Will The Joker Always Overshadow Batman on Film?

I have been reading many reviews of the Dark Knight and almost all of them say that Christian Bale was completely outdone by Heath Ledger and that even though both characters play a driving force in the movie it is Ledger's performance and Joker that truly stands out and makes Batman seem rather dull many of the reviews imply or flat out say (I'm using the Rotten Tomatoes website and blogs).

Now I recall many complaints about Batman 1989 being that the Joker also had more to do and some people feeling that Jack Nicholson's performance upstaged Michael Keaton's as well. With some similar points being made in regards to the Dark Knight, do you think the Joker as an on screen character is just so larger than life that he manages to upstage everyone in the film because he is allowed to be so out of control and insane and animated?

To be honest I just peg it all down to casting,

Jack Nicholson is such a legendary actor that it would be hard for even the best actor to try and upstage him.

and now everyone will have their eyes on Ledger due to his recent passing away, sad but true.

plus The Joker is such a colorful charismatic character that it would be hard not to over shadow anyone.

Originally posted by ScarletSpeed
To be honest I just peg it all down to casting,

Jack Nicholson is such a legendary actor that it would be hard for even the best actor to try and upstage him.

and now everyone will have their eyes on Ledger due to his recent passing away, sad but true.

plus The Joker is such a colorful charismatic character that it would be hard not to over shadow anyone.

No one seems to mind Joker upstaging Batman this time around...

Back in 1989, fanboys were getting their pitchforks and torches ready because Joker upstaged Batman... Now, it seems nobody really minds...

I don't know if that's attention to Ledger's last role, if it's Nolan bias, or if people have finally mellowed out about it, but something definitely happened...

Keaton was upstaged because he acted like a goof in the movie at times.

Originally posted by Endrict Nuul
Keaton was upstaged because he acted like a goof in the movie at times.

Originally posted by SelinaAndBruce
I didn't find very much goofy about Keaton's portrayal as Batman. His Bruce Wayne was at times awkard but I definitely don't think that caused him to be upstaged by Nicholson.

yeah, that was Nicholson's natural charisma😂

Originally posted by ScarletSpeed
yeah, that was Nicholson's natural charisma😂

Yes, because of the simple fact that when people hear about the Joker being in a Batman film, that's who they want to see in action. I myself even rooted for the Joker when I was a child & am doing so again. The Joker is an icon & will always be one. He's going to upstage anyone you throw him in there with.

Emil I agree I have always loved the Joker as a villain I think that is a testament to how amazing he is is that I want him to succeed almost as much as I want Batman to kick his ass. I really can't think of any other villain that Batman faces that I feel that way about.

I love Two-Face & many of Batman's villains, but you just don't feel for them the way you feel for the Joker. I know you know exactly what I mean.

Two face is my second favorite Batman villain, but as you said it's not the same as the Joker. The only person who comes close for me is Catwoman but I see her more as a foil or a vigilante than an actual villain. I find myself wanting her to succeed as well or cause enough trouble to get Bats attention because I love their interaction, as my screenname probably reveals, lol

I really would love to see a story where they're actually together...with kids. Imagine that. 😄

Adam West was better than the guy that played Joker in the old Batman movie, so the answer to the question is no.

Both Adam West & Caesar Romero sucked.

Comics Code Authority sucked.

What are you talking about?

Probably not "always".

You need someone very talented to play his character well. Right now, I don't see anyone that can live up to the legendary standard that Ledger has set for Joker.

Originally posted by SelinaAndBruce
I didn't find very much goofy about Keaton's portrayal as Batman. His Bruce Wayne was at times awkard but I definitely don't think that caused him to be upstaged by Nicholson.

He was great at Batman but was super goofy as Bruce. This didn't help for his role.

He wasn't super goofy but he could've been better in the role. I just think he was upstaged by Nicholson's Joker because...well, Nicholson nailed the Joker back then. His portrayal just kicked ass.