Heath Ledger surpassed all others in his portrayal of the Joker. He brought a sense of worldly reality to an otherwise purely fictiional character. He made the Joker believable. Bravo!

Heath Ledger did a fantastic job - his acting was outstanding. However - if you are a Batman "purist" - while the joker is obviously crazy - he is also a "joker". He also did his evil with a hint of saracasm and humor - (e.g. gas bombs that make people literally die laughing), etc. I think Nicholson truly embodied the true Joker persona - Ledger's Joker was just pure evil and psychotic - not enough "humor". Again - he did a fantastic job, and I wouldnt take anything away from any of the kudos he received - but for me - a Batman fan - I have to go with Jack the Joker

LMAO. You can´t be a Batman fan. Reading the comic books of the retarded Silver Age doesn´t make you a Batman fan. Go away, liar prick.

He has his own opinion. So hust let him have it.

What are you talking about? Jack was serious most of the movie. The key part of the joker is that he is completely unhinged. I never believed that Nickleson was really crazy, he was just kind of weird. Ledger on the other hand was off his rocker. Besides the original Batman movie was so terrible I can't believe this is even a discussion. Any real fan of Batman knows he doesn't kill, and he killed almost every bad guy in that movie. Not to mention that it was incredibly corny and the actor who even remotely looks like their character was Jack Nickleson and he didn't even play the part right. The actor who played the part truest to the real character was Mark Hamil in the animated series. And besides being arguably the best Joker he has, hands down, the best and most creepy Joker laugh ever. No contest what so ever. That's it. Case closed.

its a shame heath ledger died. he was an awesome actor. he did the best playing the joker. if they ever make another batman movie with the joker in it. the movie won't ever be one like the dark knight. ever.

they are two different types of people Jack was the best of his times and the way movies were made then. Heath was the best for this time.

I loved Heath ledger!!! He was especially awsome in this.

He was a fabulous actor and I loved him. It's to bad that the accident happened and yes it was an accident.

HaHahAhAhHaHaHa!!!!

Heath Ledger was amazing, and Jacky was great, its hard but im going to have to go with Ledger. He put so much time into his role...some people say that may be a factor in his death...He was an outstanding actor......

and for those of you who saw Dark Knight, did it seem that Ledger payed omage to Nicholson when he flew off the building, laughing? of course he didnt hit the ground and die, like Jack, but it reminded me of him nontheless.

Ive watch Bataman since I was three and the Joker has always been my favorite Batman villian. I love Jack Nicholson's Joker but Heath's is so much more sinister and dark but also much more interesting take on the character.

I BELIEVE THAT THE OLD JOKER WAS VERY GOOD BUT THE NEW KNOW IS THE BEST I HAVE TO SAY THE NEW JOKER TAKE 2 TOMBS UP

Jack was really good and in a way I think Heath patterned his joker after Jacks. However, Heath really pulled off the crazed psycho effect.The latest was an updated version in a more real-feel fashion. He did a great job.The two are really close. Heath may edge Jack out by an inch.

but if u remember the first joker never had scares were thouse come from............

The scares fit better in his story line. They are from different ages so of course they are going to add in some kind of special effect.

alot of voters wont remember jack nicholsons performance as much and will still be buzzin from heath's. even if jack was better, he couldnt win it. ask the question 20 years down the line for a better indication.

even if it is twenty years down the road for either movie everyone will still vote Heath Ledger because jack nicholson wasnt even close and i have seen movies made before the batman with jack in it and they were so much better so they could have made it better mother fucker!

perhaps it's not Jacks greatest performance of all time (perhaps) but thats not an arguement to say Heaths is better.

Jack had the look down, but Heath had the representation down as if it was Joker from the comics come alive.

You are a joke.

that may be true, but i didn't believe in jack. for a villain, one to be feared, remebered, hated, and followed, heath did the better job. really, i think it was more the director's vision though that made him more realistic. his appearance, the way he acts human - i remember a part where he first talks to the mob...i thought he'd sound more confident, more cocky, but he sounded nervous, like a nerdy kid trying to convince the jocks at the cool table that they're headed for a trap. - it's less to do with heath and more to do with how the joker is portrayed this time around as a person. a genius with amazing foresight and the ability to predict the next few steps and prepare for any loopholes. maybe jack's been forgotten, but was he really that believable in the first place? Did you leave the reality of the movie feeling as if you'd been inside a comic, or having faced a troubled, almost terrifying, alternate reality?

I have the entire Batman Collection. And Keith Ledger's performance was better than jack's. And yes, Jack is great too( don't get me wrong). But that "evil and loving it" mentality is found more in Ledger's performance.

I totally agree with you.

