Is the movie good?
Yes.
Okay… so should I see it?
Depends. If you’re a diehard comic book fan, if you’re looking for action and fight scenes, or if you enjoy arguing on internet forums about how DC movies are rated worse than Marvel movies on Rotten Tomatoes… then no, you shouldn’t see it. If you’re a casual comic book fan, if you’re okay with this thing called artistic license, or if you just want to see a good movie for the sake of seeing a good movie… then yes, you should see it.
How close is it to the comics?
I’m not sure, and I don’t really care.
Does Batman show up?
No, but the Wayne family is a key part of the plot.
Are there any DC easter eggs?
Probably, but that’s not really the point of the movie. For all intents and purposes, it’s a standalone character drama that just happens to be about a DC villain.
Is Joker the protagonist or the antagonist?
Yes.
How is Joaquin Phoenix’s performance?
Definitely worth the hype.
Is it as good as Heath Ledger’s?
Comparing them isn’t really fair… I found it easier to empathize with and understand Joaquin’s Joker, even when he turned violent. He was an artist, a victim, a loner, and everything he did was in keeping with a deep sense of justice. Heath’s performance was more chilling, more manic, more shocking, more unpredictable, and ultimately more dangerous.
So which one was better?
Personally, I prefer Joaquin, but both are excellent in their own right.
Should he win an Oscar?
I think so, and it would be well-deserved at this point in his career.
Is the movie overly violent?
It’s certainly not for kids, but it’s nothing you haven’t seen in an R-rated movie before. I suppose it depends on what you can stomach – some of the deaths are rather gruesome, and it’s more intense than your typical superhero movie. But the intensity is less due to the violence, more due to the heavy themes the movie presents. In other words, you’re more likely to leave depressed than disgusted.
Will the movie cause violence? Or an incel uprising?
Probably not, and definitely not. If anything, it’ll cause a wave of existential crises.
Is the movie just a mashup of Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy?
It’s heavily inspired by them, but it’s original enough to stand on its own. The biggest difference is that those movies were released in an era where you could make an original movie. Apparently that used to be possible. Nowadays, your big releases need to be linked to an existing franchise or cinematic universe, which is a shame. But that’s another issue entirely…
Is there a post-credits scene?
I don’t know. But, the movie isn’t a comedy, nor does it feel like the first installment of a new franchise. So I doubt they would be shameless enough to have a post-credits scene.
What do you get when you cross a mentally ill loner with a society that doesn’t care about him?
Watch the movie to find out.
