Joker Scene in The Dark Knight Too Disturbing? POSSIBLE SPOILER
By Nix | April 10, 2008 (5:26 pm)
Hollywood is here to make money and to shy away from controversy — at least when the movie doesn’t need it, as the current Batman outing clearly does not — which may explain why a very specific scene in “The Dark Knight” that features the Joker (as played by the recently departed Heath Ledger) may be excised from the film. It was found to be, according to this Cinema Blend report, too disturbing for viewers during recent screenings around the country. As a warning, this article MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS, but it’s required to spell out the scene in order to talk about it. You have been warned.
Here’s what CinemaBlend said:
The scene involves Ledger’s Joker character pretending to be dead and being pictured in a body bag. Apparently the aftershocks of Ledger’s unfortunate death are such that many in the screening reacted rather badly to this moment and now execs are considering excising the scene altogether.
Although the Cinema Blend writer refers to the removal of this one scene (should they decide to actually do it, mind you) as “butchering” the product, and all the readers who have commented seem to agree with him, I must take the other side.
Here is my reasoning: This is apparently just a “gag” by the Joker — the article says the Joker is pretending to be dead in the scene, and is being pictured in a body bag. This is not even the character’s actual death scene (if he does, in fact, die in the movie).
Now, if the removal of the scene changes the spine of the narrative completely, then removing it would be harsh. But if it doesn’t, and is, as I suspect, just a blink-and-you’ll-miss second or two in the movie, and it spares Ledger’s friends and family from having to visualize their love one in a body bag — really, where is the debate?
Here’s my final say on this story: It’s up to Nolan. If he says the scene doesn’t matter and can be snipped, that should be the end of the story. But if he says it’s necessary and fights the removal of the scene, then Warner is making a mistake. ‘Nuff said.
Update
Via Obsessed With Film, who has more information on the Joker body bag scene, and what it means to the rest of the movie:
According to the review a few days ago the scene [in question] 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.
The above is based on an early review by a Brazilian journalist over at Batman-on-Film, which says:
“Another scene with Ledger/The Joker playing dead inside a body bag caused adverse reactions in the audience, for obvious reasons — it will possibly be cut. (I hope not!)”
Don’t know if the review comes from a screening in Brazil, or a Brazilian journalist in America who saw the screening. Either/or, I suppose.
Update: 4/11/08
Moviehole has a source that claims the scene remains intact:
A source close to the “The Dark Knight” told us this morning that the film remains in-tact – and nothing of Ledger’s will be cut from the movie, including the body-bag scene. ‘’I KNOW for a fact that that scene is in the film. I also know that WB has made no such mandate and that Chris [Nolan] is honest when saying that he will not change what was intended with The Joker.”
‘Nuff said?
i saw the ad of this film in star movies and got interested in this good looking young man ...
if that is saya then this film is getting boycotted 
Bey Logan over at Dragon Dynasty have been blogging about the movie, so chances are they have the inside track ...
oh and dan hell yeah i agree wit ya cept 4 the imports 
You might as wll leave it in since it ‘ll wiind up on the dvd or internet sooner or later. Besides It’s the Joker not Heath Ledger-It’s a part,and as an actor he is serving the piece (Sorry I just watched my Al Pacino doc on acting) If Ledger’s family wants to watch him play a psychotic (potentially school bus of kids exploding),freak-ass clown..They gotta be prepared for this stuff.
I think they’ll remove it. I can’t see Nolan fighting to keep it if he doesn’t think it has any reason to exist other than it was in the script. If he fights for it, then okay, he believes it needs to be in there, then it should be in there. But if he doesn’t fight, then even he realizes it doesn’t need to be there. (And yes, if he thinks it needs to be there, and Warner does remove it, it’ll get out one way or another to us netizens…)
To remove this scene would be BLASPHEMY!
Ledger gave his life for this role, and every scene he shot should be in the movie period!
It’s hard to understand what you mean by “It’s Nolan’s Call.” If the scene is in the cut being screened, it’s clearly something he wanted in the movie and if the reason he’s taking out it to spare Ledger’s friends and love ones, then it’s not for artistic reasons. Here’s an idea: Instead of cutting the film to “spare” anyone, how about anyone who thinks seeing Heath Ledger as a psycho Joker doing scary things is going to upset them shouldn’t go.
I don’t I think it’s only a movie after all.
Dan, that’s what every fanboy has said where I’ve seen this story. “If you don’t like it, don’t go see it!” Right, as if Ledger’s family could possibly avoid the movie for the rest of their lives. Especially a movie this big, that will be seen by this many people, that will be released pretty much everywhere in a few years and beyond. Don’t be so simplistic. I find it so shocking how utterly cruel some fanboys could be in their devotion to “movie purity”. But then again, it’s not your loved one, so of course you could care less. We call that “selfish”.
Screenings are designed to gauge reaction, and to be edited as further screenings take place. No film that is screened survives the process intact. So if, by the end of the screening process, we hear that the scene has been taken out, and we don’t hear a peep out of Nolan, then he clearly approves of the cut. If he doesn’t approve, it’ll eventually get out.
yeah..i agree with nix…they should take it off for the respect of the family. if that was someone i knew i wouldnt want to see that scene.
Leave it in, take it out. It doesn’t really matter. The movie is still going to be awesome either way.
We all end up in a body bag sooner or later. It wouldn’t be an issue if people didn’t behave like such freaks and wait outside his apartment and scream “He’s coming out!” when the ambulance removed his remains.
It’s like my brother was killed in a freak microwave accident. Do I think everybody should hide and remove their microwaves everytime I enter a room? No.
I just say a little prayer, nuke my Hot Pocket and let the world continue on.
Dustin is right! We all end up in a body bag anyway!
Jesus Christ man I know the man died but this is his work that he filed, and that should not get thrown out.
He didn’t die doing the movie he died in his apartment… Case closed.
Heath ledger was and will always be one of my favorite actors. I thinks the shouldnt cut any scences out of the upcoming movie since it was on of the last he was able to do. however i also beleave that this movie should be dedicated to Heath since he worked so hard for the role. I also admire all the stars that gave there thoughts and prayers during this tragic loss to hollywood and the actors family. KEEP THE SCENE IN!!!
I am SOOOO glad they put the scene it, it added more reality to the character “Joker”. It was something he would actually do and it made people sorta even more scared of him. Loved the movie, can’t wait for it to come out on DVD!