After "This Killer Isn't Too Cold", Li Yi took some time off again.
He is actually quite satisfied with his current life. He makes movies and takes a break after filming to hang out with old friends.
It has been more than three months since "This Killer Isn't Too Cold" was released.
Li Yi invited old friends to his home for a get-together, and they naturally started chatting.
"Speaking of which, the character Stan is indeed very perverted, but I suddenly had an idea. Do you think the villain can be the protagonist?" Tang Lu suddenly said.
"Villain protagonist? It's interesting! I think it's okay? However, not many people have tried this. There are some movies in Hollywood where the villain is more charming than the protagonist, but they are not the protagonist." Chen
Asked, his eyes lit up.
"But there is a question. The reason why a villain is a villain means he is a bad guy, right? Whether he is forced to become a bad guy or actively becomes a bad guy, but when a bad guy is the protagonist, it is a big problem in terms of values, right?" Lin Yunbin asked rhetorically.
"That's true! At least I don't like this type of movie!" Li Yi shook his head.
In fact, Li Yi did have a movie about a villain, but he didn't really like that movie.
Yes, that movie is "Joker"!
This is a spin-off of a superhero movie.
This movie is very controversial, and some people think it is very good, but the impact of this movie can indeed be said to be top-notch in film history.
In many countries and cities around the world where "Joker" is being screened, security has been tightened and police patrols have even been deployed near theaters.
It is undeniable that this is a good movie. The reason why the controversy is so great is that this controversy is not purely aesthetic isolation, because everyone recognizes the artistic quality of the "Joker" film itself, but in terms of values, "Joker" gives
There is a very vague definition.
This is just like Arthur's line in the film: "What is funny and what is not funny are all defined by you."
This sentence corresponds to the real and real world, and alludes to our current so-called values, which are just a definition. What values or ideologies are worth admiring are the final say of our civilized society, but values are really
exists?
Supporters believe that "Joker" challenges today's society with extremely negative values, that is, if a movie can really affect reality, then how fragile civilized society must be.
Opponents believe that regardless of all value judgments, this movie fails. All his positive actions in the movie are without will and purpose.
"So you've really thought about it? Tell me about it?" Mu Qing looked at her husband curiously and asked.
Others also looked curious. In fact, this type of villain movie almost does not exist in China, and it is rare even in Hollywood.
"In the wet and hopeless Gotham City, the humble Arthur Frank earns a living by playing a clown. His mother, who depends on him for life, suffers from mental illness, and Arthur remembers his mother's teachings deeply and smiles at life no matter what setbacks he suffers.
But this put him under tremendous pressure and was on the verge of collapse. He dreamed of becoming a talk show actor, but life disappointed him again and again. Not only that, he lost his job due to an accident, and accidentally caught a glimpse of
His mother's secret ignited in his heart an ardent longing for his father, who was very different from him but had never met him. Destiny is accustomed to backfiring. In the empty subway, the sad clown went on a killing spree amidst uncontrollable maniacal laughter.
…”
Li Yi first gave an introduction, and then started to tell the story of "Joker".
There is no DC or Batman in this world, but that actually doesn't matter.
Because although the story of "Joker" originates from DC, it is divorced from it. It can be said that there is really nothing superhero-related in this story.
It can be said that this is a complete story of how the villain was born.
After listening to the content of "Joker" narrated by Li Yi.
Chen Wen and others were also divided into two parts.
Some support, some oppose.
Chen Wen said with a look of amazement: "This story is very interesting! The story of "Joker" is very full. Although the first third is a bit cliche and stereotyped, the momentum begins to reverse in the middle, and the second third begins to move towards unbounded
Darkness, violence, gore, and the imbalance of values are all pressed against the audience in the end. It is clear that Arthur, who is in urgent need of social help, has completely become a mentally insane and inhumane clown."
Tang Lu also nodded and said: "There is a clown living in everyone's heart. This clown represents depression, disorder, violence, arrogance, chaos, madness, hatred and so on, all the negative and evil aspects of human nature. So I designed a psychotic character for the clown.
Identity and background are the finishing touch, but if a movie like this is actually made, I'm afraid the impact will be really big."
"Clowns are supposed to bring happiness to people, but they themselves are rarely happy. I remember seeing this sentence somewhere before." Mu Qing also said.
"I don't think so. Sorry, to be honest, I think it's better not to touch this kind of movie." Lin Yunbin suddenly said.
"Oh? Why?" Chen Wen asked with a frown.
"Don't you think that all the positive actions of this clown are without will and purpose?" Lin Yunbin asked rhetorically.
"Oh? Why do you say that? What's your opinion?" Chen Wen continued to ask.
"First of all, Director Li, I am simply talking about the matter. If the story of "Joker" is made into a movie, I do not deny that it will receive high praise, because in my opinion, the clown in it can almost be said to cater to
The bottom of current society.
What's more, will there be a situation where "Joker" sets a very bad example for ordinary people living at the bottom of society? When encountering difficulties or unfairness, will they learn like the Joker?
, fight back and retaliate against this society?" Lin Yunbin said.
"What you said, if this society can be influenced by just one movie, wouldn't it be too fragile? To put it bluntly, everyone is an independent individual. If it is so easy to be influenced, then why not
Stop making movies." Chen Wen said disapprovingly.
Li Yi was noncommittal. Can the movie affect the audience?
The answer is yes!
But is the impact really that big?
This still needs to be divided among people!
In fact, most of the movies Li Yi has made in the past are "positive"!
At least it’s positive spiritually!
For example, "This Killer Isn't Too Cold" is actually also positive on a spiritual level. After all, Matilda eventually returned to mainstream society.
And "Joker" is really not a positive movie.
