JOKER Was Right: (And Batman Was Wrong) DARK KNIGHT Hidden Meaning Explained

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  • čas přidán 10. 01. 2022
  • Nebula is going to release a new level product, Cosmos Laser 4K Projector-- the world's most compact 4K laser theater. There is also a 1080p version, Cosmos Laser Projector, as well as a Super Early Bird Discount--40% off for a limited 200 units. seenebula.co/sclaser
    The Dark Knight’s version of the Joker is arguably the greatest comic book villain ever put to screen. But what makes him resonate with us so much? People don’t hate this villain-they idolize him, cosplay as him. It’s as if…we kind of agree with some of the philosophical points he makes in the film. Obviously, he’s a murderous terrorist who had to be stopped. But his outlook on society, and on the Batman-sticks with us.
    In this video we examine the philosophy of the Joker, and answer the question: was he right?
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    Written and Hosted by Ryan Arey ( / ryanarey )
    Edited by Katie Olivero
    #Joker #VillainsThatWereRight #TheBatman
  • Krátké a kreslené filmy

Komentáře • 1K

  • @ScreenCrush
    @ScreenCrush  Před 2 lety +90

    Nebula is going to release a new level product, Cosmos Laser 4K Projector-- the world's most compact 4K laser theater. There is also a 1080p version, Cosmos Laser Projector, as well as a Super Early Bird Discount--40% off for a limited 200 units. seenebula.co/sclaser

  • @camobubba98
    @camobubba98 Před 2 lety +659

    Imagine making a movie that people can dissect for over a decade. Gotta love it, great video SC

    • @INVINCIBLE117X
      @INVINCIBLE117X Před 2 lety +9

      Yep and they still do it to my favorite horror film of all time aka THE THING haha its awesome

    • @VOTE_REFORM_UK
      @VOTE_REFORM_UK Před 2 lety +7

      It just goes to show you how perfect this movie is.

    • @trekgreenwood6743
      @trekgreenwood6743 Před 2 lety +7

      And then imagine not winning Best Picture to a movie no one remembers or watches.

    • @stunna1226
      @stunna1226 Před rokem

      nope peope's had been saying for decades joker was right

  • @w.matthewgooch3207
    @w.matthewgooch3207 Před 2 lety +101

    Ryan: “Money is evil.”
    Also Ryan: “Now a word from our sponsor.”

    • @NathanJosephCole
      @NathanJosephCole Před 7 měsíci +3

      Ryan: Money isn't real
      Also Ryan: so the system...

  • @Moncriefs
    @Moncriefs Před 2 lety +354

    Man where was this breakdown when I watched the movie 12 times in theaters?! This makes love the movie even more. Thank you for this🙌

    • @alonzor557
      @alonzor557 Před 2 lety +8

      👏👏🔥🔥

    • @andymaldonado7687
      @andymaldonado7687 Před 2 lety +13

      My thoughts exactly! Still my favorite movie of all time! A masterpiece!

    • @byTehqe
      @byTehqe Před 10 měsíci

      i also makes love to movies.

  • @dharmannair2062
    @dharmannair2062 Před 2 lety +123

    This.... this will be the reason why in 20 years, we'll still re-watch The Dark Knight. A thought provoking movie disguised as a Super Hero Flick. Awesome Breakdown.

    • @RaVisions
      @RaVisions Před 2 lety +5

      I mean it’s not really disguised it’s very much a super hero film it just happens to be a thought provoking one

    • @christianc.christian5025
      @christianc.christian5025 Před 2 lety +4

      @@RaVisions Yawn. Yes. Semantics exist.

  • @nanaholic01
    @nanaholic01 Před 2 lety +314

    The best thing about TDK Joker is he had no origin story so that he could be frame as the embodiment of all human chaos rather than a person formed due to specific circumstances like Arthur was in The Joker, also him making up origin stories about his scars to suit his argument/agenda at that moment in time was peak storytelling.

    • @vingrier87
      @vingrier87 Před 2 lety +11

      I took the story of Arthur Fleck as a story going on in the head of the guy we see in an asylum. For me it was just one of many origin story he has in his head. The things I noticed that got me to that View. The gun that shot more bullets than it was supposed to. The imaginary girlfriend. The fact that if he was taken away from his adopted mother then how did he get back into his life. I can't see him seeking her out as an adult. The fact that Arthur Fleck should be 32 and Joaquin Phoenix's clearly older than that. The fact that the therapist at the end of isn't use his name. To me that means that he might not be even named Arthur Fleck. I'm not saying this was the intent or that other should share my opinion. I'm just saying that's what I took from the movie

    • @nanaholic01
      @nanaholic01 Před 2 lety +8

      @@vingrier87 That's nice and all but still makes it an origin story and much more easily dismissed as "oh Arthur was born mentally ill which led him to become the Joker" and the film had a very strong message about "it just takes one bad day to turn good people evil", which is not the case for TDK Joker.
      Without any origin story whatsoever TDK Joker is just pure and fair agent of chaos as normal as a natural force and there's no manmade circumstances which made him that way - he just IS and that's what's scary about him. For Arthur Joker there's a point in it to say if society makes an effort to make every day better for everyone and leave no one behind, then maybe Joker won't come into existence - that's the difference between the two Jokers.

    • @christianc.christian5025
      @christianc.christian5025 Před 2 lety +1

      @@vingrier87 That’s funny because when people ask which of the scar stories are “true,” I think that to one degree or another, they all could have been.
      If someone’s father scarred half his face and the mob wanted to torture his wife, scarring her face like his isn’t a terrible way of doing it.
      Just to point out, I don’t actually think that this *is* the case, I just think it’s possible.

    • @subzero308
      @subzero308 Před 2 lety +3

      him not having an origin story is y I didnt like his joker at all... joker is my fav DC character but heaths joker was just overrated and over hyped. joaquins joker was so much better and we only seen the actual joker for about 15mins lol.

