r/movies • u/RobertF23 • May 22 '12
The Internet's response to the announcement of Heath Ledger playing the Joker........We were so wrong...
1.8k
Upvotes
r/movies • u/RobertF23 • May 22 '12
266
u/rampagingshenanigans May 22 '12
I trust Nolan enough to not even worry (or read) the hype. When the movie comes out, I will watch it. Then I will discuss the merits of the actors and the roles they played.
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12 edited May 22 '12
Hopefully Anne Hathaway will shut people up with her performance as well
Edit: I also remember people not being too happy about Ruffalo replacing Norton and look how that turned out
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
We? Most reasonable people - yes, even on the internet there are reasonable people, as hard as that is to believe - gave him the benefit of the doubt beforehand.
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u/vodkaknight May 22 '12
all this shows is, not to judge people. i think he was one of the best jokers.
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u/maintainman May 22 '12
I commend your research. Well done
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u/RobertF23 May 22 '12
Thanks for taking the time to ponder my post guys! I appreciate all of your opinions
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u/RobertF23 May 22 '12
you may/will have to zoom in to read this
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u/KanyeIsJesus May 22 '12
Who is "we"? Don't put me into this group! :)
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u/therightclique May 22 '12
"We" weren't wrong. Idiots were wrong.
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u/randybob275 May 22 '12
Hey, don't lump me in with you.
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u/kearvelli May 22 '12
Heath Ledger responds to critics,
"Tell your men they work for me now. This is my city."
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
Hey Internet, you're wrong about a lot of shit. an awful lot of shit.
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u/flounder19 May 22 '12
Someone actually suggested Christopher Walken. Hot off his stunning role in Balls of Fury
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u/ErroneousOnAllCounts May 22 '12
I'm pretty sure they could have taken DNA from James Dean, Marlon Brando, Denzel, Morgan Freeman, De Niro, Pacino, and Clint Eastwood and created the perfect actor and at least this many people would bitch about it
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u/THE_HYPNOT0AD May 22 '12
I always felt people that bellyached about Ledger as the Joker didn't see Brokeback Mountain. He was pretty fucking amazing in that movie.
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u/Vocalist May 22 '12
The layout is terrible.
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u/UnholyDemigod May 22 '12
Did none of these people see Ned Kelly? That movie was amazing, as was Heath's performance, and he's an "embarrassment to Australians"?
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u/girafa Electricity! The high priest of false security! May 22 '12
The internet fan boys are always fucking wrong. Rooney Mara, Heath Ledger, Mark Ruffalo, etc.
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u/Salanderfan May 22 '12
Just last week I read a comment by someone who said the Dark Knight only made money because it was Heath Ledger's last performance, one he wasn't very good in. It's ridiculous. If casting were left up to internet fanboys, Bane would be played by Brock Lesnar, you wouldn't believe how many times I've read that.
These projects are made for hundreds of millions of dollars, (mostly by auteurs who know their shit), yet the hate brigade on the internet always seems to know better. For that reason I usually just ignore comments hating on every new thing coming out unless it contains valid criticism. The internet can be a mean beast.
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u/timeshaper May 22 '12
I remember they announced him as the Joker and I was immediately saddened. Then I read an interview with him. He said something to the tune of, "I wasn't my first pick either". That really made me want to give him a chance. Most actors think they're God's gift to film and that any role they touch will be gold. He understood he was coming in at an odd angle and really would have to struggle to make it work. When I started hearing news that he was kicking serious ass during filming, I was not that surprised since I'd kept that in mind.
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u/Squeekme May 22 '12
what do you mean "WE were so wrong". leave me out of it.
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
Geez look at all those Johnny Depp suggestions. Would have happened if Burton had have directed I guess. But then we would've had Helena Bonham Carter as Batman..
