even the title too a little? Or was that just another recent video about the joker from the dark knight also talking about to to introduce a villain
Hello me old chum
That, in my opinion, is the best thing about Heath's Joker. Not only is he acted superbly, but pretty much every single line of dialogue would fit the traditional Joker in the comics. His Joker might look different, it might sound and act different to other portrayals, but it's unmistakably the Joker.
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.
I had the same feeling. Then a friend pointed out that many stunt people would likely push even further and do more life threatening stunts, just to out do each other. Or win the awards. Could lead to a lot of harm, but I think they deserve more respect.
@@codytierson845 hmmmm, that's def a valid and likely possibility 👍
Mark Hamil was better
Hollywood doesn't value stunt work. They look upon it as a sometimes necessary component of making a movie . Like the lighting or set dressing . With digital technology advancements that have, in many instances, eliminated the need for stunt work , they value them even less .
yes!
The sacrifice the guy made when he blacked out 3 times for a 10 second clip is impressive
Eh.... I know people who black out 2 or 3 times a week for far less.
I've watched & read lots on this movie. That's the first I've heard of this. Also makes sense considering how well put together the scene is & shown to us viewers
underrated
@@---cr8nw shut up
@Endless Forest yea yea you know everything better than everyone, youre the best at everything bla bla
I swear to got people in youtube comments
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.
I m not crazy...
I'm nut !
...
Sounds like there is a subtle pun intended.
Especially that eye-twitch while he said it. It adds so much more to the scene.
And the almost inaudible chuckle when he refered to their meeting as a "group therapy session in broad daylight."
It's because he's used to people saying that and it almost triggers him
It's because, unlike most previous versions of the character who just did things to entertain themselves, The Dark Knight's Joker has a philosophy: the world is chaos. And he believes he's the only one who gets it. He thinks everyone ELSE is crazy, believing in silly made-up ideas like "law" and "justice" and "order" and "organization". He thinks HE'S the only sane one. And of course, he IS crazy. But crazy people cope with their lives by convincing themselves they're sane, but it makes them self-conscious when they're challenged on it. And so we have the only version of Joker who gets angry when people question his sanity.
"He's not crazy, he's just ahead of the curb" LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
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.
I think ultimately you are right...but there would still be an element of insecurity in there imo...bc you don't patiently tolerate others you have no use for if you are a psychopath if he could have killed them to achieve the goals he would have.
Perhaps not insecurity in terms of self-doubt, but insecurity in the idea that he is forced to rely on others.
You do realize you are discussing two different Jokers? Yes same character, however, Joaquin's Joker, was not fully Joker yet. Ledgers Joker is what Joaquin's Joker will become.
Joaquin's Joker isn't some guy that is able to walk into a room full of mobsters. Ledgers Joker is one of the most dangerous criminals in the world. Phoenixs Joker is a mentally ill guy who was pushed over the top, he doesn't use automatic weapons or bombs, he doesn't hang people or burn them. He uses a revolver and only kills 5 people in the movie (as far as I'm aware).
@@h.cheema7818 absolutely. He is a self petty insecur mentally ill person. Most of mentally ill people in Arkham hospital might have done the same criminal activities. Arthur is a mentally ill criminal but not a Joker level criminal. I don't think he can put up a fight against Batman in any way. Because he doesn't have a crew and unorganized.
@@shanepereraedu true, he's much more realistic then a normal joker
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
Same energy as the "I did it thirty five minutes ago." line from Watchmen. Their threats can't change what's already been done.
Uhh...half. :D
Actually the delivery of the "yeah" was kind of nervous. Like he was really understanding for the first time that these guys are dangerous and might take truly violent exception to his actions. But of course he was ready for that.
Ox TheUnlikelyContemplator Why, what would they do? Gang up on him? He’d blow everyone up. He clearly doesn’t really value his life as much as his message, and I don’t think he was bluffing. He knows everyone in there wants to live and wouldn’t make sudden moves that would get him to pull the pin. Nervousness would probably make him stop for a second before saying it, but Gambol has barely finished his question before Joker responds.
@jackthegamer i
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
Nah thas funni
Tatiana Kemline I agree. It’s what made John Wick a legend.
Heath Wick
@@JamesSamson487 but joker killed with a eraser while john wick did it with the sharp side of the pencil, joker was more impressive and disturbing at the same time
Edit : I draw nakked anime girls for a living so don't mind me
@Braden A ye pretty painful too since a eraser takes slower to get in the head than a pencil sharpened side, must of hurt
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.
The scariest part of this moment to me has always been the feral glare he shoots as he finishes the line "Ah, it's gone." As if to say "Now that I have made myself clear". Absolutely brilliant acting in the smallest mannerism.
I think he was just watching their reaction to his punchline, almost like he wanted validation.
Also "You wanna try mess with me now?"
The russian mafia boss was definitely impressed like: "clown makes good trick!"
