Two Hands to the Joker

With the passing of Heath Ledger Warner Bros has had to rethink the marketing of the upcoming Batman sequel, The Dark Knight, according to the article, Ledger's Joker a Serious Topic, by Joal Ryan for E!.

Up until yesterday the official movie site featured the first movie poster (pictured) and the first two teaser trailers all of which centre heavily on Heath's character, The Joker. Today if you click over to the site you'll get a simple memorial page to Heath (pictured below) that is classy and pretty much says all that needs to be said.

Unlike many people when I first heard Heath had been cast as the Joker I thought director Christopher Nolan's choice was inspired. Being familiar with Ledger's career and knowing that he was always more aligned with the Johnny Depp school of thought about acting (i.e. taking on roles that are challenging and edgy rather than popular and easy to digest.) I knew Heath would be throwing everything into his performance for The Dark Knight.

Although I'm a Batman fan from way back it is not the excitement of seeing Batman again that is driving me to see the second installment. It is the anticipation of seeing the Joker redefined for the new Batman world. The Joker, as a character, is every bit as recognisable and iconic as Batman. Making him fit into this darker and more realistic Gotham city without his clown-like appearance looking out of place is a challenge in its self.

By all reports coming from the production (and based purely on footage/photos released so far) it appears Heath's Joker is going to be something special. Whilst the E! article contemplates whether this is how Heath would want to be remembered (as a psychopathic killer), should this become his last role (Heath was part way through filming a Terry Gilliam picture at the time of his death), I think, given the effort and work he's put into it, going out with a bang is not a bad way to go!

I hope Warner Bros don't play down marketing The Dark Knight around The Joker. Although I have no idea how good or bad Heath is as The Joker it sounds like a performance that should be celebrated in memory of the kind of 'give it everything' actor that Heath was.

Why so serious? Applaud this one with two hands. Two hands to the Joker.

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