    • @nanaholic01
      @nanaholic01 Před 2 lety +12

      @@subzero308 Heath's joker is not overrated, and both Jokers work in their respected theme of the story. TDK's theme is about the good and evil which resides in EVERYBODY and everybody has the capacity to choose to do good and bad, this is why Heath's Joker must not have an origin story because he represent the bad in everyone - he is literally the devil which temps everyone to make evil and selfish choices. Phoenix's Joker's message is about society leaving behind the poor thus creating a class of disenfranchised people, and the gap is getting wider and if society doesn't address that inequality it will backfire and tore society apart, this is why Arthur must have an origin story of him being mistreated to tell that angle. The two Jokers both served the theme of their story extremely well. To compare them both while taking them outside of the context of the movie's themes is doing a massive injustice to both Jokers and missing the point of both movies.

  • @ytunnuyt
    @ytunnuyt Před 2 lety +67

    After all this years there's still so much to say about this movie, it's truly a bonified classic. RIP Heath Ledger

  • @mrmeliccirah3123
    @mrmeliccirah3123 Před 2 lety +124

    “I tell ya, when the chips are down, these ‘civilized people’ will eat each other.” One of the Many realest things he said.

    • @terrestrialgoldfish2700
      @terrestrialgoldfish2700 Před 2 lety +2

      idk you can't really have a civilized behavior w/out a civilization. the way the joker dresses it up like that is redundant. obviously if you take away the foundation of civility itself then it will erode. so... really, it's not even a point worth trying to make imo.

    • @dewaynemcclure
      @dewaynemcclure Před rokem +4

      ​@@terrestrialgoldfish2700 It still is, because civilization is subject to the rules of nature ie drought/disaster. It's harder to maintain the facade of civility when people are starving or falling off left and right from an outbreak.

    • @michaelcolfin8464
      @michaelcolfin8464 Před 10 měsíci +2

      @@dewaynemcclure when people starting eating each other, two people will band together and say, I don't want to be the eaten, I want to be the eaters. They will group up, so they can last longer. A third person, will start to join the group, or other's will group up into other groups. Eventually, societies will reform in some way.

    • @davidwood481
      @davidwood481 Před 9 měsíci

      True but remember that it's perspective is that the elites will see no issue then the people at the bottom see everything wrong with the society and its how you get a revolution regardless if said thing is successful or not remember the American revolution and the French revolution to see what I mean

    • @tonyconnor5691
      @tonyconnor5691 Před 9 měsíci +1

      Yes society at its safest is easily dismantled when hard times hit, the west is on the cusp of this in my opinion

  • @davidcordero69
    @davidcordero69 Před 2 lety +165

    I still believe that Joker gave both boats their own detonator, so that whichever boat that acted selfishly would in turn punish themselves. The Joker loves a good joke.

    • @shaunjimbangan1166
      @shaunjimbangan1166 Před rokem +2

      But then why was he grabbing a detonator when neither of the boats blew up?

    • @davidcordero69
      @davidcordero69 Před rokem +30

      @@shaunjimbangan1166 if you watch the scene over in the movie, he says he always comes prepared after seeing neither boat detonated the bombs. So the detonator he grabs was his plan B to blow them both up for not choosing

    • @Christopherianmatt
      @Christopherianmatt Před 10 měsíci +12

      I didn’t consider that, but I agree. He loves a good joke.

    • @DoloresLehmann
      @DoloresLehmann Před 10 měsíci +10

      That was the reveal I was actually waiting for the whole time. Was disappointed when they didn't bring it up.

    • @markm3477
      @markm3477 Před 9 měsíci +3

      American society is a sick twisted joke, so maybe deep down he loves society? 🤔.

  • @SaurianStudios1207
    @SaurianStudios1207 Před 2 lety +236

    One thing I’ve noticed when watching the dark knight that I don’t think gets alot of discussion, is that Heath ledger’s rendition of the Joker is a modern day take on the mythological dragon, kidnaps the heroes love interest like how a dragon kidnaps a princess (in this case Rachel), locks her in a tall tower (Rachel and Harvey dent both get kidnapped and tied to chairs in two separate buildings about to explode), sticks his tongue out like a serpent (dragons are often depicted as reptilian or snake like with forked tongues that stick out), uses fire and explosions (like a fire breathing dragon), doesn’t care about anything but killing and destroying to prove a point about how cynical human nature is (Dragons of European folklore are seen as symbols of evil that just wanna kill and destroy) and goes up against a knight (Batman, after all he’s called “the dark knight”) to challenge him. That’s my interpretation of how I see the joker in the dark knight, I know it’s a weird way of interpreting the joker’s character and actions in the dark knight, but I feel like it’s an interpretation that hasn’t been brought up about when talking about this film.

    • @XXDeathShadeXl
      @XXDeathShadeXl Před 2 lety +11

      👌👌👌

    • @danquilty6580
      @danquilty6580 Před 2 lety +17

      Its like a dark and twisted Heroes Journey. Thats really interesting though I haven't thought of it like that before

    • @BartholomewDJoe
      @BartholomewDJoe Před 2 lety +8

      🤯🤯🤯 thanks for this!

    • @djpolo99
      @djpolo99 Před 2 lety +16

      Bravo! And this proves the point that Batman was SELFISH because he went after Rachel, knowing that the city needed Dent to stay alive because of the good he was doing to "clean up the city." Yeah, Nolan was a badass for allowing a "damsel in distress" to not be saved.

    • @christianc.christian5025
      @christianc.christian5025 Před 2 lety +8

      @@djpolo99 He definitely acted out of impulse. I think the point there is that even if you try to act selfishly, it’s not always likely to work out.

  • @DAQ73
    @DAQ73 Před 2 lety +198

    Honestly a beautiful dissection of the film/Jokers plan and it’s relevance to the world

  • @DominickRuocco
    @DominickRuocco Před 2 lety +63

    Another masterpiece by Ryan. I want to watch The Dark Knight again after watching this video. It's still my favorite comic book film.

  • @mattjeffsdpt
    @mattjeffsdpt Před 2 lety +14

    To this very day, I remember that interrogation room dialogue sending a cold shiver down my spine when I watched and listened for the very first time. Every single cynical word rang true. THAT's what made it so terrifying. It was haunting.

  • @24934637
    @24934637 Před rokem +17

    The thing that worries me personally about the Joker is his TOTAL unpredictability. IF you were working for him, and you were 100% totally loyal, and a great worker, he'd still kill you just on a whim. That makes him very dangerous to everyone, not just those who he perceives as enemies.