I mean i think it's just the way he looks at everyone in the room, just that alone, how he quickly but persistently stares at them helps drive home that unpredictable-predator vibe that he very well emanates
@@crankyhead1089 haahaha i always had the same thought when i see his expression :D
I feel it shows that he is having fun, and tried to impress them haha... like asking “wasn’t that a good trick, heh?”
Joker: im gonna make this pencil disappear
Johm wick: ahhh the pencil trick, it never gets old
You say that as if John Wick was the first one to do it
Just like Keanu Reeves
Did someone say... never gets old?
*Queen Elizabeth intensified*
Your comment made me chuckle +1
Who do you think taught Baba Yaga?
The slight stutter when they call him a freak is what really makes this scene shine, in my opinion.
100%
I think it's one of the rare moments where the joker take something on a personal level
@@deezyboss3135 bro i know right? but it is very strange to me how that would offend him you know? like why would he care even for a sec what a bunch of random gangsters think about him? but then again this is proof he is just human after all
@@eyreika4040 yeah you're right he is just human after all the proof to me is when he tells people abt how he got his scars one of the stories is that his dad did it to him so as you said , he was just a nrml kid who grew up in some hard conditions ... And thats the best thing abt him no superpowers or anything from this kind just pure madness and psychology knowledg as he manipulates everyone .
This clip just makes me wonder what Heath Ledger would do if he was in the dark knight rises
Twist banes plans. Most likely cause in trying to stop them from 'controlling chaos' he found out who batman is. And that just ruins the fun.
Here’s my take: The Joker temporality sides with Bane. In fact, he revels in the chaos Bane has thrown the city into, and sort of runs the show, indirectly, within it. Gotham has become his toy, one he can twist and manipulate however he wishes, thanks to Bane. However, once he learns of Bane’s true objective: the destruction of Gotham, he turns on him. He and Bane were proving what people can be like under pressure, something the Joker is shown to want to do, but if the “specimen” was destroyed, the Joker wouldn’t have much left to play with. As he mentions to Batman, he “completes him,” showing that he still wants Batman and Gotham to exist, not due to any good will, but simply because they’re “too much fun.” While he doesn’t team with Batman directly, he does throw a wrench into Bane’s plans that helps Batman win the day indirectly. When all is said and done the Joker disappears. No one knows what happened to him after the events, all they know is that he’s out there, somewhere, waiting to return. And when he does, the Bat will rise to the occasion.
Probably not the best but I hope it sounds alright
@@xenomaster7263 he just yeeted a wrench into banes expertly crafted plan and batman goes " huh , i guess even professionals have standard "
He would have been the judge, instead of Scarecrow.
Charles Lee And Scarecrow would do his own business in the sewers of Gotham
Heaths acting in this movie has to be considered one of best performances ever
it is considered as one of the best performances ever
@@anoojpatnaik1718 It completely deserves its recognition
It already is
I cannot think of a better one.
Totally convincing and surpasses all of his predecessors in this role.
@@jozefserf2024 joaquin comes in a close second imo
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.
Yeah as i noticed it's one of the rare moments where he took something on a personal level .
true
I’ve always seen him saying that him verifying he’s not crazy, all his decisions are his own. He’s not psychotic, he’s just being this destructive because he thinks it’s fun. It makes him scarier
My two cents, I think he’s fed up with dealing with them. He knows he has to work with them, but he despises their beliefs and lack of anything beyond self interest.
He could be absolutely insane, definitely but to me it almost seems like the way you’d act, well if you’re going to meet someone you don’t like, you know they act in a certain way that’s obnoxious and you’re already dreading it. And then when it happens, you feel fed up and irritated for even trying.
I think that’s what’s going through his head on a different scale of course. He’s probably irritated and wishing he could just kill these people he looks down on. Which to me point more towards Anti Social Personality Disorder, Sociopathy or Narcissism, not full blown delusion or insanity at all.
Ledger is, and always will be, the best Joker.
Agreed.
@DillyDyson007 True. I'll second that.
Preach I cannot agree more
Movie Maniac we need to see willem defoe try out for the joker . that dude has a serious creepy face when he’s mad
@@angelfigueroa310 Defoe will do the same as nicholson. Ledger can have a serious face and sill be joker smiling with his scares.
A "crazy" person doing unpredictable, wild things can be scary, sure.
A sane person doing unpredictable, wild things? Starts to make you worry
Now, a crazy person who’s convinced that he’s always the sanest person in the room does unpredictable, wild things? That’s what you call a terrifying villain.
@@charmandyorton006 hell yea that's Thanos right there.
a sane person isn't capable of doing that kind of stuff, cause he's sane. joker is a nut case, a smart nut case
@@Xannyphantom905 What are the attributes of a "sane" person? Someone who never takes risks? Someone who is polite? Someone who works hard but not too hard? Is it even clear what a sane person looks like and acts like? "Sane" is essentially just a word that people use to label a person they feel doesn't go out of the boundaries of what they think a civilized and normal person should act like.
I think the point of the original comment was to point out that when a person you consider sane proves you wrong for whatever reason (e.g. Harvey Dent), you become alarmed/shocked.
