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When Robert Egger's Nosferatu hit theaters, it did more than bring a classic horror monster back into the mainstream. It also brought back a love of gothic horror that hadn't been seen since the '90s, as well as a love for all things classic and vampire. Aside from that, Universal's Epic Universe has done something similar with its Universal Monsters-centric Dark Universe. With all that in mind, it's clear that the world is in a state where gothic and vampiric horror have reached a new high and there are even more chances to capitalize on the idea.

It's no secret that the original 1922 Nosferatu was an unauthorized remake of Dracula that was nearly lost to time after every copy was almost destroyed.

Roger Ebert was a film critic with the unique power to convey his passion for film to the masses. His enthusiasm was not blind, however, and he held the oft-maligned horror genre to an especially high standard. This list of the ten best films from Ebert's "Greatest Movies" collection illustrates his understanding of what makes a horror film a masterpiece.

Ebert believed that a horror film should "exorcise" something for the viewer — to help the audience process dark and traumatic feelings. Beginning with the German Expressionist revolution and reaching into the gory excesses of the 1970s and '80s, this wide-ranging list of films showcases the genre at its best. The critic's clear-eyed commentary on each picture will show fans why horror cinema will never die.

German Expressionism Helped Legitimize the Horror Genre The Cabinet of Dr. Caligary (1920), dir. Robert Wiene

Roger Ebert agreed with the common assertion that The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari...

In case you've been living under a rock for the past 24 hours, the internet is abuzz with the news that The Batman star Barry Keoghan is expected to return as The Joker in his own TV series.

Made in the same vein as The Penguin, it will bridge the gap between The Batman Part II and The Batman Part III. The latter movie will reportedly feature the Clown Prince of Crime taking centre stage for a rematch with the Caped Crusader after it was established they crossed paths during the vigilante's first year operating in Gotham City.

There are many comic books Matt Reeves can pull inspiration from. In this feature, we're taking a deep dive into the stories we'd like to see the filmmaker pull inspiration from, both in the rumoured TV series and The Batman threequel.

Even if it's just the odd idea or character, there's a lot...

Quick Links A Joker You Can Actually Root For The Creators of Batman Agree

Whether it be through Joaquin Phoenix's mentally troubled rendition in 2019s Joker, Heath Ledgers mass-murdering portrayal in The Dark Knight trilogy, or the awkward version Jared Leto created for the Suicide Squad movie back in 2016, Batmans number one villain has always been known for his wicked smile. A cheek-to-cheek grin overlapped with bright red lipstick is certainly a memorable but eerie trademark. The Joker even shows this off when he pops up in Batmans debut comic back in 1940, drawn with his back to the reader, turning around ever so slightly to show off his evil and mischievous smirk.

That is a long time ago 84 years! But all we have to do is travel back an additional 20 years (weve gone back all this way; a little more is nothing), and The Jokers signature appearance can be...

It’s baffling just how easy it is to take a good movie for granted after watching it so many times that its success appears to have been inevitable. And while seeing your work become a household name seems like an artist’s greatest achievement, it’s a shame that this process can sometimes overshadow the weird and risky choices that made these projects so unique.

A great example of this is Tim Burton’s Batman duology – two wildly popular films that a lot of people forget were actually deeply strange productions which almost certainly couldn’t have been made today. And in honor of Batman’s 85th Anniversary Event, today I’d like to look back on Burton’s only foray into comic-book adaptations and reevaluate these films as I believe the director always intended: as expressionist monster movies.

It’s no secret that the character of Batman has...

With all due respect to Bozo and Pennywise, pop culture’s most popular clown is probably Joker, Batman’s archvillain who started making the Caped Crusader’s life hell back in 1940. That’s when the so-called Clown Prince of Crime first appeared in comic books, quickly becoming the Caped Crusader’s top nemesis — and, along the way, the most iconic of all superhero baddies. When Tim Burton hatched his Batman in 1989, the Joker was the villain. The most acclaimed and commercially successful of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy was The Dark Knight, which featured Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning performance as the Joker. Jared Leto’s Joker in Suicide Squad was universally loathed — as was the film — but even that movie made bank. And, of course, 2019’s Joker brought in more than a billion dollars worldwide, going on to win Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar. We as a society may be racked with a fear of clowns,...

Batman: Caped Crusader has gone through a very complex production timeline. It was initially going to air on Max, which holds the rights to DC’s products, but HBO rejected the series, which then seemed to be canceled before Amazon revealed that it had bought the rights to the series, whose first 10-episode season premiered August 1, 2024 on the streaming service.

