Dec
21
Before we get into The Dark Knight Joker comparison, I must start out first by saying I’m 29 years old and I’ve NEVER read ANY of the original Batman comics nor do I know any of the original story lines from the comic book series. What I do know is that when I first saw the Original Batman movie (the one staring Michael Keaton) I fell in love with the modern day interpretation of the characters (Batman, The Joker, blah, blah, blah). To this day, I feel Michael Keaton is the best Batman. Of course Adam West’s interpretation of the Caped Crusader is second to none and Christian Bale has definitely breathed new life into the role - which by the 4th Batman movie in the previous series (Batman & Robin) was on life support and in desperate need of having the plug pulled (thank God they did); but there will always be a special place in my heart for Keaton’s Batman.
BUT WE’RE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT BATMAN ~ LET’S TALK ABOUT THE DARK KNIGHT JOKER!
By now we all know that Heath Ledger is playing The Joker in the upcoming The Dark Knight (Batman Begins 2) movie. I personally have only seen the most recent movie preview and a number of promotional photos highlighting The Joker in this movie, but based on my first glance, it looks like Heath will do The Joker character some justice. However, just like with Keaton’s Batman, I feel that Nicholson’s Joker just can’t be beat… or can it?
The Joker Comparison
The Dark Knight Joker (Ledger) does look quite intriguing and appears to be promising. However, never trust a movie preview (that’s what I always say). My judgment on who is the true Joker victor won’t me made until after I see The Dark Knight but let’s do a comparison based on what we’ve seen so far.
The Original Joker - Cesar Romero
He definitely set the bar high for actors portraying The Joker.
Positives: Very animated, exceptional laugh, and of course, great over-exaggerated smile.
Negatives: Maybe it’s just me but although Cesar Romero added much arm movement to animate The Joker character, he seemed a bit stiff with his legs (unlike The Riddler in the original TV series - quite animated). I would have liked to have seen a bit more jumping around (am I being too picky?). Also, his lines were a bit cheesy. Of course that’s no fault of Mr. Romero’s, but it’s still something to consider.
The Tim Burton Joker - Jack Nicholson
A natural choice for the first modern-day Joker.
Positives: Best facial expressions out of the three. The perfect marriage of a comical court jester and a murderous criminal.
Negatives: Laugh was just so-so. Also I personally didn’t care for all the hats he wore. You gotta show off the disheveled chemically mutated hair. He also wasn’t as animated as I’d like him to be. But then again, Mr. Nicholson is known for his personality and acting prowess, not for jumping around.
The Dark Knight Joker - Heath Ledger
So far, looks pretty good (although my coworkers do not agree). 
Honestly I didn’t even know it was Heath Ledger playing The Joker in the upcoming movie. When I saw the trailer, I had to ask someone who was playing The Joker…and I was honestly surprised, and impressed.
Positives: You can’t really tell it’s Heath Ledger (and it’s a positive because if you could tell it was him, you probably wouldn’t be able to get the image of The Joker sodomizing Jake Gyllenhaal out of your head). Also, it looks like he has some good threads in this one (rather than the typical purple and green attire). And finally, it sounds like he has a pretty good laugh - not too corny, not too forced.
Negatives: In some shots in The Dark Knight movie trailer, The Joker kinda looks homeless, which actually works against my assumption that he’ll have some interesting attire (we’ll have to wait and see). Also, the white makeup and red lips look like The Joker just got drunk and fell into his mother’s makeup case. But I don’t know what back story they’re creating for this version’s Joker, so again, we’ll have to wait and see the reasoning behind it all.
SO, Which Joker is Better?????
Honestly, I don’t know yet. Each has its flaws and it’s perfections. And we don’t know the whole story with Heath Ledger’s Joker yet. After I see the movie, I’ll have to re -examine this comparison and see if my assumptions were wrong.
UPDATE!!!!!!
Unbelievable! On 1/22/08 Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment of an aleged drug overdoes. Since the Dark Knight Batman movie is in post (aka in the can), then this shouldn’t change his role in this movie. It just changes his role as an actor. We’ll still be able to compare his performance as the Joker.
Comments
20 Responses to “The Dark Knight Joker - Will He Be Better Than the Rest?”
Leave a Reply
Pity your coworkers don’t appreciate this clear instance of creative innovation.
The new Batman series is a darker more sober interpretation necessary to counter balance the toyishness of what many have associated with series.
The dark knight is now a dark knight and not clown or a fool.
I just hope that we get a lot more shots of the suggestive Katie Holmes in the next installment!
I think Heath Ledger is the best Joker. Personally the first Joker, was just way to old. Nicholson, i hated. He was too corny, and his clothing sucked. Heath Ledger may look drunk with war paint makeup and blood lips, but he definently is the coolest, and best Joker out of the three.
HEATH LEDGER! HEATH LEDGER! HEATH LEDGER! HEATH LEDGER! HEATH LEDGER!
Heath ledger is the best joker baby. YEAHHHHHH!!!!
Honestly its not hard to see Heath Ledger is by far the best joker…The joker is a psychopath and Heath Ledger plays that part to the T. Also The laugh is dead on and just the character of the joker needs to be more morbid and not so clown like cause that just makes the character look stupid…so being the fact heath ledger plays the morbid psychopath joker so well he is the best at playing the character.