@@caucandyellow a sane person doesn't blow up hospitals, or do any of the terrorist shit joker does. let's not try to overcomplicate things, you know exactly what sane is
Now that you mention it, the stunt actor does immediately do a facial expression that suggests he's well aware his head is gonna get slammed into the table. It's a quick scene, but slowed down, you can tell this is choreographed.
In any case, stunt actors really deserve way more praise and attention than they get. This dude is basically like a professional boxer - taking potentially lethal blows to the head for his career.
This is the only joker i watch more than 100 times..
Same here
@@sangeetjoshi2164 yup
Joaquin and nicholson were better jokers. Played them as how the joker is. Not some emo joker.
@@That1guyUlike you're dummy
@@That1guyUlike There are 3 different eras of Joker so because of that they are playing different jokers
I don't care how much they may have paid that stunt guy, it wasn't enough.
Meh a bag is a bag
I know. And I am actually thinking if it was necessary. There is also a possibility that the stunt is faking being blacked out to get more pay. Which I cannot blame on the guy. He has to squeeze as much as he can on banging his head on a table.
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.
You got to watch this movie as a kid? The movie is set for 15+ years, that kinda sounds like bad parenting to me
@@MyUsersDark not really it could of been a clip watched through RUclips
@@MyUsersDark thats what kids do, watch what youre not supposed to.
@@MyUsersDark Well aren't a sheltered little snow flake
@@MyUsersDark *wait till you hear that Minecraft's minimal age to play is 10, and I played when I was 8*
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!
PG No 13 Christian Bale, Gary Oldman and Aaron Eckhart all gave fantastic performances (especially Bale) that are often overlooked due to just how good Heath was in that movie
💯
yep
Liam Neeson
Cillian Murphy
Heath Ledger
Aaron Eckhart
Tom Hardy
actors roster as villains like this, plus the prowess of Bale, Oldman, Caine.. The Dark Knight trilogy is art
No Aaron Eckheart?
one of my favorite less noticeable aspects of this scene is the russian mobster guy, the one who said "I want to hear proposition"... and when he asked how much joker wanted joker said "half" everyone starts laughing... but the russian mobster remains stonefaced. he knows if anyone could kill batman it would be him so hes taking spending the money that seriously.
& he was also surprised when Joker was going to burn the money
This isnt the ONLY movie where a pencil or pen was used to kill someone,, and yah, dats preddy gross!! ; ) ,, E
I also like the look on his face after the magic trick. Not just impressed, but almost, entertained.
Yeh absolutely. The guy that played him had such subtly about him that you could almost feel what he was thinking, like you knew his motivations in life and what would impress or sway him.
...and the Russian believing him helps the audience to believe him, too. The Russian appears the toughest and most intelligent/educated of all of them, except maybe Lau, who checked out.
It still hurts that Ledger is gone. This would’ve given so many more opportunities to more films that showcase his quintessential level of character acting
I like to think that heaven is real and he can see how many people love his performance
i appreciate how you made this 9 minutes and 59 seconds instead of pushing that 10 minute mark. well done
I mean I get what you’re saying with him not selling out to the system, but also hear me out: what if you wanted to get paid appropriately for the time and effort you put into a project by adding one extra second? However by doing so you’d be mocked by your own audience for being a sell out?
@Matt P ok
@Matt P I did, as well as the other 4 people who liked your comment
@Matt P "They can be taught, supported, reasoned, and negotiated with. Some men, master Bruce, just want to see the world learn."
Probably an accident lol
I'm sorry ... But ... He blacked out?
*D A M N*
That's so Metal.
3/20
Nah that's a pencil ya doofus, it's made of wood
🤘😎
He blacked out THREE TIMES
BLACKed out😆
That guy who blacked out should've gotten some sort of Oscar or something. Way too underrated of a performer.
What I loved about Nolan's interpretation is that he made this movie feel as if this could happen in our life and isn't just some fantastical other universe, no its looks like our streets and our criminals.
All the characters were human
Even the feeling of Bruce Wayne's gadgets were seemingly believable.
you including two face in that?
@@lavenderwalrus9875 the only thing improbable was his pain management, but he was so far gone from reality that he didnt mind it.
in the past there have been criminals who seemingly are invincible to pain, but yes not nearly to that degree.
@@lavenderwalrus9875 Its just a symbol for people who are actually two faced with no visible scars. And its very much real in our day to day life.
@@lavenderwalrus9875 Not entirely implausible but he was definitely stretching things, extreme pain tolerance or not, there's going to be some issues with that wound festering and the eye not being moisturized if he's running around doing stuff instead of being in a hospital.
Bruh. It’s a fake ass movie that doesn’t mirror real life at all.
