Been awhile since I've updated my blog. I just want to talk about a certain scene in Suicide Squad that meant a lot to me. Now before I talk about it, I want to state that I'm fully aware of all the issues Suicide Squad went through after the backlash of Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice. And while this movie wasn't perfect, I had a great time both times I went to see it. If you want to read my review on the movie check it out here:
www.blerdsonline.com/2016/08/suicide-squad-enjoyable-mayhem.html
I found the Harley Quinn and Joker dynamic to be intriguing. In case you didn't know, Joker and Harley do not have a some deranged, lovey-dovey relationship. From her introduction in the 1992 Batman the Animated Series, to the comics and even the Batman Arkham video games series, the Joker has only ever used and abused Harley. He's never really loved her. He beats her and verbally abuses her all the time. He has always only seen her as an occasionally useful tool. Even in this movie, originally, they were going to depict this version of their relationship but instead went a different route.
www.blerdsonline.com/2016/08/suicide-squad-enjoyable-mayhem.html
I found the Harley Quinn and Joker dynamic to be intriguing. In case you didn't know, Joker and Harley do not have a some deranged, lovey-dovey relationship. From her introduction in the 1992 Batman the Animated Series, to the comics and even the Batman Arkham video games series, the Joker has only ever used and abused Harley. He's never really loved her. He beats her and verbally abuses her all the time. He has always only seen her as an occasionally useful tool. Even in this movie, originally, they were going to depict this version of their relationship but instead went a different route.
The Joker seems to genuinely care about Quinn in this film. Even Amanda Waller says, "God help anyone who disrespects [his] queen." The subplot of this movie is Joker trying to get Harley back. This is new and I find it interesting because it actually gives the Joker some sort of twisted humanity. The Joker to me has always been an irredeemable, self aware, high functioning psychopath and a homicidal maniac. He's always challenged moral conventions by getting people to abandon their ethical and moral compasses. To take the upstanding and stain them by having them descend into anarchy. To essentially prove that anyone can be as fucked up as The Joker if they have just one-bad-day. But let me not get into the Joker's psyche and thematic role and talk about my favorite scene.
My favorite part of the movie is when the Joker and Dr Harleen Quinzel are at the Ace Chemical Plant, the place where "The Joker" was created. Very briefly, let me explain this for those who don't know because several people have asked me about this particular scene. The Joker's abnormally pale skin and green hair are a result of him falling into a specific batch of chemicals at Ace Chemical Plant. Not makeup, war paint or just how he looks naturally. I know a lot of you guys are only familiar with Heath Ledger's depiction of the Joker from the Dark Knight Returns so I thought I'd explain that for those who don't know.
My favorite part of the movie is when the Joker and Dr Harleen Quinzel are at the Ace Chemical Plant, the place where "The Joker" was created. Very briefly, let me explain this for those who don't know because several people have asked me about this particular scene. The Joker's abnormally pale skin and green hair are a result of him falling into a specific batch of chemicals at Ace Chemical Plant. Not makeup, war paint or just how he looks naturally. I know a lot of you guys are only familiar with Heath Ledger's depiction of the Joker from the Dark Knight Returns so I thought I'd explain that for those who don't know.
So, Joker brings psychiatrist, Dr. Harleen Quinzel to the plant and asks her some questions:
Question,would you die for me?
“Yes”
That’s too easy,would you...Would you live for me?
“Yes”
Careful,do not say this oath thoughtlessly. Desire become surrender, surrender become power.
I interpreted this quote differently both times I heard it. Initially I thought it was kind of dumb. How could living for someone be harder than dying for them? "Desire become surrender, surrender become power." I thought he was saying, if you desire to be with me you must surrender yourself to me and by doing so you'll gain power over me. Which I thought was weird, kind of like how some say submissives in a BDSM relationship actually have more power over the dominator. That the masochist actually controls the sadist.
The second time I watched it, it meant something completely different. "Would you live for me", became would you devote your life to me? Would you give up your own wants and needs for my selfish desires? She says, "yes". Yes I'd do anything for you, yes I'd sacrifice my life for you and yes, I will give in to your way of life. And I got goosebumps. I was taken back a bit. "Desire becomes surrender, surrender become power." That to me the second time around meant, if you really want this you have to surrender your sanity for power. Because by relinquishing your mental stability and not caring about the rules or laws that man has created you can gain true power. See their ethics for the joke that it really is, see how truly fragile their morality is. And I thought that was very powerful. He was trying to let her in on the "joke."
Question,would you die for me?
“Yes”
That’s too easy,would you...Would you live for me?
“Yes”
Careful,do not say this oath thoughtlessly. Desire become surrender, surrender become power.
I interpreted this quote differently both times I heard it. Initially I thought it was kind of dumb. How could living for someone be harder than dying for them? "Desire become surrender, surrender become power." I thought he was saying, if you desire to be with me you must surrender yourself to me and by doing so you'll gain power over me. Which I thought was weird, kind of like how some say submissives in a BDSM relationship actually have more power over the dominator. That the masochist actually controls the sadist.
The second time I watched it, it meant something completely different. "Would you live for me", became would you devote your life to me? Would you give up your own wants and needs for my selfish desires? She says, "yes". Yes I'd do anything for you, yes I'd sacrifice my life for you and yes, I will give in to your way of life. And I got goosebumps. I was taken back a bit. "Desire becomes surrender, surrender become power." That to me the second time around meant, if you really want this you have to surrender your sanity for power. Because by relinquishing your mental stability and not caring about the rules or laws that man has created you can gain true power. See their ethics for the joke that it really is, see how truly fragile their morality is. And I thought that was very powerful. He was trying to let her in on the "joke."
It doesn't stop there. After all that, she then takes a leap of faith into the dangerous chemicals below and the Joker starts to leave. He was ready to leave her there, be on his way and then seems VISIBLY frustrated by the idea that he actually cares about her. He takes off a layer of his clothing and jumps in after her. From the chemical submergence, Dr Harleen Quinzel is no more, and from underneath the surface of this dangerous waste rises: Harley Quinn. She is reborn.
So personally that scene really hit me, it's easily my favorite part of the movie. The idea of Joker being in love is still something I'm getting used to but if the DCEU is going to properly explore this, then I am on board one hundred percent. Let's see if the Clown Prince and Princess can paint the world in despair together. <3
So personally that scene really hit me, it's easily my favorite part of the movie. The idea of Joker being in love is still something I'm getting used to but if the DCEU is going to properly explore this, then I am on board one hundred percent. Let's see if the Clown Prince and Princess can paint the world in despair together. <3