Apr 022016
 

NRjrbjtEIb05_18aIl_VuimGKN7nG32FfLA04oKWOCsLucas Siegel wrote a  very interesting article for COMICBOOK.COM about Jared Leto’s approach to his characterization of the Joker for the SUICIDE SQUAD MOVIE.  Here is  what he had to say:

Jared Leto looks at The Joker as a Shakespearean level character. That’s the core of how he approached the Clown Prince of Crime for Suicide Squad, something he found important because of what’s come before at the talents of folks like Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Mark Hamill, and others.

“The work that’s been done on this character by so many people before me has been so impactful,” Leto told EW, “so incredible, so much fun, so profound, so risky, that it’s a very special thing to be asked to take on that responsibility.”

He looks at playing The Joker the same way someone might approach a role in a Shakespeare play that’s been so well-defined by many actors before him.

“Whether you’re a composer working on a piece of music that was written a century ago, or you’re an actor on stage, reinterpreting a play, it’s very common these days. Directors take on great works of cinema, actors reinterpret roles, that’s been going on for a great deal of time. From Scarface to Hamlet. In some ways it’s really interesting to reinterpret, redefine. It a weighty thing to do. But it’s exciting. The Joker is one of those roles,” Leto said. “He was written brilliantly when he was first shared with the world 75 years ago.”

He said that he “had to make it [his] own,” and ultimately, he’s “just really grateful [he] had the opportunity.”

(Lucas Spiegle’s article originally published in COMICBOOK.COM on March 31, 2016. HERE)

Mar 292016
 

 

JOKER75YEARSI understand companies do incredible things to raise their sales, but this?

Come on! Joker is great as it is, the mystery behind his previous life adding to the character charisma.  Why fix what DOES NOT NEED TO BE FIXED?

I really disagree with DC’s idea  and though it will probably cannot be stopped from bappening, I hope it does not have any repercussions in the future of the charcter or his futures stories.

 

(Watch original IGN article HERE)

Mar 162016
 

Gotham-TV-Show-Fox-LogoI have been following GOTHAM series in FOX network and have to tell you that it still has me hooked.  I love the series’ twist on characters that we thought could not be improved or reinvented.  They find new visions for the character development at every corner and with the advent of Hugo Strange to his project “Indian Hill” just makes the plot more interesting.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

We have seen that Dr. Hugo Strange is developing a program called “Indian Hills” to bring back “dead” criminals in an effort to develop an army that I feel has some similarities with the Talons army that was introduced in the pages of Batman by the COURT OF OWLS story arc by acclaimed comic book writer Scott Snyder. Another important clue from the series is the announced return of Theo Galavan to the series as Azrael (?), though the man was shot dead by Jim Gordon and finished beautiful by an umbrella shoved through his mouth courtesy of Oswald Cobblepot.  How could a dead man return to the world of the living?  With the help of Victor Fries serum of course.

Now, if Strange was able to get a hold of Galavan’s body, as he has done with other criminals (remember Firefly’s?) what if he was also able to get Jerome Valeska’s body from GCPD as well?  Very possible, since the maniac killed his father, there was no one to reclaim the body.  So…would Hugo have the ability to bring back a character that Jokerdom has described as the closest thing to the REAL Clown Prince of Crime?  Well, I found and interesting article that might be heading in that direction.  Here is the article found in SCENE CRUSH (January 13, 2016)…

Anyone following FOX’s Gotham (those brave souls) well-remembers the proto-Batman series’ quick introduction of almost-Joker figure Jerome, before Season 2 seemingly put a cap on the character in the most eye-rolling setup possible. Well, get ready to stretch that grin once more, as Ben McKenzie hints we’ve not seen the last of Cameron Monaghan’s cackling madman.

You’re warned of basic Gotham spoilers through Jerome’s arc from here on out, but where many presumed that that FOX DC drama have tipped too heavily toward the character’s Joker future, Season 2 outing “The Last Laugh” threw a wrench in that theory by killing off the Jerome character and insinuating his legacy as a “Joker Virus” on the city.