When he showed the inside of his jacket was full with grenades and said, "Let's not *blow* this out of proportion" it felt more than just an intimidation tactic. The mob bosses wanted him to shut up because he was calling all of them out saying they're doing it wrong. He was not scared of them and he showed them that by revealing he was going to kill not only them but himself too. To me he said, "You wanna kill me? That's fine. I got nothing to lose. If I die, I'll die knowing that I was right because I'm that convinced. The question is, can any of you say the same? If not, then you really do need me."
Don't forget he also showed just how little life meant to him by joking about it the whole time.
@@michaellorah9051 i think life did matter its that he had a plan to cause chaos and break batman without him dying
My dad never took the batman movies seriously, (thanks to Tim Burton) So when I begged him to take me to see this one, He was sort on the fence about it. It was this scene that I heard my dad whisper in the movie theater, "oh wow" I could hear in his voice a shock of surprise, He wasn't expecting such a violence at a quick scene. Especially from a 'superhero' movie. This scene taught him, that this was no ordinary batman movie, And this scene taught me That They weren't going to hold back with anything they're going to show. This scene taught us that The Joker was no longer a comic book villian with stupid cheesey one liners and guns that comedically go "bang' , No this scene brought he joker to life Suddenly made him terrifying, Evil, and unsympathetic.
Even the fact that Joker would have BLOWN HINSELF UP along with the other gangsters with the grenade jacket, shows how unhinged and unfrightened he is. It shows that if he cant have it his way, no one can have it any way at all, hed rather destroy his own own opportunity as well as other gangsters to kill batman. He could care less if his plans succeed or not, and thats truly terrifying.
monsterluv101 hinself
Its even crazier cause he never wanted to kill the batman, he wanted batman to kill him.
@@levidouglass2833 joker's goal was to die. Not only that though, his goal was to leave Gotham a better place than it was.
@@lieutenantshibby wow?! That ultimate goal is quite confusing… (leave Gotham a better place than it was?) 🧐🤔
i see it as the joker knows he has displayed himself as unstable and deranged to the gangsters so he knows for a fact they wouldn’t doubt that he would pull the pin. he knows they wouldn’t challenge it
When Heath first walked on set, no one knew what to expect. Now Michael Caine is a consumate actor. Yet he was so dumbfounded that he forgot his lines. Heath just went ahead with the scene like there was no problem.
Joker: *kills the guy with a pencil*
John wick: Finally! A worthy opponent! Our battle will be legendary!
You deserve more likes
I remember sitting in the midnight premiere of this movie. The theater had like 6 screens showing it and every auditorium was jam packed. When the pencil trick happened, there was an audible gasp in the room and then silence. It didn't matter what the Joker had to say next; he had everyone's undivided attention.
Lau: *Has the power in the scene*
Joker: _"Ok, my turn."_
was that an iron man callback
...."ok, I want to drive."... similar moments....just one had a quote attached to introduce the change....whereas this whole scene was the Joker manipulating the gang members to give him control.
Missed opportunity:
Lau: has the power in the scene
Joker: “hold my pencil...”
Mom says its my turn on the power
"ok i get it,let me think,i guess it's my turn"
I love when he’s at Harvey’s bedside and says “Hiiii”
RiP Heath
his face when he says it and of course the nurse outfit!
Heaths father said when Heath was young his sister use to dress him up in a nurses outfit
The way he stops talking, starts talking again, then stops, and finally decides to say something completely different. That's what makes it real. The imperfections in the way that he talks, the little nuances in his facial expressions, the tiny moments of frustration. Sometimes simply not knowing how to make himself be understood by these powerful men sitting across of him. Literal chills. Anyone can write a lecture for a bad guy where he unravels his plans and shows his menace to the viewers, and any actor can perform such a role. But it's not entirely human. That's exactly where politicians often fail for the exact same reason. People don't buy it because it doesn't seem genuine and natural. Instead, he decided to bring some uncertainty, some turmoil, some chaos into the mix. Like in real life. He's not a mastermind and he certainly doesn't have an end goal he's working towards. He's not very interested in obtaining massive amounts of wealth or power, which he illustrates later on in the movie when he burns a giant tower of cash. He even tells Harvey Dent to see him as a dog just going after anything that moves, following his instincts blindly, not having any particular purpose behind it all. The only lie he tells Harvey is that chaos and randomness is the only way to make things fair. In fact, the opposite is true. Chaos and chance will only result in unfair situations; either someone gets rewarded or someone gets punished without deserving it. Which is the Jokers exact point. He doesn't care about justice. He couldn't care less about fairness. All he wants to see is chaos and anarchy. And he strongly believes most people are like him in that regard. That peace and order are just social constructs and when left to their own devices, people will rip each other apart to either survive or come out on top. It's actually quite tragic when he finds out that he's the odd one out. People are not like him. He's mentally unwell and people as a species reject most of the things he stands for. When push comes to shove, people actually gather behind the symbol of the Batman and reject the Joker.
Enjoyed your comment but watch the movie again and look at each of Joker’s social experiments which are based on game theory scenarios. Joker has a world view opposite from Batman’s. I agree with you on that. Batman believes people are generally good and Joker believes people are all about self and those closest to them. He does not believe in moral codes or social responsibility. This you already know.