    • @starsaber9631
      @starsaber9631 Před 10 měsíci +2

      Sort of like in the 80's movie when barman took his balloons and asks his number 2 Bob why didn't anybody tell me he had one of those things (referring to the batwing) and Bob simply says we didn't know boss and then joker asks him for his gun and Bob gives it to him and then he just shoots him for no reason. Psychotic

  • @deandoxtator7137
    @deandoxtator7137 Před 10 měsíci +8

    This is why Christopher Nolan does such amazing work on his films. There are real messages in them.

  • @BlindFix
    @BlindFix Před 2 lety +38

    This freaking blew my mind, no wonder why I was loving joker in this one, he was on to something

    • @christianc.christian5025
      @christianc.christian5025 Před 2 lety

      Most terrorists have an element of truth to what they’re saying. You just have to avoid thinking that they believe that truth and that it’s why they’re doing what they’re doing.

    • @markm3477
      @markm3477 Před 9 měsíci

      @@christianc.christian5025 The U.S. federal government is corrupt, both sides, and therefore a terrorist to the citizens of the world.

    • @nnnnmhughuuhhjiijj9457
      @nnnnmhughuuhhjiijj9457 Před 9 měsíci

      Pretty sure, this movie's message is that everyone has the capacity to follow law or cause chaos, being good and being evil. It's not the one extreme or the other.

    • @tonyconnor5691
      @tonyconnor5691 Před 9 měsíci

      It shows that society is fragile at the best of times and it doesn't take much for ppl to drop their morals, I'm right wing and dont mind saying it, the only difference between me and the left wing is that I'm not a hypocrite they are

  • @colonelsanders1617
    @colonelsanders1617 Před 2 lety +11

    I work at Papa Johns and let me tell you, that Papa Rewards reference caught me WAY off guard

    • @cloudcamo
      @cloudcamo Před rokem +3

      But Colonel S...how could you betray your own legacy by working with your competition? Do you not believe in the system of crispy goodness that you've tried to uphold? The fact that you've done this proves Joker's point even moar. When it benefits you, you will act in a way that contradicts your Kentucky Fried Nature. Just...just tell me why? Please

    • @gmdwill
      @gmdwill Před měsícem

      @@cloudcamoKFC didn’t give him his phone call.

  • @dennisdiede
    @dennisdiede Před 2 lety +10

    I have been studying human behavior for decades. I taught thousands of people how to understand how humans are motivated. The turning point in my education was when I realized EveryOne is selfish (me first, you second) that it all made sense. Anyone who says you being selfish (in a negative way) wants you to put THEM first. That is the road to self destruction. This video is rational, intelligent and truthful.

  • @Gcode609
    @Gcode609 Před 2 lety +7

    Joker hanging out the cop car is a legendary image...🚔

    • @ADVBear
      @ADVBear Před 2 lety +1

      You are totally right. I just regret the fact that the proliferation of memes and T-shirts renders those powerful images a travesty of themselves. That's telling.

  • @Aditi-qd3zm
    @Aditi-qd3zm Před 2 lety +8

    Dark Knight was my first English movie ever and it showed me the impact story telling has.
    Thankyou Ryan for walking us through your amazing perspective.

  • @jaycharles7324
    @jaycharles7324 Před 2 lety +6

    Great video essay. The part at 17:12 reminds me of what vision said when the avengers were wondering what to do about the Sokovia accords…”our very strength invites challenge. Challenge insides conflict. And conflict, brings catastrophe.” 🤔

  • @Dyrud19
    @Dyrud19 Před 2 lety +65

    Been watching you for a lot of MCU stuff but this is your masterpiece. Bravo.

    • @mcsquisherton
      @mcsquisherton Před 2 lety +5

      Yes! Totally agree.

    • @gustaf3811
      @gustaf3811 Před 10 měsíci +1

      He is incorrect about Batman, so no. Batman didn't fight crime because of selfish nature. He did so because he saw how corrupt the system was and acted on the idea to enforce justice not because of his pain. His pain just makes him unavle to live a happy life because there are still people who suffering even if he doesn't. That's the idea behind Batman, he doesn't do it to cause pain on others or avenge his parents. He does what he does so that the horrible things that happened to him can be prevented and dealt with. This guy doesn't seem to understand Batman which is why he thinks Joker is right.
      Joker is only right about the fact that our democracy is fragile and needs to be improved and enforced.
      They lie because of that fragility that will cause people to lose faith in humanity. The lie is necessary to prevent chaos and in turn prove the best way to look at morality is through consequentialism.
      Because everyone knows humans are flawed, the Joker just can't stand the idea that we are flawed. Which means he devalues the notion of goodness in human nature. Joker sees everyone as a monster based on his own nature and not the reality of us.
      Yes most of us acts in self interest but not all the time because we are not psychopaths and narcissists.
      Most of us feel empathy and understand when we done wrong.
      Joker only sees our failings flaws and not the goodness that exist in our humanity.

  • @Dont_Be_Afraid_0222
    @Dont_Be_Afraid_0222 Před rokem +5

    Your "villain was right" videos are some of my favorite CZcams videos of ALL TIME. Do you have a background in philosophy and/or psychology? Because you absolutely NAIL IT, in these videos. I really appreciate the effort put into them. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 🙌🏾 👍🏾

  • @cashmir8474
    @cashmir8474 Před 2 lety +54

    This is why when your a kid you look up to hero’s but when you become a adult you relate to the villain.

    • @ejl1982-1
      @ejl1982-1 Před 10 měsíci

      To survive we must revert to our primal ideals

    • @nnnnmhughuuhhjiijj9457
      @nnnnmhughuuhhjiijj9457 Před 9 měsíci

      It's both dumie, we have capacity for both law and chaos, good and evil. Watch the movie again.

  • @lacrartezorok4975
    @lacrartezorok4975 Před 2 lety +22

    Harvey was already a troubled person, not the example of a sane man push to far.
    The people got against Batman because Batman made himself look like guilty.
    And Batman doesn't cause chaos, he push a better order to replace the one people doesn't like but are to scared to dismantle.
    As a vigilante Batman imposes the traditional moral even if by doing it he's breaking the laws, because the laws had failed to maintain the social contract.
    In "The spirit of the laws" Montesquieu stablish that the important isn't the law itself but the goal it pursues. Batman is the one fighting for these goals.

