The Dark Knight Spoiler thread. Don't come in if you haven't seen the movie.

now that I think about it, the only actor who could pull off The Joker as well as Ledger, would be....


Johnny Depp.

 

Just saw the movie tonight. I am an emotional person, for the most part, and I didn't even cringe when Rachel was "killed." I wrote it off as some kind of farce. Decent movie, though.

 

He could definitely fill those shoes. But since he is already stepping in, along with Jude Law, and Collin Farrell, to finish Heath's role in The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus I don't think he'd want to become known as "the ghost of Heath." But damn he could definitely pull it off. And he'd be one of the few people that everyone would cut a lot of slack for.

 

That was my original thought as well. Jack Sparrow (JD's creation) has a lot of quirkiness that could work for the Joker if played much darker and sinister.

Then again, what can't Depp do?

edit: I'd also throw my original hope for the Joker (before Heath was cast) CRISPIN GLOVER!!!! He could do the part standing on his head, IMO. No acting required either. He could be his weird *** self with makeup.

 

And speaking of an actor who can play a good arrogant Riddler, Ryan Gosling. He's a very good actor, and when he plays arrogant or evil, he is very convincing.

 

Like many fanboys, I too was rooting for Crispin Glover to get the part. And when you get that type of actor in mind, it makes it that much harder to accept Heath Ledger in the role. Which was a big part of my initial skepticism.

Now that I've seen Heath's performance, I couldn't think of a worse actor to chose than Glover. (obviously there are worse, I'm just exaggerating to make a point.) His style would not fit with what Heath did, not at all. Glover has always had such a detached style, his characters are almost not human to begin with. The Joker is much more interesting as someone who you believe was once normal, but has become insane.

 

Not George McFly!

j/k. But I think with Ledger's death, we could see the end of the Joker character in Batman. I think I hate Heath Ledger now.

 

here's an interesting take on Ledger's death:

http://blog.ahfr.org/2008/01/heath-ledgers-death-was-faked.html

 

Wow, great point FinSane, great point.

Johnny Depp as the return of Joker could definitely handle the role and play a great role. Ledger's performance was great and when you sit down and think about it, you can't think of anyone but Depp who could probably match it, or come close to matching it.

 

7/27 is a poker hand... from: http://www.oinc.net/poker/727.html

"Jokers can be used to "alter" a players hand. Our most common alteration is that a Joker up makes your down card negative, and a Joker face down (your initial card) is equal to the number of up cards you have."

Ledger was found face down...

 

Although interesting...

These are the same types of people who come up with the Tupac conspiracys and say in 2014 he will re-emerge.

Until things actually happen, I'll believe it when I see it.

 

I know, but it would be awesome wouldnt it?

 

Sure it would, but can you imagine the millions of pissed off people if he were to emerge on Sunday (as this website so says)? Sure we'd be happy he's back so they can make another movie with Joker still in it (as we don't know what happens to Joker once Batman leaves him hanging upside down).

To me its all just fun stuff to read and although very interesting, just coincidences.

 

You believed the joker was once sane? Not sure I saw what you did.

Like Ledger did, maybe a new Joker should be re-imagined with a new performance.

I love what Heath did. He is, as of now the definitive Joker. However, it would be close minded to think what Heath did can't be topped or re-imagined in a really new and interesting way. Look at all the Nicholson fans eating crow as case and point.

Has anyone tried to compile a list of the people they'd like to see replace Heath if the Joker is to be used? If not we shuld try and see who we could come up with.

 

Why so serious?


727 man...just wait!

 

Its all part of the plan, right?

 

A million for him alive! Just so we can teach him some manners.

 

He didn't die at 7:27. He was found already dead at 3:30.

 

http://www.accesshollywood.com/article/8160/Britney-Spears-On-Heath-Ledgerand

Britney thinks hes alive. It must be true!

 

stop ruining my fun with facts!

 

Yes, I believe he was once at least "normal" compared to who he is as The Joker. Every origin story, even the ones suggested in this story, suggest that he became a psycho after a traumatizing event. Even the way he talks about how the world works in TDK suggests that he once had a revelation that he is now trying to share.

 

He had an accident with chemicals, screwing up his face and mind, according to the comics. I think Nolan thought an origin for this Joker was irrelevent. Hes just crazy for the sake of crazy, wants chaos for the sake of chaos, because as a social outcast, he sees the world as a big joke.

