Okay… I took the family to see the new Batman film, The Dark Knight (the first Batman film to not have the word “Batman” in the title), this weekend… and wow! Best summer film so far, period.
Let me be the first to warn you… NOT a kids’ film. The film was totally clean, but it was violent, eerie, and… well… “dark” (hence the title).
Heath Ledger’s Joker was amazing. The rumors are true… he really was that good. The Oscar buzz is no hype. I really hope they award him (or… his family… his memory) in some way.
As a fan of the 1989 Tim Burton Batman with Jack Nicholson as Joker, I went into this film skeptical that Ledger’s Joker was going to be that much better. I was blown away. I won’t talk about it here, because in our review of the film, I comment about this and Todd verbalizes my feelings to a tee.
IMDB (The Internet Movie Database) provides Michael Caine’s two cents about the role:
It’s Sir Michael Caine‘s opinion that Heath Ledger beat the odds and topped Jack Nicholson‘s Joker from Batman (1989): “Jack was like a clown figure, benign but wicked, maybe a killer old uncle. He could be funny and make you laugh. Heath’s gone in a completely different direction to Jack, he’s like a really scary psychopath. He’s a lovely guy and his Joker is going to be a hell of a revelation in this picture.” Caine bases this belief on a scene where the Joker pays a visit to Wayne Manor. He’d never met Ledger before, so when Ledger arrived and performed he gave Caine such a fright he forgot his lines.
IMDB also provided this tidbit:
When asked, “Why Heath Ledger as the Joker?” Christopher Nolan said, “Because he’s fearless.”
If you’re looking for a movie to see this summer, get a sitter for any kids under 12, pack the rest in the car and GO see this film!
You can read my entire review of the film here.
