Note: This page will mostly focus his portrayal in the theatrical cut of the Suicide Squad film.
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The Joker is a major antagonist in the DC Extended Universe, appearing as a major (or secondary) antagonist in the 2016 superhero film Suicide Squad, and as an unseen yet pivotal antagonist in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Birds of Prey: The Emanicipation of One of Harley Quinn and being a minor antagonist in Zack Snyder’s Justice League (the director’s cut). He is Batman's archenemy, and murderer of his nemesis’s partner, Robin and the lover of Harley Quinn, a psychopathic crime lord, and a terrorist mastermind.
Why He Was An Absolute Joke
- One of Joker's iconic features of being a psychopathic criminal, a well-written character, and his iconic laugh, is known to be one of DC's best villains. But unlike his previous counterparts, this version is nothing but a generic edgy gangster wannabe rather than a madman who enjoys chaos.
- While he has his classic green hair, bleached white skin, red lipstick, and purple suit, his design is just awful. Also, why does he even have tattoos and silver teeth?
- The Joker ended up looking like he was inspired by a real-life rapper named 6ix9ine. He even looks like a gangster ripoff of the Babadook.
- Underwhelming performance by the character's actor, Jared Leto.
- Even Leto himself complained that his scenes were left on the cutting-room floor and that the remaining scenes in the theatrical version didn't do the character justice.
- He hardly serves any purpose to the plot other than being fan service and Harley Quinn's love interest.
- He lacks the charm, charisma, and everything that makes the Joker a really good villain. There are plenty of scenes where he feels like another character other than the Joker.
- He is hardly the Joker we all know and love from the comics, the Arkham video games, the cartoons, or even The Dark Knight.
- He was hyped as the main antagonist of Suicide Squad in trailers, TV spots, and promotions, but it turns out that Enchantress (who isn't a much better villain than Joker either) is the main antagonist, while the Joker is a minor character or a secondary antagonist, making him almost completely pointless.
- Telling instead of showing. He literally said the line: "I'm an idea, state of mind.", rather than just demonstrating on how much of a dangerous/cunning person he is.
- Despite this, he hardly serves any real purpose with the Enchantress plot thread, in which the original did have him help her against the Suicide Squad.
- He barely cracks a smile and only does this 5 times.
- Both Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix have nailed the roles in their respective movies.
- One had stated that Joker wasn't meant to be a person, but an idea and representation about what's wrong with society, while the other is a broken man criticizing its unfair system, its corrupt government, and terrible citizens.
- Jack Nicholson's version from Batman (1989) served to illustrate how one sufficiently bad day could drive someone to do the most monstrous things.
- Even The Lego Batman Movie's Joker wanted was to be acknowledged as Batman's greatest nemesis, not only for comedic purposes, but serving as a great foil to him and humanizes this Joker. But since Leto's version only exists just to be Harley Quinn's love interest, what is his incarnation of Joker supposed to represent anyway?
- While he had his iconic laugh, it mostly sounds like a dying owl's howling and Squidward Tentacles from SpongeBob SquarePants rather than insane.
- He barely has any ties with Batman other than he killed his sidekick, Robin that was foreshadowed in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice where he used yellow graffiti to spray paint Robin's costume to prove Batman is a joke to him.
Redeeming Qualities
- He could've been a good Joker if he had more screentime and a much more important role, or in this case, being the main antagonist (since David Ayer's unreleased cut of the film also had a different role).
- Jared Leto is not completely at fault for why this Joker is very lacking in character when Warner Bros. interfered the film he appeared in and make the theatrical cut as an inconsistent "comedy".
- His characterization was almost redeemed in the Snyder Cut of Justice League:
- His villainous relationship with Batman was much more fleshed out and indeed mentioned the death of Batman's sidekick, Robin.
- Instead of being a gangster, he is now a philosopher questioning where honor had been lost, while wanting to cause chaos at the same time.
- He has a different design, which almost resembled Heath Ledger's Joker.
- "I'm not gonna kill you. I'm just gonna hurt you. Really, really bad."
- "We live in society where honor is a distant memory... Isn't that right...Batman?"
- "You should be ashamed to yourself".
- “This $&@# that i do with you…We're gonna talk.”
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