The Dark Knight Nicholson on Ledger playing the Joker

[copperbush]

Ledger vs Nicholson who cares. The real winner are the fans who get to enjoy their performances.

 

[Damiean Dark]

^Yeah JN is was a legend as joker Heath, though i have some complaints, looks exciting so we have never had it so good for interpretations of the clown prince of crime.

 

[DA Dent]

Exactly, Nicholson isn't being replaced. His version of the Joker was and still is commended by fans from all over.

I grew up on Nicholson's version and liked that interpretation very much. And Ledger is going to bring a whole new angle to the Joker, which from what I've seen in the trailers looks outstanding.

 

[Mladen]

sounds like he's under the impression that the Nolan movies are sequels to the Burton films (like Forever and B&R).
I'm not so sure its common knowledge that Batman Begins and Dark Knight are re-imaginings of the comics, not sequels to the burton films. I know a lot of people I've talked to are confused. They all ask me, "But didn't the Joker die in the first Batman movie?"

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Exactly, and according to David Goyer, that was "a big mistake". He described the Joker as being Batman's main nemesis, similar to Lex Luthor and Superman. A few years ago (shortly after "Begins" came out), Goyer gave a vague description of what he wanted from the other 2 films.

Spoiler

He said he wanted the Joker as the main villain in #2, but rather than killing him, he'd be arrested and put on trial. At this point, either the Joker or crime lord Maroni would wind up scarring Harvey Dent with acid, creating Two-Face in the process.

 

[Nightmare]

Ledger vs Nicholson who cares. The real winner are the fans who get to enjoy their performances.

 

[Ledlunar]

yea but we can pick our faves I put the "Diniverse" Joker in there too, he's tops, Not Ceasar Romero though he can **** off. Rest His Soul.

 

[Lead_Tester]

Uhmmm, hello? That's the DAMN point of the Joker. He's not supposed to look like a ****ed-up maniac. He's supposed to look like a harmless, entertaining clown, who all of a sudden turns into a visious sadist. It's all about the "darkness hidden beneath a harmless facade". That's the draw of the character. That's what Chucky and the Joker have in common. One is a toy, something that is supposed to bring joy, the other a clown, something that is supposed to give people a laugh and entertain them.

What?
Who told you that?

I don't think you know the Joker at all.

 

[Doctor Baywatch]

What?
Who told you that?

I don't think you know the Joker at all.

well, it depends on the artist but in many cases his statement is true.

 

[Argyle of Sock]

I've commented in the past on how if you look at Ledger-Joker from a distance he does kind of look like a friendly clown, but as you get closer and closer, it becomes clearer and clearer that that's not the case at all.

 

[Crook]

I've commented in the past on how if you look at Ledger-Joker from a distance he does kind of look like a friendly clown, but as you get closer and closer, it becomes clearer and clearer that that's not the case at all.

That's not the case from ANY distance. What kind of friendly clowns were you around with?

 

[Secret_Riddle]

Its like he thinks the Dark Knight is a sequal to Batman 89.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

Why cant people just accept that they're two totally different versions of the character, we dont have to pick one or the other.

 

[terry78]

Jack's Joker attempting to woo Gotham with free money and promises while debasing Batman is exactly what the comic Joker would do, so I don't see how people say it wasn't accurate.

 

[Victarion]

Jack's Joker attempting to woo Gotham with free money and promises while debasing Batman is exactly what the comic Joker would do, so I don't see how people say it wasn't accurate.

Yeah, I was in the crowd that said something like that. Then I realized Ledger and Nicholson are two sides of the same coin that is the Joker. Wow, a Joker reference and a Two-Face reference. Go Morzan.

Combine the two and you have Joker wooing Gotham with free money, then busting out the shotgun for a twenty one gun salute gone awry.

 

[Moviebuff22]

Long time reader. first time poster.

In my opinion Jack Nicholson did do right in the interpretation of Burton's Joker, and I can cite that with two scenes where he nails the insanity on the nose.

1) The scene after the surgery of the Joker, I love that Burton created that mystery of his face until that first "real reveal." My reasoning for loving this scene is simply: the laugh. Nicholson's laugh is beautiful in its insanity and the shadow his body creates still keeps that gangster feel from his origin. It's very film noir-esque with a new Burton feel.

