Who was the better Joker?

[Relish in Chaos]

Now, I was recently talking to my brother about Batman when I revealed a somewhat unpopular opinion. He preferred Jack Nicholson's Joker in Tim Burton's Batman to Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight. When I asked him why, he replied that he felt Nicholson was more of an archetypal Joker, from the appearance to everything else. So that got me thinking.

Would it be out of order to say that Heath Ledger's Joker is rated so highly due to the hype around his death soon after he finished filming for The Dark Knight, to the point that it may even be overrated? Not that I think it was; I think it was a great performance, but it wasn't groundbreaking like many claim.

I found it interesting how, in The Dark Knight, the Joker's appearance was the product of make-up, rather than falling into a vat of chemical waste, like many of his origin stories portray him as. This was probably because Nolan's Batman trilogy was aiming to be more grounded and realistic than the previous comic book and film interpretations, but also, perhaps, that he believed the Joker worked best not with some kind of origin story that triggered his transformation, but instead, being a guy who chose to become the person he did.

But who do you think was the better Joker? Jack Nicholson or Heath Ledger?

 

[hazabaza1]

Mark Hamill.
Yeah, I know he wasn't there, but I've only seen him and Ledger.

While Ledger is good and creepy, he really lacks in the funny department. That's big for me when I'm talking about the Joker. Hamill's Joker is scary as all fuck at times but has made me laugh out loud on many occasions.

 

[El Danny]

Mark Hamill.

He got the 'laugh' perfect.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

For film?

Ledger was brilliant and fit Nolan's style of the film perfectly.


Everything else?

Hamill, hands down. The man is a voice acting legend, and that laugh, man.

That laugh is chilling.

 

[Hazy992]

Ledger was a far better Joker than Nicholson IMO. As brilliant an actor as he is I just don't think he suited it all that well, but that's just me.

Overall though Hamill just blows them out of the water. He's so maniacal with it and he just fits it perfectly.

And DAT LAUGH. It's chilling.

 

[xdom125x]

Of the 2 choices, I'll begrudgingly go with Nicholson. If only because he felt more like if the Joker was in live action. The Heath Ledger Joker felt more like a terrorist that happened to dress like the Joker. He was by no stretch a bad character, he just didn't feel like the Joker to me.

But obviously Mark Hamill's is best. He makes me laugh and then feel bad about laughing. And that is what I like about the Joker.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I knew I wouldn't be the first to answer Mark Hamill but I didn't realize the invisible C-option would be the most popular at this point! Hamill is my favorite Joker of all time but when it comes to the live-action films Nicholson over Ledger. Ledger was great but for an 'Agent of Chaos' his plan could have gone wrong at any time for any reason. Nicholson seemed more like a comic villain; making crime into an art-form rather than a means to an end or mere career choice.

 

[piinyouri]

Nicholsons portrayal is so much camp mixed with a hint of underlying darkness.
It's not as camp as the Adam West show Joker, but it's in the same ballpark.

Ledger, having gone back and watched DK again recently, is one of those times where you really can't overstate how great it was. One of those rare times where, yes it was worth all the hype, and it's as good as anyone will claim.


Time to be hated.
I've never thought much of Mark Hamills Joker. It never ever sounded threatening to me, and never made me laugh.
Might be worth pointing out that I never really got into Batman TAS as a whole either.

For believability, Ledger hands down.
For menacing camp, Nicholson.

 

[Bat Vader]

Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, and Mark Hamill have all played very good incarnations of The Joker. Between the three of them though I have to give my vote to Mark Hamill. His laugh and the way he plays him just gives me chills.

 

[Aerosteam]

I'll go with the flow and say Heath Ledger for film and Mark Hamill for overall.

 

[lRookiel]

Hamill hands down. That guy takes the joker to the next level with just a laugh.

"Let the good times roll!" :3

 

[Wayneguard]

Heath Ledger man. He just took the role and ran... Great performance.

 

[TheFinish]

If I had to choose between Nicholson and Ledger, I'd choose Ledger. He was actually threatening, even if he lacked in the funny department (which Nicholson also lacked, if we're being honest).

Now, overall, Hamill. I mean it's really no contest, at all.

 

[soren7550]

Eh, I wasn't a fan of the Batman films, and I don't remember Hamill's Joker much. So, I choose, uh... Gavin Dunne? (hey, he did Joker's Song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVok-7tDFF8&feature=plcp] in a Joker voice, so close enough?)

Ah, give me some slack, it's all I can think of (plus it's damn catchy).

Capatcha: the opposite of 'up' is

One of the options is George Washington. BRILLIANT!

 

[Dangit2019]

I only know Hamill from the Arkham games, and he does a great job; but dammit, Ledger killed it. He took one of the most basic acting school setups (detective interrogates serial killer) and twisted it on its head into one of my favorite movie scenes of all time. Just in case someone was living under a rock or hasn't watched the movie in a while:

​

 

[Misterian]

Speaking as someone who's very biased toward the Animated Series, here's my answer, same as TheFinish's;

Mark Hamill, no contest.

 

[thesilentman]

Heath Ledger all the way. His acting was some of the best I'd seen in a film for a long time. Mark Hamill too; Arkham Asylum (played before TDK) had me enjoying my first foray into Batman lore because of Hamill. I started the comics shortly after finishing Asylum.

Hamill=Got the personality and the jokes to make it all count.
Ledger=Made it the best interpretation of a comic book villain on film.

Now we just need Nolan and Hamill to remake TDK. Too bad that won't happen as Hamill's moving on from Joker's voice. And what happened to Ledger...

Hey, I can dream, right?

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

It's no contest, Cesar Romero.

I'm going to second Romero and his white mustache. I liked the surreal silver-age feel of the 1960s batman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5fX4quv7fw