So tell me, what was wrong with B89's Joker?

[Bat-Mite]

This movie is too old for them, they weren't born yet.

I'm sure that's true for some folks, but not for me. Actually, I was four years old when I saw the movie in the theater, and I admit that I loved it then. However, I also loved the Adam West Batman reruns back then. If it was Batman, I couldn't get enough of it. But as the years went by, the rose tinted glasses came off and just as I started to see Adam West's Batman for what it was, I also started to become more critical of Batman 89 and stopped blindly thinking that Jack's Joker was the best thing that ever happened to Batman.

Fact is, every thing Nicholson did in Batman '89 was completely in character of the Joker. Batman '89 has several flaws, Jack Nicholson as The Joker is not one of them.

I don't think I ever remember the Joker in the comics getting horny over anybody. I've read plenty of Batman comics from every era and don't remember anything like that, but if it has happened, anyone can feel free to correct me. The closest thing to it I know of has been in recent times when he's hooked up with Harley Quinn. However, he uses Harley to bail him out of tight spots more than anything. She's hopelessly devoted to him and will do anything for him, so he knows he can use her. It's not a real attraction on his part.

Having said that, the scene where he squirts acid at Vicki in the museum does make up for it a bit, as does the part where he's trying to knock both her and Bats off of the cathedral. But the part that bothered me the most was where Vicki was all of a sudden getting frisky with him (when she'd shown nothing but revulsion for him before) and he fell for it and got punched in the face by Bats. I just can't see the Joker in the comics falling for something like that, or being enough of a horndog for it to work on him in the first place. I'm not saying that the Joker can't be fooled.. he has been many times, I'm sure. I just don't think that particular trick would have worked on him.

Jack is as much the Joker as Mark Hamill. People who don't see the Joker in him are trying their best not to.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on that. Mark Hamill has become so iconic for me as the Joker that I hear his voice in my head whenever I read the Joker's parts in the comic books. Jack was never anywhere near that to me, even when I was little and thought that movie was one of the best movies in existence.

I think one of the biggest problems for me was Jack's voice as the Joker. That voice was just his regular speaking voice, and he sounded way too serious most of the time. I know, in the comic books you can't really hear a character's voice, so it shouldn't really matter too much. But it does to me. Mark Hamill's Joker voice almost always had a humorous tone to it (though he could also be quite serious with that voice, like in the flashback scene of Return of the Joker). One of the things that I think I'm going to enjoy about the new Joker is that he does seem to have that slightly cartoony sound to his voice, though it's hard to tell for sure just based on the few seconds that he speaks in the teaser.

 

[dude stannis]

Jack's a class act. He even said on the B'89 SE that this is the only movie he's ever shilled. When he talked it up at the '89 Oscars. That speaks volumes about how much he loved the role.

 

[Darkness Falls]

I can not really see anything wrong with b89 joker
he was perfect for that direction

 

[GoogleMe94]

i can already see some major problems with heaths joker. but for jack, there is nothing wrong with jacks joker. nothing.

 

[Redwoods Wolf]

Jack Nicholson's Joker (to me) seemed like he could very easily come up with the Laughing Fish scheme, as well as shooting Barbara Gordon in the spine, all in the same day. He's so light-hearted in the scene with Vicki in her apartment, but at the same time so cold and sadistic. He giggles over the fact that he has caused someone to commit suicide. Then there's his commercial, where he's cavorting and dancing around in a zany advertisement, telling people everywhere they might have already poisoned themselves. Jack embodied the Joker perfectly. Well see how the "fearless shark" does.

 

[Bat-Mite]

i can already see some major problems with heaths joker. but for jack, there is nothing wrong with jacks joker. nothing.

I'm guessing that you're talking strictly appearance-wise? Because we don't know that much about the TDK Joker's actions, and what little we do know seems to fit the character perfectly.

Jack Nicholson's Joker (to me) seemed like he could very easily come up with the Laughing Fish scheme, as well as shooting Barbara Gordon in the spine, all in the same day. He's so light-hearted in the scene with Vicki in her apartment, but at the same time so cold and sadistic. He giggles over the fact that he has caused someone to commit suicide. Then there's his commercial, where he's cavorting and dancing around in a zany advertisement, telling people everywhere they might have already poisoned themselves. Jack embodied the Joker perfectly. Well see how the "fearless shark" does.

A lot of the Joker's actions in the Batman '89 movie were classic Joker, I must admit. However, (and I'm sure that I'm gonna get flamed for this) I think it would have come across better if they'd found a better actor for the part. Nicholson always seemed humorless to me in the role, no matter how silly his antics on screen were meant to be. The humor from him all seemed forced, and whenever he laughed, it was usually no more than a light chuckle. Not once did I hear the maniacal laughter that I associate with the Joker (he came close to having that laugh in the plastic surgeon scene, but not close enough).