So what does Nolan do? Through Joker’s tests of Gotham’s citizens and Batman does he show people doing “the right thing?” Sometimes yes but for the most part, no. Not really.
You have Batman letting five people die before he relents planning to turn himself in. You have the cops and many citizens calling for Batman’s head turning on him. You have citizens and a police officer trying to kill the accountant to protect loved ones in the city’s hospitals. You have the City’s top symbol of the law kill five people and threaten to kill an innocent boy to punish his father out of grief and vengeance. Joker called all of this saying people drop their code (moral, legal, ethics, loyalty) when the going gets tough…and that is exactly what happens.
Batman / Bruce and Gordon are steadfast. But there are precious few others. Bruce is willing to face the music and goes to turn himself in when his trusted circle is telling him not to. He saves Reece despite the fact that letting him be killed would solve his blackmail issue. And he suffers the exact same loss as Harvey (the love of his life) but does not go homicidally vengeful. In fact, he prevents Joker from falling to his death so that Justice can be served on him to honor what Rachel stood for. Meanwhile Harvey completely abandons his code.
I read where Nolan said that the movie title The Dark Knight refers to Harvey equally as much as it does to Batman. He knows what he intended but I think they actually switch by the end of the movie with Batman acting more like a white knight.
Now here’s the somewhat trickier part. Remember the ferry boat experiment? When you watch it next time, take note of the results of the vote on the citizens boat. They vote by vast majority to blow up the convicts. Not their finest hour. It’s wrong to kill right? But what would YOU do? What would any of us do? That’s one of the questions Nolan is asking us the audience to consider after we walk out of the theater.
Then on the convicts boat, we have one man who is a criminal by his actions to be the one person who steps up and makes the morally correct choice not to kill. He makes the decision for everyone on his boat when he throws the trigger overboard. What gave HiM the right?
This is much like Batman who is a vigilante but we the fans “allow” him because we know he’s acting from a moral place but not a legal one. His incorruptibility and the strength of his moral code are proven time and again - withstanding Joker’s attempt to break him, but at the end of the day, Batman is acting under his own authority and not any obtained from the citizenry or the legal system. We understand he’s doing what he thinks he should because he can and because of his family’s legacy but still. So to what degree can an individual act without his actions adversely affecting the rest of society. One man can bring hope but one man can bring despair just as easily. Is it then better to think of society and humanity as a whole first before self as Bruce does? Is that where hope lies?
All this to say, this movie is not a glowing endorsement of Gotham’s citizens. The Ferry Boat lab rats don’t blow each other up but only because none of the citizens had the will to act out their majority voted sentence upon the convicts.
I think we’re meant to come away with the impression that there’s room for improvement when it comes to human behavior, what we stand for and living in accordance with consistency not only in good times but in bad. I came away feeling like Nolan was saying “we can all do better”. Not just “Joker was wrong. People are good. Batman was right.” So to speak. Why? Because going back through the plot it’s clear that Joker correctly predicted Gotham’s behavior more often than he was wrong. Just my take.
I still remember the first time I watched this film in the theater. Ledger's performance was electric, every moment that the Joker was on screen held the entire audience captive and anytime he wasn't I felt a severe longing for his return. I just wanted more, to see his portrayal of this iconic villain grow and develop even further. I instantly knew it was a masterwork and felt that for the first time someone actually "got" the Joker and was bringing him to life. Jack Nicholson's performance is awesome, Joaquin Phoenix's performance is great, and honestly somewhere between all these interpretations lies the true madman. But Heath's embodiment of the Joker I feel is the heart of the man and the others are the extremes and limits to which he goes.
I tried the pencil trick and I'm still alive.
Can't say the same for my volunteer.
😂😂 best
You had me in the first half not gonna lie
Can confirm Im ded
He tried it on himself? Damn, that must’ve... wait there’s more.
Ah, there it is
Wow. I'm still getting replies? I watched this video at the beginning of the pandemic.
This title made me realize why The Dark Knight is so great. You chose the introduction to the joker, and yeah.. that's a great scene, but is it the best? For me, I think I prefer the jail break scene, but that's the point, there's so many top notch scenes that keep working and that's why Nolan's work always stands out.
It's not that one moment is particularly good, it's that there's consistently great scenes that come so often that they you have to accept the entire movie as "great". This is what happened in the Prestige, and Inception, and it's why The Dark Knight will be near impossible to beat for super hero movies.
I can't believe the dark knight even exist
@@khalidahmed4038 What?
@@footl0se you know it's so good and dark for a superhero movie that I can't believe they made it
@@footl0se also a refrense for the chuck zone video.
@@khalidahmed4038 Oh! Agreed.
Joker has had many introductions over the years, so you have to make it new, Dark knight pulls it off
All these years later and I would gladly pay full price to watch this in IMAX
Why... why didn’t they just have a guy take the pencil away when it was off screen...
