Synopsis:

Blueyoda made an incredibly accurate-to-the-comic edit of the terrible theatrical release of Batman : The Killing Joke. For me though, it still didn't capture the darkness I felt when I originally read the comic, lingering on each page to soak it all in, before I moved to the next daunting page. As much as this was about Batman and Joker coming to terms with their similar motivations to become who they are, this was always more of a Joker story, with Batman reacting to it. Mine breaks comic accuracy for a more cinematic experience, all about the vibe, lots of dialogue cut here and there. Batman talks less, hopefully more stoic. Little FX touches too, like trying to extend Gordon looking up at Batman out of the cage and making is pupils go from tiny to normal to emphasize his mental state better.

Intentions:

Accepting that the two different mediums require flexibility in the storytelling to catupre the same emotions, and I am leaning into a slightly different retelling, focusing most on Joker. (Most appropriate IMO considering its an origin story for Joker.) So, without the restrictions of comic accuracy since its been done so well already, I set about to deconstruct what made the comic great, and rebuild a short story that kept the spirit of the comic. In this edit, I have • Removed most of the original score and replaced it with much of the haunting Joker (2019) Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album by Hildur Guðnadóttir • Where possible Batman speaks less and is more stoic • Some camera shots are extended for tone and a slower pace. • Overall dialogue has been adjusted throughout for a more "cinematic" feel, disregarding comic accuracy. • Joker's stage song is mostly removed • Circus thugs attacking Batman remain, as it seems in character for Joker to "soften him up a bit" before he goes one-on-one with Batman. • Batman doesn't kill Joker at the end.

Change List:

This story was rebuilt from only the POV of the Joker and what was important to that story. Less about Batman's emontional arc here, and none of the filler with Barbara - just the bare essentials of what made this story great. Cuts and Additions: • New intro logos • New rain sounds • All scenes before Arkham scene removed. Movie begins with puddle that Batman steps in, extended. • Cuts to Batman entering Arkham. • Removal of walk through front desk office of Arkham. • Removal of Batman lines until he talks to Joker, FK to reanimate his face for no talking. • Foley added for Joker cell door entrance • Most of Batman dialogue with Joker edited for cinematic feel. • Joker face in his cell mostly removed to be in the shadows • New intro music added. • Gordon dialogue edited. • Joker and Jeanie scene edited for dialogue, new rain sounds and background music added. • New music added to Joker and carnival owner, their interaction edited. Shot extended in transition to Batman's cave. • Batman's cave scene edited to remove all Batman's lines, Alfred interaction removed completely. • Barbara assault scene heavily edited and rescored. • Joker in bar with mobsters scene edited for clarity and cinematic feel. • New scoring added from bar scene to Gordon naked. • Barbara in hospital scene edited for cinematic effect • Gordon and Joker dialogue edited • Joker, mobster and cops in bar scene edited and rescored • Batman at gambling hall edited for no dialogue • Gordon on trial removed, Joker stage song removed, carnival ride sequence rescored and edited for Joker singing while Gordon is forced to look at Barbara naked (extent of assault on Barbara left vague) • Batman in alley edited for no lines from Batman, and Poster blood FX changed to not look like the same mugshot Batman is holding • No dialogue with hookers under the bridge • End of Gordon's carnie ride edited and rescored • Joker and mobsters at chemical factory rescored • Batman removed from flashback at chemical factory, Joker just has his own bad luck without Batman involved. Batman being a factor to Joker's creation seemed always seemed a little odd to me personally, but that was more for Batman's side of Killing Joke's story - that Batman has that guilt. But as a more Joker POV, it "felt" more tragic to me if Joker was truly "unlucky" that day, and ultimately leaving the "who came first" question more vague. • Fight with carnies heavily edited and rescored, with new foley. I kept the carnie fight as it seems in character for Joker to soften Batman up before going hand to hand with him. • Gordon's pupils in the cage edited. • Funhouse fight rescored • Little people in the funhouse attacking Batman removed. • Joker and Batman fight rescored. • Joker and batman dialogue in rain edited for pacing. • Police lights added and shot of Joker and Batman tracking down to the puddle slowed down. New credits added and scrolling credits rescored. • Batman doesn't kill Joker in the end. He BARELY chuckles. But for me, that is the actual "Joke that Kills" from the comic. In the comic, the point that Joker pulls the trigger, only to find out that its a toy gun, it the major climactic moment. Joker tried to kill Batman, only to fail again (after his attempt to drive Gordon mad.) But then, he tells a joke and actually gets Batman to laugh. From Joker's perspective, he "kills" with a joke. Its actually why I subscribe to the "Batman didn't kill Joker" philosophy in the comic: many people say that the title "The Killing Joke" refers to Joker telling the Joke and Batman killing him, however I have had this different view. Joker always lived in The Killing Joke and died in TDKR.

Additional Notes:

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Other Sources:

Joker (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Soundtrack album by Hildur Guðnadóttir

Special Thanks:

@Blueyoda, @dwightfry, and @Zarius for amazing patience, great feedback and consulting from great editors that know the source material extremely well, often with different POVs of the source comic.