And, you know what? I feel a little let down. The problem is, there’s no real wiggle room when it comes to interpreting this character. Everyone who’s ever played him — from Cesar Romero back in the ’60s, to Jack Nicholson (who probably delivered the definitive performance) to Mark Hamill on the Batman animated series — has had to blend mania and hysteria, and top it with a plummy renegade cackle.
Which is exactly what Ledger is doing. Sure, he looks different — that makeup does go a long way towards making him look genuinely scary, as opposed to harlequin silly — and the film seems to be treating him differently, with more heft, than in the past. But that’s the job: play this dude like a force of pathological nature.
My favorite shot of the whole thing? It comes early on, with Batman standing atop a skyscraper at dusk, surveying his city. He just looks so…small. The comics offer that image all the time, and he always appears larger than life, as if his wingspan was wide enough to envelop all of Gotham. But here, you really get the Herculean nature of the task Bruce Wayne has set before him. He’s just one man. And it’s a big city.
And, all of that said, I still can’t wait for July.
(But the Bat-cycle — sorry — isn’t all that.)
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That looks really hot. If I didn’t know it was Heath Ledger, I’d have no idea it was Heath Ledger. And I think the difference is that these characters are now determinedly NOT cartoonish as they have been in the past (circa Jim Carrey, Val Kilmer, Chris O’Donnell, etc.) — Ledger’s Joker IS distinct in that he seems strangely human; we finally wonder what MADE this person what he is, rather than taking him at face value as just-another-villain.
I agree totally. If I didnt know for sure, I would never say it was heath ledger. And how odd, that he can do that! you have to wonder how he auditioned for the casting call to see Joker instead of pretty-boy Ledger… I think it makes him scarier, and I so very much appreciate the seriousness of these films. Im under 18 and I grew up on every incarnation of Batman, and I found the cartoon to be the most serious of them all! Im glad someone can finally make Batman – the most worldly possible superhero – in a worldly, logical light. The badguys just have to come with it.
*cant wait*
*cant wait*
*cant wait*
(and yes, the bat-cycle is disappointing.)
I can’t wait. I just cannot wait. Until May, anytime someone mentions anything bat-realated I will do the pee-pee dance. And speaking of – if anyone has read the plot synopsis for the 02/21 episode of Smallville . . . dare I hope?
Dude. You were really let down by this?
When I went to see I Am Legend, the Dark Knight trailer was attached. The cheesy Will Smith flick I could’ve lived without, but this trailer alone was worth the price of admission.
The bat-cycle is LAME! Seriously, I laughed when I saw it. I am looking forward to the movie, however.
Oh man. I didn’t think it would be possible for me to love Heath Ledger more than I did after Brokeback Mountain, but this? The man is amazing. Talk about disappearing into a role (as others have said). I cannnnnnot wait, either!
No, Mark Hamill is definetly the definitive Joker.
Let down? Seriously? I wasn’t excited about this film until I saw the trailer. It looks great!
Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale are the best things to happen to the Batman franchise. I’m so excited about this movie!
Sorry to disappoint you, but I believe the movie comes out July 18th. This movie will be awesome. We haven’t even seen any hint of two-face yet, either!
Sadie put it best. Why sweat whether or not this movie’s going to be good? Christian Bale’s Crazy azz was born to play Batman (or maybe Neo, if his awesome stint in the Equilibrium movie demonstrated), and Nolan’s got two nutguards earned between Memento and the first Batman movie he made.
If anyone has ever deserved a free pass before the reviews come out, it’s this crew. They made Batman fun and human again, something lost with all this desire to make him “larger than life”. He wasn’t larger than life in the old 1940’s strips, he was a great detective who know some serious judo! That’s what I want out of Batman, not a rehashing of the Joel Schumacker and 1960’s camp, and none of that Tim Burton overgrown little kid who used too many mushrooms while a total geek in high school miniature penguins who blow up the city crap!
