Who was the better Joker?

[Bobic]

Heath Ledger, by a mile. Jack Nicholson's Joker was less threatening than an actual clown, but that's not to say Nicholson couldn't pull it off, he was just in a cheesy, uninteresting film. Give Jack Torrence of the shining a jokebook and some dodgy makeup and that'd be closer to something that would make a memorable and dangerous villain. Still wouldn't be as good as Heath Ledger, but it'd be close.

And as far as the death thing goes, I honestly think that has probably done more damage to the image of Heath's performance than increasing it. So many people say 'it's just because he died that the performance is so popular'. It isn't, it really was that good. Hell, I'd imagine most nerds didn't give a hoot about Heath Ledger before the Dark Knight was released, you know, when he died. It was only after seeing it that people went, damn, that's a fine actor, damn, he's dead now, that's a shame.

 

[scorptatious]

I honestly can't choose between Hamill and Ledger in terms of who was the better Joker. I love them both for different reasons.

 

[CommanderL]

Mark hamill He captures the feel of the joker perfectly
And at times had me terrifed

 

[deidara]

Heath Ledger, by a mile. Jack Nicholson's Joker was less threatening than an actual clown, but that's not to say Nicholson couldn't pull it off, he was just in a cheesy, uninteresting film. Give Jack Torrence of the shining a jokebook and some dodgy makeup and that'd be closer to something that would make a memorable and dangerous villain. Still wouldn't be as good as Heath Ledger, but it'd be close.

And as far as the death thing goes, I honestly think that has probably done more damage to the image of Heath's performance than increasing it. So many people say 'it's just because he died that the performance is so popular'. It isn't, it really was that good. Hell, I'd imagine most nerds didn't give a hoot about Heath Ledger before the Dark Knight was released, you know, when he died. It was only after seeing it that people went, damn, that's a fine actor, damn, he's dead now, that's a shame.

Agree with this 100%. Ive seen so many instances of people calling his performence overrated, a few going so far as to call it bad. And I just wonder if they were watching the same film as me. It was an incredible performence.

 

[Dragonclaw]

Definately Romero! Nicholson never really felt like he was the Joker to me and as good a villain as Heath Ledger was it didn't feel like the Joker either...I'd even argue that he wasn't the best villain in the movie as I felt Aaron Eckhart absolutely NAILED Two Face. The Joker was always dangerous but his humor was always bigger than the violence...To that end when it comes to live action Cesar Romero is the absolute master of the role just like Mark Hamill owns the voice acting side.

 

[Verkula]

While i find Ledgers Joker very unique and simply amazing, i still prefer Jack + honorable mention to László Sinkó who was the Hungarian VA for him here.

Spoiler

dat laugh

Overall of course, Mark Hamill is best.

 

[TakerFoxx]

It goes:

1. Mark Hamill (Hell, the guy has the word Arkham in the middle of his name! It's destiny!)

1.3 Heath Ledger. Hamill may have embodied everything the Joker is and thus cannot be touched, but by God did Ledger absolutely nail that role.

1.7 Jack Nicholson. I prefer Ledger's by far, but Nicholson still did an awesome job.

2. Everyone else, really.

 

[Signa]

Gotta go with Hamill. It's a shame that he was tied to a kids cartoon, because the darkness that Ledger nailed is still there in Hamill's version, but it had to be toned down for kids. Thankfully you get to see a lot more of that darkness in the games.

The level of insanity that Hamill's version portrays is so damn funny too. I watched an episode recently where he sets himself up as a judge, and then randomly uses a rubber chicken as a gavel as the scene ends. And then there's Harley Quinn, who is an awesome character.

 

[MarlonBlazed]

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.

My vote goes to Felix the Cat... Wait he's not The Joker? OK I can't really vote on this one since I never seen any of the Dark Knight movies. For me it's Hamill and Romero.

I used to don a Red Hood, but then Hilarity ensued.

 

[The Madman]

I prefer Nicholson just because he had a great mix of entertaining but also terrifying. I don't know about other people, but for myself watching that scene near the end of Batman where Nicholson is poisoning the crowd was just terrifying as a kid.

Ledger did a great performance, but really he was just some psycho terrorist. Take away the costume and he'd work in pretty much any setting. That makes him certainly more believable and probably more scary, but it's also less fun to watch I think.

So of those two Nicholson because he makes the better 'comic book villain' as opposed to Ledgers crazed terrorist.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

Although I think Mark Hamill is the best joker. I must be one of the only people who really didn't care for Heath Ledger's joker, nor the entire movie itself. So I'll have to lean towards Jack Nicholson as well.

 

[Semudara]

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.

You beat me to it... these are pretty much my thoughts exactly. I will say that I feel Ledger deserved that Oscar for his truly remarkable performance, but he just didn't have that Joker mania, that twisted wackiness, that made Hamill's (and to some extent, Nicholson's) portrayal so iconic. Ledger was a great villain, but not (in my opinion) a great Joker.

 

[Squilookle]

I was always of the opinion that Ledger was just copying Nicholson anyway, but with better make-up.

 

[CrazyJew]

Take Heath Ledger's Joker. Now, wipe the make up. Now, name him... Daniel. Is he still the Joker?

Good, now repeat that experiment with Hamill's or Nicholson's.

Does that answer your question?

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Mark Hamill.

He got the 'laugh' perfect.

This. One thing I really felt was missing from Ledger's performance was the iconic laughter, which I feel is essential to the character. You can do whatever origin story you want, but without the iconic laugh it's just not The Joker. Even Nicholson nailed that part fairly well.

 

[DarkRyter]

Ledger's Joker epitomizes what makes the Joker great within the context of Nolan's Batman.

A deranged maniac with equivalent cunning, intelligence(almost), resources (replace Bat-tech and Bat-skills with mooks and guns), and force of will as the Dark Knight himself.

Also, I can't find a single Nicholson joke that's as funny as the pencil trick.

 

[Saulkar]

Mark Hamill's Joker hands down for just being... well...

He had the laugh!!!

 

[Casual Shinji]

Ledger's performance just lacked any sense of playfulness. And it's this aspect of the Joker that works disarming which gives him an opening to strike.

Mark Hamill had this beat. He could be goofy and silly, but then immediately turn vicious.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

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.

No, it wouldn't be out of order. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the entire film has been hyped up due to his death. Neither are anything spectacular. Ledger's performance is good, but has nothing special or unique about it, the film itself is a good action flick which drags on too long, confuses itself about the message it's trying to send, and actually, I'll stop there, because that's not the point. Yes, I think his death lead to his performance being over-rated. Mark Hamill is the best joker, Nicholson is second best.

As somebody else said:

Take Heath Ledger's Joker. Now, wipe the make up. Now, name him... Daniel. Is he still the Joker?

Good, now repeat that experiment with Hamill's or Nicholson's.