We at Fiction Horizon have had the opportunity to see the whole season beforehand, and we have already written our honest review of the series as a whole, which is why we can now explain what actually happens at the very ending of this new animated series.

If you’ve read our review of the series, you’ll probably remember that we wrote how the series lacks a narrative focus, as it never becomes clear whether it wants to be an anthology series or a series with an overarching narrative arc.

Batman's best stories explore his first encounters with iconic villains, like Joker in "The Man Who Laughs" by Brubaker and Mahnke. "White Knight" offers a fresh take on the ethical impact of Batman's actions, with Sean Murphy providing visually stunning storytelling. "No Man's Land" provides a dystopian view of Gotham without a functioning state, showcasing Batman's role as a sheriff-like figure dispensing justice.

For more almost eighty years, Batman has stood as one of the most recognizable and successful comic book characters in the medium. Bruce Wayne has an endless library of adventures ranging from psychological horror to murder mysteries, even captivating fans of the darker side of comics. And that ability is reflected in his best comic stories.

Batman's extensive case files have documented his never-ending war on organized crime, his origin story, and his alliances as he defends his city from violence and chaos. From his Golden Age...

The Joker's origin story remains open to interpretation, with various iconic versions like The Killing Joke and Batman '89. The character's legacy thrives on ambiguity, showcasing his chaos and unpredictability as Batman's ultimate foe. While some prefer a defined origin, the Joker's strength lies in his enigmatic nature, allowing for endless creative exploration.

Since his first appearance in the '40s, the Joker has become Batman's most recognizable and feared villain in comics, movies, and cartoons. With such a long legacy, it is unsurprising that many would try to give the 'Clown Prince of Crime' an origin story. Many of these have gone on to success and accolades, but others have been pushed to the wayside or considered outside the canon. Regardless, this ambiguity has served the character well and has allowed many to tackle the chaotic criminal in their own unique style.

The truth is that the Joker does...

The German Expressionist film "The Man Who Laughs" has entered the public domain. Creators are now free to use elements from "The Man Who Laughs" for their own profit. The Joker's inspiration, Gwynplaine, is a misunderstood hero and tragic figure, different from the Joker's villainous nature.

As 2024 dawns, a range of classic pop culture just entered the public domain, including the character who inspired Batman's nemesis the Joker. While fans are currently celebrating 1928's Steamboat Willie entering public domain and making it possible to create new works with at least an early version of Mickey Mouse, another treasure from the same year also made the leap - the German Expressionist film The Man Who Laughs, and its eerie protagonist Gwynplaine.

While The Man Who Laughs is a well-regarded film (based on Victor Hugo's 1869 movie of the same name), the most lasting element of its legacy is inspiring DC Comics' Joker.

Outside of Batman's future in live-action with Matt Reeves' The Batman Part II and Andy Muschietti's The Brave and the Bold within the Dcu, Prime Video's Caped Crusader will adopt a new approach in animation. With the original Animated Series co-creator Bruce Timm as the showrunner and comic book writer Ed Brubaker on the writing team, the series has the potential to go in inspiring new directions.

With a superhero as rich with history as Batman, there are plenty of stories to draw influence from to create something refreshing. Between pulpy early-years comics like The Man Who Laughs and the DC Animated Universe's best with Mask of the Phantasm, there are some exciting reference materials for Caped Crusader's take on an early-career Batman.

"Batman and the Monster Men" Remakes Hugo Strange's First Appearance <img alt="Batman holding his billowing cape in The Monster Men cover art." data-image-id="1625860" data-mobile-optimized="true" height="500" src="https://static0.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/batman-and-the-monster-men.jpg" width="1000" />

First issue release:

November 16, 2005

Creators:

Matt Wagner, Dave Stewart

Related 10 Criminally Underused Batman Villains Who...

At the end of Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s 1988 one-shot Batman: The Killing Joke, the Joker lays out his worldview in plain terms. After testing his theory that “one bad day” could make even the most decent person into a madman like himself, the Joker tells his nemesis, “It’s all a joke! Everything anybody ever valued or struggled for… it’s all a monstrous, demented gag!”

Even more than the grisly sights of The Killing Joke—in which the Clown Prince of Crime sets out to prove his theory by brutalizing Batgirl Barbara Gordon and tormenting her father Commissioner Gordon—that line has set the course of Joker stories of the past several decades. Fans and creators alike try to push the Joker to edgier extremes, forgetting how Batman answers when his nemesis asks why he isn’t laughing. “Because I’ve heard it before,” he responds. “And...

