Jack’s Joker on the new Dark Knights Joker
From the original article here at Comic Book Movie (.com)
This is going to be one of those Batman stories that have a whole lot of people up in arms. But it all comes down to the “who’s better” argument; Keaton or Bale, Burton or Nolan. Jack Nicholson is apparently “furious” he didn’t get invited to the Dark Knights party.
In an interview with MTV, Jack Nicholson sat down, and had a few things to say about the latest Batman movie, currently in production.
MTV: What do you think of another actor, Heath Ledger, playing the Joker in next summer’s “The Dark Knight”?
Nicholson: Let me be the way I’m not in interviews. I’m furious. I’m furious. [He laughs.] They never asked me about a sequel with the Joker. I know how to do that! Nobody ever asked me.
MTV: It was never brought up?
Nicholson: No. It’s like, in any area, you can’t believe the reasons things do or don’t happen. Not asking me how to do the sequel is that kind of thing. Maybe it’s not a mistake. Maybe it was the right thing, but to be candid, I’m furious.
MTV: I’m surprised to hear you sounding competitive about a role like that.
Nicholson: Well, the Joker comes from my childhood. That’s how I got involved with it in the first place. It’s a part I always thought I should play.
Hold your comments, because it only gets better. Nicholson was then asked, whether he would be going to see the movie. Apparently, the man’s skin isn’t as thick as we might have been led to believe. Here’s what he had to say in response.
I’m not inclined to watch it because of what I said. But if it’s a good movie, I’ll catch up with it somewhere. I don’t think they ever really captured Tim Burton’s spirit [since he stopped being involved]. They kind of drove the franchise into the ground. Tim Burton’s a genius. He had the right take on it. That’s why I did the movie. I did the movie based on a single conversation with him. We both come from the cartoon world originally. We had similar ideas. Tim said [the Joker] should have a humorous dark side to him. [Burton is] one of the great moviemakers. I think the world of him. He’s the most unassuming man. And he doesn’t feel pressure. That’s what I love about him. Once he’s in there, he’s smiling making the movie. That’s it!
WOW – is all I have to say. So, you have two places to let us know what you think, and who is your favorite; because I know you want too.
Personally, I think Nicholson has gotten a little childish as he’s grown older. Not asking an actor who portrayed a character to reprise, or comment on the same roll some 20 years later? It’s honestly, ridiculous.
And, Nolan and Bale are the top team. But Keaton and Burton are number two, with whoever directed Adam West in at number three. Comment… please!
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Comments
I agree with Jeff. Nicholson is being childish. He played the Joker and was killed off (part of the film which greatly irritated me) which is now history. This is a new set of films. I believe Ledger will be awesome! Let’s give him a chance! I am hoping this is the Joker everyone has been waiting to see on the big screen.
Jack Nicholson was a good Joker. He’s pretty much great at playing any type of villain in a movie actually. Until I see Ledger’s take on the Joker, I can’t really compare who would be better. 89’s Batman was decent enough for its time and so was Batman Returns. In a way I can see why Nicholson wouldn’t be first in line to see another Batman movie considering the franchise took a massive beating when Joel Schumacher got his incompetent mitts on it (Batman Forever, Batman & Robin…ugh). Could be a hint of sour grapes in there too, why? I don’t know, because to me, being the guy whose performance as the Joker is the performance that all others are compared to is a pretty big complement. If Ledger nails the part and gets it more than Jack did it still wouldn’t take away from what Nicholson accomplished in Batman. He’ll always be a good Joker, maybe not the best, but then again we’ll have to wait and see.
Hmm - are we sure Nicholson is being completely serous, because he comes off as being sarcastic to me - or does he really think The Dark Knight as a “sequel”?
Well he says he’s from a “cartoon world” he’s being rather childish and silly - so ether he really is or he’s just pretending to be!
p.s. There is no argument Nolan’s take kicks Burton’s in the holy unmentionables!
I enjoyed Nicolson’s performance as Joker. I was 7 when the movie came out so that is part of my childhood. I have nothing bad to say about the 1989 Batman. I will say that his response on MTV is odd because he calls these new batman movies a sequel & they are definitely not & if they were he still could not play Joker because Keaton killed him in the first one. I will say that at my current age I like the direction Nolan is going with this set of movies & hope that he can keep it up. Tim Burton did just fine on the first two in my opinion, but the last 2 were so…well you fill in your choice of words. I trust that Ledger’s acting abilities will do the Joker justice, but I don’t think we will be able to compare the two because the writers & directors have really created two totally different angles of this character. I will also say that they are both very talented actors & I have enjoyed a large majority of their films.