The preview intrigued me. Bale does a great Batman, and as everyone else has said, Heath Ledger is completely unrecognizable as The Joker. Maggie Gyl. completely replaces Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes, I mean, they made Maggie look like her twin sis, and yes, not one itty bitty shot of Harvey Dent or Two-Face yet!! Thank God for keeping some things Waiting for the next 8 months, when we will see this preview ad nausem! Now if only they’d get around to casting this damn JUSTICE LEAGUE MOVIE….
OMG I LOVED LOVED LOVED this trailer!!!! I saw it before I am Legend! I almost peed myself. I”m totally pumped.
Anytime an actor is upstaged by the cartoon version of his character, it is a bad sign. This flick’s going to make a ton of money but I remain unconvinced by Heath.
Hmm. The Joker as a slovenly, emo psychotic. No thanks. I think I’ll pass. Give me Jack Nicholson’s witty, dapper Joker anyday.
The bat cycle looks pretty awesome. I think it will be great to see in motion. Plus it’s like the early batmobile, a first draft. This film will rock.
First, get your release date right. Second, Jack is definitive? Riiiight. TDK’s Joker is closer to the comics version than Jack’s was. Jack was good, but let’s be honest, it was Jack just being Jack for the most part. TDK’s Joker is a pyschotic madmen whose idea of a joke isn’t funny to anyone but himself. And those jokes are deadly.
Kathleen,
Please elaborate on the Smallville plot synopsis.
PS: This trailer rocks!!!!
EW sucks was right. Like all of Jacks performances the last 20 years, he played himself in that movie. The Joker is meant to be a unhinged psychotic not an aging movie star. I’ll hold off judgment on the batcycle until I see it on the big screen. It may look better in extended scenes. While I loved Burton’s Batman, I think Nolan as made the definitive cinematic Batman. Can’t wait for his next chapter.
I saw the 7 minute preview of Dark Knight on IMAX and if you have any doubts on Heath Ledger, sit and watch that. That clip alone eclipsed I AM LEGEND and made me giddy for the movie. And let’s be honest- Jack Nicholson is NOT the definitive Joker. He was just playing another version of her personna. Give Ledger a chance. I congratulate Nolan on taking chances on actors you may not necessarily have seen as a particular character.
I have never been more excited for a movie in my entire life. Ledger will be so great opposite the incomparable Bale. I want to see a clip of what Eckhart will be like as Harvey Dent though. As for the Batcycle, I’m suspending judgment till I see the movie. I thought the Tumbler looked stupid before I watched it in action in Batman Begins, so we’ll see.
I really like the look of this Joker. He looks scary-crazy instead of fun-crazy. It’s going to be hard to not think of Jack Nicholson every time he’s on screen though.
i like the joker look for this movie – kinda like a cracked-out version of the crow…
There was virtually nothing threatening about Nicholson’s performance. It was two-dimensional (one of the dimensions being Nicholson’s persona) and boring.
At least Ledger seems to be having fun; that means the audience will jump right into the mania with him.
I’m thinking of not renewing my EW subscription. They need new writers.
Heath Ledger’s laugh is what I think of now when I think of “blood-curdling” laughter. Ledger blows Nicholson away the few moments we see of him in the trailer.
I don’t believe I’ve ever been more excited to watch a movie. And that trailer didn’t even give us Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent.
As far as Ledger…just wow…in a good way.
What was interesting to me was how they’re going approach this story. From the trailer, it looks like Bruce Wayne is getting frustrated as Batman and the Joker tries to sympathize with him. It was also interesting to see Gotham’s citizens break the bat signal.
i don’t know marc, your response to the joker seems cut and paste, Jack was the best because…he’s Jack? that seems the validity of your agruement. break the mold a little and not sound so much like everyone else. I will guarntee you, come July, everyone one will be on Heath Ledger’s nuts about his performance.
89 was just Nicholson in make-up. nothing else. from what very little I see of Heath in this trailer, he looks and sounds more impressive than that ass-clown from Burton’s movie.
i cant believe you say that jack defined the role….i personally thought while he was entetaining, he lacked the scary and phycotic angle that chris nolan has found in the characters again…bravo to nolan for tasking a chance on ledger..from the trailer, this movie looks like its gonan be one of 2008 best