Today, Jan. 1, isn’t just New Year’s Day — it’s also Public Domain Day, where thousands of cinematic treasures, literary classics, Great American Songbook selections, and works of art see their copyrights expire and enter the public domain.

The headliner this year is the fair use of Mickey Mouse — at least, the Steamboat Willie version of the beloved character — as that copyright expiration has been anticipated for years. However, there’s much more than just Mickey entering the public domain in 2024.

Jennifer Jenkins, Director of Duke’s Center for...

The DC Universe will introduce a new Batman continuity, meaning a new Joker may be featured in upcoming films. Barry Keoghan's portrayal of the Joker in The Batman is heavily inspired by Conrad Veidt's role in The Man Who Laughs, and Gunn has seemingly teased the same for the Dcu's Joker. The Dcu's Joker must be unique and different from previous portrayals, but drawing inspiration from The Man Who Laughs could lead to a successful iteration of the character.

The DC Universe will introduce a new Batman continuity with The Brave and the Bold, but the movie's perfect Joker already exists. There have been several live-action Joker actors over the years, including Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto, and Joaquin Phoenix's versions of the Batman villain. While Leto played the character in the Dceu, he will most likely not be returning as the Joker in James Gunn's upcoming DC Universe.

The upcoming Joker movie, "Joker: Folie à Deux," will not be as dark as the 2011 comic storyline, which involved the Joker having his face removed and reattached using pins and straps. The Joker's signature look was inspired by a 1928 film called "The Man Who Laughs," and his mysterious backstory is one of the reasons why audiences are drawn to the character. "Joker: Folie à Deux" will focus on the relationship between Arthur Fleck and Harley Quinn, exploring the codependent nature of two twisted minds coming together. The film will incorporate music and promises to be as divisive as the original Joker movie.

The Joker has always been a divisive character. Everyone loves to see what he’ll do next, but we'd all be terrified if he was really in the room. That is why we keep watching Batman movies. To see the depths this character will go to next. With the second Joker movie,...

The Joker has basically become as iconic as Batman himself in modern culture. These days, we're seeing just as much of The Clown Prince of Crime as we are of the Dark Knight, with "Joker 2" recently wrapping production and a fresh approach to the character from Barry Keoghan, who showed up in a scene from Matt Reeves' "The Batman" and could likely return in "The Batman: Part II."

Since Jack Nicholson's Jack Napier transformed into the iconic Batman villain in Tim Burton's "Batman" back in 1989, there have been several cinematic versions of The Joker, helping propel the character further into the public consciousness and raising his profile as an enduring pop culture figure. Of course, The Joker's history stretches much further back than the late-'80s. The infamous rogue has been a mainstay in the comics for more than 80 years, where he's been the focus of countless...

Filmmaker and DC Studios co-ceo James Gunn showed his appreciation for late actor Conrad Veidt's performance in the classic film The Man Who Laughs, leading fans to wonder if this is a subtle tease for the next incarnation of the Joker.

Released in 1928, The Man Who Laughs starred Veidt as a man who has a permanent grin after one was carved onto his face as a boy. Though he's not a villain, his unique appearance served as a major inspiration for the Joker when Batman's most well-known adversary was first created. With a new post on X (formerly Twitter), Gunn shared some images of The Man Who Laughs along with the story of how Veidt's unforgettable performance directly led to the original design for the popular supervillain. While Gunn may have been looking to share a fun post with his X followers, some are speculating that he's teasing a...

James Gunn honors Conrad Veidt's portrayal of the character in "The Man Who Laughs," a major inspiration for the Joker in the comics. Fans are now speculating that Gunn's social media activity may be teasing the direction of the Joker in the new DC Universe, possibly setting up The Batman Who Laughs. The DC Universe needs a new Joker as much as a new Batman, and establishing the iconic villain is crucial for the success of DC Studios' interconnected franchise.

As James Gunn honors a major inspiration for the Joker, DC fans are speculating that they are getting their first tease of how the DC Universe will tackle the iconic Batman villain. With the Dceu concluding in 2023, the new DC Universe is on its way from Gunn and Peter Safran, as part of DC Studios' fresh initiative to build an interconnected franchise. Several heroes already have solo projects...

The Joker is one of the most terrifying comic book supervillains ever conceived, and he's also one of the oldest. While the Clown Prince of Crime prefers to keep as much of his life hidden as possible - all the better to truly embody the spirit of chaos - there have been some major moments that have come to define him to fans.

