The Dark Knight The Man Who Laughs: The Joker Thread 2.0

[magicangel1989]

I am both a Nicholson fan and a Ledger fan. It doesn't matter who was better, Heath or Jack. Both men had their own different versions of the Joker and both played the character exceptionally.

But, i guess if i have to choose, then my choice would be Heath Ledger, may he rest in peace.

 

[fabman]

Heath Ledger surpassed Jack Nicholson for me. It was amazing. I thought he was great from the beginning, but the scene with Gambol was the one where I was like "where the **** is the Oscar? Now! No need to wait until next year".

 

[GCityCoffee]

I wanted to hear Joker's third story about his scars. But it was definitely sweet when batman said, "I know how you got these," and shot the spikes out of his arm.

 

[Nepenthes]

why is this thread on the 3rd page?

the Joker as he appears in Mortal Kombat VS DC. I might be buying my first console since the N64! I loved Mortal Kombat. There's already Catwoman in it I hope they have Robin

larger image

Spoiler

[/IMG]

 

[Ace of Knaves]

mortal kombat is bad ass! the last one they releases was pritty crap though. is this new one on 360?

 

[CaptainClown]

I like the idea of playing as the joker in MK vs. DC. however I think the concept is insanely weak.

 

[Dr Strange]

I completely loved heath ledger's joker, i went in the cinema with high expectations and i came out with all of them surpassed, i am still a big fan of Jack Nicholson and always will be but Heath to me is the definitive interpretation of the Joker.

 

[Nepenthes]

I like the idea of playing as the joker in MK vs. DC. however I think the concept is insanely weak.

the concept of MK vs DC? or the Joker design? what's wrong with it?

 

[titan101]

why is this thread on the 3rd page?

the Joker as he appears in Mortal Kombat VS DC. I might be buying my first console since the N64! I loved Mortal Kombat. There's already Catwoman in it I hope they have Robin

larger image

Spoiler

[/IMG]

looks pretty damn awesome .

 

[regwec]

Ledger was brilliant, but his Joker is a slightly different entity to the comicbook equivalent, in my mind. I read a review which stated that "he isn't really playing The Joker. He's playing the Devil". I think that's about right. The comicbook Joker has strengths and weaknesses, and he can be intimidated, outwitted, and beaten into submission. Ledger's Joker seems to be physically and psychologically next to invulnerable, as well as being endlessly resourceful, and with some kind of corrupting philosophy.

I really like both, and Ledger's Joker is fantastic achievement for writer, director and actor. But they are a little different.

 

[terry78]

Nolan made this Joker actually a little crazier than he's been depicted before. His other incarnations don't really give a rat's ass about anything either, but if something goes wrong or if Bats gets too harsh, he does have a breaking point.

 

[kainedamo]

Ledger shouldn't get an Oscar for this.

He should have got an Oscar for Brokeback Mountain.

 

[Jamie Madrox]

I loved Ledger as The Joker. The scene when he was walking out of the Hospital was hillarious. It makes you laugh. You're suppose to hate the character, but you can't help but love him.

I'm pretty sure no one will ever do with The Joker what Heath Ledger did with him. He was perfect.

R.I.P. big guy.

 

[ronny]

Just wanted to say that Ledger is absolutely fantastic as The Joker, every scene he's in had my undivided attention, I was laughing at some of the things he was doing and then, no joke, staring with my mouth open at the sick stuff he was doing and just how screwed up he was. I mean, I heard about his conflicting origin stories but when he had Gambol and the music began to play, that screeching sound building up. I was floored.
And here are some other bits I like:

- The Joker falling out of the truck and shooting anything that moves, for a long time this was my most anticipated moment, him loosing his rag completely, and I was not disappointed in the slightest.

- When Batman is coming towards him on the Batpod, his little mutterings: "Come on, do it, do it, do it, I want you to do it". This guy really doesn't care about what happens to him and that is terrifying.

- "I knew your friends better than you did". That bit was so far-out and loopy that Ledger, for a moment, reminded me of Charles Manson. He was just this spaced out headcase sputing off nonsense as though it were the gospel truth.

- The Joker denying that he's crazy.

Seriously, see this film. The hype was justified, Ledger nailed that role.

but if something goes wrong or if Bats gets too harsh, he does have a breaking point.

To a point perhaps but mostly I feel that The Joker's attitude depends on his mood. It can go from him being an unstoppable killing machine to someone wallowing in self pity. I mean, at the end of The Killing Joke, when Batman's finally cornered him he basically says "Go ahead and beat me up" as though he's truly tired of it. And yet in Arkham Asylum he is totally comfortable with his role. Mocking Batman at every turn and yet protecting his identity from the other inmates. He's a surprisingly complex character because he has the appearance of being two dimensional. Ledger was a comic accurate representation of The Joker but it depends what comic you're talking about. Because one minute he's a force of nature and the next he would be quite content to, oh, I dunno, challenge Batman to a surfing competition.