    • @christianc.christian5025
      @christianc.christian5025 Před 2 lety +3

      Yeah, I really think that the recent push to pretend that the Joker was actually an anarchist and Batman is a “fascist” is misguided.
      He then surrenders control of everything on principle, which is pretty much the exact opposite of what fascists do.

    • @benjaminfletcher6632
      @benjaminfletcher6632 Před 2 lety +2

      @@christianc.christian5025 How? Who gives Batman the authority to do what he does? We know it isn't legal, but is it even ethical. I think the video points out that by taking the law into his own hands he disregards the law entirely. In the film, it causes others to dress up like him and do the same. The spirit of the law should be to deter crime and rehabilitate repeat criminals, but batman acts like the people on the boat: He doesn't see criminals as citizens. He thinks only a strong man can make the hard choices. This is something many facist leaders do. They treat certain people as the other and they use that to justify the treatment of those people. I do not think this makes a facist but he is definitely leaning that direction. I don't think he would go as far as a facist but he would support a facist political leader if he thought the could make a difference which mirrored the shift in the US which is why we still talk about this film today, but thats another conversation. I would love to hear what you believe the "spirit of the law" is or how you see batman supporting it.

  • @michaelplaczek9385
    @michaelplaczek9385 Před 2 lety +552

    Childhood is where you idolize batman. Adulthood is where you realize Joker actually made sense

    • @SolidPain6624
      @SolidPain6624 Před 2 lety +38

      Goes both ways. We are all flawed. Joker was just way off the deep end when it came to how he acted upon matters. That’s what makes a hero and what makes a villain. It’s How they make the choices.

    • @360.Tapestry
      @360.Tapestry Před 2 lety +9

      those are times, not places

    • @darlalathan6143
      @darlalathan6143 Před 2 lety +21

      Childhood and adulthood are physical conditions, not behaviors.

    • @NikiWonoto26
      @NikiWonoto26 Před 2 lety +4

      totally agree.
      - from Indonesia -

    • @subzero308
      @subzero308 Před 2 lety +4

      na batman was always boring and overrated to me... didnt like DC at all except Joker

  • @TwobitRules
    @TwobitRules Před 2 lety +6

    This was a really profound and well-structured video. Thank you Ryan and SC!

  • @brandonulloa17
    @brandonulloa17 Před rokem +1

    This is top 3 my favorite videos that you’ve made! This was an amazing breakdown and i cant wait to see more psychological break downs like this! Keep up the PHENOMENAL WORK @ScreenCrush!

  • @jonathanbooker281
    @jonathanbooker281 Před 2 lety +11

    Great analysis. Your points on social contracts were great. Made me think of how educators and youth workers have to play that game with creating classroom rules/social contracts

  • @snoopmvp
    @snoopmvp Před 2 lety +8

    I’m a huge Batman fan and this film really showed the potential dark side of The Bat and Joker pointed it out beautifully. And you just made it make sense to every one that thought differently. Keep up the great work. Always love your work.

  • @ScreenCrush
    @ScreenCrush  Před 2 lety +26

    What other villains do you think were right?

  • @mrrick1142
    @mrrick1142 Před 9 měsíci +2

    The fact that his boat breakdown can be completely argued to the contrary just goes to show how the concept of right and wrong are two sides of the same coin… like Dent’s two headed coin that turned a peaceful existence (when he knew both sides were the same) into a torturous one (when he saw the two sides as polar opposites)

  • @paulmorra790
    @paulmorra790 Před 2 lety +11

    This explanation has opened my eyes to the parallels we see in our society today. So much to think about that is mirrored in this movie. Thanks Ryan.

    • @Grizzly_Adams.
      @Grizzly_Adams. Před 10 měsíci

      If you save people, you’re a criminal, if they don’t save people, you’re a coward that should be considered a criminal and if you say otherwise, you’re definitely a criminal. Our society is mentally ill.

  • @danielkimoto1008
    @danielkimoto1008 Před 2 lety +22

    Very thought provoking, reminds me that absolute power corrupts absolutely, every system is flawed.
    Humans gonna human.
    Yet we strive to make the best of what we got.
    Both Authoritarinism and Anarchy tend to have disastrous results.

    • @EverettBurger
      @EverettBurger Před 2 lety +3

      "Power does not necessarily corrupt. Rather, those that are easily corruptible tend to seek power" - Frank Herbert

    • @PeterSchmuttermaier
      @PeterSchmuttermaier Před 2 lety +3

      Anarchy is not chaos, that's propaganda. It just means "Without ruler" (greek: an archia). It is the political theory of self governing societies with almost no hierarchies or steep power structures (although some hierarchies are acknowledged as necessary, like parents and children or a temporary project lead). Everybody else is equal to another. The main tool of decision making would be a direct-democratic approach, without representatives. In that sense anarchy is the embodiment of an egalitarian society and to this date something like this has never been tried on a big scale. Therefore we can't tell if it would produce disastrous results.

    • @danielkimoto1008
      @danielkimoto1008 Před 2 lety +1

      @@PeterSchmuttermaier That’s fair. Practically, how would that egalitarian lack of heirarchy be sustained? I would imagine most situations eventually devolve into rule of the strong or might makes right.

    • @danielkimoto1008
      @danielkimoto1008 Před 2 lety +1

      @@EverettBurger that seems reasonable. I guess it’s more accurate to say power exposes how corrupt you are or could be

    • @PeterSchmuttermaier
      @PeterSchmuttermaier Před 2 lety +2

      @@danielkimoto1008 Well, there are different ideas on how to handle that. Most social groups are peaceful and stable as long as they can provide for everybody. The group decides democratically, what the rules, rights and duties of every member are and how to enforce them, if people break them. This is especially tricky, since a police force is per definition not equal, but has previleges and power over others. A possible solution would be a rotating system that lets everybody within the community, who is capable of doing the job, be part of the police for a limited time. This method would prevent people from staying in a position of power for too long. Together with social workers this could work well for most situations. But these are just ideas, just as capitalism started out as an idea that needed tweaking, which lead to the social democracies in Europe. Democracy started as an idea and failed oftentimes spectacularly (the German "Weimarer Republik", for example). But a good idea should not be dropped because of some initial flaws, but patched and further developed instead, don't you think?

  • @BANDIT-gp5ix
    @BANDIT-gp5ix Před rokem

    Life changing vid, man. Baffling to see it only has 100k views.