In his time as Batman's nemesis, Joker has been everything from a serial killer to a harmless prankster, and yet every so often he makes a move so big, it comes to define him in wider pop culture and DC lore. Here, then, are the 10 moments that defined the Joker for DC fans, and which continue to influence his stories today.

Joker's Debut

Joker's first appearance was way back in 1940's Batman #1 by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Sheldon Moldoff. This was the start of Batman's own series,...

In Christopher Nolan's 2008 film "The Dark Knight," actor Heath Ledger plays a nameless anarchist who commits multiple acts of murder and arson for the express purpose of sowing chaos in the world. The Ledger character is nicknamed the Joker, as he likes to wear clown makeup and green hair coloring while committing crimes. In a scary aesthetic decision, Nolan made Ledger's clown makeup look like it had been on the character's face for three or four days, leaving it smeared, cracked, and partially wiped off. Additionally, Ledger's face was emblazoned with a pair of scars that stretched outward across his cheeks from the corners of his mouth. His clown smile was literally carved into his face. Because the character is a liar, the audience never knows how he got the scars or why.

Ledger died of a drug overdose in January of 2008 and was not able to see what...

Horror movies like Cloverfield and A Quiet Place are icons of modern-day monster movies. New additions to the creature feature genre use CGI, special effects, and jump scares to make them frightening. However, classic black-and-white monster movies continue to be trademarks of the genre.

Movies like Dracula, The Wolf Man, and Creature from the Black Lagoon are well-known figures in the monster movie subgenre and are largely considered clichés in pop culture today. However, the competitive cinematic landscape hasn't diminished the influence of early cinematic masterpieces. Some of the best-ever monster movies were created during the time of black-and-white imagery, with a focus on creative storytelling in place of advanced special effects.

Related: 10 Best Modern Monster Movies

Village of the Damned (1960)

John Carpenter's remake of Village of the Damned didn't pay off, but the original is a cult classic with a unique spin on the monster movie trope. This...

In a scintillating new cosplay, DC's Joker trades in his traditional purple and green zoot suit for a vintage style that brings to mind the titular Birmingham street gang from Peaky Blinders. As a knife-wielding crime lord, Joker actually has a lot in common with Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby, even if their demeanors couldn't be further apart.

Over the years, Joker has been continually reinvented, both in movies and comics. Joker's look was inspired by the 1928 movie The Man Who Laughs, and his rictus grin and wild hair stick to that theme, while his colors have long been green and purple - a trope of superhero comics, where villains wear these colors to oppose the reds, yellows, and blues of classic superhero looks. However, cosplayer _mrcosplay_ takes these ideas and reimagines them, turning Joker into a 1900s gangster figure who you'd never want to run into down a dark alley.

Ever since his first appearance in Batman #1 in 1940, the Joker has been at the forefront of Batman's Rogues Gallery, the yin to Batman's yang. He's been a criminal mastermind, a goofy prankster, and a sadistic psychopath responsible for the death of Jason Todd, who was the second Robin, and the paralyzation of Barbara Gordon in Alan Moore's iconic The Killing Joke. The Joker as a film character has garnered Academy Award wins for the late Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight and Joaquin Phoenix in Joker. He stands alone as a unique entry in DC's classic canon of super villains, an unbridled force of chaos with an unparalleled savvy for bringing hell to Earth. And his story begins with the 1928 silent film The Man Who Laughs, an adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1869 novel.

So many of these Wtf happened to videos focus on a film that had behind the scenes issues or were catastrophic bombs in theaters and we dissect what went wrong, but every so often we here at Joblo like to examine what went right with a movie. In 2019, a movie seemingly came out of nowhere to become a cultural milestone that not only sparked controversy but also broke records. Sit back and put on a happy face as we figure out just Wtf Happened to Joker.

First appearing in Batman #1 in the spring of 1940, the character of The Joker, created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, based off the 1928 silent film The Man Who Laughs, was originally meant to be a one off villain for the caped crusader who was going to die after his first appearance because Bill Finger thought that if there was a recurring villain,...

Batman has one of the largest rogues gallery in all comic book history, but one villain stands above all else: The Joker. The Joker is a character that has existed for almost a hundred years at this point, but he wasn't always the Clown Prince of Crime he is today.

With how iconic the Joker is for his relationship with Batman, many people would assume that he has been there since the start, but the villain didn't actually show up for over a year after Batman was created. The Joker of today is scary, vicious, and one of the darker serial killers in comics, but it has not always been that way. Joker's multifaceted nature would be developed a lot over the years: while he started as a ruthless killer he was later turned into a harmless prankster, then back to a much darker villain.

