The Dark Knight What is your ideal portrayal of the Joker?

[TedKordLives]

I posed a similar question in another thread, and I thought it was good enough to discuss further, so here it is:

What is your ideal portrayal of the Joker in the context of this film? Here are the guidelines that you must consider in your response:

1)We know the Joker was already using his "joker" image by the end of Batman Begins

2)We know that he has massive facial scarring around his mouth

3)We know he appears to have flesh colored skin on some parts of his body

4)We know he achieves some part of his appearance through make-up, we just don't know how exstensively it is used.

Following the known facts of the film, what is your ideal portrayal of the Joker?

 

[Batman>all]

i grew up with the Joker from Batman TAS so I would say that is what I think of when I hear Joker.

 

[TDK2186]

A killer with no identification and completely looney. Someone who can't explain his actions, because all he understands is chaos. Someone who is the ultimate counterbalance to Batman's idea of law and order.

 

[Rynan]

Following the known facts of the film, what is your ideal portrayal of the Joker?

A dead one.

 

[Keyser Soze]

I want The Joker to be a darker, more sinister take on a classic villain. I don't want him to be funny, or light-hearted, or endearing. He should be a frightening psychopath, in the vein of a Frank Booth or Don Logan, that sets you on edge whenever he is on screen, because you don't know what he might do, what he is capable of.

I also want the character to be a total mystery. Don't delve into how he got scarred, or why he became The Joker, or who he was before his transformation. He's just The Joker, right from the get-go, and as far as the film is concerned he has no alter ego.

While being utterly insane, he also needs to have the brains to provide a truly worthy challenge for Batman. I want to see The Joker as a master schemer, armed with a plan within a plan within a plan, unfolding like a Chinese puzzle box as the film progresses.

And finally, he needs to do something truly evil, something that deeply hurts Batman, and forever cements his status as Batman's ultimate nemesis in these films. More generally speaking, I want audiences to walk out of "The Dark Knight" thinking they've just witnessed not only the definitive live action Joker, but one of the most evil, most insane villains they've ever seen in a movie.

 

[Delbert_Grady]

He's got to be scary a la Hannibal Lecter, and he's also got to be funny, otherwise... why's he called The Joker? Black humour goes well with horror elements, as the above mentioned cannibal demonstrated. Who can forget that superb line:

I'm having an old friend for dinner?

And again, as with Lecter, we have to believe that this is a truly formidable villain, who can plan and execute the most daring crimes.

 

[Two-Sided-Deal]

Heath Ledger.

 

[Keyser Soze]

He's got to be scary a la Hannibal Lecter, and he's also got to be funny, otherwise... why's he called The Joker? Black humour goes well with horror elements, as the above mentioned cannibal demonstrated. Who can forget that superb line:

I'm having an old friend for dinner?

And again, as with Lecter, we have to believe that this is a truly formidable villain, who can plan and execute the most daring crimes.

One Hannibal Lecter comparison that springs to mind is, through Heath Ledger's performance, The Joker has to have an air of constant menace, and always seem like a threat, even when inactive (or imprisoned). It's all in the eyes. We as audience members have to believe that whenever The Joker isn't DOING something, he's PLANNING something.

 

[Mr. Socko]

TKJ Joker. One that looks and acts exactly like that.

 

[StorminNorman]

I want Keyser Soze to rewrite the script

 

[Keyser Soze]

I want Keyser Soze to rewrite the script

I'm on it.

 

[Victarion]

I never had one, honestly. Nicholson was the only Joker I knew, and as I've said before, I never detected any real threat or menace. Sure, he gassed Gotham at the parade, but it didn't feel threatening at all ot me. Let me put it this way: Pengiun was a bigger threat, in my opinion, than Nicholson's Joker. I like the way TDK's Joker is shaping up. Makeup, outfit, and all. Even if there isn't Joker venom involved, I know this guy's gonna be ****ing dangerous.

 

[StarvingArtist]

Everyone should check out the "Joker Capability" website and read about the more crazier, disturbing antics the Joker has pulled in the past. All of the story arcs on there really do flesh out who the Joker is, what he's about, and that there actually is method to his madness and reason for why he does what he does.

