Nicholson Vs Ledger - Who was the Best Joker?

Comparing the portrayals of the iconic villain known as The Joker by Heath Ledger and Jack Nicholson is more than just looking at their acting - it is also a study in how two different teams approached the entire Batman mythos. To say Ledger's version of The Joker is better than Nicholson's is to say a banana is better than a giraffe; it makes little sense when taken out of context.

First consider that Nicholson portrayed The Joker under the direction of fantasy filmmaker Tim Burton in the 1989 version of "Batman". Burton is unarguably best known for creating surreal adult fairy tales such as "Edward Scissorhands" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Prior to making "Batman", Burton's major turns behind the camera were as the director of "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and "Beetlejuice," which are known for their strange characterizations and offbeat humor.

Secondly, consider that the 1989 "Batman" was co-scripted by a comic book writer (Sam Hamm) and Warren Skaaren, whose previous scripts were for "Beetlejuice" and "Beverly Hills Cop II."

Lastly, consider that all of the major players involved in creating the character of The Joker - Nicholson and Burton - were influenced heavily by the highly successful, and extremely campy, "Batman" television series of the 1960s, and the rework of the Batman mythos into a sinister creature of the night was just beginning in the comic book realm - which shines through more clearly in Michael Keaton's portrayal of Batman than it does in The Joker.

The comic nature of The Joker as portrayed by Nicholson reflects not only the sensibilities of the director and actor. When you consider the influences of the writers, coupled with Nicholson's previous two entries as a madman ("One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The Shining"), the Nicholson version of The Joker makes complete sense - from the perspective of the people involved. His manic antics are, however, more comic than sinister, driven by greed and revenge and solely to create a foil for Batman, who was completely reinvented from the television version. Nicholson's version of The Joker was very reminiscent of Cesar Romero, while Keaton's Batman was very sinister - and brutal.

The version of The Joker in "The Dark Knight" brings an entirely different perspective to The Joker - and perhaps the correct one.

Ledger was born well after the television version of "Batman" had sung its swan song, as was writer-director Christopher Nolan. Nolan's previous big screen work includes the edgy drama "Memento" which received critical acclaim, and the edgy crime thriller "Insomnia."

Ledger was bringing his acting talent to the production of "The Dark Knight," not his name recognition, which is acknowledged by all involved the reason that Jack Nicholson was brought in to play The Joker. Ledger knew going in that he had huge shoes to fill - while Nicholson was the $10 Million Dollar Man whose career was already firmly established.

And both Nolan and Ledger saw The Joker from the eyes of the current-day Batman. A madman, driven not by greed, not by revenge, but out of a sheer glee in creating chaos and terror in those around him. A force of nature, a characterization of the destruction that can be caused by someone obsessed with his own personal gratification. In other words - a character just as obsessed and just as driven as Batman, but with completely opposing motivations.

From my perspective, Ledger's portrayal was more terrifying and sinister than Nicholson's - and also truer to the vision of the homicidal maniac envisioned by his creators, Bob Kane and Bill Finger, way back in Batman #1 in 1940.