Joker 2 REVIEW - Joker: Folie à Deux DESTROYS Joker

2 Oct 202408:17

Summary

TLDRThe video script offers a critical review of 'Joker 2,' exploring how the sequel undoes much of the impact of the original film. The reviewer praises the performances, especially Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, but criticizes the musical elements and the character regression of Arthur Fleck. The film is described as frustrating, with musical scenes disrupting its momentum, and a plot that feels apologetic for its predecessor. The review suggests that 'Joker 2' risks alienating its audience and may tarnish the legacy of the first film, questioning the need for a sequel at all.

Takeaways

🎬 The movie *Joker* was initially controversial due to fears it might incite violence, but it ended up being a major success, grossing over $1 billion despite challenges like its R rating and lack of release in China.
💰 *Joker* received mixed critical reviews but was well-received by audiences, even winning Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix.
🃏 The sequel, *Joker: Folie à Deux*, focuses again on Arthur Fleck, but its musical format is a major shift, which detracts from the movie's impact.
🎶 The musical elements of *Joker 2* are the weakest part, turning the movie into a 'musical court drama' that often feels out of place.
🤔 Arthur Fleck’s character in *Joker 2* feels like a regression, undoing the development from the first film and reverting him back to a 'pathetic' character.
🎭 Lady Gaga does a solid job portraying Harley Quinn, but her character feels underutilized, and the narrative doesn't explore her relationship with Arthur deeply enough.
😕 The unreliable narrator aspect from the first movie is present but less effective, leaving some scenes confusing and not as interesting as in the original.
💡 The movie feels frustrating because every time it seems like it’s building momentum, it’s interrupted by musical scenes that halt the progress.
📉 *Joker 2* seems like a financial risk with high expectations, but early ticket sales are underwhelming, compared to other flops like *Indiana Jones* and *The Flash*.
🙅‍♂️ The reviewer feels *Joker 2* wasn’t necessary and suggests it may have been made for financial reasons rather than artistic ones, potentially ruining the legacy of the original *Joker*.

Q & A

What was the initial concern raised by corporate media regarding the release of the first *Joker* movie?
-Corporate media raised concerns that the first *Joker* movie could incite incel violence, suggesting it might lead to real-world security issues.
How did the controversy surrounding the *Joker* movie affect its success?
-The controversy surrounding the *Joker* movie helped propel it to success, as it gained significant attention and eventually earned over a billion dollars at the box office.
What were some challenges the first *Joker* movie faced before its release?
-Some challenges included being rated R, not being released in China, and receiving a 49% rating from corporate critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
How was *Joker* received by audiences and critics despite initial controversies?
-*Joker* was well-received by audiences, winning Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix, even though corporate critics were initially skeptical.
What is the general tone of the review for *Joker: Folie à Deux* (Joker 2) in this transcript?
-The review for *Joker: Folie à Deux* is largely negative, describing it as frustrating, disappointing, and unnecessary, with a particular critique of its musical elements.
What is the reviewer's opinion on the musical elements in *Joker 2*?
-The reviewer believes the musical elements were the worst part of *Joker 2*, frustrating the film's pace and diminishing the overall quality.
How is Lady Gaga’s portrayal of Harley Quinn received in the review?
-Lady Gaga's portrayal of Harley Quinn is seen positively; she is described as doing a good job portraying Harley as an obsessed fan of the Joker. However, the reviewer feels she was underutilized.
What criticism does the reviewer have about the character development of Arthur Fleck in *Joker 2*?
-The reviewer criticizes that Arthur Fleck's character is essentially reset, undoing his development from the first film, which they refer to as 'character assassination through character reversion.'
What does the reviewer speculate about Todd Phillips’ intentions with *Joker 2*?
-The reviewer speculates that Todd Phillips may have made *Joker 2* reluctantly, possibly trolling Warner Brothers by making a musical with a large budget after being offered more money than the first film.
What is the reviewer's ultimate verdict on *Joker 2*?
-The reviewer concludes that *Joker 2* is a bad movie, suggesting it may ruin the original for viewers due to its nihilistic and pointless nature, and argues that it was an unnecessary sequel.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 The Unexpected Success of Joker

The video opens by discussing the release of the movie 'Joker' five years ago. Initially, no one expected much from the film, which was an origin story for a Batman villain who never needed one. Despite a controversial media narrative predicting that the movie would incite incel violence, 'Joker' defied expectations and became a success. The corporate media's scare tactics didn't materialize, and the film grossed over a billion dollars. It overcame challenges like being rated R, not releasing in China, and receiving mixed critical reviews. Ultimately, the movie won several Academy Awards, including Joaquin Phoenix's Best Actor award. The video's host praises 'Joker' as a slow-burn film with an open ending that was meant to provoke endless debate.