Related: Joker's Plan to Make...

Bram Stoker's 1897 novel "Dracula" is told in epistolary form, and begins with the character of Jonathan Harker trekking into the Carpathian Mountains to close a real estate deal with a mysterious, elusive Eastern European count. The Count, a small smiling bald man with a mustache, is none other than Dracula, an ancient vampire that feeds on human blood and is in league with Satan. Dracula signs the paperwork, locks Jonathan in his dilapidated castle with a trio of succubi, and takes a ship to England. Jonathan will eventually escape to Budapest, but Dracula is still at large, ready to infiltrate England.

Later in the novel, it will be revealed that Dracula has been psychically convening with a local mental patient named Renfield, currently locked up in a British asylum. Dracula will use Renfield to infiltrate homes and drink his victims' blood. Renfield's role in Stoker's novel is relatively small,...

There is a great deal of controversy surrounding the creation of Batman. For many years, sole creative credit for the character was given to artist Bob Kane, who often spoke eloquently about his character. It wasn't until years later that a co-creator, Bill Finger, entered the conversation. Kane and Finger's relationship with Batman and each other is detailed in a Hulu documentary film called "Batman and Bill," and a 2012 book called "Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman." It seems that Finger had a lot more to do with how audiences know Batman than Kane ever did, and only ever operated as a ghostwriter for DC Comics. Finger died in poverty in 1974. It wouldn't be until the 1980s that Kane would admit, only passingly, that Finger contributed as much as he did to the character. Eventually, Finger would be given posthumous credit. Kane himself passed in 1998 as a celebrated millionaire.

Riddle me this: what do the Joker and "Casablanca" have in common? If you answered, "Conrad Veidt," then you've survived the first deathtrap, much like the Dynamic Duo coming out of a cliffhanger ending into the next episode of the 1966 "Batman" TV series.

80 years ago, Veidt received fifth billing in "Casablanca" after Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, and Claude Rains. His movie career, however, dates back even further than that to the silent era. In "The Man Who Laughs," the 1928 silent film helmed by German Expressionist director Paul Leni, Veidt shared top billing with Mary Philbin, and the indelible image of his grinning face left a mark on both movie history and comic book history.

The creation of Batman's greatest nemesis, the Joker, is attributed to writer Bill Finger and artists Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson. Over the years, conflicting accounts arose over who really originated the first idea for the character.

Caitlin Stasey in Parker Finn’s Smile. Photo: Paramount Make sure the liquor cabinet at home is well stocked, because you might just want a stiff drink after seeing Smile. The feature debut of writer-director Parker Finn, expanded from his SXSW award-nominated short Laura Hasn’t Slept, is designed to...

This article contains The Batman spoilers.

Matt Reeves’ The Batman does not have a post-credits scene—technically speaking. When the credits roll on the final shot of a sad yet determined Batman riding into Gotham’s twilight, the show is over and you’re free to leave your seat (or hit “stop” if you’re now watching it at home courtesy of HBO Max). Unlike most modern superhero movies, there is no teaser or easter egg after the credits begin.

In theory, this is refreshing. It’s been nearly 10 years since Christopher Nolan allegedly told Zack Snyder not to include a post-credits scene in Man of Steel because “a real movie wouldn’t do that.” And while that was the opinion then, there sure as hell were post-credits scenes in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. It’s become expected as the price of doing business.

Hence why it should be...

This article contains spoilers of The Batman. You can read our spoiler-free review here.

While The Batman largely avoids the gimmicks of modern interconnected superhero universes on the big screen, even this noir film can’t help but pack in tons of easter eggs and at least one cameo into its almost three-hour runtime. But don’t expect Superman or Wonder Woman to show up to help Robert Pattinson save the day here. There’s no Dick Grayson or Barbara Gordon, either. Instead, we get a brief introduction to director Matt Reeves‘ version of Batman’s most dastardly villain.

The Batman doesn’t actually have the kind of post-credit scene that has become a staple of other cinematic universes. Unlike the MCU or even the Dceu, The Batman exists in its own bubble, so it doesn’t need an end credits stinger to set up the next movie. That said,...

“What a lucky clown you are! You don’t have to wipe off your laugh.”