 

[The Caped Knight]

why is this thread on the 3rd page?

the Joker as he appears in Mortal Kombat VS DC. I might be buying my first console since the N64! I loved Mortal Kombat. There's already Catwoman in it I hope they have Robin

larger image

Spoiler

Nice , Although I think The Joker's hair color need to be a darker shade of Green & his lips needs a darker red .

 

[CaptainClown]

the concept of MK vs DC? or the Joker design? what's wrong with it?

The concept of MK vs. DC. The design is fine.

 

[ronny]

I dislike the design. It's not that I don't like Ross' Joker it's just that Bolland's is better.

 

[Quoink]

I find it funny that Joker wears a "I believe in Harvey Dent" Campaign Sticker on his uniform when he is disguised as a nurse in the hospital.

 

[Nepenthes]

Ledger was brilliant, but his Joker is a slightly different entity to the comicbook equivalent, in my mind. I read a review which stated that "he isn't really playing The Joker. He's playing the Devil". I think that's about right. The comicbook Joker has strengths and weaknesses, and he can be intimidated, outwitted, and beaten into submission. Ledger's Joker seems to be physically and psychologically next to invulnerable, as well as being endlessly resourceful, and with some kind of corrupting philosophy.

I really like both, and Ledger's Joker is fantastic achievement for writer, director and actor. But they are a little different.

Glad you enjoyed it. I have to disagree on Ledgers Joker seeming nigh invulnerable though. There's instances where he seems deeply hurt. Sometimes defensive or self-delusional. They're so subtle. Maybe it's my just own viewing though. I did notice it more the second time I watched it.

How do you feel about the whole perma-white thing now?

The concept of MK vs. DC. The design is fine.

It seems like marketing gold for MK but yeah it does seem slightly mismatched otherwise doesn't it. They could have picked the heroes better, I'm not sure what Captain Marvel is really doing there. Apparently the storyline involves the DC heroes taking a powers hit too, they're more vulnerable in MK land or something.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

nepenthes i completly agree with you about the instances when joker is deeply hurt. its like he really has had the worst life ever, maybe chilhood abuse or something and he turns that hatred outwards towards everyone else. its like he wants people to share his pain and i think that is his main motivation. he would rather die than be alone in his pure anguish IMO

 

[CaptainClown]

I have heard many takes on Ledgers Jokers personality. It depends on how you are viewing it. One was that Joker was very clearly sane he just acts insane to throw people off. A couple are what were mentioned above that he was hurt before and that broke him down, or he was just insanely driven by hate. I think with all these different takes on the character I believe Heath tapped into what truly makes the Joker tick.

 

[Superhobo]

That was one of the greater touches to the character - that, even without the bleached skin, their own use of his retrospective multiplicity worked perfectly in the context of the character - I loved his use of it as a form of intimidation.

 

[ronny]

How do you feel about the whole perma-white thing now?

Truthfully it never bothered me, because the acting was always more important than the bleaching. Would I have liked to see him permanently white? Sure, it wouldn't have detracted from the character in any way whatsoever.
But, when you introduce the bleaching you get the baggage. In this case The Red Hood. Give me some ambiguity about how he got like that and I'll feel more favourably about it.
But as long as you have this evil force of nature starting off as a guy in a penis hat I will always be in favour of the make-up look.
In fact, unless they were to remove the Red Hood nonsense entirely I would be in favour of introducing the Hoboker into the comic continuity.
I mean, Nolan got it. He realy got it. A guy as dangerous as The Joker is infinitely more powerful with no origin. He came from nothing and you've got nothing to scare him with because he has seperated himself from all humanity. It works on so many levels.
But I'm still not sure that we ever saw The Joker out of his make-up. Did you see his face during the cop scene? It looked unnatural. Like a mask.
And did they alter his voice digitally? When he was screaming at the Fake Batman his voice barely sounded human. Superb acting or technical trickery?

 

[Ace of Knaves]

they could of made him permawhite without bleaching. he could just be really pale like he hasnt seen the light of day for years, i've seen a lot of people who look unaturally white. but overall i think the fact he wears makeup more unsettling, people say they didnt like the way he looked in the interrogation scene where it was all smeary but i thought he looked creepier and more un-human than ever there. it was like his face was rotting or something.

 

[DarthCyclopsRLZ]

Finally saw the flick last night.

Ledger's Joker was pure awesome.

Not quite the comics' Joker, but him being one tough S.O.B. worked great.