They tried that, but apparently they couldn’t get the shot right as he had to slow down too much to pull the pencil. Remember, if he doesn’t get it in time, that pencil is going right into his head.
Too risky with a actor like heath in character of the joker he wouldn't have control over his body
@@Nerdstalgic why not pull the pencil out underneath the table as it went? it'd ''push in'' the guy's skull but disappear as they pulled up
Holy shit - HI SCOTT! ummm come here often? 🥴👋🏾
I would have thought the stuntman himself palm the pencil as he approaches Joker and the camera pans up. But possibly safety is still a concern.
Nerdstalgic, CEO of analyzing Joker scenes
When people wanna talk about Masterpieces, you CAN NOT leave this movie out.
Exactly I was kinda disappointed with the batman we need a new batman movie with a good villain like this if such a thing was possible
I remember when Darth Sidious was like "I will make it legal"--phantomly menacing, indeed!
Not exactly the same thing really, is it
I always thought the changing stories was just part of his reading people to better get in their heads.
That's why he goes with daddy Issues for one, and then for the next he makes it a love story.
It's really all for his audience.
The Outlet (On My Chest) it also pays tribute to the joker saying he remembers his past differently in the killing joke
@@southpark645 "If I have to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice."
BoojumFed exactly, I hate when people just make up their own stuff without realizing that Nolan took some inspiration from the killing joke but most notably took tons of inspiration from Batman year one for Begins, and tons of inspiration from the long Halloween for the dark knight.
Those tiny lapses of control were always my two favorite moments in this incredible scene.
This actually made me remember Jack Nicholson’s joker when he was at the gangster table meeting, and he electrocuted the boss. Same dominance set up.
exactly and was done first. don't get me wrong both are great just Jack Nicholson joker performance is so over look. IMO the best joker still with ledger either being tie or very very close second.
Bryan Kriser nah ledgers is on another level
I actually think Nicholson’s joker was more frightening because you knew that he could actually hurt you because he was a mean dangerous gangster before he became the joker and it only made him meaner and more sadistic because he was so badly hurt and he wanted to hurt other people even more after his accident
The ledger joker was terrifying in a more low key, psychological way and was scary because he could fuck with your head and was always manipulating people, but I never felt like he could hurt you in a fight like the Nicholson joker could. And the Nicholson joker was just meaner and would blow up on you for any reason, he had anger and rage seething below the surface
@@attatawil You ever dance will the devil in the pale moonlight?
4:45 “What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes” is a quote that comes to mind
Chinese cinema, 2 hits 1 sound(not a porn video)
@@MaxIronsThird hahahahs
Once I saw the magic trick by the Joker with the pencil.I knew it was going to be extra impressive and chaotic.
Heath Ledger. The Joker is a villain. Not a clown.
Jared Leto.. The Joker is a clown, not a villain.
Joaquin Phoenix. The clown is a loser, not the Joker.
@Henry Knauss Phoenix played the joker as a mentally deranged villain who was betrayed by his country and by everyone around him. It was Incredibly done and if you dont appreciate that you should probably stick to pointless violence in films
@That Girl and @Henry Knauss : Bruh, Pheonix was a great actor, He did great as the Joker, and He was perfect for the role.
Jared is the Joke itself
Heath Ledger Joker is the hero that Batman could never have been.
Heath Ledger perfectly portrayed DC's Joker if he was in today's modern society
society
@@jAyDeN30111 *inhales aggresively*
WE LIVE-
Jayden we truly live in one
Idk if I would say “‘modern” because the movie came out in 2008
Did you say........
Society??
One of my favorite parts is where they call him crazy and he licks his lips and says he's not. His eyes, his facial gestures, mannerisms.......................SOOOOOOOOOOOO good!
An actor and character so good ppl still analyze and talk about it 12+ yrs later. And scenes/acting so good we can still feel as if watching them for the first time after watching and rewatching the scenes and movie multiple times
Joker: (Sarcastically) “AH Ha Ha Ha Ha ah... ah.....” And I thought MY jokes are bad....
😐😑
That STILL gives me chills every single time he shows up....
“hahahihahehihahuhahehiha”
They really got the relationship between Batman and the Joker. "Kill you? What would I do with out you?" They are both at opposite ends of the madness scale.
RIP HEATH LEGDER, ONE OF THE BEST ACTORS, PROBABLY THE BEST AUSTRALIAN ACTOR, AND THE BEST JOKER!
Rest In Peace LEGDER😭😭😭
AND THE BEST JOKER for the times
You forgot to mention the part before the scene, where all the gangsters are forced to undergo a frisk and metal detector pass, but the Joker just strolls right in, suggesting he was either in the building beforehand, or knew of a second (secret) exit. The fact that he left the same way he came suggests the latter. Either way, he was able to stay armed, when all the gangsters were unarmed - In their own meeting place no less.
You hear a struggle as he enters, he probably killed that guy.
@@ebutuoytikcus4352 exactly right
@@ebutuoytikcus4352 i always just assumed he threatened his way in using the grenades strapped to his chest.
