Heath Ledger’s Dark Knight Joker better than Jack Nicholson’s

HA! I couldn’t be better than Jack. That’s impossible. BS!

I saw The Dark Knight last night and Loved it. I love Jack nicholson’s work and the fact that his Performance of the Joker seems Light Weight compared to Heath Ledgers is in part down to the fact that comic books are not the childish things that they used to be, at the time of the Batman movies of the 80s. nicholson’s portrait was in tune with the stereo typing of Characters due to the start of an evolution in the study of these characters. Heath Ledger’s Joker was not a Characterization, but a creation that seems disturbingly real. he drives the movie and everything from the musical score to the huge scale of havoc the joker forces onto Gotham. if I was an actor and had died, i would be so proud of this final effort. BEST BATMAN MOVIE BY FAR…. 9 out of 10

I loved jack nicholson, but wow am i ever amazed at heath ledger, he was perfect, such a disturbing character, his best performance ever, (also saw premiere) its just sad at the fact that he wont be able to do any followup work, maybe its for the best who knows?

I’m so glad that Ledger brought the “real” joker back. In the comics, the joker was intended to be a sadistic, freaky terrorist who enjoyed killing for no reason. I’m all for Nicholson, but I prefer Ledger’s performance over the campy, clown portrayal. The thing is, when I watch Nicholson as Batman I still see Nicholson (because he always looks “jokerish”) but when I watched the Dark Knight last night I forgot it was Ledger for most of the film and, to me, that proves why it was such an amazing film and why Ledger’s Joker was pure genius. I paid so much attention to the joker that I need to watch it again so I can pay more attention to Batman and Eckhart’s outstanding portrayal as Dent.

for those whose seen the dark knight, remember the scene where the joke was video taping the batman wannabe? well you know that 3 words he said “Look at me”? Well i’m not sure if the volume of the sound or the way heath said it but whatever it is, makes me jump out of my seat. Beacuse most of the jokers scene were never serious specially from his tone of voice. but that scene just wakes me the hell up

I feel very much the same way CW does with Heath bringing back the real Joker in his portrayal. He always seems to bring something to each roles he takes on and makes it pure to the character and he really hit the nail on the head for the Joker. It wouldn’t suprise me to learn that he probably read some original comics to prepare for the role.

I have always been a huge fan of Ledger and as a result took on a tribute site project that breaks down each of his movie roles and by far TDK was the hardest to do knowing there will never be any more completed works. He will be missed.

The Joker was an extremley hard part to play.
Heath Ledger’s preformance was impeciable. His manorisms added to the part like the tounge. and his laugh was unbeatable. The joker is a twisted murder who while being very smart is completly insane, Heath Ledger was the joker. He got into the role perfectly, and he blew Jack Niclesons preformance away. Every single thing he did, everything he said was perfct, i cant think of the thing he could do better. He brough the joker from the comic books, Nickleson was simply a flambouant clown, ledger however was like the joker from the comic boooks. Jack Nickleson just cant stand up to Ledgers preformance.
Jack Niclesons prefromance was pathetic. He was a lame happy clown, the joker is supposed to be feared, not acting like he should be appearing at a 6 year olds birthday. I can understand why they didnt ask Nickleson to come back for the dark night because he just couldnt do it.
Heath Ledgers preformance as the joker was amazing!

Jack Nicholson is 70+ yrs old and, therefore, he couldn’t pull it off now. And there is no point in comparing Ledger to Nicholson. Each actor portrayed the villain in his own way which was to fit each film. Nicholson’s was sadistic, but over the top and he isn’t remembered for his evil tendencies because the lunacy overshadowed the malice. Ledger’s was a psychological mess that scares the crap out of people.

Besides, you’re comparing the same character portrayed in different eras. The dark Joker fits now in a post 9/11 US whereas the campy Joker fit at the end of the over-the-top 80s-early90s.

I agree with you, Thomas, with the differences in the actors’ portrayals. However, the joker was originally written in Batman #1 to be more sadistic and less campy, much more like Heath than Jack. So, while the character has gone through many transitions, Heath’s was more true to the “original” joker. But I still agree with you.

Let’s not forget that Jack played Tim Burton’s Joker. Jack made it his own but that Batman movie was Tim Burton’s craziness. Jack really sold the character in the Tim Burton way. I don’t think Heath Ledger would have pulled off the same caliber of performance as Jack under Burton’s direction.

The same can be said for Jack playing Ledger’s Joker. In either case The Joker stole the show regardless of the movie.

I prefer Heath Ledger’s version over Jack’s. However I don’t think Jack’s performance is overshadowed by Ledger’s. I guess I feel it’s like comparing apples to oranges.

The Joker has become much more than the clownesque-looking killer in the earliest of the Batman comics. The Joker in the comic book “The Killing Joke” sort of sums all of The Joker up. I believe Burton and Nicholson’s Joker reflects this or the real Joker way better, than Nolan and Ledger’s boring modern painted terrorist Joker does.

Actually Jolly, The Joker was originally intended by Bob Kane and company to be a sadistic, psychopathic killer/terrorist, not just some deranged prankster.

Biast review. All the people who are actually familiar with Batman and not just a fangirl (like the writer of this garbage) will know Jack was better. Heath just isn’t the Joker; for God’s sake, when did he get those dumb scars?! He’s also just wearing makeup, the REAL Joker was chemically deformed. Speaking of which, they completely forgot his backstory AND they just left him on a cliff-hanger so you’ll have to pay more money for the next Batman film. And the real Joker never licked his lips like an idiot either.

Seriously, is this even debatable? Ledger did something Nicholson didn’t. It’s called ACTING. He vanished behind the make-up and created a character that was menacing, interesting and formidable. He WAS crazy, he didn’t act it. Nicholson just jumped around, laughed, said a few lame lines and acted odd. He brought nothing interesting to the table. I was bored within minutes of his performance. Very flat and hallow.

There’s no way to compare the two, as stated before. Everything in both Nolan movies was meant to be more realistic, if that includes changing the original story, fine by me.

TDK is a great movie, the best Batman movie pehaps – and I’m a HUGE Burton fan.

When it was announced that Ledger was going to play the Joker I didn’t imagine he would do that so great.

But to be honest, I don’t think the same will happen with the Catwoman, then again, different styles, don’t wait for a new Catwoman looking as great as Pfeifer, acting maybe. But I guess the writers are having a hard time bringing so many amazing characters to a believeable reality.

Thumbs up to Nolan and everyone evolved, they RESURRECTED the Batman franchise after Schumacher ruined it.

Probably a little late in jumping on the bandwagon, but next to Anthony Hopkins’ Hanibal, there has NEVER been a more believable, sadistic, frightening portrayal. Nicholson’s Joker is Carrot Top compared to Ledger’s Manson

“Nicholson’s Joker is Carrot Top compared to Ledger’s Manson”
Flipper said it best

While Jack did pave the way in part…Heath was hands down far more convincing, and far more what the joker should be like, the joker should be sick twisted and scary as hell, Heath delivered…In fact no offence to Jack but I enjoy Heath’s work overall far more than Jack’s I mean the shining was good and all but Heath was one of the very few who took their work seriously, and like an art. He didn’t make decisions based on the box office, he chose roles that would cause him to grow as an actor, and it is a shame that we will never see the amazing work he surely would have produced had he been here today…

Well put, Ian. Well put.

"Heath Ledger brought back the original Joker"? I don't recall the Joker being a creepy hobo that cut himself and wore makeup, he was supposed to be chemically bleached. it was more realistic admittedbly but honestly i don't understand how people can say that Heath was more true to the comics.