Jack or Heath?

[Sugaree]

Since most of us by now have seen "The Dark Knight" who do you think was a better Joker and why? Heath Ledger or Jack Nicholson?

To be honest, I think that Heath did a better performance than Jack. He made Nicholson look like a girl scout imho.

[iJack]

Heath Ledger!!!!

[Sapphire]

They both performed outstandingly!

Their portrayals are of two separate interpretations of the Joker and so it is nigh on impossible to fairly compare the two. No one could do either portrayal better than Jack Nicholson or Heath Ledger respectively!

Basically, it comes down to which side of the Joker do you prefer? The manic Jester side or the deluded anarchist side?

[Sugaree]

They both performed outstandingly!

Their portrayals are of two separate interpretations of the Joker and so it is nigh on impossible to fairly compare the two. No one could do either portrayal better than Jack Nicholson or Heath Ledger respectively!

Basically, it comes down to which side of the Joker do you prefer? The manic Jester side or the deluded anarchist side?

The anarchist side was something that appealed to me. It was develish and sadistic and I liked that from Heath with his Joker.

Jack's version was more leaned towards children and more of a Joker that is more leaned towards jokes and not anarchy wich, in my opinion, is what made Heath's great.

[Θάνατος]

Heath Ledger is the best joker.

[Sapphire]

Jack's version was more leaned towards children and more of a Joker that is more leaned towards jokes and not anarchy wich, in my opinion, is what made Heath's great.

I have to disagree with you here. I feel that Jack Nicholson's performance is thoroughly enjoyable for everyone. The fact that it can be viewed by a younger audience as well as their elders is no slur against the role, performance or the film. Nicholson was amazing. It was just a different interpretation of the Joker's personality.

Jokes are very heavily implied with a name like "The Joker" and, to be honest, I think that Heath Ledger's interpretation could have done with a couple more. He didn't laugh as much as I expected. His performance was fantastic too though.

To compare the two Joker's is like comparing apples and pears. They are just too different.

EDIT
It seems that you are saying that Ledger's interpretation is better because it isn't suitible for children...Is this really what you are implying?

[Antares]

Heath hands down.

He...
really scared me he was so...realistic.
He is better.

[Zephyr]

They both performed outstandingly!

Their portrayals are of two separate interpretations of the Joker and so it is nigh on impossible to fairly compare the two. No one could do either portrayal better than Jack Nicholson or Heath Ledger respectively!

Basically, it comes down to which side of the Joker do you prefer? The manic Jester side or the deluded anarchist side?


Spot on, it's hard to choose.

But I like Heath Ledger's Joker better. You could feel the insanity.

[Requin]

Heath. Definatly.

As Steph says, you could really feel the insanity, rather than Nicholson just enjoying himself..which is fine he was still amazing, but Heath really pulled that role off.

[Bobby]

Heath Ledger was a good villain, but not really that great of a Joker.

[Patchy]

Heath was great,

But in another films I love Jack.

[Triceratops]

They're both awesome.
But I had to give it to Heath Ledger, since his performance was amazingggg and he's gorgeous ^__^

[Sugaree]

EDIT
It seems that you are saying that Ledger's interpretation is better because it isn't suitible for children...Is this really what you are implying?


Yes, that was what I was implying. To me, Nicholson had more of a lean to enjoying a joke and laughing. When I see Jack play Joker I see him taking a child like role but with Heath, I see a person who was never understood by society and the insanity running through him makes you almost believe that the Joker is real when he's just an imaginatory figure.

[Camazotz]

There were two different directors, so the personality of the Joker is going to be different. Neither one of them is "better" than the other. They are equal. Jack Nicholson was supposed to play the part like a "joker". Heath Ledger was supposed to play it as if the Joker was abused and takes his anger out on the world by killing for fun. Both played the part like they were supposed to with amazing talent.

[Requin]

I think Heath's joker was scarier.
Look at this.http://mcmannes.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/batman-dark-knight-joker2.jpg

[Sapphire]

There were two different directors, so the personality of the Joker is going to be different. Neither one of them is "better" than the other. They are equal. Jack Nicholson was supposed to play the part like a "joker". Heath Ledger was supposed to play it as if the Joker was abused and takes his anger out on the world by killing for fun. Both played the part like they were supposed to with amazing talent.
Completely agree.
I'm so glad to see a mature comparison on this topic.

Yes, that was what I was implying. To me, Nicholson had more of a lean to enjoying a joke and laughing. When I see Jack play Joker I see him taking a child like role but with Heath, I see a person who was never understood by society and the insanity running through him makes you almost believe that the Joker is real when he's just an imaginatory figure.That's a very immature attitude to take.
Pathetic.

[The Batman]

There is no comparison to me they both did an outstanding job and really there can't be another joker like either one of them.

[Antares]

I think Heath's joker was scarier.
Look at this.http://mcmannes.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/batman-dark-knight-joker2.jpg

I totally agree. Heath acted extremely dark and scary. Like nightmare scary.

[Bobby]

That's a very immature attitude to take.
Pathetic.

Let me remind you this thread isn't for insulting someone.

[RaisingSand]

Not to speak ill of the dead, but I thought Heath Ledger didn't do the character of the Joker justice like Jack Nicholson did.

[Cloud]

Heath Ledger all the way R.I.P but anyway he played the character perfectly and if they got another person to do it it wouldnt have been as succesful or not as good as it is. also the villain needs to seen darker than the hero for the good evil symbolism and since batman wears black his darker yet still colourfl outfit doesnt make him stand out within Gotham and makes him seem to be more of the bad guy rather than ack Nicholsons bright coloured version

[Sapphire]

Jack's version was more leaned towards children and more of a Joker that is more leaned towards jokes and not anarchy wich, in my opinion, is what made Heath's great.
Have just checked my DVD box and Batman starring Jack Nicholson is rated as a 15 - in other words, it was deemed not suitable for those under 15 years of age.

[Sugaree]

I have the same thing and mine's rated PG-13. Back then, maybe it was seen to be unsuitable for children, now, IMHO, I think that Jack's Joker was a child-like cartoon. It's not an immature attitude to take either.

Jack Nicholson is a great actor. I just thought his Joker was not one of the best.