So I just watched the Joker scenes from TDK for the first time in a couple years and..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqlNSVZpbAg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnOLhXmhkyA
holy crap! I'm starting to think its not fair to compare Leto's Joker to that. I always loved the performance, thought it deserved the oscar but remember feeling that it wasnt the true Joker. Having said that it just goes to show how much writing, tension, acting and directing can make you forget about whats a true representation or not.
Based on everything I've read there are 4 reasons why its not fair to compare Leto's to Heath's Joker.
1. Heath was the main villain of TDK. His presence was felt throughout the movie as he was the primary threat. This meant the stakes were higher. In SS it appears there is someone else who is the main villain. I fear the Joker just provides context to Harley Quinn and then maybe later on we follow him as a villain. Heath was the villain from the beginning to end. Yes, I count Dent's transformation as part of keeping the Joker's presence ongoing.
2. Leto's taken a lot of breaks from set. I'm also kind of worried that they used the Joker to really sell the movie and hype it up. Similar to how Batman Assault on Arkham was the name used to give us the SS movie in 2014. Part of me wonders if The Joker just gets about 25 mins of screen time setting up the eventual Batfleck movie.
3. While I think Ayer directs action better than Nolan. I hope he can provide the layers and dialogue for The Joker the way Nolan did. That was just a very well written character. Everything he said had greater meaning. I also like how it made for great discussion afterwards. Ayer the writer has an extreme challenge to make this Joker as complex as the one before it.
4. Just not enough Batman/Joker. Its a SS movie so cant get upset about it. But their dynamic is what makes them so great.
Now having said all that. I'm on board in believing Leto's Joker will be awesome. I just fear we wont see the real Joker in full effect until Batfleck's movie. I'm loving the dead Robin angle and hope they can expand upon that in a future movie. I think Leto's Joker truly represents the Joker who has tortured Batman psychologically for years. Unlike before in previous movies where it was just the beginning for them.
I've been so excited about Leto's Joker and still am. But having watched TDK recently I may need to temper my expectations for the Joker in this movie.