2) The second scene of The Joker where I see Jack nail it is the reveal of the Joker in the office of Jack Palance when we first see his face in the shadow, but still very clearly. We see a really sadistic Joker and when he shoots him to the carnival music, we get a fun Joker. Overall though my absolute favorite iconic image of Nicholson as the Joker is when he sits in the desk and the lighting perfectly reflects his face and you see the real turmoil in this demented clown. As he flips through the paper and pounds the desk, iconic to say the least. In fact I almost see that Nicholson a little bit in Ledger.

I love Batman '89, but as I watch it again, I saw Nicholson later on as to much of a funny man and less as a sadistic murderer, I look forward to the Ledger performance and I hope we have a Joker for a new generation.

 

[Victarion]

Good points. That scene in Grissom's office is ony of my favorite bits from Batman 1989.

 

[The Battousai]

Long time reader. first time poster.

In my opinion Jack Nicholson did do right in the interpretation of Burton's Joker, and I can cite that with two scenes where he nails the insanity on the nose.

1) The scene after the surgery of the Joker, I love that Burton created that mystery of his face until that first "real reveal." My reasoning for loving this scene is simply: the laugh. Nicholson's laugh is beautiful in its insanity and the shadow his body creates still keeps that gangster feel from his origin. It's very film noir-esque with a new Burton feel.

2) The second scene of The Joker where I see Jack nail it is the reveal of the Joker in the office of Jack Palance when we first see his face in the shadow, but still very clearly. We see a really sadistic Joker and when he shoots him to the carnival music, we get a fun Joker. Overall though my absolute favorite iconic image of Nicholson as the Joker is when he sits in the desk and the lighting perfectly reflects his face and you see the real turmoil in this demented clown. As he flips through the paper and pounds the desk, iconic to say the least. In fact I almost see that Nicholson a little bit in Ledger.

I love Batman '89, but as I watch it again, I saw Nicholson later on as to much of a funny man and less as a sadistic murderer, I look forward to the Ledger performance and I hope we have a Joker for a new generation.

Those two scenes ARE the Joker in that movie t: Sadly, though, there wasn't as much after that...still enjoyable though

My one quandary with how they did the Joker in this movie is that they masked Jack's great smile by putting that stupid prosthetic on. Trust me - watch The Shining! I wish his performance in Batman '89 was as good as the one in that movie - one of the reasons it wasn't, I'm sure, is that Burton doesn't push his actors to the limits that Kubrick did in order to get the perfect cut. What could have been...

 

[Mr. Socko]

Joker is my favorite Nicholson role.


I also like the scene where he is in the surgeon's office, but I think it would have been 10x better had the camera panned to his shadow and showed him stabbing the doctor with one of the bloody sharp instruments, all while laughing hysterically.

 

[Moviebuff22]

oooh Mr. Socko that is quite evil, nice idea

Another thing of Jack is this and backtothefront8 makes a point, The Shining was what? early 80s well Jack's face was starting to get bigger and less joker-ish

My perfect Jack Nicholson-Joker would have been the times of One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest, I mean what better time to jump into a crazy clown who eventually reaches an asylum, after you played a lunatic in an asylum just before. Hmmmm....seems logical don't it..and I know not exactly the place, but have you guys heard the Coen's were offered a Batman film before Burton?

 

[CaptainClown]

My favorite Nicholson role probably is Jack Torrance. I dunno I really liked him in Easy Rider.

 

[The Battousai]

My favorite Nicholson role probably is Jack Torrance. I dunno I really liked him in Easy Rider.

*whimpers* "Honeeey? You hurt my head reeal baaad - I think I need to go to the doctor..."



"I'm not gonna hurt ya - honey? Darling? Light of my life! I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm jusst gonna basssh your ****ing brains in."

 

[CaptainClown]

*whimpers* "Honeeey? You hurt my head reeal baaad - I think I need to go to the doctor..."

honey, darling! light of my life! Im not going to hurt, I am just going to bash your (blank) brains in!

heh I am going to watch that tonight

 

[Mr. Socko]

oooh Mr. Socko that is quite evil, nice idea

Another thing of Jack is this and backtothefront8 makes a point, The Shining was what? early 80s well Jack's face was starting to get bigger and less joker-ish

My perfect Jack Nicholson-Joker would have been the times of One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest, I mean what better time to jump into a crazy clown who eventually reaches an asylum, after you played a lunatic in an asylum just before. Hmmmm....seems logical don't it..and I know not exactly the place, but have you guys heard the Coen's were offered a Batman film before Burton?

I never knew that, but that probably would have been pretty cool. Btw, welcome to the Hype!

 

[CaptainClown]

The Coens I think could do a great fantasy batman.