That's a very glib statement and one that's completely unfounded and without merit. You're taking the "it's just comics, why give them any respect?" approach, which is ironic since you're a comic-fan. That's something I would expect to come from one of those generic mainstream reviewers who long for the silly days of "Batman and Robin" and don't understand why "comic-movies had to grow up." Not you.

If I may, you have no idea what goes into playing the Joker or what process Ledger had to go through. To boil down the role of a psychotic killer into a simple one-note performance is to damn his Joker before it even hits the screen. If Ledger wasn't trying at all and treating it like a paycheck, he's lazy and disrespectful. If he's taking the role seriously, he's excessive and self-absorbed. You just can't please internet-critics. There's always something to complain about.

If you want further proof that playing a psychopathic killer takes real acting talent, see "No Country for Old Men." If Ledger can pull out a performance half as good as the serial-killer from that movie, then you'll do an 180 on your "its not a role that requires alot of talent" statement.

> Caesar Romero did fine and he wouldn't even shave off his mustache.

Wha-Wha-What?!? Sorry, but your whole argument goes down the toilet when you make that ludicrious claim. You're either looking at the past through rose-colored glasses or have never actually picked up a Batman comic with the Joker, as he was meant to be, in it. Look, the Batman series is okay for a campy laugh, but Romero was NOT threatening or even unnerving. I'm not pissing on Romero. That Joker is great, if you want a Joker based on the awful, campy, REALLY comic-code approved Batman books from the 50's through to the mid 60's. If you want Joker as Bob Kane INTENDED him to be, (and the interpretation that creators like O'Neil and Miller brought back decades later) then Romero is NO Joker! I'm sorry, may he RIP, but you've GOT to be kidding! I think we have very different ideas on what makes a good Joker.

>Same with Mark Hamill, who will never be mistaken for Lawrence Olivier.

I did love Mark Hamill in the Batman cartoon series. But that's voice-acting. A tad easier than actually embodying the Joker wouldn't you say?


I do too. I just wish you weren't so dismissive of Ledger's Joker. Hope I didn't come off as too harsh. I'm just very excited about this film and I think the trailer is all sorts of kick ass.