  • @FacelessPropaganda
    @FacelessPropaganda Před 2 lety

    I finally get the name of your channel...
    You absolutely crushed it!!!
    ...well done!

  • @MrBazBake
    @MrBazBake Před 2 lety +20

    "Some men just want to watch the world burn." Is such a good line, but because of the story that precedes it.
    Alfred Pennyworth is special forces for an Imperialist expeditionary force invading third world countries. The fact that he's willing to burn down the world around him to stop *thieves* shows that he was actually the villain of the story while the thieves were giving out gems to poor people.
    His story is about the demonstrative power of forcing state authority to pull the mask off of its cruel, brutal methods of maintaining power. His warning that some men just want to watch the world burn is two-fold. On the one hand it seems like mindless chaos from the perspective of the people doing the burning. On the other hand, they're the ones burning the world.
    Batman's struggle in this film is to resist being pushed into this corner by the Joker's escalating methods. He even decides to use a Bush-style surveillance program against Lucius Fox's wishes.
    The turning point is the end when Batman decides not to cross the line... and the Joker is proven wrong... so the Joker decides to burn the world because he can't relinquish his power.
    Batman overcomes the fear and panic that being a tyrant engenders and trusts in people. So the Joker becomes the tyrant.

    • @johnthemangood8700
      @johnthemangood8700 Před 2 lety +1

      So batman turned the joker into the villain he thought he wasn't damn batman is so cool

  • @rogerbordine7
    @rogerbordine7 Před 2 lety +5

    Well done. This is also true of characters like the Comedian in Watchmen, and Vision/Ultron in the Avengers. They point to our inherent flaws in trying to establish order in an otherwise disorderly world, and that when enhanced individuals attempt to right the wrongs in the world, they are inviting even worse adversaries to replace the problems they’ve attempted to fix. This is a constant thematic trope in story telling but also a truth in life itself and why we as an audience connect with these themes so well. Even if only subconsciously, we know that this is always a possibility and often a probable one. It sometimes takes the most outwardly negative, vibrant and judgmental individuals to show us that fixing a problem isn’t enough, and that sometimes simply changing the problem or the perception of the problem is all that is needed, not eradicating it entirely, as that leaves a void for something worse.

  • @stevenryan2549
    @stevenryan2549 Před 2 lety

    your insight and break downs are off the chain mate......cheers

  • @joszrico1537
    @joszrico1537 Před 2 lety +33

    This is exactly what I've been saying for some years now!! To add a bit into your analysis of the Boat Test, here's an extract of a piece I wrote some time ago:
    Firstly, let's all remember the voting results in the Citizen's ferry: 140 Against (Blowing up the other boat)-396 For. Democracy dictated that the Prisoners had to die in principle. 396 people against 140 thought and voted to kill those men. Now before the captain decides what to do based on those votes, when told to "Go ahead and do it!" His answer is as moronic as ever: "We are still here, which means they haven't killed us yet either.” So this captain is clearly unaware that the other boat is full of dangerous prisoners who would most definitely not be given the option to vote for anything in this matter and that those who can make the decision would, theoretically, be obliged to let the boat full of innocent law-abiding citizens live at all costs in such scenario. Also, we can clearly see a hint of disappointment in the captain’s face right after the bald all bark no action guy could not bring himself to press the button puts the detonator down in its box.

    Secondly, on the Prisoner’s ferry, as time is running short and prisoners are yelling at the captain of that ship to press the button, a big black guy gets up and walks straight to him. He delivers perhaps one of the most interesting lines by a non-protagonist character in the film: “You don’t want to die, but you don’t know how to take a life. Give it to me. These men will kill you and take it anyways... Give it to me and I’ll do what you should have did 10 minutes ago.” I think we can all agree at this point, if we were the captain, we would understand that he is offering to blow up the boat in order to keep everyone in the prisoner’s ferry alive, right? Well the captain does give him the detonator. He willingly gives it to this prisoner. The prisoner throws it out of the window and the captain’s reaction is beautifully priceless. He looks back at the prisoner stunned, feeling almost betrayed as everyone else decides to give up and wait for the 12 o’clock deadline.

    So if we look at the scene closely, the majority of people in both boats were willing to blow up the other boat in order to live. The people IN CHARGE of the decision (e.g. The populus in the Civilian’s Ferry and the Federal Authorities in the Prisoner’s Ferry) decided to give into the Joker’s game. They did not stood up against him, they did not say “No Mr. Clown we are all good people here and we will not play your stupid game.” The only reason why no one presses the button is because they cannot live up to their own decisions. They WANTED to blow up the other boat and live but ultimately COULD NOT bring themselves to put their money where their mouth was. It was only because of the actions of ONE person in each boat that the actual intent of the majority was not done: The prisoner that decided to throw away the detonator (after receiving it from the man in charge voluntarily under the impression that he would actually press the button, I must reinforce.) and the coward man who was just about to blow them up, but could not do it even though democracy dictated it and he himself was its greatest instigator.

    • @imjessietr29
      @imjessietr29 Před 2 lety

      I still think that the detonator would blow up the boat that gave into murder.

    • @joszrico1537
      @joszrico1537 Před 2 lety +2

      @@imjessietr29 It's possible, but I think it's infinitely more powerful and it serves the Joker's goals better if whoever blew up the other boat really did it and had to live knowing what they did.

    • @darlalathan6143
      @darlalathan6143 Před 2 lety +1

      Despite the majority votes, both leaders dumped the detonators. All philosophies are merely someone's opinions.

  • @rdapigleo
    @rdapigleo Před 2 lety +50

    Brilliant episode Ryan, a little cynical, but on point with Joker being right about good people turning bad in desperation. I do still have hope in people and I think that we strive for goodness, despite negative surroundings. Harvey Dent was right to strive for justice, and positive feedback that encourages good deeds differentiates healthy psychology versus psychopathic behaviour. Psychopath’s don’t care about the opinions of others, which is how they justify their actions. Beneficial societal members do care what other’s think and incorporate the feedback into their decision making. Ultimately we have a choice to acquiesce to easy decisions, or do what we think is right, fair and just. It’s why superheroes are self sacrificing and strive for the greater good. Our choices ultimately come down to our morels that guide our ethical decision making. ‘Good’ people on ‘both’ sides is a subjective perspective, and the ferry test illustrated that beautifully. Like a Yin-Yang, every good person has a bit of bad, and every bad person has a bit of good.

