The Dark Knight. The Caped Crusader. The World's Greatest Detective. Ol' Pointy Ears. A place to discuss the Batman and all things Batman related.
FILM DISCUSSION
After a fight between Batman & the Joker they stop, Batman tries to convince Joker to let him rehabilitate him and give him a better life, “We don’t have to kill each other.” He says but Joker says “No, no I’m afraid it’s too late for that”. Then he tells a Joke, he laughs, and Batman even laughs then he laughs harder and grips the Joker’s suit and the joker stops laughing as the camera pans down, Batman continues his heavy laugh until the credits roll in silence.
So what happened? My dad and I have discussed this and he always says “well Batman kills him doesn’t he?” Which makes sense, given that the theme throughout the movie is this relationship between them both and Batman says multiple times “who’s going to kill who?” “How will this end?” “I don’t want us to kill each other”, the movie is also called the Killing Joke and I mean Joker shakes hands with the amusement place guy at the beginning and suddenly he’s white with the Joker’s makeup oh yeah and dead . On the other hand maybe it’s the fact that not just Someone but the Joker’s archenemy laughs at his joke, throughout the movie you’re shown his past life as a failed comic, his pregnant partner who relied on him for money and then him wearing the Red Hood during a heist that was intended to get the money for her…so maybe he’s stopped laughing but Batman continues 🤷🏼♂️
Sooo what happened?
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As with everything when reading, it’s up to your interpretation. If you’re curious, someone did ask the writer what his intention was.
Thanks that helps, I love when things are left open and as a big music person I love digging into lyric meanings and interpreting it my own way, but things like this I just want to make sure I’m not off course
God, Moore is such an ass.
How so?
He comes across as narcissistic and very full of himself.
He follows Crowley so yeah I’d imagine 😆
You act like he's not a literary icon and didn't create some of the most iconic and influential stories and characters of the last century
He practices “practical magic” and actually believes he is a wizard.
It’s open ended for a reason
The original comic is my favorite Batman tale (I have a 1st printing in the 'library'.
The movie was subpar to the actual comic (the Barbara / Batman relationship was icky filler that was never in the original story). Brian Bolland's artwork with Alan Moore's writing is chef's kiss (I'll always recommend picking up a copy).
All that aside, Batman has a 'no kill rule' that's pivotal to his character, so no, he didn't kill Joker.
They both shared a moment in which they realized they're more alike than not. From there, it's back to Arkham where the process can repeat itself (the definition of crazy - doing the same thing over & over again, expecting a different result).
They kissed and lived happily ever after.
Good to see someone living up to their username 😂 I’m assuming you dk either
Dude. It's an ambiguous ending. It's up to your interpretation. There isn't an answer. I can tell you that the entirety of the story has to do with bringing the Joker in lawfully, "by the book" which was what Gordon wanted. To prove the Joker's flawed reasoning about breaking sanity was incorrect, and that one bad day doesn't necessarily drive someone insane. I've always believed that is simply what happened, Bats brought him back to Arkham and they continue their song and dance. I can't believe that Bats would break his character and murder him after all that, but if you can reason out that perspective then be my guest? It's just a story.
Well yeha no I totally get that, idk This is the first time I’ve watched the whole movie, I’ve seen the final clip loads and just assumed the context would help. Idk it’s one of those things where Joker can laugh for a while and I woulda thought he’d have continued… but yeha Bats probably had his laugh, Joker went quietly, and you’re right that’s the other side, it’s about disproving the “one bad day” thing, thank you !
batman laughs the end
I once saw Alan Moore at Walmart. I should have asked him.
Someone did ask him, Moore said Bats didn't kill him
That should be obvious. Killing Joke is canon to the Batman timeline and Joker is currently still alive.
I swear it wasn't originally intended to be canon though? But yeah, plus the whole story is about doing it by the book. I never read it as him killing him but people still do and as a self contained piece I guess I can see where they're coming from.
It wasn’t, but it was so peak they made it canon.
It was canon from the moment it released. Whether or not that was Moore and Bolland's original intention is unknown, but by the time of its release it was absolutely canon.
You sure it wasn't just a homeless guy?
https://www.reddit.com/r/batman/s/AW9lgE6bZq
The movie? God lord
Back to Arkham. Repeat the circle.
To quote a great philosopher of our time: “You know, it was really unclear”
Batman and Joker share a moment of lucidity where they realize the futility of their endless battle and then it's off to Arkham for Joker again to continue their cycle as if nothing changed. That's what Moore said on the subject and is presumably what happened in canon (As TKJ is and has always been canon). Obviously, in isolation, the work can be interpreted as you wish, but the author's intent and canon events are both clear that Batman didn't kill the Joker.
Thank you
In the novelization, Batman begins to strangle the Joker, but Gordon stops him.
They fucked
Grant Morrison’s interpretation about the Killing Joke ending.
Alan Moore interrupts their laughter and tells them to stop having fun
In the end, they both climbed into the briefcase from Pulp Fiction.