Literally all he would have had to do is catch any dude at the door off guard, and get his foot inside and he could threaten his way into just about anywhere(depending on how motivated each person he encounters is to dying on the job)
One of the things I love about his "Joker" is the makeup on the sleeves of his jacket and fingers of his gloves,an important detail showing he puts it on himself
I also noticed in the trailer for "The BatMan" when Bruce takes off the cowl he has black makeup around his eyes (instead of magically disappearing) also it's messy and smeared from fights and applying it himself, a tiny but significant detail that makes it feel more authentic.
I love how we are still talking about the dark knight and the joker even after all these years
We're still loving and analyzing this movie a dozen years later. Says something.
the facts that there are several versions on how he got his scars is clever, because it keeps his identity unknown and the view confused.
Best joker after all. the part where he goes ''no im not'' felt so darn realistic. It feels more like a real life scene than movie
Agreed. It felt like barely contained rage.
Yes, the Joker's introduction still sends shivers down your spine - and one can watch it again.
Shivers?
@@TayoEXE thank you
This was the perfect introduction to, in my opinion, the perfect Joker. When he did the pencil trick I found myself half-suppressing a giggle...it was "funny in that way that we're not supposed to laugh at (just like, with his co-star Christian Bale, the film American Psycho is also a surprisingly funny movie), with a guy getting a pencil in his brain but having made it "disappear." As for Ledger being the "perfect Joker" in all the cinematic depictions I'd absolutely expect the Joker to try to kill me...with Ledger you actually might walk away alive because it amused him at the time to do so.
Another video to love! ^_^ I'm curious about your take on the 2019 Joker film, especially compared with the portrayal of The Dark Knight's Joker. I'm still torn on the 2019 movie. Some things I like about it, others left me wanting a bit more from it. Happy to answer deeper questions/have a discussion!
0:47 When 'The End' by Cudi started up I had to check myself
I zoned out soon as I heard the beat
Fucking same
O thank god for you. I couldn’t place it and I began frantically scrolling to see if someone had identified it. Thank you so much. I can rest peacefully now. Love that song. Haven’t heard it in fucking ages.
Had to put it on. Dope song
I was working at the cinema when this movie came out. With my staff discount I saw this movie in the cinema 4 times (something I don't usually do) as well as seeing parts of the movie many times as I was working.
This scene was unquestionably the most tense scene in the movie, both when I was working and when I saw the movie with friends. All except the 3rd time I saw it with friends ...
The 3rd time, when this scene came up and Joker did the pencil trick ("Tadaaah! It's ... Gone ...") someone in the back row started laughing histerically. As soon as he did, the whole theatre errupted in laughter.
From that moment onward, the tense thriller was lost and in it's place we were watching a superhero movie with a whacky-funny villain. That one moment completely broke the spell, and changed the entire movie from that point. Every time the Joker was on screen the audience was in stitches.
So I agree with NerdTastic, this moment really was pivotal, and with even a small change in perspective it completely changed the movie.
(It was still a great movie as a comedy though)
Well dark comedy is why we love joker😂
The Joker wanted to bring about anarchy and chaos that was his true motivation.
@Braden A Yes that's true, but he also wanted chaos and disorder, he didn't care about small things like money or material things.
@Braden A Yes definitely.
I love when he burns the money..
The mafia guys suddenly realize how dangerous and uncontrolable the joker is...
@@和平和平-c4i Yes definitely.
I always liked the fan theory that Joker was a wounded veteran. He had seen, done, and felt too much, and it broke him. The only thing left that made sense to him, was to tear down the system that creates people like him every day. "Nobody is the villain in their own stories."
I remember sitting in the theatre watching this scene and thinking "Heath's gonna get an Oscar for this." This scene was the moment I decided that there could be a Joker other than Jack (I grew up with that movie, I don't care if you like it.) Obviously I was aware, along with the rest of the world, that Heath had died some months earlier. But I don't think that softened my expectations any. Rather, I didn't lower my standards because he had just recently died. Actually, I kind of went in ready to be harsher on him because at the time, it was suggested that he was so disturbed by this character that he started doing hard drugs and overdosed. Which we now know isn't really true. But my thought process was "how can you possibly let a BATMAN character bother you that much? It's a comic book character for kids!" Anyway, I'm glad my ignorance didn't keep me from seeing the film and I certainly agree that it's one of the all-time greats.
*Stuntman:* "how many times do we have to do this stunt?"
*Director:* "Till it's drilled into your head"
So glad you talked about the practical effects for this scene. Stuntpeople are the most underrated people in film making
1:55 Something I'd add here is the fact that the Joker was not invited to this meeting, yet he knew exactly when and where it was being held. So he not only ripped the power from the most powerful, but he did it entirely unexpectedly and in the criminals' "safe space," so to speak.
Idk why the "TA DAAAA" makes me giggle every time
Childlike following an incredible act of violence? Plus it’s funny lol
"How DO you introduce the Joker?"