The Arkadin Cinema, a local independent theater scheduled to open soon, is hosting an film series that takes place in the back lot at The Heavy Anchor (5226 Gravois Ave in St. Louis). Conrad Veidt in The Man Who Laughs (1928) screens Wednesday March 9th. Showtime is 8:00. The Man Who Laughs is presented by Silents, Please Stl, a local group that aims to promote and preserve the art of silent filmmaking from the early 20th Century through community programming and education. Enter through the front of The Heavy Anchor. Admission is $10 and can be purchased in advance Here. Bring your own chair. First come, first served. Seating is limited. Food and drinks and available there at The Heavy Anchor. This is a 21+ event, so leave the kids home. A Facebook invite for the event can be found Here.

Take a closer look at a new Blitzway/Prime 1 Studio, hand-painted 1:3 scale statue of Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as 'Arthur Fleck' from the billion dollar earning R-rated live-action "Joker" comic book movie that stirred up controversy for its glorification of an urban killer in a sordid drama rife with mental illness, urban decay and big-city alienation:

"...'Joker' is a movie about homicidal narcissist 'Arthur' (Phoenix) who feels entitled to the world's attention — a man who'd rather kill for a good laugh than allow the world to treat him like its punchline.

"It is also a movie about the dehumanizing effects of a capitalistic system that greases the economic ladder, blurring the line between private wealth and personal worth until life itself loses its absolute value..."

"...the movie's cracks — and it's practically all cracks — are stuffed with phony philosophy. 'Joker' is dark only in a stupidly adolescent way, but it...

Batman arch-enemy the Joker remains one of the most popular comic book movie characters, with audiences forever hungry for a new interpretation of the character. With director Matt Reeves' The Batman on the cinematic horizon, all eyes are on who will eventually be cast as the Clown Prince of Crime for this revamped take on Gotham's Dark Knight.

Well, these pieces of fan art suggests an actor who already has some experience in the clowning business, It star Bill Skarsg&#229rd, who has become well-known for his performance as the shape-shifting tormenter Pennywise.

"Here is a quick edit and concept of Bill Skarsg&#229rd as a horror and a Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth inspired Joker in The Batman.""Here is a quick edit of Bill Skarsg&#229rd as The Joker, inspired by Batman: The Animated Series and The Man Who Laughs in a potential The Batman sequel.

The experts were right when they said that silent filmmaking was developing something unique and beautiful, before talkies came along and spoiled the party with all that noise. This ‘handy three-pack’ of once-obscure Josef von Sternberg classics proves the theory 100% — his intense dramas excite audiences with something that’s gone missing from the movies, or the cinema or whatever you want to call it: the magic of visual stylization in the service of basic human emotions. Before Marlene there was Evelyn Brent and Betty Compson: Sternberg presents them as shimmering visions.

3 Silent Classics by Josef von Sternberg

Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 529, 530, 531

1927-28 / B&w / 1:33 Silent Ap / 81, 88, 75 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date October 8, 2019 / 79.96

Starring: George Bancroft, Evelyn Brent, Clive Brook; Emil Jannings, Evelyn Brent, William Powell; George Bancroft, Betty Compson, Olga Baclanova.

Cinematography: Bert Glennon; Bert Glennon; Harold Rosson

Original Music: multiple scores by Robert Israel,...

Jim Dandy Oct 9, 2019

Has the Joker movie inspired you to read some comics? We've got some suggestions!

The Joker is the most recognizable villain in all of comics, and as such, there are as many takes on him as there are creators who have worked on a Batman comic. Fortunately for us, for every Jared Leto out there, there are fifteen awesome comic stories. So if you’re coming out of the Joker movie with a thirst for more good, thoughtful, interesting stories using the Clown Prince of Crime, we’ve got some comics for you.

Batman: The Killing Joke

This is probably the most influential Joker story of all time. Alan Moore’s dense psychoanalysis of the Joker is formative to just about every writer who came afterwards, and Brian Bolland’s stunningly gorgeous pencils combined with John Higgins perfect colors to create an eerie, dark, vicious story that...

“What a lucky clown you are! You don’t have to wipe off your laugh,” one clown says to a second. This second clown, Gwynplaine, bows his head into shadows, masking the permanent grin stretched across his face in a failed attempt to convey, if not sadness, then anything other than mirth, joy and laughter. Though often classified as a horror movie, The Man Who Laughs (1928) stretches wider than that. Paul Leni’s silent film, based on Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name, is a romantic melodrama steeped in German expressionism and body horror. Universal’s ...