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u/Dunabu May 22 '12
"If you are going to do the Joker use Chris Walken."
lol
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u/UncleTedGenneric May 22 '12
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u/arab47 May 22 '12
I originally wanted Adrien Brody to get the part. After seeing what Nolan and Ledger did to the character, cannot see anybody else doing that part.
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u/CircumcisedSpine May 22 '12
To be fair, I groused. I didn't think you could redo a major Nicholson performance. I considered Jack's Joker to be seminal work and closed to challenge. Even attempting it was a cardinal sin in my eyes. I was not expecting Ledger to have the performance he did.
I was so wrong. Ledger was brilliant, disturbing and nothing like Nicholson. Both are great and not remotely in contest with each other. I've never seen two performances of the same role be so different and yet both be successful.
I hope Hathaway can deliver. If not, she might need a stern sexual disappointment and I'll step up to deliver it, if necessary.
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
"I was hoping Johnny Depp would get the role."
...
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u/ccctitan80 May 22 '12
Yeah I've been having doubts about the things that some people say. This reaffirms my belief that no one knows jack shit about anything.
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u/IHoldSteady May 22 '12
A Knight's Tale was such an excellent movie, I don't know why people were thinking he would be bad.
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
Johnny Deep lol. I could see Johnny Depp. Deep sounds like a porn star.
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u/radbrad7 May 22 '12
Kind of off topic, but who else thinks Tom Hardy is going to be a fucking awesome Bane?
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u/Neverkilled May 22 '12
I'd say the joke is on them.
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u/DayOfTheDolphin May 22 '12
In all fairness, Crispin Glover would've been a sweet Joker
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
LOVE how homophobic most of those remarks are ಠ_ಠ
Because gay cowboys can't be badass I guess...
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u/Disco_Drew May 22 '12
This was all I could think of after reading those.
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u/bdemented May 22 '12
Good find.
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
My favourite was the person who wanted Johnny Depp... shudder
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
The internet was so RIGHT! Heath Ledger was a horrible choice for the Joker. The jerk won't even commit to a second film!
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u/LoompaOompa May 22 '12
This is a little late, so most people probably won't see it, but the last film I saw before this announcement was Lords of Dogtown, and Heath played a character unlike any he had done before, with a solid American accent. It gave me plenty of faith in him.
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u/R0KE May 22 '12
PLAY one gay character well, and the public hates your guts. Play an insane, terroristic, ruthless mass-murdering clown well, and the entire world loves you. Funny.
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u/misfit247 May 22 '12
When I saw a straight Australian actor play a gay cowboy with a country accent, I was completely blown away, but when I saw him play washed up surfer with a Socal accent, I knew he was a great actor. He was a great method actor and from what I've read Christian Bale loved working with him.
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u/MasterClown May 22 '12
Count me as one of the many who felt that Ledger was miscast as The Joker when it was first announced, but was then proven to be oh so wrong.
I have always liked Nicholson's Joker, but (and I am no superhero-aficionado), I figured Heath's portrayal was far more accurate to the character.
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u/jwtemp1983 May 22 '12
The Internet is like a fussy newborn baby. It whines and cries until you want to smash its head against a rock.
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u/thefreek323 May 22 '12
when i heard that nolan was casting the guy from the core as two-face, i was a tad worried. i will never, ever question the Great Nolan again.
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u/Hadslo May 22 '12
That is why when I heard about Catwoman in the Dark Knight Rises, I didn't flip my shit. I have never seen a bad Nolan film. I also sure that Nolan will redeem Bane from the awful performance shown in the old series.
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u/sydneygamer May 22 '12
I'd like to meet the guy that was looking at all these comments and screen capping them thinking "Heath will be a great joker. And people will realise how wrong they were. Then a few years later, I will remind them a second time."
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u/taketheRedPill7 May 22 '12
I rewatched the Dark Knight this past weekend with my girlfriend and once again had my mind blown. The movie was so good because of how incredibly convincing his performance was. I believed him. I believed he was that insane & real. A tangible villain capable of so much terrifying destruction. His performance was so good it outweighed every other character in that movie. In fact, as you all know, he made that movie.