I think Robin Williams might have done a better job in the role. There's no question that he could get the humorous side down. I used to question whether or not he could get the psychotic side down, but with relatively recent movies like One Hour Photo and Insomnia, I think he could have pulled it off. He also said that one of his favorite comics was Arkham Asylum, and whether you love or hate that story, you can't deny that it's dark, so I think he would have given us a pretty dark Joker. Also, Nicholson had it set up to where he walked off with a good chunk of the money that movie made. There's nothing wrong with that, I mean.. who wouldn't want to make that much money? I'm just saying that for him, it was more about the money than the role, whereas for Williams it would have been the opposite, so I think it could have been better because it would have come from the heart. I'm not saying that Nicholson is a bad actor.. I loved him in A Few Good Men. I'm just saying that he was a mediocre Joker, IMO.

 

[The Joker]

However, (and I'm sure that I'm gonna get flamed for this) I think it would have come across better if they'd found a better actor for the part. Nicholson always seemed humorless to me in the role, no matter how silly his antics on screen were meant to be. The humor from him all seemed forced, and whenever he laughed, it was usually no more than a light chuckle. Not once did I hear the maniacal laughter that I associate with the Joker (he came close to having that laugh in the plastic surgeon scene, but not close enough).

Couldn't disagree more with you.

 

[CConn]

The only correct answer for this question is nothing.

 

[Bat-Mite]

To me, the "only" correct answer would be that he's the most overrated version of the character in existence. But to each their own.

 

[The Joker]

Jack deserves every ounce of praise he gets for his portrayl of The Joker, IMO.

He was fantastic. Enjoyed every second of him on screen.

 

[El Payaso]

To me, the "only" correct answer would be that he's the most overrated version of the character in existence.

And deservedly so. He was better than words.

 

[GoogleMe94]

I'm guessing that you're talking strictly appearance-wise? Because we don't know that much about the TDK Joker's actions, and what little we do know seems to fit the character perfectly.

yep, pretty much.

 

[BatJeff7786]

I thought Nicholson was good, but he did ham it up a bit at times. But he was still damn good.

 

[GoogleMe94]

you need to ham it up as joker. its almost inevitable with that character. i have no doubt ledger will have his hammy moments as joker, because its a major part of the character.

 

[CConn]

To me, the "only" correct answer would be that he's the most overrated version of the character in existence. But to each their own.

And to the world, you're an utter moron.

But yeah, to each his own.

 

[Bat-Mite]

How mature of you.

 

[CConn]

That's a horrible comeback.

 

[Mr. Socko]

I thought Nicholson was good, but he did ham it up a bit at times. But he was still damn good.

You can't have a ham and cheese sandwich without the ham!

 

[BingoJesus]

you need to ham it up as joker. its almost inevitable with that character. i have no doubt ledger will have his hammy moments as joker, because its a major part of the character.

Bang on dude. If anyone's expecting Nolan's Joker to be so "real" that there's no ham/fun/o.t.t. behaviour they're going to be pretty surprised.

 

[El Payaso]

Nicholson always seemed humorless to me in the role, no matter how silly his antics on screen were meant to be. The humor from him all seemed forced, and whenever he laughed, it was usually no more than a light chuckle. Not once did I hear the maniacal laughter that I associate with the Joker (he came close to having that laugh in the plastic surgeon scene, but not close enough).

You need desperately to watch the movie.

 

[Bat-Mite]

That's a horrible comeback.

It was more of an observation on how, being unable to accept that someone has an opinion that's different than your own, you have to resort to childish name-calling. I don't get off on such behavior personally, but hey, if that's your thing, feel free to continue. But don't complain if you end up having to face the consequences of your actions.

You need desperately to watch the movie.

Actually, I watched it shortly before I made that post yesterday. I can see where some of you guys are coming from, and some of your posts have actually made me a bit more respectful towards Jack's take. Still, I stand by what I said about him coming off as humorless to me.

 

[DocLathropBrown]

It was more of an observation on how, being unable to accept that someone has an opinion that's different than your own, you have to resort to childish name-calling. I don't get off on such behavior personally, but hey, if that's your thing, feel free to continue. But don't complain if you end up having to face the consequences of your actions.

CConn knows how it works here, newbie. You don't. So acting like you "told" him is utter nonsense. If anything, you'll slip-up long before he does.

 

[Bat-Mite]

CConn knows how it works here, newbie. You don't. So acting like you "told" him is utter nonsense. If anything, you'll slip-up long before he does.

I really couldn't care less about either of your poor attempts to bait me. I came here to discuss comics/comic book movies, not to engage in name-calling contests/flame wars. Does calling me a "newbie" make you feel like a big man? LOL

Also, could we get back to discussing the topic? Thanks.

 

[CConn]

It was more of an observation on how, being unable to accept that someone has an opinion that's different than your own, you have to resort to childish name-calling. I don't get off on such behavior personally, but hey, if that's your thing, feel free to continue. But don't complain if you end up having to face the consequences of your actions.

It's neither childishness nor an ability to accept your opinion that unfortunately forced me to resort to name calling. What did it was simply the fact that you're obviously an utter dick.

 

[CConn]

And the topic will be whatever I decide it to be.

If it's monkeys I feel like discussing, it shall be monkeys.