“What a lucky clown you are! You don’t have to wipe off your laugh,” one clown says to a second. This second clown, Gwynplaine, bows his head into shadows, masking the permanent grin stretched across his face in a failed attempt to convey, if not sadness, then anything other than mirth, joy and laughter. Though often classified as a horror movie, The Man Who Laughs (1928) stretches wider than that. Paul Leni’s silent film, based on Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name, is a romantic melodrama steeped in German expressionism and body horror. Universal’s ...

Laugh it up, film fans! Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker is almost upon us, ready to unleash a wave of crime — and think pieces — the likes of which Hollywood hasn’t seen since Heath Ledger terrorized Gotham City in The Dark Knight over a decade ago. But the story of the most infamous villain in Batman’s rogues gallery is itself as interesting as any of the character’s adventures either on screen or the printed page. Here’s a quick guide to the madcap history of the...

Winner of a 'Golden Lion' Best Picture award at the 'Venice Film Festival', Warners' R-rated live-action "Joker" movie is already stirring up controversy for its glorification of a homicidal 'anti-hero' in a dark drama rife with mental illness, urban decay, big-city alienation and fascist, left-wing anti-capitalism:

"...'Joker' is a movie about homicidal narcissist 'Arthur' (Phoenix) who feels entitled to the world's attention — a man who'd rather kill for a good laugh than allow the world to treat him like its punchline.

"It is also a movie about the dehumanizing effects of a capitalistic system that greases the economic ladder, blurring the line between private wealth and personal worth until life itself loses its absolute value..."

"...the movie's cracks — and it's practically all cracks — are stuffed with phony philosophy. 'Joker' is dark only in a stupidly adolescent way, but it wants us to think it's imparting subtle political or cultural wisdom.

With Joker being lauded by viewers after the film's screening at the Venice Film Festival, director Todd Phillips has discussed further the 70's influences and inspirations that have led to this quite different take on the Clown Prince of Crime, as well as a quite different comic book movie altogether.

While speaking at the Venice Film Festival press conference, Phillips opened up once again about the character study ideals that he wanted to replicate with Joker. Taking his cues from such old school flicks as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and, quite clearly, The King of Comedy, Phillips has taken more than a page from Martin Scorsese's book to create his R-rated DC film.

"There's a ton of specific inspirations we had for this movie. Taxi Driver, obviously, is one of my favorite movies, but it's not directly that. I think it's more a time period of movies."

These time...

The buzz surrounding Joker is already pointing to it being one of the most imaginative comic book movies ever seen, as well as a dark exploration of the character. This reception was boosted today by an eight-minute standing ovation for the pic’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival, with stars Joaquin Phoenix and Zazie Beetz, and director Todd Phillips, on hand to answer questions at the event.

Speaking about his ambitions for Joker, Phillips had the following to say to the crowd:

“Why can’t you do a genre comic-book film like that? We thought this could be an exciting approach to this genre. I’m not sure what it means for DC or Marvel … It was a hard movie for us to get made, to convince DC and the studio at first, but we thought we would keep pushing because we thought it would be special.”

WB Releases...

After unveiling footage at industry events and dropping the latest trailer just this week, Warner Bros world premieres Joker at the Venice Film Festival today. The most anticipated film of the event, the Todd Phillips-directed DC origins story screened for Lido press this morning — with the longest lines I have ever seen for a movie here. The press corps later packed the conference room to give Phillips and stars Joaquin Phoenix and Zazie Beetz a very enthusiastic greeting.

The trio discussed a liberating process of building the character’s origins story, the slow-burn/gut-punch violence in the movie and whether it has a political message. They also delved into Joker’s “new and exciting” laugh — and Phillips, sort of, answered a question about DC v Marvel.

Joker‘s Venice presence indicates an eye on awards season, it...

Joaquin Phoenix, whose star turn in “Joker” is already generating awards buzz, said he “wanted the freedom to create something that wasn’t identifiable” and did not let himself be influenced by any previous versions of the character or pin him down as a familiar type.

“What was so attractive about this character for me is he’s so hard to define. You don’t really want to define him,” Phoenix said Saturday at the film’s press conference at the Venice Film Festival. “Every day felt like we were discovering new aspects of his character…up until the very last day.”

Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a struggling comedian whose professional and personal failures finally push him to become the nihilistic, frightening Joker. To prepare for the role, Phoenix said he read a book on political assassins to get a sense of such killers and their motivations. But ultimately, that was for information only.

Sneak Peek more new footage from writer/director Todd Phillips' stand-alone "Joker" feature film, starring Joaquin Phoenix ("Gladiator") opening October 4, 2019:

Created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, the 'Joker' debuted in the first issue of DC Comics' "Batman"...

