Not for comic book fans

Rating: 3/10 (3 January 2020)

Evidently this movie tapped into something with a lot of people. But I'll say I just don't see it. To me, a fan of the most iconic DC villain in history, it was a hideous representation. And don't get me started on the insulting depiction of mental illness. We have enough people thinking we (those of us with mental health issues) will randomly turn violent without a 2 hour snooze fest that plays directly to that trope.
No, my big issue is the fact that the Joker wasn't funny. They've had some serious story lines, but even then the Joker made pun, and gloried in the despair and chaos of it all. He was, at his heart, an absurdist. He was evil, not crazy. And it's been hinted more than once that he was just an every day guy. One bad day and all that.
I wanted to like this movie. But this angst ridden despair fest means this Joker is just... Sad. Not manic chaos and evil intelligence. This Joker fell into villainy with a lot of stupid mistakes, he couldn't even trick the cops, but he's Bruce's intellectual equal?
And the AGE DIFFERENCE? What? When did Joker become an old man compared to Batman? Because by the time Bruce grows up and becomes Batman, Joker is gonna be 50-60 years old. C'mon. Also, Alfred makes an appearance and he's in his prime but he can't push off a skinny, under fed Fleck? I know it's an unreliable narrator but it's still annoying to watch.
Point is, there is so much comic fodder to take from, why did they remake Taxi Driver?