The New Joker Hates Comic Books

Originally posted by lordofwar
Heath Ledger, cast as the Joker in Chris Nolan's The Dark Knight follow up to Batman Begins, says he's got no love for the source material.

Talking with Dark Horizons on how his Oscar nomination has affected his career, Ledger said: "I think there's a new level of interest kind of thing but I haven't really acted on it, since the only thing I've really done since is this Todd Haynes film and The Joker."

Already a controversial choice, Ledger continued that ordinarily taking a part in a super-hero film wouldn't interest him. "I actually hate comic book movies, like f***ing hate them, they just bore me s***less and they're just dumb. But I thought what Chris Nolan did with Batman was actually really good, really well directed, and Christian Bale was really great in it."

Ledger says he's looking forward to playing a truly evil character. "He's going to be really sinister and it's going to be less about his laugh and his pranks and more about just him being a just a f***ing sinister guy."

However, his agent is happy with the money the role brings: "I'm sure they're super happy that I'm doing this, because this is the first time I've really kind of taken something like that, so they're over the moon. But I think it's just going to be a really fun experience, and I love to dress up and wear a mask."

No costumes have been designed, but Ledger says that "I've seen a few interesting designs on the look and I think that it's going to look pretty cool."

He hates comic book movies, not comic books

Originally posted by Ultraman Baltan
But with less enthusiasm and Joker-like qualities.

Two things:

1. He said he hates comic book MOVIES, not comic books.
2. He said he liked Batman Begins.

How does this equate to less enthusiasm and Joker-like qualities??

Originally posted by OB1-adobe
He hates comic book movies, not comic books

thank you.glad to see someone else here actually READ what the original thread starter posted.People here need to chill out,they're getting all worked up over nothing.again folks,he only said he doesnt like comicbook MOVIES.big deal,like he said,most comicbook movies ARE dumb .He said he liked Nolans work with what he did with Batman Begins,thats all that matters so why is everybody getting so worked up? geez.take a chill pill people.

I have not, and never will see, Brokeback Mountain. Or should I say, Brokebutt?

I liked Heath's performance in a Knight's Tale. I never would have cast him as the Joker. However, I am not a director.

Apparently, this is not the Joker we are familar with. The original Joker, from the Batman comic books, was not a dressed up clown. He was a seriel killer whose victims had a smile on their faces. This will not be the Jack Nicholson Joker, which is a good think. Who could have topped Jack's performance?

Well, to be honest, Sean Penn could have topped it. Penn is one of the greatest actors alive today. He would have been an unbelievable Joker. However, Heath is the Joker, so I hope Nolan has him play it completely different.

The Joker in the comics thinks he is funny, but actually he isn't. He is a tragic character who was driven crazy after he lost his pregnant wife (and then he was dropped into that vat of chemicals by Batman).

I think that sometimes truth hurts, and it coming from Ledger, who is to play the joker in a batman movie, hurts more. Because basically, the did say the truth, comic books movies are dumb the most of the times. What is true. Except first two superman, batman begins, sin city and a pair of some others, comic books movies are dumb and repetitive.

And i have a question for madcap. How do you know that the joker that Ledger will play isnt the joker that we are familiar with?

Also, i think that Sean Penn is one of the finest actors working today. But doesnt want to play this kind of movies, he usually chooses more risky material and smaller films. But i really think that Ledger is better for the part than penn, he looks more as the joker and he is a very talented actor, maybe not as Penn, but a great actor too.

Jack Nicholson was a decent joker. I liked him at times but i disliked him at times. He doesnt look the part at all and the most of the times, he was playing himself more than the joker. Jack being Jack in a joker costume.

wow this looks great! For someone who hates comic book movies to really go for and be happy about being in one says alot about the director and the other cast members.

I'm going to be worried about "The Ledger Decision" until I see something that convinces me otherwise. So far, he has yet to show me anything that would help me give him a thumbs up, including any movie role he's been in. Now, I'm not saying he's a BAD actor...I'm just saying I don't think he's the best choice for this particular role and nothing is persuading me otherwise. True, comic book movies are sometimes bad, but if he does something too drastic with the character (like that comment about the smile not being important- come one now, that's like saying it doesn't matter if Luke Cage is black lol). I honestly think that Nicholson's performance was OK, but not "dead on, omg I'm about to cream my pants" caliber. Up until this day, I think the best incarnation we've seen of The Joker has been Mark Hamill/Bruce Timm's TAS (and its subsidiaries including the JLU) version. He was creepy, funny (yet not STUPID funny, it was a dark humor you felt guilty about laughing at), totally psychotic, intelligent, and most important of all - a deadly prick in Batman's side. A darker Joker = I'm all for it. A Joker with no smile = You won't be seeing a smile from me, either.

Yeah I agree with you Nofate that the best Joker incarnation we have had so far is Mark Hamills Joker from Batman the TAS series.

