I really liked the movie. It wasn't what I was expecting, and it wasn't perfect, but I still enjoyed it and respect what I think Phillips and company were going for. I think a lot of people wanted to see Joker and Harley running around burning the city down, building off the end of the first movie. But instead, I think the movie is more interested in exploring people's reactions to the first movie. Lee and the Joker's supporters represent those who look at Phoenix's Joker as a hero or an inspiration, someone who's speaking up for them. Similarly, there are people like Arthur's lawyer who almost baby him and make excuses for his behavior - he's an innocent victim who was bullied his whole life; it's not his fault he pushed back in a moment of hysteria. And then there are those like the prison guards who see him as just a freak or a monster, and it's not worth thinking about why he did what he did. I agree that the movie feels less like a sequel and more like an epilogue. And although I enjoyed most, if not all, of the musical parts, I think some of the song choices and set pieces could have been better. It also could have used more of Lady Gaga's Lee. Part of me wonders if they expected (or even wanted) the reaction to be mostly negative. The message seems to be whether you enjoyed or hated the first movie, you were wrong. Arthur isn't a hero. And even though the horrible things that happened to him don't excuse his behavior, we shouldn't dismiss them either.
I really liked the movie. It wasn't what I was expecting, and it wasn't perfect, but I still enjoyed it and respect what I think Phillips and company were going for. I think a lot of people wanted to see Joker and Harley running around burning the city down, building off the end of the first movie.
But instead, I think the movie is more interested in exploring people's reactions to the first movie. Lee and the Joker's supporters represent those who look at Phoenix's Joker as a hero or an inspiration, someone who's speaking up for them. Similarly, there are people like Arthur's lawyer who almost baby him and make excuses for his behavior - he's an innocent victim who was bullied his whole life; it's not his fault he pushed back in a moment of hysteria. And then there are those like the prison guards who see him as just a freak or a monster, and it's not worth thinking about why he did what he did.
I agree that the movie feels less like a sequel and more like an epilogue. And although I enjoyed most, if not all, of the musical parts, I think some of the song choices and set pieces could have been better. It also could have used more of Lady Gaga's Lee.
Part of me wonders if they expected (or even wanted) the reaction to be mostly negative. The message seems to be whether you enjoyed or hated the first movie, you were wrong. Arthur isn't a hero. And even though the horrible things that happened to him don't excuse his behavior, we shouldn't dismiss them either.
Anyway, great review Eric!
@@himynameisjohn Thanks very much!
We liked it! Exactly what we were expecting based on the marketing.
Eric, where you been man?! I miss you and Jim on IGN. And a NEWBURY shirt too! Auto-subbed
Heh, been here and there (and done some writing for IGN recently). Thanks for the sub!
FYI, you have a typo in the title.
Thanks! Fixed!
Duex?
French isn't that hard and it feels quite disrespectful envers cette belle langue.
It's also embarrassing as someone who grew up watching Hot Shots! Part Deux all the time