Tag

Comic-Con

Browsing

A look at the argument that cinema should have trigger warnings after the backlash faced by Todd Phillip’s “Joker”, starring Joaquin Phoenix.

Joker hit Indian movie theatres on October 2nd, to a lot of hype and excitement. The movie has been produced by Warner Brothers and Village Roadshow Pictures. Based on the famous character Joker from the DC Universe, the movie portrayed a very human depiction of his origin story; a major detour from most other comic book movies, due to its overall dark and grisly theme. The movie focuses on themes of loneliness, social isolation, mental illness, and suicidal urges.

The movie is a work of art which can put you through a myriad of emotions, but is it for everyone to watch? There have been concerns over how people would react to the movie because of the themes portrayed in it, with a national theatre chain in the USA going as far as banning face paint, costumes, and masks in all screenings of the films due to fears of violence. People also walked out of theatre because of the intensity of the film, and called for the need of a trigger warning at the beginning of the film about the themes portrayed.

In today’s day and age, it is important to realise how important mental health is. While not taking away from the artistic brilliance of “Joker”, it is important for film makers and artists to realise that certain topics and images can trigger people in a very negative way. Therefore, a warning beforehand is necessary so that those who do not wish to be subjected to things which might affect them negatively, are protected. We are finally living in a day and age where many people have been brave enough to open up about their issues, and where the importance of mental health is finally being realised. This should be translated into our media and entertainment too. While films depicting these issues should not be stopped because they are important, a trigger warning is necessary in various ways. 

Prachi Johri, a second year student from Indraprashtha College for Women says “In my opinion, I believe that “Joker” should have a trigger warning in it, because it’s firstly based on mental illness, and can be triggering for a lot of people. So a warning will make sure that people with such problems or triggers will not watch the movie, or bring someone whom they trust with them as a support if anything happens. Secondly, the movie is straight up validating murder and a chaotic movement.” 

“Taxi Driver”, an amazing and hard hitting film was released in 1976. Starring Robert De Niro, who also stars in “Joker”,  the movie was made around many of the same themes as “Joker”, however it did not have a trigger warning at the beginning. The very fact that this incredibly important conversation has come into play now just shows how society has opened its eyes towards the issue of mental well-being, and the important role it plays in our lives.

Prabhanu Kumar Das

[email protected]

 

The fifth movie coming from the DC Comics franchise is entertaining-in-parts and reviving, quite literally, with the least muscles flexing from our heroes in their quest to save the humanity.

After the frustrating crises which the previous film Batman vs. Superman had created, the DC Extended Universe was in a desperate need to right those wrongs, mend the loose ends, and make the world believe that DC movies were more than ever-extending duels of our confused heroes fighting for equally confused and comical reasons. This time the heroes quarreled for simpler reasons, and thankfully, did not fight for too long among themselves. It was obvious that the directors had made it a point to not bombard the scenes with chaotic action scenes. The plot was smooth, though it was awkwardly superficial at times.

Ben Affleck, once again, looked uncomfortable in the Bat Suit (even the Bat Suit looked uncomfortable having to bear with him). It is amazing how Ben Affleck has single-handedly made the audience believe that Batman is a normal human with powers too trivial to be called a Superhero. Director Zack Snyder must be aware of this fact, as the focus gradually shifts to other heroes. Gal Gadot owned the screen with her fighting sequences, and other characters too were able to do justice to their roles even in the economy of the shallow plot.

The first half of the movie is promising, with its terrific CGI sequences. The later half develops towards our villain, Steppenwolf and his army of Parademon that is trying to capitalise on the absence of Superman. He goes on hunting for his power sources in Amazon and Atlantis and finally lands up in the zone of our heroes. But a disappointing second half does to him what Germany did to Brazil in the World Cup, almost demoralising the petty thing and making him clearly the weakest villain of our times, with a fitting end.

If you are not planning on dressing up as Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman in the Comic-Con, then you should definitely give Justice League a miss.

 

Image Credits– Alpha Coders

Nikhil Kumar
[email protected]