Who played the better Joker? Nicholson or Ledger?

[3peet]

I will agree with this statement even though I have yet to see the movie. I also agree with Dsethi among others, I can not imagine this clown from Brokeback Mountain and Knights Tale being able to blow Jack out of the water with this performance. Lets see if actuallyseeing the movie changes my opinion.

Highly disagree. NES you have no bearing especially since you haven't seen ths movie. I"m not selling you people to watch it either. In addition I"m not a fan of comic book /franchise movies. I simply don't think they can lift those inate, descriptive story lines off the pages of those books. Thats why I never bother with the Hulk, Ironman, Fantastic 4, Spidey movies. I just don't think they're worth it. This coming from an old comic book collector who followed the Dark Knight series.

That being said. The Dark Knight is hands downt he best movie of the summer. Its hard to tell whether Heaths passing makes this movie better. In my unbiased opinion, I honestly don't think so. It's a great movie all around. As for the Joker comparison? Heath Ledger turned this performance into a masterpiece. Reason why; after the 1st 20 minutes of the movie, I forgot I was watching Heath Ledger and instead watching this crazy, lunatic, psychopath.

 

[SlashednThrashed]

Apples and oranges.
Two different style of actors.
Two different interpertations.

Can't go wrong with either.

Well said....

If I had to choose...It would be Ledger...I like that savage sinister persona he brings...

 

[Biggamer3]

Undoubtedly if there was a poll with 1000 people done today Heath's joker would have 85% of the vote

God, he would have been so huge if he was still alive, a role like this would have made him an A+ listed movie star

 

[NES]

Highly disagree. NES you have no bearing especially since you haven't seen ths movie. I"m not selling you people to watch it either. In addition I"m not a fan of comic book /franchise movies. I simply don't think they can lift those inate, descriptive story lines off the pages of those books. Thats why I never bother with the Hulk, Ironman, Fantastic 4, Spidey movies. I just don't think they're worth it. This coming from an old comic book collector who followed the Dark Knight series.

That being said. The Dark Knight is hands downt he best movie of the summer. Its hard to tell whether Heaths passing makes this movie better. In my unbiased opinion, I honestly don't think so. It's a great movie all around. As for the Joker comparison? Heath Ledger turned this performance into a masterpiece. Reason why; after the 1st 20 minutes of the movie, I forgot I was watching Heath Ledger and instead watching this crazy, lunatic, psychopath.

It was easy to forget it was Heath because unlike Jack you havent seen the guy in a million movies spanning the last forty years. He definately had the advantage because his biggest picture to date, Broke Back Mountain was not seen by 90% of the straight male population. There is a reason why Jack Nicholson is still relevent today and Heath Ledger is famous for making a queer cowboy movie and being dead. Sorry but this happens everytime somebody dies, why do you think Nirvana Unplugged sold so many albums, sure it was a great album but is quality really what the public is thinking about when they are purchasing music or movie tickets? Answer: Fuck No.

 

[DodgerFan1]

NES.... we're discussing the Joker here, now you're hurting my feelings, lets not discuss Nirvana in here, I might snap

 

[3peet]

It was easy to forget it was Heath because unlike Jack you havent seen the guy in a million movies spanning the last forty years. He definately had the advantage because his biggest picture to date, Broke Back Mountain was not seen by 90% of the straight male population. There is a reason why Jack Nicholson is still relevent today and Heath Ledger is famous for making a queer cowboy movie and being dead. Sorry but this happens everytime somebody dies, why do you think Nirvana Unplugged sold so many albums, sure it was a great album but is that really what the public thinks about when purchasing something. Answer: Fuck No.

Don't forget The Patriot, 10 Things I hate, and Monster among others. He may not have the breadth of work obviously because were comparing a living legend to an up and coming actor.

I"m really not trying to add the factor that he died to hype this comparison. What based my comparison is that Nicholsons joker (albeit a different time and style) was still Nicholson playing the joker. As for Ledger? Like I said, I forgot all about the actor and instead followed the character. Trust me I too have the Batman VHS's.

btw..Brandon Lee's nor Kurt Cobain's passing never hyped me to watch The Crow or buy Smells Like Teen Spirit.

 

[NES]

Unknown actors allow a viewer to concentrate more on the character than the person playing it, True or False?

 

[3peet]

Ledger was passed the "unknown" stage. we all know he made his name from Brokeback.

 

[SportSavant]

Looking forward to seening this film

 

[Biggamer3]

For those saying everyone is applauding Heaths Joker because of his death, i wasnt that into the previous Batman movies, but months before his death i was reading in the entertainment magazines about the new Batman (this one) and they were saying that Heaths version of the joker was so good it could win an Oscar.

This was months before the sympathy police got involved.

Now i truly believe Heath could have farted in every scene instead of speaking and he woulda gotten a nomination

 

[3peet]

lol...well this discussion made me wanna watch it again. ....so I did.

Pretty much the same reaction. And the same appreciation in the effort of work put into this role.

My conclusion? He is either an extremely talented actor or the Joker was the perfect role for him to transform himself into this sadistic, sick fuck character. Best scene's IMO are his videocam scenes. "I"m a man of my worrrddddd. bwwwuuhhahahaha"

 

[ChalksR4Kids]

One more thumbs up for Cesar Romero.

 

[FuriousDrew]

Have to say Heath. I tried to watch it objectively and not put the role on a pedestal because he's dead and of all the hype that's been shoved down everyone's throats and he still blew me away in that role.

The whole cast was great in Dark Knight but the Joker drove the whole movie and stole the show IMO....heath completely disappeared in that role and became the Joker....watching Jack you can still see his own usual nuances with the character. Maybe it's my personal preference towards darker movies but I thought Heath was brilliant.

 

[royboy_3831]

ledger

 

[jay6s]

ledger that psychopath crazy calculating character he managed to put together is just too good, jack's performance is great but heath's is extraordinary..

 

[BronxCheer+]

Ledger!

Jack was more into a scary joker for the kids
Ledger on the other hand looks real and scary as shit

 

[MrJ]

a role like this would have made him an A+ listed movie star

Already was.

Ledger was passed the "unknown" stage. we all know he made his name from Brokeback.

Yes, but that wasn't what NES was suggesting. He's asking whether not knowing the actor allows us to more easily immersed in the story and believe the character, since we don't know them as anyone else. I would say yes, providing the acting is up to par. Example, with Nicholson's joker we can't help but compare that performance with his other performances, and obviously we see a similar style. The same could be said for Pacino or DeNiro, as in their movies we tend to think of them as Pacino and DeNiro. With an unknown you have nothing to compare to, so if it is a good performance it may be more believable because it feels more original.

 

[3peet]

to those who've seen it already... Is it me or does BDK's Joker look more like Jermy "Ari Gold" Piven behind that make-up?? LOL

 

[NES]

Watched the movie and you guys are right, he was great in the role but it is(as someone previously stated) like comparing apples an oranges.

 

[NES]

I actually watched both versions yesterday, after leaving the theatre I went directly to the video store to get the original. I had forgotten how old that movie was. The biggest difference between the two is that the Dark Knight version was more of your typical Hollywood action movie whereas Burton's version was more true to the comics and was more theatrical than realistic. I never get bored of Burton's handy-work, that film was truly a masterpiece whereas the newer one will be forgotten in a few years.