    • @christianc.christian5025
      @christianc.christian5025 Před 2 lety +4

      I think that this take by SC isn’t just cynical. While I really liked the examination, I think it’s missing the two key factors on each end.
      Batman *isn’t* a “fascist” (this word was used repeatedly in place of “authoritarian” and I really can’t stress enough that they’re not the same thing.) Just look at the Caesar example: “The last person they appointed was named Caesar and he never gave *up* his power!”
      At the end of the movie, it’s exactly what Bruce does with Fox and his spy program. He *had* to act unilaterally (which is a major indicator of authoritarianism) but then surrendered it willingly on principle. As for why ‘fascism’ =/= ‘authoritarianism’, while both can be bad, fascism *always* is because it’s authoritarian hegemony. Hegemony is probably the single most important ingredient to fascism.
      On the other end of things, I don’t believe that the Joker was telling the truth about *anything.* Whether he changed his mind on the way or always thought this, I think he just wanted an excuse to kill and terrorize while maintaining his own power to do so. I don’t think that he actually cared about the ‘why’ (which here was the decadence of society.) Just look at what he says when he finally seizes control: “This is my city.”

  • @MalnourishedGoat
    @MalnourishedGoat Před 10 měsíci +3

    "He can't live with his own pain so he wanted to make other people feel that pain." I can't say if this is true of Nolan's Batman or not. It definitely could be. I'd have to watch those films a few more times, and more closely, and I wouldn't be surprised if you're correct. But in many of the BEST versions of Batman (i.e. from a lot of the comics to Adam West's to The Animated Series' [the definitive version imo]), Batman's longing isn't to inflict the pain that was dealt to him unto (deserving) others, but to save (innocent) others from being dealt that same pain. The best Batmen, while sometimes having a dark, scary, violent exteriors, are compassionate, empathetic people. It's possessing those attributes that makes Batman a hero rather than a maniac.

  • @digsbious
    @digsbious Před 2 lety +1

    Great introspective look into this masterpiece! Please come back on Preston & Steve. The segments they did with you were awesome.

  • @acenull0
    @acenull0 Před 2 lety

    Great video. I enjoy listening to your theories and arguments

  • @zero213kt
    @zero213kt Před 2 lety +3

    But did you notice the most important thing, the one thing that stands out the most about the joker. The thing that makes him who he is and the action that he does and why he does it.
    He's wearing a hexagon shirt

  • @tfoxx17
    @tfoxx17 Před 2 lety +7

    Awesome analysis. I never thought of it like that. Makes me love the movie even more!

  • @dquinnster47
    @dquinnster47 Před 2 lety

    This is your best video yet, mate. Really appreciate you.

  • @hifihillbilly4843
    @hifihillbilly4843 Před 2 lety

    Great video! I enjoyed it more than any video I’ve seen in a long time!

  • @robertschaum2719
    @robertschaum2719 Před 2 lety +4

    Wow! Great analysis of a great movie. Fantastic video Ryan

  • @raven3067
    @raven3067 Před 2 lety +21

    This all just proves why Heath Ledger's Joker is the best live action Joker.

  • @GingerNorseman
    @GingerNorseman Před 10 měsíci +1

    Great video, reminds me of a something I was to in therapy, that "there is no such thing as a truly selfless action".

  • @jeffersondaniel5883
    @jeffersondaniel5883 Před 2 lety +1

    Love the boat scene break down. Good stuff!

  • @jokulsnow9903
    @jokulsnow9903 Před 2 lety +8

    Is there more behind the stories about this Joker's scares? 1st story is an outwardly abuse father terrorizing his mother. 2nd is him abusing himself to please his wife. Always felt like there was a message there. Could be just creepy stories or maybe he picks the story based on who he's talking to at the moment.

    • @danylo7768
      @danylo7768 Před rokem

      ryan explained it pretty well in this video. about the scars. it’s a coded message. to us the viewers.

  • @williamholloway2564
    @williamholloway2564 Před 2 lety +3

    Wow Ryan. you really hit the nail right on the head here. Best explanation ever.

  • @tekno77
    @tekno77 Před rokem

    excellent video ryan!!

  • @kirkhensley5870
    @kirkhensley5870 Před rokem +1

    "Madness is like gravity. All it takes is a little push."
    I hadn't realized that was adapted from The Killing Joke. Joker tells Batman over an announcement system in the circus, "All it takes is one bad day. You had a bad day once. Why else would you dress up like a flying rat?" Alan Moore. Genius. Only in the Graphic Novel, Jim Gordon was being driven over the edge.
    Props to David Goyer. Nice work! 😁

  • @forcecalibration924
    @forcecalibration924 Před 2 lety +3

    One of my favorite movies all time, glad u covered this.

  • @chriswilliams8159
    @chriswilliams8159 Před rokem +4

    Throughout the MCU and even in The Dark Knight trilogy, one theme that has been consistent with pretty much every antagonist is that they're the only ones courageous enough to understand the problems that inherently plague the society and at least try do something about it, albeit in their own villaneous and twisted way. A superhero or superheroes come to stop their evil plans and save the day, or should I say save the status quo. The problems still exist and they completely ignore it and even if they do manage to address it, still won't do much about it. I mean sure Tony snapped his fingers and brought back everyone who got dusted back to life, but did he fix the underlying problem though?! Thanos WAS right and he always will be.

  • @mcsquisherton
    @mcsquisherton Před 2 lety +1

    Omg your breakdowns are the best. This was so awesome, thanks.👍

  • @kenseemeful
    @kenseemeful Před 2 lety

    This is why I love this channel the exploration themes and suttle messages on are amazing

  • @Vader111797
    @Vader111797 Před 2 lety +3

    I gotta point out: the part where the revolver was to jokers hand was not chaos at all. Look closer and notice there are no bullets in the gun. He gave harvey the illusion of a choice and how he could stir chaos, but it was actually a pre-determined absolute. If he would have pulled the trigger, it would have shown how he did fall to his level, and he didn't want to show that, but no matter his choice, the joker knew his way was the only way. Nothing harvey did coukd have changed what happened.