Anyone following FOX’s Gotham (those brave souls) well-remembers the proto-Batman series’ quick introduction of almost-Joker figure Jerome, before Season 2 seemingly put a cap on the character in the most eye-rolling setup possible. Well, get ready to stretch that grin once more, as Ben McKenzie hints we’ve not seen the last of Cameron Monaghan’s cackling madman.

MACKENZIE: “Not only can we [bring Jerome back], but we might. I can’t say definitively, but yes. I’ll put it this way: almost nobody that you’ve seen go away is dead. They are all able to come back.”

Granted, we left Gotham in 2015 on a deeper descent into the mysterious “Indian Hill” facility that already introduced a young Mr. Freeze (House of Cards star Nathan Darrow), and will soon embrace Bat-mythology even further in B.D. Wong’s Hugo Strange, so it’s not beyond the realm of possibility to resurrect Jerome somehow. Divisive though he may have been, there’s little argument Cameron Monaghan produced the strongest responses Gotham has seen yet, and the series itself isn’t in a place to ignore success.

(Original article: ‘Gotham’ Hints Proto-Joker Jerome Will Return for Last Laugh)

Mar 162016
 

Yes, the “kids” at Sideshow are at it again, and bring forward another awesome new sculpt of the DARK KNIGHT’S Joker that Heath Ledger helped to immortalize.

Let me introduce…THE DARK KNIGHT THE JOKER PREMIUM FORMAT STATUE

The sculpt is awesome and the presentation is even better.  The artists over at Sideshow deliver us another winner.  It is already available for ordering…I am planning on getting one, what are you waiting for to get yours?

SideshowTDKJKRstatue

 

Mar 152016
 

killingjoke_ani_byphaWho’s not excited to hear the incredible duo of Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy once more in the retelling of what is probably the most cherished Joker/Batman story of all times?  The dream is coming slowly true as production continues.  Mark Hamill, just teasing fans, tweeted us a first look at what the clash of the two enemies would look like in a production still from the movie.  It is so reassuring that not only the best voices are involved in this project but that the animators did their best to preserve Brian Bolland’s spirit.  Thanks guys.  Waiting for the film to be released later this year… here it is…

Jan 242016
 

SuicideSquaddateDirector David Ayer, had only praising words for Jared Leto’s Joker performance on the upcoming SUICIDE SQUAD movie, and thought there is just a little of the Joker still showing on the latest trailer, it is definitely promising performance.  Here is what Ayer had to say:

 

 

“It’s a scary character to tackle,” Suicide Squad director David Ayer says of Joker. “This iteration of him, people will realize there really is a continuity of history — there is a lot of respect for what the Joker represents, who he is as a character. He is the best-known villain in fiction, so there’s an incredible responsibility there to also be faithful to what he is but at the same time push him into this next world, next time, next phase.”

Ayer adds that “people kept their distance” from Leto when he was in 24/7 Joker mode. “I love helping actors find what methodology works best for them. It’s like tailoring a suit — it’s not one size fits all. But it really made an event when he would show up on set. There was almost a pageantry to him, which did translate into the power on screen he has.”

Leto even freaked out Ayer a few times.

“Big time. The hairs stand up on the back of your neck,” says the director, who grew up on the old 1960s Batman TV show. “If you’re a Batman fan, you have to love/hate the Joker because he’s the best nemesis ever. Just to have him on one of my film sets, it was a very memorable thing for me.”

What Leto brings to the Joker — the first on screen since the late Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning The Dark Knight baddie — is a fearless nature, Snyder says.

“The commitment to the role, you’re going to see that really shine through in a way that you’re not used to seeing actors in movies really go all the way with (in) every little moment and every little breath,” Snyder says. “You’re going to get taken on a journey with Jared that I don’t know that everyone’s ready for but I think it will be amazing.”