I would agree. For an old guy like me, it is easy to remember the very first Batman movie. The first Batman come out in 1989, a different time in movies. Compare the two while taking that into consideration as well as the hype of the new Batman and it would probably be a different vote. I can tell most of the people posting here are young. They write like they speak. "Like, Heath Ledger was totally so much better, like compared to any other batman (which I have never even seen), totally" One poster actually said his performance was better because he is dead! Come on people! As I said in my other post, it depends on which type of joker you like. I like Nicholson because it was funnier and not as serious as Ledger was. Besides, it is kinda hard to see past Ledger in Brokeback Mountain. I kept wondering through the whole movie if Ledger was going to stop and bend Batman over!

nyyankeefan2: "For an old guy like me, it is easy to remember the very first Batman movie. The first Batman come out in 1989…"

You must not be all that old. The first Batman movie was simply titled “Batman” (later retitiled “An Evening with Batman and Robin”) in 1943, in the days of the serials and during WWII (the villain is a Japanese spy, portrayed in a very non-P.C. manner). It’s notable for introducing the character of Alfred the Butler, who had not appeared even in the comics prior to then. The comics version that first appeared shortly after this had been chubby and named “Alfred Beagle” but due to the popularity of this movie, was later made more to resemble the slim, mustached movie actor and renamed “Alfred Pennyworth” (Alfred Beagle was later relegated to Earth-two continuity).

“Batman: The Movie” came out in 1966 and starred Adam “Batman” West, Burt “Robin” Ward, Cesar “Joker” Romero, Frank “Riddler” Gorshin, Burgess “Penguin” Meredith, and Lee “Catwoman” Merriweather. It was, of course, set in the same campy continuity as the “Batman” TV series of the same year. This movie is the one that featured the “Bat Shark Repellant” spray.

Wait a minute an old guy like you? I remember the 1989 version quite well, but let's not forget the 1966 version were Cesar Romero plays the Joker, he invented the platform for Jack to draw from. All in all I think Nicholson is the best Joker of all time. To say that he wasn't bad enough or evil enough is ridiculous. In the Tim Burton version it was Jack Napier that killed Bruce Waynes parents. It was Batman's thirst for revenge that turned Jack Napier into the Joker. They made each other. He was pure evil, just funny too.

your wrong he shows too much emmotion the actor i chose is better all around HE IS AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

isnt that the truth. on top of that what question should be is do you like a movie to more, like the comic book its based around or do you like movie to be more saddics and darker then what its based around.

But in the end won't it all come down to a matter of opinion?
If you liked Ledger's Joker you're going to vote for him....it's the same with Jack's version.

i wonder if theyll do a bat man vote

Jack will always be remembered as the original joker, that wont change! Watch them side by side you can't negate the fact that Heath is better. I mean think of the way a "joker" character should be played Heath blows Jack out of the water!

i remember very well jack nicholsons performance, considering i just watched it last night, and i still think that heath did a better job in many ways, but, im not saying i hate jack nicholson, im just saying he was good, just not as good.

personally, i see where you are coming from. jack was great. i watched that movie a million and a half times. But i don't think he emersed himself in the character of the joker as well as heath did.

yeah, good comment. i certainly agree Heath had to spend much more time getting into character than Jack did and i can see why you would apreciate that more but on the other hand i dont think Jack really needed to, given his ability and the type of character he knew he was good at. In that sense, I feel (opinion, not fact) Jack looks more comfortable playing the joker.

yea, he probably was. that sort of role is more in jacks league than in heaths. lol. and plus, heath was under a lot of stress and was sick and not feeling well (hence the accidental OD). i think they both fit the part in the moviey were playing. heath wouldn't've been good as the joker in the movie that jack was, nor jack as good as heath in the dark night. i think it depends which movie you liked best

I respect your opinion...and can see why you feel Jack's a better Joker.

People need to realize that both roles were played with enormous talent and dedication. It all just comes down to taste...some people perfer a more comical villain, while others like the chaotic kind. I think it's just sad that people have to compare their acting abilities...they're both incredibly talented.

I can see what you mean and you make well put points. Personally, I don't mind people bringing acting abilities into it. Im certainly not saying your wrong. I feel the question can be split up into two: which actor gave the best performance with his character? and which character was the best to play (for any actor)? I think from a Batman fan perspective, the second question should be the one under discussion and not their acting abilities (like you said, do you prefer comical or chaotic). but for me, being as much a fan of films as i am of batman, acting abilities does have an effect on which joker i prefer to watch. (obviously they're both very talented but i do feel one put in a better performance than the other.)

Your a freakin homo if u like jack!! He did a cheesy and predictable role. Heath was dark and evil. The way a scary creepy guy should be if he wanted to kill you! Not some happy all the time smoking crack a**hole!!

the fact that your first line is "your a freakin homo if you like jack" kinda ruins whatever you have to say next. explain to me again, as PC as you can, whats wrong with homosexuals? That aside, i don't really see why you think Jack isn't evil and scary. Jack will kill you through a handshake. Heath will just put you in a room of oil drums.

wasn't it heath ledger in the movie about gay cowboys? not that i give a damn, i just think it's odd someone bringing sexual orientation into this debate...