    • @jcpt62
      @jcpt62 Před 8 měsíci +1

      Like Harvey’s coin…

  • @ShaneJao
    @ShaneJao Před 2 lety +4

    Great topic & brilliant execution, as usual !
    I really enjoy your videos. Thank you !!

  • @kamilzakrzewski4338
    @kamilzakrzewski4338 Před 9 měsíci

    Absolutely great video, awesome insight into the topic!

  • @Overprotected-rt9mc
    @Overprotected-rt9mc Před 2 lety

    Well that’s the first time an in video ad wasn’t aggravating! That thing is SUPER COOL!! Js 😎

  • @bbkg1979
    @bbkg1979 Před 2 lety +22

    This was absolutely excellent. Thank you for making this video. It put a lot of things in perspective, and gave me a lot to think about with my own morality and ethics.

    • @mpalmer22
      @mpalmer22 Před 10 měsíci

      Made me think as well, but after some consideration I believe I'm a good person since I always tip my asian escorts well and pay my dealers on time

  • @lukedoyle2770
    @lukedoyle2770 Před 10 měsíci

    Probably the best analysis of this film I’ve ever seen. Have a new subscriber

  • @jaysvlog9803
    @jaysvlog9803 Před 2 lety

    I haven’t seen one of your videos in a while but I have to say on this one, this is the best video you have ever made by far dude thanks Ill make it a habit you watch more after this one

  • @thecruzinsight
    @thecruzinsight Před 2 lety +6

    i love when you prove the villain right.

  • @NikiWonoto26
    @NikiWonoto26 Před 2 lety +4

    I'm from Indonesia. Thank you for this brilliant video for its deeper analysis on this masterpiece. I totally agree, that the main reason why this movie is still the best, is because of how deep & realistic it is in portraying about our society & humanity, which is extremely rare in any movies.

  • @gabbdrg
    @gabbdrg Před 2 lety

    Ryan @screencrush all of your break downs and behind the scene Easter eggs are sooooooo great but this analysis of the Joker from the Dark Knight is so spot on and one of your best! I saw The Dark Knight 11 times in the theater and each time I would catch different things about the movie and pay attention to certain actors performances. Gary Oldmans performance is so damn good and honestly one of my favorites in the movie. It goes without saying how incredible Heath Ledger performance was as the Joker and is sad that we will never get to see the original trilogy that was planned because of his death.
    The Dark Knight is such a brilliant film for so many reasons, the cinematography, the score, the amazing actors, and the overall story. Nolan use lighting and putting characters in partial shadow to create a duality is visual story telling at it's best! One of the things I would point out is how important the interrogation scene is to the overall theme of the movie. You touch on it through out the video but I feel everything the Joker says to Batman basically sums up your analysis and the Jokers whole philosophy. Side note another thing that makes this scene so great is how Nolan films both characters and the lighting he uses for the scene, which goes back to the theme of duality that is one of the common threads through out the film. Damn there are so many great things about this movie and I feel it can be one of those films used in film schools for analysis.
    I can't thank you enough for all you do and your channel is one of my top favorites to watch. I love me some Doug and every time he is on a video I laugh so hard. :-) Thank You for this video and I look forward to you doing more great stuff this year! Happy New Year Ryan!

  • @ckmoore101
    @ckmoore101 Před 10 měsíci

    What a great breakdown. Kudos.
    Although I do agree, you may have stretched just a bit on the motivations regarding the boat populace

  • @bmla88
    @bmla88 Před 2 lety +4

    I appreciated the analysis on the fairy scene but I still think that scene holds the movie back from greatness. The characters don’t act or talk like “real” people, they feel more like symbolic cardboard cutouts than actual characters. Maybe that’s on purpose but it really felt out of place in the movie

    • @christianc.christian5025
      @christianc.christian5025 Před 2 lety +1

      Have you ever seen people during a true life-or-death emergency? They sometimes can’t even form coherent thoughts much less avoid sounding like cardboard replicas because their brains go on autopilot.

  • @bluejew2
    @bluejew2 Před 2 lety +6

    What about the Batman Animated episode “The Trial”? Where all the criminals put Batman on trial for creating them? That is a good rebuttals against your comment that his existence invites chaos

    • @munstrumridcully
      @munstrumridcully Před 2 lety +5

      It's been a part of the Batman Mythos for a while at least since the Dark Knight Returns comics in the 80s that Batman causes the Freakshow of his villains that before Batman there was just organized crime and after Batman inspired super villains in Gotham

    • @captainjakemerica4579
      @captainjakemerica4579 Před 10 měsíci

      Yes but then the episode argued that the rogues created themselves and Batman had little involvement what happened to them

  • @alonzor557
    @alonzor557 Před 2 lety

    Quality breakdown. Thanks for the video! 💯

  • @meechiluciano7808
    @meechiluciano7808 Před 2 lety +1

    This was a excerpt of beauty. Well done

  • @piyushnegi6338
    @piyushnegi6338 Před 2 lety +7

    Honestly these pop philosophy videos are 🔥🔥🔥. Thank you for making these videos 🙏🙏

  • @noanyobiseniss7462
    @noanyobiseniss7462 Před 2 lety +3

    The only thing besides The watchmen DC has done that I like.

  • @nealebastiaans1853
    @nealebastiaans1853 Před 2 lety

    Great video Ryan!! What does Doug think of the Nolan Batman series?

  • @juantrejo2277
    @juantrejo2277 Před 2 lety

    Great job, nice explanation

  • @zlatanibra786
    @zlatanibra786 Před 2 lety +6

    18 years later and people still talking about this movie. Truly was a masterpiece. I have a feeling No Way Home won't be remembered for this long

    • @360.Tapestry
      @360.Tapestry Před 2 lety +1

      lmao your profile picture and then your username hahahahaha

  • @sydposting
    @sydposting Před 2 lety +9

    Always fun to see stuff like Milgram and Two-Face on a thumbnail together. 🤗 Solid analysis as always.

    • @pooldead9231
      @pooldead9231 Před 2 lety +1

      We live in a milgram mondail 3xperience right now

  • @EddyTheMartian
    @EddyTheMartian Před 2 lety +2

    Loving these analysis videos, your content has been amazing lately! I hope you make more of these if they're getting enough views for you

  • @willma2625
    @willma2625 Před 2 lety

    Great video! 👍

  • @kevinmacdonald3574
    @kevinmacdonald3574 Před 2 lety +10

    If humanity ended tomorrow, the world and all it's creatures would continue to thrive and heal.
    The Joker, like Thanos, was absolutely right!