(Original interview appeared on the USATODAY HERE. Check it out)

Jan 242016
 

SuicideSquaddateOk, so DC decided to release a longer and more comprehensive trailer of the upcoming SUICIDE SQUAD movie and though the plot still looks and feels sketchy, making me a little nervous about the success of the movie on the box office (and I measure success as the ability of a movie to amass a great deal of profit after covering costs after showing).  I just hope it does not go the way of the Fantastic Four movie…

My opinion is going to be available in a future post.

On the other hand, in the whole trailer once thing is obvious…Jared Leto’s Joker shone with its own light.  If you can pass the looks and tattoos..it seems a very demanding and physical role for which Mr. Leto seemed very prepared an dedicated (if you have followed his Joker-inspired behavior on the set and social media).  Still, they are keeping most of the Joker action under wraps (as if Joker is a secret weapon or something) but so far the Joker character seems to be the only thing that will pull me to see the movie….SORRY HARLEY…you just could not make it for me, though I’m sure you will be irresistible eye candy for the male fans out there….

Well without any delay, here is the latest trailer:

Jan 242016
 

This was announced a few months ago by DC Collectibles, but they had not released a picture of the statues, and I had withheld the report until some images were available.  FINALLY, they release the first pictures and please note that they are also releasing a Deadshot and a Killer Croc statue as well and I’m sure more statues of the cast will follow.  With no more delay, these are the first look at the Joker and Harley Quinn statues:

 

SuicideSquadJKRStatue01SuicideSquadHQStatue01

Jan 162016
 

Been a while since I’ve posted anything on this site, but I think this is important…

There is a Joker fan film out there called JOKER RISING made by Smoking Alien Productions that though a low budget production it is very well done and they want to do a sequel to that film (Actually 2 films:  A CITY WITH TWO FACES PART 1  and PART 2) and need the help of dedicated Joker Fans to  raise enough money to make it possible.  Here is a preview for you to enjoy…AND PASS THE WORD!!

TO HELP PLEASE GO TO KICKSTARTER HERE AND DONATE…

Oct 302015
 

Actress Margot Robbie was also interviews by EMPIRE MAGAZINE regarding her characterization of SUICIDE SQUAD’s  HARLEY QUINN.EmpireHQCVR01

If you thought the Watchmen were messed up, get a load of Suicide Squad. Leading off Empire‘s rogues gallery of new covers was Jared Leto’s wild card, not a member of the squad but still the beating heartlessness at the core of David Ayer’s comic-book adaptation, and Cara Delevingne’s Enchantress. Now comes Margot Robbie’s post-transformation Harley Quinn, the third newsstand star to adorn the new Suicide Squad issue.

A mischief-making case-study in how not to conduct therapy sessions, not only will she not improve the Joker’s mental equilibrium, her own psychological health will be sent spinning along the way. Along with her work attire. “When I got the role I started looking up Harley costumes online, with my mum sitting next to me,” Robbie tells Empire. “She was like, ‘My daughter is going to dress like a prostitute!’ There are a lot of angry mothers out there!”

With apologies to Mrs Robbie, this image of a fully decked-out Quinn might cause a splutter or two back in Queensland. Like a heavily-armed riot grrl, she accessorises punk and street gang style with a non-MLB approved baseball bat and a sidearm the size of Liechtenstein. Note, too, the ‘Daddy’s Little Monster’ tee.

A property Ayer has termed “Comic-Book Movie 2.0”, Suicide Squad is not your common-or-garden superhero tear-up. This one, Ayer is at pains to explain in Empire’s on-set report, is something different. “You do a story about struggle and isolation and people who have been shit on, that suddenly get thrown this lifeline… that’s not so bad.” On the surface, at least, it seems like Robbie’s character is heading in the other direction, but she has demons that need exorcising too. Unfortunately, it’s the Joker doing the exorcising.

(Original article by Phil De Semlyen for EMPIRE MAGAZINE HERE)