Yes he's a nutjob who commits senseless acts of ultraviolence with reckless abandon and with a certain theatrical humor, charm, and wit. But the Joker's writers gave him a very existential philosophical foundation to be the reason for why he does what he does. In a way, the Joker sees himself almost as a hero. He wants to destroy a world that's capable of creating monsters such as himself, which means the Joker is in fact a person capable of empathy and morals...he just can't control himself from being an animal. That's what makes him the exact opposite of Batman. That's my ideal portrayal of the Joker.

 

[Thespiralgoeson]

TKJ Joker. One that looks and acts exactly like that.

I have to agree. Allen Moore's and Brian Bolland's is the end all be all Joker IMO.

 

[Figs]

The Joker from the comics.

 

[Dvhyzs]

The arkham asylum joker.

 

[Sccmj23]

It's hard for me to say honestly. I love everything Ive seen and heard so far with Heath Ledger's Joker.

I grew up on Batman:TAS so Mark Hammill's Joker holds a special place in my heart. Besides that, I dont really have any definitive Joker. I was too young to remember Jack Nicholson's Joker because I didnt really start getting into Batman as kid until the time Batman Returns and Batman:TAS came out in 92.

Before we even got the first picture of The Joker, in fact before TDK was even announced or even after seeing The Joker card at the end of BB, I wanted Chris Nolan to do something different with the character. Something that would fit into the Batman "world" he created in BB while still keeping true to the character's overall appeal and his history.

So far I think he's done that.....

EDIT - Good idea for a thread btw TedKordLives. We've had way too many BS threads from n00bs lately so this is a good change of pace for The Hype.

 

[FCEEVIPER]

A joker that applies his own make up.

 

[Keyser Soze]

EDIT - Good idea for a thread btw TedKordLives. We've had way too many BS threads from n00bs lately so this is a good change of pace for The Hype.

Yeah, kudos to TedKordLives on a good thread.

 

[C. Zejr]

I want The Joker to be a darker, more sinister take on a classic villain. I don't want him to be funny, or light-hearted, or endearing. He should be a frightening psychopath, in the vein of a Frank Booth or Don Logan, that sets you on edge whenever he is on screen, because you don't know what he might do, what he is capable of.

I also want the character to be a total mystery. Don't delve into how he got scarred, or why he became The Joker, or who he was before his transformation. He's just The Joker, right from the get-go, and as far as the film is concerned he has no alter ego.

While being utterly insane, he also needs to have the brains to provide a truly worthy challenge for Batman. I want to see The Joker as a master schemer, armed with a plan within a plan within a plan, unfolding like a Chinese puzzle box as the film progresses.

And finally, he needs to do something truly evil, something that deeply hurts Batman, and forever cements his status as Batman's ultimate nemesis in these films. More generally speaking, I want audiences to walk out of "The Dark Knight" thinking they've just witnessed not only the definitive live action Joker, but one of the most evil, most insane villains they've ever seen in a movie.

Well said.

 

[FCEEVIPER]

A Neal Addams/Dennis O'Neil Joker would be my choice.

 

[Yurka]

Hannibal painted white with green hair and a giant smile, who laughs alot and is well dressed,

but doesnt eat people.


something like that.

 

[miisterwilson]

heath ledgers portrayal with mark hamills voice

 

[TedKordLives]

My ideal Joker is half Hannibal Lecter, half Alex DeLarge. A theatrical mastermind whose best laid plans all revolve around his willingness to indulge his basest instincts. He's got no fear, no remorse, and a truckload of charisma and conviction. He's Batman's opposite to a T. He makes elaborate plans, brilliant, almost unattainable in their complexity, all for the sole purpose of serving his own whims to create utter chaos. He's like Eric Cartman in that his plans may have no purpose other than to amuse himself, or serve some dark impulse, yet at the same time the plans themselves are so elaborate they may take years to reach the "punchline." And THAT is the ultimate joke. Batman and the police will spend countless hours trying to figure out the Joker's motivations, the "why" of his plan, and the answer is simply, "because."

As far as his appearance, I could care less if he's permanently white, or wears make-up. I'd love it if he was perma-white, cause I'd love a scene after he's arrested where Gordon is giving the "No prints, no tags, etc." dialogue, and then Batman says, "What about his skin? Did he do that himself?" and Gordon replies, "He won't say, he just laughs and laughs..."

I'd love a John Doe level of origin. You get insight, and you get some background, but no full origin.

That's what I'm hoping for.

 

[FCEEVIPER]

The look:

The voice:

The story: