Who is the better Joker?

[pjsnyc]

Finally got a chance to see Dark Knight recently. Simply an amazing movie and I'm planning on seeing it again in IMAX (though I've heard only a handful of scenes were actually shot for the true IMAX experience).

Anyway, I was having a debate with my coworkers as to who played the better Joker - Jack Nicholson vs. Heath Ledger.

While Heath did a great job, I still feel Jack's performance was more to my liking. I guess I thought Jack was more of a 'joker' where Heath played more of a psycho (with a few jokes mixed in there - loved the disappearing pen trick). What's your take? Jack? Heath? Neither?

[Dent]

Can someone explain this to me, I knew the Joker was heath ledger, but he died and I didn't get how the movie continued? Did heath play a bit of the movie and jack finished the rest of it?

[FlopShotArtist]

Can someone explain this to me, I knew the Joker was heath ledger, but he died and I didn't get how the movie continued? Did heath play a bit of the movie and jack finished the rest of it?

It is very common for such a blockbuster film to come out a year after it is finished. The movie was probably finished last year sometime, and all of the Joker's parts were done before Heath died.

Ledger > Jack.

[pjsnyc]

Nevermind - this guy is the better joker!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...screening.html

[Dent]

Who is Jack anyways? The older Joker in the older movies?

I think heath was amazing in this movie. Such a funny guy.

[pjsnyc]

Who is Jack anyways? The older Joker in the older movies?

Have you seen the Tim Burton Batman? Still my favorite.

[MrKadash]

Two completely different Jokers. Jack Nicholson's Joker was a maniac, but with a distinct sense of humor who found laughter as a way to express himself. Not so much with Ledger's Joker, one with a dark sense about him with an indirect sense of humor. Both got their point across by killing, albeit Ledger's much more sinister.

I tend to favor Jack's Joker because I think he more closely represents what Joker was originally meant to be. Ledger was tremendous, make no mistake.

[Dent]

What happened to the joker in the end anyways? I didn't quite get that part.

Maybe put some spoiler tags in there so it doesn't ruin it for the rest.

[bogeyme]

That's a good question. I'm not sure who was better. I thought a couple of times that Heath sounded like Jack. I would say Heath was better only because I haven't seen the old Batman movie in years.

[pjsnyc]

That's a good question. I'm not sure who was better. I thought a couple of times that Heath sounded like Jack. I would say Heath was better only because I haven't seen the old Batman movie in years.

Hehe, perhaps its time to dust off the old VHS box?

[flangebox]

I would vote heath. his performance in the role was incredible. definite oscar nomination.

[Snake]

I vote for Heath Ledger. While watching the Dark Knight, I found myself not paying attention to the movie as a whole because I was so caught up in Ledger's performance. He WAS the Joker. I didn't see Ledger playing the Joker, I saw the Joker. That didn't happen with Nicholson in Batman. I was always aware of Nicholson playing a role. I enjoyed that movie and his performance was good, but I thought Ledger was outstanding. Now I just need to watch the Dark Knight again so I can take it all in.

[immts007]

The two jokers are from movies with very different styles, tone, and direction. Ledger was brilliant. But I think that Jack would have turned in a very different performance under Nolan than he did with Burton. So it's hard to compare. But I am a fan of the darker grittier Batman that Nolan is doing.

[pjsnyc]

The two jokers are from movies with very different styles, tone, and direction. Ledger was brilliant. But I think that Jack would have turned in a very different performance under Nolan than he did with Burton. So it's hard to compare. But I am a fan of the darker grittier Batman that Nolan is doing.

Good point...as an example - Jack's joker actually liked women, etc...Heath's joker seemed to be completely antisocial and just plain didn't like anyone.

[James-]

I saw the movie about an hour ago and I really thing Heath plays the character really well and its more of a criminal sort of joker, So in my opinion Heath was the better joker in my eyes.

[dro]

Heath Ledger put on the best performance by any actor that I have ever seen, EVER. Talk about getting into a role.

But I also agree, two different types of Joker's, but Heath's was simply incredible.

I'm also not saying this because he died, I honestly was never much of a fan of him in the first place. But after this...wow...

[immts007]

I'm also not saying this because he died, I honestly was never much of a fan of him in the first place. But after this...wow...

It's really sad. He showed with this performance, and Enis in Brokeback Mtn. before, that he was an actor of Brando-esqe abilities. He was on his way to greatness.

Then that Olsen twin had to go and shove pills down his throat, or whatever it was she did that she plea-bargained herself out of.

[cwcaesar]

Heath was the better Joker. Although he did benefit from a mush better script. I thought that Jack Nicholson could have done a better job in the other Batman if he was given a better script. It was just a different style of movie.