05:01

😕 Joker 2: A Frustrating Sequel

The second paragraph dives into 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' the sequel to 'Joker,' and reveals the host's disappointment. The sequel answers questions left from the first film but suffers from a critical flaw: it didn't need to be made. Although the movie is well-directed and acted, and the score is praised, the decision to make it a musical doesn't sit well with the host. The musical elements disrupt the film's flow, turning it into a musical courtroom drama. The protagonist, Arthur Fleck, spends much of the film in Arkham Asylum, strategizing his defense with his lawyer. Lady Gaga plays Harley Quinn, but her character is underutilized, despite a solid performance. The film feels like a retread of the first, with Arthur’s character regressing rather than evolving.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Joker

The Joker is a well-known villain from the Batman franchise. In this video, the Joker serves as the central figure, specifically the portrayal of Arthur Fleck in the movie 'Joker' (2019) and its sequel. The discussion revolves around the movie's significance, its controversial reception, and how it diverges from typical superhero narratives by focusing on the Joker's psychological descent.

💡Incel violence

Incel violence refers to acts of violence committed by individuals who identify with the 'incel' (involuntary celibate) subculture. The video references a pre-release narrative where media speculated that the movie 'Joker' could inspire incel violence, a fear that was unfounded. The term highlights media bias and its impact on public perception.

💡Corporate media

Corporate media refers to large, often politically or commercially driven media organizations. The video critiques the role of corporate media in shaping narratives, particularly how they criticized 'Joker' before its release by predicting violence. This concept is central to the video's message about media influence and bias in cultural discussions.

💡Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes is a review aggregator website that provides ratings for movies and TV shows based on critic and audience reviews. In the video, the film 'Joker' is noted to have received a low critic score (49%), which the speaker argues reflects the media’s political bias. The film's commercial success is seen as a rejection of this critical narrative.

💡Arthur Fleck

Arthur Fleck is the protagonist of 'Joker' (2019) and 'Joker 2.' He is portrayed as a mentally ill man who evolves into the Joker. The video discusses how the sequel reverts Arthur Fleck's character development, undoing his transformation into the Joker and returning him to a state of helplessness, which the reviewer finds frustrating.

💡Lady Gaga / Harley Quinn

Lady Gaga plays Harley Quinn in 'Joker 2.' The video discusses her portrayal as Arthur Fleck’s fan girl and the complexity of her character in relation to the Joker. The speaker believes she is underused in the film and criticizes the lack of development in her relationship with Arthur. This casting choice and character interaction are key points in the video.

💡Musical scenes

Musical scenes are a controversial aspect of 'Joker 2,' which features musical elements, a significant departure from the first film. The video criticizes these scenes as the worst part of the film, stating that they interrupt the narrative flow and contribute to the film’s failure to build tension and momentum.

💡Unreliable narrator

An unreliable narrator is a literary device where the storyteller's credibility is questionable. Arthur Fleck, as portrayed in 'Joker,' is an unreliable narrator, leaving the audience uncertain about what is real or imagined. The video points out that while this device worked well in the first film, it becomes less effective and engaging in the sequel.

💡Warner Brothers

Warner Brothers is the film studio behind 'Joker' and its sequel. The video describes Warner Brothers as 'America’s dumbest company,' criticizing its decision to greenlight a sequel and claiming that the studio failed to capitalize on the original film’s success. This critique reflects the speaker’s frustration with Hollywood’s tendency to force sequels.

💡Character deconstruction

Character deconstruction refers to breaking down a character's traits, motivations, and development. In the context of 'Joker 2,' the video argues that Arthur Fleck’s character is deconstructed to the point of undoing his transformation into the Joker, making the sequel feel like a reversion of his progress rather than an evolution, leading to a disappointing narrative.

Highlights

Joker was controversial due to the media's concern about incel violence, but these concerns never materialized.

Despite being an R-rated film and not being released in China, Joker earned over a billion dollars at the box office.

The film won multiple Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix.

Joker was considered a one-off film, but its success led to a sequel, Joker 2, which the reviewer finds unnecessary.

Joker 2 is a musical, and this element detracts from the film, making it less enjoyable according to the review.

Arthur Fleck's character in Joker 2 is regressed, undoing much of the character development from the first film.

The unreliable narrator theme from the first film is present in Joker 2 but isn't executed as effectively.

Lady Gaga plays Harley Quinn as a fan girl obsessed with the Joker, with a good performance, though her character is underused.

Joker 2 turns into a musical courtroom drama, which stalls the film's progression and impact.

The musical sequences, especially those not in Arthur’s head, feel forced and interrupt the film's flow.

Joker 2 deconstructs Arthur Fleck's character by reverting him to his pathetic, pre-Joker state.

The reviewer believes Todd Phillips may have been reluctant to make a sequel but accepted due to the large budget offered.

Joker 2’s budget was $145 million more than its predecessor, and early ticket sales were underwhelming.

The ending of Joker 2 is divisive, and Todd Phillips knew it would split the audience.

The reviewer argues that Joker 2 ruins the original film by turning it into the nihilistic story critics feared it would be.