<p>Warner Bros has given India a kindly gift for Diwali this year: An early release of their hotly anticipated standalone ‘Joker’, based on the infamous Batman villain.</p>.<p>The film sees Joaquin Phoenix dress up as Arthur Fleck, a man with...issues, who goes on to become the Clown Prince of Crime.</p>.<p>As India gears up for the early release of this uber-controversial take on the mass-murdering clown, here’s a few things you should know about the film and the character in general:</p>.<p><strong>Joker was meant to be a one-off character</strong></p>.<p>Introduced all the way back in 1940 in Batman #1, the Joker was meant to be killed in that very issue.</p>.<p>However, editorial intervention at DC Comics is what allowed him to survive and eventually grow into the villain we all know to this day.</p>.<p><strong>He has no fixed identity and origin</strong></p>.<p>While the name ‘Joker’ is well-known in the criminal underbelly of Gotham, unlike most of the Batman’s rogues, his true identity has always remained an enigma.</p>.<p>Also, the character has had a number of possible origins as he is an unreliable narrator, but the most popular, to this day, remains that of a comedian-turned-criminal in a Red Hood falling into a vat at Ace Chemicals while cornered by the Batman.</p>.<p><strong>‘Joker’ has no association with Batman this time</strong></p>.<p>While the Joker has historically been associated with the Caped Crusader, this film makes a point to be a truly standalone film. This is shown in the first trailer itself where Arthur meets a young Bruce Wayne, years before his parents’ death and his birth as Batman.</p>.<p>Bruce Wayne’s father, Thomas Wayne, does appear to have a significant role in the film, however.</p>.<p><strong>This ‘Joker’ does not shy from bloody violence</strong></p>.<p>‘Joker’ is rated ‘A’ by the CBFC, a fact achieved apparently with no cuts and just a couple of muted words, and while the trailers make the violence and disturbing imagery of the film obvious, it’s still a good idea to ensure you’re not carrying kids into the cinema to witness a failed comedian’s one bad day.</p>.<p><strong>Joker broke Superman</strong></p>.<p>Gamers among you will know this, but the Joker has been able to emotionally shatter Superman by making him kills Lois Lane, turning him into a tyrannical despot in ‘Injustice: Gods Among Us’, which released in 2013. The Joker, of course, died a brutal death before the game’s events at the hands of Superman himself, but the effects of his act drove all of its events. </p>
<p>Warner Bros has given India a kindly gift for Diwali this year: An early release of their hotly anticipated standalone ‘Joker’, based on the infamous Batman villain.</p>.<p>The film sees Joaquin Phoenix dress up as Arthur Fleck, a man with...issues, who goes on to become the Clown Prince of Crime.</p>.<p>As India gears up for the early release of this uber-controversial take on the mass-murdering clown, here’s a few things you should know about the film and the character in general:</p>.<p><strong>Joker was meant to be a one-off character</strong></p>.<p>Introduced all the way back in 1940 in Batman #1, the Joker was meant to be killed in that very issue.</p>.<p>However, editorial intervention at DC Comics is what allowed him to survive and eventually grow into the villain we all know to this day.</p>.<p><strong>He has no fixed identity and origin</strong></p>.<p>While the name ‘Joker’ is well-known in the criminal underbelly of Gotham, unlike most of the Batman’s rogues, his true identity has always remained an enigma.</p>.<p>Also, the character has had a number of possible origins as he is an unreliable narrator, but the most popular, to this day, remains that of a comedian-turned-criminal in a Red Hood falling into a vat at Ace Chemicals while cornered by the Batman.</p>.<p><strong>‘Joker’ has no association with Batman this time</strong></p>.<p>While the Joker has historically been associated with the Caped Crusader, this film makes a point to be a truly standalone film. This is shown in the first trailer itself where Arthur meets a young Bruce Wayne, years before his parents’ death and his birth as Batman.</p>.<p>Bruce Wayne’s father, Thomas Wayne, does appear to have a significant role in the film, however.</p>.<p><strong>This ‘Joker’ does not shy from bloody violence</strong></p>.<p>‘Joker’ is rated ‘A’ by the CBFC, a fact achieved apparently with no cuts and just a couple of muted words, and while the trailers make the violence and disturbing imagery of the film obvious, it’s still a good idea to ensure you’re not carrying kids into the cinema to witness a failed comedian’s one bad day.</p>.<p><strong>Joker broke Superman</strong></p>.<p>Gamers among you will know this, but the Joker has been able to emotionally shatter Superman by making him kills Lois Lane, turning him into a tyrannical despot in ‘Injustice: Gods Among Us’, which released in 2013. The Joker, of course, died a brutal death before the game’s events at the hands of Superman himself, but the effects of his act drove all of its events. </p>