This is also the reason why Li Yi has already had this story, but has kept it on the shelf.
From a purely cinematic perspective, "Joker" is indeed a very good story.
Also great for film creation!
But where Li Yi hesitates and struggles is, if such a movie is made, will it have a bad impact?
At this time, Lin Yunbin continued: "The reason why I said that the clown has no will is really not nonsense. After listening to the story just now, to be honest, it is really difficult for me to like this story.
Because everything the clown in it does gives the impression that it is not active, almost all passive!
For example, why did the Joker kill three Wall Streeters?
Is it because he wants to do it?
No, it's because he needs to defend himself, and the weapons for self-defense are not his own, but were given to him by others by accident.
And why did the clown kill his mother? Because she had been cheating on her and had allowed her to be abused. The mother kept nagging on and wrote letters, but she didn't care about Arthur and didn't recognize him.
How did the Joker get to Murray's talk show? Did he go on his own initiative? No, no, he didn't go there, the other party took the initiative to find him.
Why did the clown kill another clown in the same troupe?
Because first he framed the clown and reported it, causing him to lose his job. Then his concern when he came to visit this time was also hypocritical. He didn't care about the clown, he just wanted to get away with it.
What about the one who really cares about the clown? The clown let him go with tenderness.
How did the clown severely injure the two police officers who were chasing him? He did nothing, and the police officers were blocked by other protesters by some strange combination of circumstances.
Why did the Joker kill the host Murray? Because the host used him and played his videos several times to humiliate him.
How did the Joker get away with killing Murray? He did nothing. It was other protesters who caused the car accident.
How did he stand up and dance after being acquitted? It wasn't what he wanted to do, it was the people around him who encouraged him to do it.
Why did the Joker kill the last psychiatrist? Because she and the first psychiatrist were very similar in appearance. They were hypocritical and never really cared about their patients.
Every step of the clown's behavior is "passive", "self-defense", "revenge", reasonable, and even contains justice.
This clown pursues exactly the same things as us. He longs for success and passively seizes career opportunities. He longs to be loved and fantasizes about being accepted by others. He longs for advancement in social class and hopes to be recognized by Wayne.
, he longs for self-esteem, so he enjoys that moment after everyone makes a fuss.
Is this still a clown? Isn’t this “everyone”?”
But as soon as Lin Yunbin finished speaking, Tang Lu asked in confusion: "Isn't this an advantage? Everything he did was reasonable and reasonable, and there was even justice in it, and it would be easy for "everyone" to resonate with him. Isn't this right?"
Is it a good thing?"
"Of course this is not a good thing! If only from a commercial perspective, this is indeed a good thing. After all, it resonates and allows people to release the evil in their hearts, which will definitely be of great benefit to the box office.
But in terms of impact, clowns are "everyone" and that's a scary thing, okay?
Since the clown can do that, can "everyone" do the same?
But what the clown did was inherently unjust! He was committing a crime, and no reason can excuse a real crime, right?" Lin Yunbin argued.
In fact, Li Yi also agreed with Lin Yunbin. To be honest, the adaptation of "Joker" is indeed very good. It can be said that it is self-explanatory and has its own logic.
But in comparison, Li Yi prefers the Joker in "The Dark Knight".
Because this clown doesn’t want money, worldly success, or respect. He is a complete “anti-hero”, and “anti-hero” is also a kind of “heroism.” This is what distinguishes clowns from other criminals.
The difference is, because he still believes in something, and he wants to prove that his belief is correct.
Therefore, when facing the Joker in "The Dark Knight", everyone will be afraid. He is not cowardly or stupid. He has a strong will and lives in a completely different world from us. We cannot call him an "alien" because we "
Can't understand".
The Joker in "The Dark Knight" is like Dr. Hannibal in "The Silence of the Lambs". He is like a dangerous and huge flame, running with an inner core that we cannot understand. Compared with mediocre moviegoers, they are...
Stronger "vitality" burns vigorously. Because we understand that Batman's "vitality" is an imagination of an idea, an image that infinitely elevates ourselves, which is false and untrustworthy. The Joker and Hannibal instead embody a kind of
A more authentic, vigorous and credible "vitality".
In fact, to put it simply, whether it is the Joker in "The Dark Knight" or Hannibal in "The Silence of the Lambs", they are more scary, but they are special and not universal.
But the scary thing about the clown in "Joker" is that, as Lin Yunbin said, he may even be "universal"!
This is undoubtedly a terrible thing.
Because what happened to the clown will make some viewers feel that what he did was "right" to a certain extent!
"The clown is actually a poor guy. In my opinion, he is a textbook poor guy. He was adopted, his adoptive mother is mentally ill, he is abused by his adoptive mother's boyfriend, he is lonely, he is bullied by strangers, he is wrongly blamed by his boss, and he is framed by his colleagues.
Being ridiculed by others, being ignored by others, trying hard but not succeeding, and suffering from mental illness myself.
Haven't you noticed that this is how all modern people today who feel sorry for themselves describe their lives? Which young person complains online about something other than this? The violence on the Internet is indeed getting worse and worse, and clowns are an enlarged version of our self-pity.
This is really a terrible thing.
What about the other protesters in the story? They are crude, brutal, brainless, and stereotyped images of smashing, smashing, and robbing. They are countless mediocre people whose self-pity is magnified.
So, if this story is made into a movie, then I can't help but wonder, what exactly is this movie going to show? Are rich people noble and just, and poor people are brutal and stupid?
All sane and normal people will tolerate it with humor and open-mindedness, because they rationally realize that there is nothing they can do. Those who resist are all bad guys and lunatics.
Classes are solidified, life is not worth living, and those who resist are crazy, stupid, and bad. What is this content? Isn’t this what we see on WeChat public accounts every day?”
