Joker scenes cut in THE DARK KNIGHT?
Those controversial scenes involving Heath Ledger's Joker as revealed in what now appears to be a legit review a few days back have been cut by WB.
First of all, it would seem that review of The Dark Knight from a few days ago is official. Unless of course someone is using that review to stir up some more rumor? And it would seem the fallout from that screening or a similar test screening somewhere else in the world has lead to the news that controversial scenes involving Heath Ledger (which were shot before he died) will be cut from the film.
The following can be considered a spoiler but here's the scoop from Cinema Blend...The scene involves Ledgers Joker character pretending to be dead and being pictured in a body bag. Apparently the aftershocks of Ledgers unfortunate death are such that many in the screening reacted rather badly to this moment and now execs are considering excising the scene altogether.Which is sensible right? According to the review a few days ago the scene was pretty much inconspicuous with the rest of the feature and does not effect the plot at all, it could easily be removed without anyone ever noticing. So why leave it in and get people uncomfortable in the cinema? We are all going to be paying far more attention to Heath Ledger's performance than we would have done anyway (and it would have been with great scrutiny even if he was still with us because hes playing the frikkin' Joker), so this kind of thing does exactly what you don't want the film to do. AND THAT'S TAKE YOU OUT OF THE MOMENT.MAKES YOU FORGET WHAT YOU ARE WATCHING/ENJOYING AND MAKES YOU THINK OF OTHER THINGS. That is most certainly not a good thing. And remember, there will be LOTS of kids watching this too. I'm not sure how many of them will know the Ledger situation but this just opens up more can of worms than it's worth. THE SCENE IS NOT WORTH THE HASSLE. I was shocked when I read the review that contained it - taking me out of the moment from just reading the review. I can't imagine what that is like when seeing it visually on film. And the stupid comment of the day goes to Stuart Wood (I know this is the second time we have ragged on CB, and we are fans of their site BTW, but when they continue to scribe such idiotic comments then I can't help myself)...
This I think is a serious misstep if Warner really go through with it. The Dark Knight is Ledgers final complete role and to butcher it for the sake of a few overly sensitive people in a screening seems like reactionary bullshit.
Do the right thing Warners. Leave Heaths biggest and best role alone. Those getting upset by this scene arent people who deserve to appreciate what Nolan and Ledger have done.God, where do you start with a comment like that. Butchering? ONE FRIKKIN' INCONSPICOUS SCENE? Those getting upset aren't people who "deserve to appreciate what Nolan and Ledger have done". Great... so if I get upset by seeing Ledger in a body bag on film knowing what tragedy befell the guy then the biggest Batman fan I know and the person who has anticipated this movie everyday for three years can't appreciate the film. I don't think it quite works like that. And your article to be honest didn't sound of the sincere angry kind - more lets pretend I'm angry to stir up comments!