Tommy Wiseau has an answer to your question.
oh hi joker
*throws him a football*
AAAAAAAAAAAAAH
"You wanna know how I got these scars?...I needed some money."
"What kind of money?"
"I needed some money"
"What kind of money?!"
One of the subtle details from the pencil scene that I think really sells his frame of mind is the moment right after he slams the guy's head. He sits down quickly, but clearly is completely focused on the chair and his posture on it, pulling it forward to suit his whim. While swift, it's only once he's adjusted himself that he bothers to return focus to the room around him for a wry, clearly indifferent wave of the hands, clearly indifferent to the reaction of the others beyond having their attention.
Thank you for showing us more layers and meaning to this scene and this Joker. I had no idea the time and detailed effort put forth, and I appreciate this all the more now.
I love how this channel shows such an in depth perspective on things
It sheds new light, inspires awe, and appreciation for the creativity 💜
Cool discussion! Driving a pencil into a human's eye is also an incredible display of accuracy and physical skill, like hitting a bullseye at 100 yards. The characters in the movie are not technically superhuman, but they do have comic-book level abilities above those of normal people. This one act shows that Joker is close to a match for Batman's established physical prowess by eliminating a tough gangster with the same ease as the Dark Knight.
Also feel really sorry about that stunt guy! Ouch!
I don't think anyone will ever outdo Heath or Nicholson. They played very different Joker's but they were great at it. Especially Heath. While Hamil will forever be the voice of the Joker for animation Heath's performance set a standard that's impossible to approach let alone meet.
I wish this video was five times longer, I loved it!
Thank you for explaining, in detail, why I love this scene so much. I love the "introducing the bad guy/villain" scenes, and this one is the best one.
The interrogation scene is arguably, the best scene in this movie. The Joker just playing with Batman and switching coordinates to kill who Batman actually cares more about, it's terrifying
Heath Ledger joker is one of the greatest cinema villains of all time
Ledger's Joker walked so Phoenix could make his mile-a-minute sprint.
Nope
Darth Vader is usually at number 1. Where are you getting that stat from?
Still my fav introduction of a villain of all time, and love how the teasing of the Joker in the first film came around here too.
The only other great villain introduction on par with this (IMO) is that of Daredevil's Wilson Fisk, whereby you only see him once Matt Murdock finally gets a henchman of his to say his name. The reveal happens shortly after the confession and the henchman killing himself because of the slip. We then cut to "The KingPin" from the behind, slowly panning on him as he stares blankly at a painting he is associating with such a dark story, which we find out later on in the series (it reminds him of the poorly painted wall he was forced to stare at whilst his father beat his mother). Great work on the Marvel side of things, but still a step behind the Joker's. Great video. I have subscribed because of it :)
I personally feel like the pencil trick was not only pre-meditated, it was also a great to establish how many steps ahead he is. From the 1st question, to the henchmen attacking, and finally the respect it delivers.
I'm a simple person. I see a video 1 second from 10 minutes, I pledge my unwavering loyalty to the creator.
Why is wanting money so bad
@@no-ko1mj bc you can buy food , pay rent , clothes , bills , live a fun exciting life , and Have a nice funeral
One thing I noticed watching this, just how much of a part sound design plays. If you're watching on a sound system with good bass, the impact thunders around you. You physically feel a part of the impact
Another masterpiece from nerdstalgic👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
This is the most memorable scene in that film. It slips some as the movie progresses into comic-book land.
Its only competition in my book is Chigurh in "No Country for Old Men." He holds that power throughout the film.
It needs to be said, and it's a super underrated role, but Eric Roberts Sal Maroni was just amazing. No matter what situation he's in, he always seems bemused, aloof, and has the illusion of control, even if we the viewers know he's not.
I would love to see your take in "Community" ❤️
I was just about to comment the episode that they parodied the iconic Batman speech in the end of the dark Knight
I love community...
E PLURIBUS ANUS ✊
Community also has that scene where a pencil is brutally murdered…
RIP Steve.
It’s the actor who made this scene what it is. May he Rest In Peace.
And that fricking MVP stuntman...
11 years. That's how old this movie is. And somehow people still can't get enough of it.
Probably one of those vids that will get recommend to you in like 5 years and has like 10M views and your just like 'ight lemme watch this'. To u say hello from the past
Wed april 6th 2020
(Yes we were in quarantine at this time)
**Wed April 8th 2020
See you then brother! Lets come back in 5 years!
hey its July 12, 2021 and we're almost done with this virus! i think.
For me, probably the most impressive result from Legder's and Phoenix's Joker is that I see the Joker as human and not as a farcical comic book character (Leto on the other hand...). Legder and Phoenix make you fear them, yes, but at your weak moments they also make you almost sympathize with them. That sort of charisma in a villainous character, in acting, is scary. And there are select scenes in the Batman movies which are masterpieces for this.
I wanted Joker to whoop them all in this scene.
I love how you talk about movies and series. The way you brake down movies is kinda satisfying.