  • @garethlarner
    @garethlarner Před 2 lety +4

    Heath Ledger just smashed it as Joker amazing his greatest work before his tragic death
    R I P

  • @yvngybk663
    @yvngybk663 Před 2 lety +1

    This mans ad transitions are So flawless

  • @danylo7768
    @danylo7768 Před rokem

    one of your most underrated videos. this deserves millions of views. maybe it’ll get there with how much i’m rewatching

  • @davidosterberg9306
    @davidosterberg9306 Před 2 lety

    Great job on this 👏🏻

  • @NunDePlume
    @NunDePlume Před 2 lety +4

    This channel is the new “Wisecrack” but even better because of Doug.

  • @andrewlessman3403
    @andrewlessman3403 Před 2 lety +14

    Really well done piece. Would throw out one critique. The biggest weakness in the argument is that the Joker's conclusion is to lose all respect for human life. This is the one area where he is proven wrong. He believed he could make everyone like him, whereas in the end most of the people he manipulates maintain their desire to preserve life. While tempted, he is really only able to turn Harvey into a murderer, and that takes an enormous personal effort. This mirrors his continued attempts in the comics to make Batman take a life. While he puts a huge strain on the system and gets people to acknowledge its many flaws, he is not able to fully erode that last level of human decency that he himself has lost.

    • @markm3477
      @markm3477 Před 9 měsíci

      What effort was it to turn Harvey into a murderer? Losing his girlfriend and being burned was all it took. It shows how even the most "upstanding moral" people can have narcissistic traits and the moment you take away their outward image, they can become evil. So the insides reflect the outside. People become on the inside what they project onto the world by their external image? Either that, or they were always evil to begin with. Harvey faced adversity. What he CHOSE to become afterwards was his choice and his choice alone. Not joker, nor anyone else made him that way. Hence the hypocrisy of most everyone in a "civil society."

    • @andrewlessman3403
      @andrewlessman3403 Před 9 měsíci

      The argument is that he had to personally intervene and prey on Harvey's particular weaknesses in order to push him over the edge. Joker gloats about doing so to Batman late in the film. Many Joker stories rely on the argument that "anyone can become as bad as me if they have a bad enough day." Here, Joker was purposefully engineering the worst days imaginable for Harvey. While Harvey still makes his choices, to say Joker did not play a huge role in causing his downfall does not make sense to me.

    • @markm3477
      @markm3477 Před 9 měsíci

      @@andrewlessman3403 because we personally have a choice as to how we respond to adversity in life no matter what, who or how it happens to us.

    • @andrewlessman3403
      @andrewlessman3403 Před 9 měsíci

      Sure, but that doesn't mean the Joker bears no responsibility for pushing Harvey to those choices. Killing his fiance, leaving him horrifically scarred, then planting seeds in his mind when he is at his most vulnerable is a lot. Again, the Joker taunts Batman with what he has done to Harvey. It was all intentional. Not sure what you are really arguing here, but have enjoyed the back-and-forth.

    • @markm3477
      @markm3477 Před 9 měsíci

      @@andrewlessman3403 all it shows is that Harvey is not a mentally strong person. So his "tough on crime" stance is only skin deep. He doesn't deeply stand for his convictions. Joker just showed that he indeed is two faced, like society and everyone else under certain circumstances. As someone who has experienced unspeakable horrors and trauma, I absolutely can testify with first hand knowledge that how we respond to trauma is infinitely more powerful than blaming the ones who harmed us.

  • @marksmith3090
    @marksmith3090 Před 2 lety

    Absolutely brilliant Ryan!! Bravo, bravo!!

  • @supertje1
    @supertje1 Před 2 lety

    Great video!

  • @jmusic9648
    @jmusic9648 Před 2 lety +3

    I really say this is the best comic book movie of all time

  • @XXDeathShadeXl
    @XXDeathShadeXl Před 2 lety +8

    The "normal" people in society will never want to give up there vision of what is good and bad, this video couldnt have explained it any better, It really hits hard in politics, thinking about for example even just the basics, Like Communism/socialism vs democracy, they are both systems of control that in the long run will always end up benefiting the few instead of the many, society will eventually collapse, the pandemic is great, shows just how violent people can get when their systems of control start to fail, and that there is no perfect system, at least not one that would encompass all of society and humanity

    • @tobiaslawrence8928
      @tobiaslawrence8928 Před 2 lety +2

      Joker was always right like you said and Ryan said humanity shows it’s true colors every single time. Like the saying goes “It’s never a problem until it effects me/you”.

    • @nearby222
      @nearby222 Před 2 lety

      True communism has never been accomplished.

  • @jonmcclay
    @jonmcclay Před 2 lety

    Absolutely delightful examination!

  • @Anubiszz512zz
    @Anubiszz512zz Před 2 lety +7

    Well damn, I've seen this movie more times than I can count and this video proves that everytime you watch it you can see something new, no matter if it's the 100th time. Time to go watch it again... thanks for the excuse Ryan

  • @arisenpai
    @arisenpai Před 2 lety +10

    Seeing Harvey reminded me of how good the Long Halloween movies were. Is there a Long Halloween video on this channel? There should be.

  • @sparks2378
    @sparks2378 Před 2 lety

    You are the best ad plug in the world! And it’s not even close.

  • @miguelangelrodriguez8999
    @miguelangelrodriguez8999 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Beautiful analysis. Thank you

  • @djpolo99
    @djpolo99 Před 2 lety +9

    I've said this for a while... Batman/Bruce Wayne is the true villain of this franchise. He is a BILLIONAIRE and chooses to use his wealth to fight the mafia. Poverty is the root of most crime. He could have eliminated a chunk of poverty in Gotham City. All of the criminals locked up and people STILL behaved like the mob WHEN money was offered. Could you imagine meeting the Joker to receive your "reward" for killing the snitch who was going to reveal Batman's identity? Lol. People were that desperate!

    • @blacksocrates1
      @blacksocrates1 Před 10 měsíci

      Umm poverty is only the root of most crime in developed countries. And it is due to envy