Its really a shame that he doesn't look the part and is too old. I'd love to have that voice and understanding be transferred to someone that has the "Joker-nose" and all that lol.

Let's get this straight... Paul Bettany stole the show in A Knight's Tale. I'm just not so sure about the "It's going to be less about his laugh" part. When I go into the theatres, I'm going to want to hear that famously great Mark Hamill Joker laugh that sends chills down my spine.

Originally posted by Neutro
Let's get this straight... Paul Bettany stole the show in A Knight's Tale. I'm just not so sure about the "It's going to be less about his laugh" part. When I go into the theatres, I'm going to want to hear that famously great Mark Hamill Joker laugh that sends chills down my spine.

I agree completely with everything you just said, LOL!

I'm looking forward to hearing Ledger "attempt" that laugh... its either going to be acceptable or awful, either way it will be nowhere near the greatness of Mark Hamill.

Originally posted by bakerboy
I think that sometimes truth hurts, and it coming from Ledger, who is to play the joker in a batman movie, hurts more. Because basically, the did say the truth, comic books movies are dumb the most of the times. What is true. Except first two superman, batman begins, sin city and a pair of some others, comic books movies are dumb and repetitive.

And i have a question for madcap. How do you know that the joker that Ledger will play isnt the joker that we are familiar with?

The director of the movie, Chris Nolan, did an interview about it. He said he looked at the original comic books from the 1950's when the Joker was first introduced, and that character was a seriel killer...not the looney, clown faced Joker that we all know. If you do an internet search, you can find it. No time for a link...now...

I have read that interview too, and for me , that is the joker that i know. The one in the first batman comics, the one of the animated series, the one in the killing joke, etc. A real serial killer. But with the clow face. The joker has always that clow face and the white skin and the red lips and the green hair and that histerical smile. But sometimes he has been a psicho and sometimes a looney cartoon. I preffer the first version.

And for not fate, have you seen the first Ledger movies?I recomend you a movie titled the order, ledger was brillaint there.Another movies like two hands, Ledger plays very different and dark characters in those movies and he was very good. I think that he has a lot of potential, and i fell that he could be a great joker.

I admit that I haven't seen all of his movies, but I don't ever remember being particularly impressed in anything that I've seen him in...so I'm still not sold on him.

Originally posted by NoFate007
Its really a shame that he doesn't look the part and is too old. I'd love to have that voice and understanding be transferred to someone that has the "Joker-nose" and all that lol.

when you say that he doesnt look the part and is too old that describes jack nicholson to a tee. 😄 yeah that would be cool if jay leno could sound just like hamill does as the joker. he for sure looks the part. man thats a bummer,I cant imiagine a batman movie with joker not wearing his purple suit.thats the joker everybody all knows so they will be a little pissed about that which is understandable.

Take Leno's chin, Adrien Brody's nose, Mark Hamill's voice, and the rest of Vincent Cassel and you've got The Joker lol.

Originally posted by Mr Parker
thank you.glad to see someone else here actually READ what the original thread starter posted.People here need to chill out,they're getting all worked up over nothing.again folks,he only said he doesnt like comicbook MOVIES.big deal,like he said,most comicbook movies ARE dumb .He said he liked Nolans work with what he did with Batman Begins,thats all that matters so why is everybody getting so worked up? geez.take a chill pill people.

I've seen The Order as I am not only an avid Batman fan, but a huge film buff and granted his acting was good, I just don't know what to make of him as The Joker. Despite his comments, I'll make my final skeptical perception of him as the Joker once there is a trailer with The Joker in it.

Originally posted by NoFate007
I'm going to be worried about "The Ledger Decision" until I see something that convinces me otherwise. So far, he has yet to show me anything that would help me give him a thumbs up, including any movie role he's been in. Now, I'm not saying he's a BAD actor...I'm just saying I don't think he's the best choice for this particular role and nothing is persuading me otherwise. True, comic book movies are sometimes bad, but if he does something too drastic with the character (like that comment about the smile not being important- come one now, that's like saying it doesn't matter if Luke Cage is black lol). I honestly think that Nicholson's performance was OK, but not "dead on, omg I'm about to cream my pants" caliber. Up until this day, I think the best incarnation we've seen of The Joker has been Mark Hamill/Bruce Timm's TAS (and its subsidiaries including the JLU) version. He was creepy, funny (yet not STUPID funny, it was a dark humor you felt guilty about laughing at), totally psychotic, intelligent, and most important of all - a deadly prick in Batman's side. A darker Joker = I'm all for it. A Joker with no smile = You won't be seeing a smile from me, either.

I agree nofate! =) The Joker should be dark and sinister, but .. the laugh and smile are EVERYTHING. Mark Hamill's Joker is the best... Exactly as he should be in 'The Dark Knight'.. (in MY opinion)