...inspired by the German Expressionist film "The Man Who Laughs" based on the novel by author Victor Hugo. 

Actor Conrad Veidt plays 'Gwynplaine', whose face is permanently disfigured into a grotesque grin, after offending 'King James II'. 

Gwynplaine becomes a traveling freak, selling his disfigurement for money, while falling in love with a blind woman.

DC's 'Joker', is usually portrayed as a deranged, criminal mastermind, with a warped, sadistic sense of humor. 

He evolved into a 'goofy prankster' in the late 1950's in response to regulations by the 'Comics Code Authority'...

...before returning to his darker roots.

The most common origin story sees him...

Take another look at footage of actor Joaquin Phoenix, on the run from the police in writer/director Todd Phillips' stand-alone "Joker" feature film, opening October 2019:

Created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, the 'Joker' debuted in the first issue of DC Comics' "Batman"...

...inspired by the German Expressionist film "The Man Who Laughs" based on the novel by author Victor Hugo. 

Actor Conrad Veidt plays 'Gwynplaine', whose face is permanently disfigured into a grotesque grin, after offending 'King James II'. 

Gwynplaine becomes a traveling freak, selling his disfigurement for money, while falling in love with a blind woman.

DC's 'Joker', is usually portrayed as a deranged, criminal mastermind, with a warped, sadistic sense of humor. 

He evolved into a 'goofy prankster' in the late 1950's in response to regulations by the 'Comics Code Authority'...

...before returning to his darker roots.

The...

Image Source: Warner Bros.

With Joker coming out this year, we're excited to see how director Todd Phillips will flesh out the iconic character in his first stand-alone origin story - partly because the point of the Joker is that he doesn't really have an origin. Not knowing quite how he became a murderous psychopath preserves his status as a terrifying figure; he's the incarnation of chaos. Having said that, Phillips didn't have a shortage of comic sources from which to draw inspiration. Given that the Joker came about in the '40s and is one of the first comic book supervillains ever, it's inevitable that writers would explore his history. If you're curious about how Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal aligns with past comics about Batman's foe, keep reading!

The Joker's Big Debut

The Joker makes his first appearance in Batman No. 1 in 1940. Writer Bill Finger originally planned to kill...

Sneak Peek the new official trailer, plus leaked set footage of actor Joaquin Phoenix, on the run from the police in writer/director Todd Phillips' stand-alone "Joker" feature film, opening October 4, 2019:

Created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, the 'Joker' debuted in the first issue of DC Comics' "Batman"...

...inspired by the German Expressionist film "The Man Who Laughs" based on the novel by author Victor Hugo. 

Actor Conrad Veidt plays 'Gwynplaine', whose face is permanently disfigured into a grotesque grin, after offending 'King James II'. 

Gwynplaine becomes a traveling freak, selling his disfigurement for money, while falling in love with a blind woman.

DC's 'Joker', is usually portrayed as a deranged, criminal mastermind, with a warped, sadistic sense of humor. 

He evolved into a 'goofy prankster' in the late 1950's in response to regulations by the 'Comics Code Authority'...

...before returning to his darker roots.

Warner Bros. has released the first poster for Joker and there’s something delightfully haunting about it — which is more than appropriate for the Batman villain. This is merely a taste of the teaser trailer which will be released tomorrow.

The standalone film directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix is set to open Oct. 4. The poster (as seen below) features Phoenix in the title role leaning back and looking to the heavens in full, smeared Joker makeup and what seems to be blood with the tagline “Put on a happy face.”

This isn’t the first time we have seen Phoenix in Joker mode. Phillips shared a screen test of a made up Phoenix last September. Phoenix will be joined by Robert De Niro,...

Sneak Peek extended, leaked footage of actor Joaquin Phoenix, on the run from the police in writer/director Todd Phillips' stand-alone "Joker" feature film, recently wrapped in New York City:

Created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, the 'Joker' debuted in the first issue of DC Comics' "Batman"...

...inspired by the German Expressionist film "The Man Who Laughs", based on the novel by author Victor Hugo. Actor Conrad Veidt plays 'Gwynplaine', whose face is permanently disfigured into a grotesque grin, after offending 'King James II'. 

Gwynplaine becomes a traveling freak, selling his disfigurement for money, while falling in love with a blind woman.

DC's 'Joker', is usually portrayed as a deranged, criminal mastermind, with a warped, sadistic sense of humor. 

He evolved into a 'goofy prankster' in the late 1950's in response to regulations by the 'Comics Code Authority'...

...before returning to his darker roots.