It’s been three weeks since Suicide Squad came out, and unfortunately, it’s still not any good. No amount of time will change that. One of the most damning critiques of the film is Jared Leto’s Joker and how it stacks up against the pantheon of great Jokers, primarily Heath Ledger. Disappointing would be the operative word to describe this Joker.
Being compared to Heath Ledger’s Joker is slippery slope, how can you ever match a performance like that? You can’t, but maybe you can bring something new to the character. Lessons from the Screenplay made a great video detailing what goes into creating a multi-dimensional antagonist that isn’t just there for spectacle, but for driving the story forward with conflict. This makes Joker the perfect Batman villain.
The video astutely points out that Batman and the Joker don’t compete for the fate of humanity, like many mindless blockbuster antagonist, but for the soul of Gotham—a story that is both more personal and malleable to the characters.
“The Joker isn’t a great villain because he has insane laugh or acts unpredictably,” states Micheal from Lessons from the Screenplay. This drives to the heart of why Suicide Squad’s Joker let down while The Dark Knight’s take soars above our expectations. The Joker matches Batman beat for beat and slowly breaks down his invincible aura by killing and forcing Batman to kill him—something he will not do. This not only makes him stronger, but dangerous. A real danger that is developed by a solid plot, rich story and a fantastic performance.
Take a look at the entire video above, it’s a fantastic look into the importance of the relationship between protagonist and antagonist.
See full gallery on TechnoBuffaloSource: Lessons from the Screenplay
Via: Sploid