 

Yes I agree with that. But this Joker is absolute. There are no glimpses in his acting that suggests he was normal. The story on the hand would.

Which is why i think Glover could still rock it in his own way. It's his detached style that plays in perfectly with the Joker. No sympathy, empathy, devoid of all emotions that make him human.

I guess we just disagree on that one.

In all seriousness... Could Hamill pull it off? Yay or Nay?

 

I just think the Joker is much more interesting as a guy who TURNS into The Joker at some point in time. We don't need to know why or how, but both versions that he gives in TDK suggest a specific jump from normalcy to lunacy. He once had someone whom he cared for, and then things went wrong. Just as the Devil was once in heaven, the Joker was once part of our civilization, but something changed. It helps the seductive side of his argument, especially when he makes it to Two-Face, if he is asking for people to come to the realizations that he once did.

And Heath Ledger has played normal before, so his transformation into crazy is all the more scary than it would be for Glover who is so strange he doesn't even need to act on camera.

 

Youre probably right. Im sure his father was a drinker and probably killed his mother. That probably stuck with him. He probably did have a wife and she left him because of his underlying insanity that was building from his experience with his father. He then probably concluded that since everyone he cares for is either corrupt or doesnt understand him, he thinks life is just one big joke, and "morality" just doesnt exist. Perhaps Nolan wanted the audience to think for themselves what Joker's origins are.

 

I agree completely... I think we're getting our wires crossed on this subject.

 

TDK should be nominated for Best Picture regardless of the field because it is that good. Even though IMO it could be the weakest year for movies and they won't nominate it because it is a comic book movie and the Academy will not nominate a comic book movie for Best Picture. I also think Ledger won't win Best Supporting Actor because he was in a comic book movie.

I hope they prove me wrong

 

Yes and no. He clearly did a great job in the cartoon. And he is a talented enough performer that he could ape Ledger's performance. But physically he couldn't quite pull off anything close to what Ledger did on film.

 

Good. His rejection of society and preference for chaos reminds me very much of Tyler Durden in Fight Club. And I just like the dynamic of someone rejecting society as opposed to someone who simply wants revenge on a society that rejected him. I think Nolan's Joker is the guy who rejects society, which is why we are never given a proper explanation for how it first happened. And I think a "normal" actor pulls that off more convincingly than someone like Glover.

 

I think what you're saying His'n is highlighted at the end when the Joker is hanging upside down talking to Batman. He essentially says that we all have the potential for evil. All we need is that push. He was proven wrong that that is the case for everyone as seen by the two boats not blowing each other up. But possibly in his own case, and certainly with Harvey Dent, the potential was there. All that was needed was a push in the right direction.

 

That is the thing about the Joker. Even the Killing Joke backstory might not be accurate. Heck, he could be pure evil just for the hell of it. Especially this version of the Joker who just has scars on his face and not chemically burned like the comic book version.

He is just an amazing bad guy in the sense where he has no fear, he has no real wants like normal people. He is just crazy, brilliant and evil

 

Well, some people just want to watch the world burn. BTW, greatest line ever.

 

anyone get the mental picture of during the oscars they announce he won x award and he just comes out onto the stage says "why so serious" to the presenter?

 

As much as I like Dark Knight, I just don't see it garnishing an Oscar nom unless a miracle happens. It's not just the comic book movie stigma. Dark Knight just doesn't seem like an Oscar-esque movie. Maybe a Golden Globe one but the Academy is always in their own little world.

 

I love all the Joker homage here. Its like alot of people on here have united under the clown.

 

Does our support of that character speak to some problems we might have? Eh...probably not.

 

The movie was f'n great! I thought the movie was more based around the cast than Batman but it didn't bother me. I LOVED Joker's character in the movie. It was great as hell. Best movie I have ever seen. Btw, I love all the Joker images in your guys sigs. I have his wallpaper and ringtone on my phone lol.

RIP Heath Ledger, hell of a performance you did for us. Thank you.

 

Bale accused of abuse on mother and sister....

http://www.miamiherald.com/889/story/613327.html

 

No.

The Joker represents freedom., freedom from your own mind, society, and conscience.

That is why alot of people identify with him, no matter how twisted and insane he is.