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Heath Ledger - News Accounts
retropian:
--- Quote from: Meryl on February 12, 2009, 07:27:28 pm ---Heath Ledger Fans Call for Joker's Retirement From Film
By Scott Thill
February 09, 2009
Heath Ledger's flawless acting, and tragic passing, immortalized his portrayal of the Joker in Christopher Nolan's Batman blockbuster The Dark Knight. But should Ledger's killer clown be the last Joker to grace the big screen?
That's what the fanboys over at a new site called The Ultimate Joker are arguing. They've launched a petition calling for studios to withdraw the character for good from any future Batman movies, a somewhat strange request given all the actors who have stepped into the Joker's murderous shoes on screens large and small.
"We truly believe Ledger's performance as Joker is the best an actor could ever do," the site's team leader, Fer Barbella, told Wired.com in an e-mail interview.
"Any other performance will be below expectations for sure, so we want to forever keep Ledger's Joker as the one," added Barbella, who launched The Ultimate Joker site last week with his colleague Nico Pimentel.
From Jack Nicholson and Cesar Romero to Larry Storch, Mark Hamill and the underrated Kevin Michael Richardson, Batman's nemesis has been brought to life by some serious talent. Banning Joker from the silver screen might seem like an unreasonable request on its garish face, but the team at The Ultimate Joker is standing by it, and no doubt will be aided if Ledger takes home a posthumous Oscar later this month for his portrayal.
In addition to the online petition, The Ultimate Joker site operators have fired up an Ultimate Joker Flickr pool and posted downloadable web graphics to let others show their support.
Barbella says his crew is only interested in film portrayals, though.
"Television and animation is off our radar," he says. "And we like Jokers like Cesar Romero or Jack Nicholson, and even the voice of Mark Hamill. But we think this psycho in scarred whiteface is the best ever. No one can improve it. So please, Hollywood, use other enemies in the sequels to come."
It is perhaps a plea that Hollywood will ignore in pursuit of profit. After all, the buzz created by the conundrum of who will follow in Ledger's footsteps could be worth hundreds of millions on its own.
But it's a fair question: Should Hollywood retire the Joker from film? Was Heath Ledger the greatest Joker of all time? Why so serious? Shoot us your thoughts in the comment section below.
http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2009/02/heath-ledger-nu.html
--- End quote ---
Well these reasons alone would discourage any actor:
"We truly believe Ledger's performance as Joker is the best an actor could ever do," the site's team leader, Fer Barbella, told Wired.com in an e-mail interview.
"Any other performance will be below expectations for sure, so we want to forever keep Ledger's Joker as the one," added Barbella, who launched The Ultimate Joker site last week with his colleague Nico Pimentel.
I think the original plan was to bring back Heath as the Joker in the next Batman installment. Since that is impossible now, either another actor steps in or the next film does not reference the Joker at all(except to honor Heath). I hope it is the latter, but if another actor takes up the challenge I'd have to admire his bravery. He'd have to be someone who is energized by the challenge and have a strong desire to put his own stamp on the character. I can't think who that might be. Christopher Nolan said he wanted Heath in the role after watching him embody Ennis. He thought Heath was fearless and without ego, qualities he knew would serve the portrayal of the Joker.
ifyoucantfixit:
I truly loved Heath, still do. But I think to take this tack is to do hiim an extreme disservice. He would not
have approved of this, I dont think. He would never have thought of himself in terms of the be all and end all
for how a character should be played. He was truly the best ever so far, as far as I am concerned. I think I
loved the movie and the portrayal as much as anyone. But I think that the character was an iconic persona, in
the comic venue. He was one of the people to give his interpretation to that character. There will be many
others in the future, I am sure. Probably not soon, but still eventually there will be a time when it is going to
be considered all right, and even a tribute to Heath, to have it done again. I think that there are many more
productive ways, and reasonable ones as well to pay tribute to him. I think this is only going to cause a great
deal of people out there, to have ill feelings toward him, for this thing that he has no control over.
I personally think that getting him a star on Hollywood blvd. Or to contribute to one of his scholarships that
have been set up since his demise, are much more of a tribute, than this...
Monika:
--- Quote from: ifyoucantfixit on February 13, 2009, 12:09:36 pm --- I truly loved Heath, still do. But I think to take this tack is to do hiim an extreme disservice. He would not
have approved of this, I dont think. He would never have thought of himself in terms of the be all and end all
for how a character should be played. He was truly the best ever so far, as far as I am concerned. I think I
loved the movie and the portrayal as much as anyone. But I think that the character was an iconic persona, in
the comic venue. He was one of the people to give his interpretation to that character. There will be many
others in the future, I am sure. Probably not soon, but still eventually there will be a time when it is going to
be considered all right and even a tribute to Heath to have it done again. I think that there are many more
productive ways, and reasonable ones as well to pay tribute to him. I think this is only going to cause a great
deal of people out there, to have ill feelings toward him, for this thing that he has no control over.
I personally think that getting him a star on Hollywood blvd. Or to contribute to one of his scholarships that
have been set up since his demise, are much more of a tribute, than this...
--- End quote ---
I have to agree. I don´t see the point.
Penthesilea:
--- Quote from: ifyoucantfixit on February 13, 2009, 12:09:36 pm --- I truly loved Heath, still do. But I think to take this tack is to do hiim an extreme disservice. He would not
have approved of this, I dont think. He would never have thought of himself in terms of the be all and end all
for how a character should be played. He was truly the best ever so far, as far as I am concerned. I think I
loved the movie and the portrayal as much as anyone. But I think that the character was an iconic persona, in
the comic venue. He was one of the people to give his interpretation to that character. There will be many
others in the future, I am sure. Probably not soon, but still eventually there will be a time when it is going to
be considered all right, and even a tribute to Heath, to have it done again. I think that there are many more
productive ways, and reasonable ones as well to pay tribute to him. I think this is only going to cause a great
deal of people out there, to have ill feelings toward him, for this thing that he has no control over.
I personally think that getting him a star on Hollywood blvd. Or to contribute to one of his scholarships that
have been set up since his demise, are much more of a tribute, than this...
--- End quote ---
I fully agree, Janice. Well said.
sel:
--- Quote from: ifyoucantfixit on February 13, 2009, 12:09:36 pm --- I truly loved Heath, still do. But I think to take this tack is to do hiim an extreme disservice. He would not
have approved of this, I dont think. He would never have thought of himself in terms of the be all and end all
for how a character should be played. He was truly the best ever so far, as far as I am concerned. I think I
loved the movie and the portrayal as much as anyone. But I think that the character was an iconic persona, in
the comic venue. He was one of the people to give his interpretation to that character. There will be many
others in the future, I am sure. Probably not soon, but still eventually there will be a time when it is going to
be considered all right, and even a tribute to Heath, to have it done again. I think that there are many more
productive ways, and reasonable ones as well to pay tribute to him. I think this is only going to cause a great
deal of people out there, to have ill feelings toward him, for this thing that he has no control over.
I personally think that getting him a star on Hollywood blvd. Or to contribute to one of his scholarships that
have been set up since his demise, are much more of a tribute, than this...
--- End quote ---
I find myself agreeing with what you say as well. I signed the petition because I don't want to see another Joker too soon. I suppose I am being selfish, and contradictory, but right now I can't help it.
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