Thanks for reading my blog posting. You make some very good points. I agree with the laugh. It sounds pretty dead on. A morbid Joker might be great. It will definitely be a bit different than the previous Batman movies, but that’s what this new Batman movie franchise is doing.
[…] presents The Dark Knight Joker - Will He Be Better Than the Rest? posted at Entertainment […]
jack Nicholson is one of the best actors when it comes to psycho/sociopathic roles his joker character was the best of a villian character in its time cant deny that. but i am very interested to see how ledger did with this role. its hard to compare tho from what i’ve heard about how this role was played.
ledgers joker i hear is more murderous and evil(like i heard the comic joker was) compared to the animated comedic pyschotic joker Nicholson played(like the TV/animated cartoon joker was).
i personally am i huge fan of the original comic book joker, the way it SEEMS to be portrayed in this up coming film is the way the joker was in the comics, phsycotic, deranged, SMART, witty, but a complete NUT, the one thing that seems to be not the same as the comic book is that Heath seems to be wearing make up rather than stained white skin and peeled back lips, i can’t really comment because i havnt seen the movie and don’t know the back story and how it will unfold, if there is one. it could be make up for now and then later he actually gets stained red white and green (remember before he passed away, heath signed on for three movies) unfortunatly we will not ever get to see (in my opinion) the best joker we have ever,and probably WILL ever see,again….
I think Heath will be the best joker. He spent a lot of time developing a psycho killer persona. You really can’t tell it’s him (no australian accent, kinda sounds like Jack Nicholson, aacts completely sadistic) I personally think the negative parts of his character are possitives as well. Does that mean there are no negatives?
From what I’ve seen so far, Christopher Nolan has taken the comic books to an adult level. Instead of a toxic-waste silly face villain, he’s given us a complete sociopath with a brilliant mind who wears clown makeup.. and I get that. Anyone knows when they wear a costume or makeup at Halloween knows that they act… just a bit different. Maybe more outgoing… Or maybe a little.. crazier…
I dont know why every one is raveing about heath, yes he looks good yes his laugh is good but, the film isnt even out yet, at least wait to see it before rating him.
Also why no mention of the legendary performance by mark hamill in the 90`s? best voice so far.
[…] new one. Although it’s not in theaters yet, it’s an interesting and humorous comparison based on whhttp://www.entertainmentbuff.com/dark-knight-joker-compare/IGN: New Dark Knight Trailer DueFeb 20, 2008 … According to DarkHorizons.com, the next trailer for […]
[…] new one. Although it’s not in theaters yet, it’s an interesting and humorous comparison based on whhttp://www.entertainmentbuff.com/dark-knight-joker-compare/The Dark Knight Movie - Dark Knight Movie News, Interviews, CreditsThe dark knight movie news, […]
Hi - just wanted to say good design and blog -
i dont care if i havent seen the new movie yet, heath ledger is the best joker in my opinion. his laugh is not dead on… its the best! i think he looks cooler with makeup instead of white skin. cant wait for the movie
Hello, I fell lucky that I located this post while browsing for new batman movie. I am with you on the topic of k Knight Joker - A Comparison of 3 Jokers. Ironically, I was just putting a lot of thought into this last Sunday.
[…] out first by saying I??m 29 years old and I??ve NEVER read ANY of the original Batman comics …http://www.entertainmentbuff.com/dark-knight-joker-compare/The Joker pictured on Set Batman: The Dark Knight - Movie ChroniclesA news site chronicling the […]
try reading the detective batman comics. you should especially read arkham asylum(graphic novel). they display the darkest and most psychological characters, which this batman movie series mimics. you can’t compare the jokers, they are three different characters based off three different styles.
HEATH LEDGER!
And don’t you waste another second to think who’s the best joker. That was THE Joker!
I’ve been a Batman fan my whole life. Because of all the righteous, all his values, for his obstination, for his purpose… And I’ve always known that the Joker was his nemesis, his oposite… but never, never ever, ever I could figure whow much insane and brilliant The Joker is. And you know something… the villian in the comics is for kids… not a single version of a Joker, either in comics, either in flicks has got closer to this… It’s a whole new level.
I’ve seen the movie last night, and I’m just waiting the theaters to re-open today… because I must see it again!
By the way… if you are someone who is easily impressed… don’t go. If you have kids, take them to see any other movie, seriously!
And… the world lost an amazing actor… please give 2 oscars for Ledger… actor an co-actor… HE was the movie. And belive-me… without him, the movie would had been a blockbuster anyway.
wow… why so serious?!
I must say that Ledger’s/Nolan’s interpretation of the Joker was quite amazing! Forgive me Batman fans, for I never read the comics so I can’t judge the storyline of the movie to them.
However, I can critic good…superb acting when I see it. Heath Ledger’s Joker was twisted, psychopathic, and just plain out evil. After watching Nicholson’s Joker and Romero’s you can’t compare. (Well, you can in a Joker sense) but it’s just not the same. Romero’s and Nicholson’s were portrayed in context of staying in an animated-based style. I think if Nicholson’s and Ledger’s Jokers switched movies, the movies would be doomed.