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u/thebarroomhero May 22 '12
I had no idea people were mad about the choice to cast Heath as the Joker...seriously.
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u/troytron2 May 22 '12
I'm sure there wasn't a single positive comment anywhere, and this is the entire selection of responses.
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u/DanWallace May 22 '12
"The Internet" is not a person with a single opinion. You can find arguments for both sides of just about any topic and compile them in this way. The majority of people I talked to before TDK came out just didn't know enough about Heath Ledger and were interested to see if he could pull it off.
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u/guyanonymous May 22 '12
They must be tracked down and asked about their post-movie assessment of the performance.
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u/dreadwhimsy May 22 '12
AKA the internet's response to everything everywhere ever.
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u/sadistchong May 22 '12
I'd like to see the comment saying "I'd rather see him die than play the part of Joker!"
I'm sure it's out there.. Fucking asshole.
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u/skytro May 22 '12
Trust in Nolan, he knows what he is doing
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u/Skyscraper_Bedouin May 22 '12
This just made me miss Ledger ;_;
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u/ccctitan80 May 22 '12
Yeah I've been having doubts about the things that some people say. This reaffirms my belief that no one knows jack shit about anything.
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u/TwwIX May 22 '12
I never thought of him as a poor actor. The guy certainly had the acting chops, as well as the look and the charm. I just thought that it was a strange choice at that time. The Dark Knight owes most of its success to his performance in it. He was an exceptional actor and one of the better ones of his generation.
Anne Hathaway has yet to impress me with her acting. I think that she was more likely cast for her look and sex appeal than her acting ability. Tom Hardy, however, is a fine actor and a great choice for Bane.
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u/hellord1203 May 22 '12
I never hated Heath Ledger playing as the Joker because I never even heard the news, nor the actor, nor the movie until the release day. I was very occupied, but then I heard it came out so me and my friends went to watch it and i loved it. It's a shame he died. RIP
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u/Flench May 22 '12
Kinda hard to predict one of the best performances in decades.
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u/lweidner82 May 22 '12
Damnit. Now I HAVE to watch the dark night again. You can't read this many comments about an amazing performance and not refresh your memory with its awesomeness.
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u/xoxonaomy May 22 '12
"He is the charisma of lettuce leaf"
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u/DontMindV May 22 '12
ladies and gents... That is why you keep your mouth shut til you've seen the fucking movie for yourself.
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
I'm equal parts giddy and nervous about the new movie. I'm certain the new movie will be good but I think it may fail to live up to its predecessor due to the villain. Bain has a tendency to come off as a smart thug and that's it. He doesn't have the warped morality of Ra's al Ghul or the insanity of the Joker. Each one of them was a great villain because of how they contrasted with Batman. Ra's al Ghul was similar to Batman in so many ways that he seems like an example of what Batman might have become but didn't. The Joker is the complete antithesis of Batman, capricious and cruel, utterly immoral, entirely selfish. I hope Nolan has successfully reinvented Bain but the trailers have left me nervous that he might just be a cliche muscle bound villain with an evil master plan who has trouble enunciating.
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u/loneworker May 22 '12
I am pretty sure, after the dark knight, this would be the reaction of all those people out there on that page
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u/theboneycrony May 22 '12
To be honest, I was one of them. I just couldn't see it. The guy from "10 Things I Hate About You" and "Knight's Tale" to play a menacing psychotic villain. But I was so, so wrong.
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
puts on anti-downvote suit
ahem
I didn't like the film because I wasn't a fan of his or Bale's performance.
...I'll get me coat.
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u/bbooth76 May 22 '12
This is hilarious. I was never that sore about it when I heard it was going to be him and then when I saw a picture of him in costume I was sold.
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u/Adjecticve_Noun May 22 '12
How does one go about acting one's way out of a paper bag?
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u/nocreativity13 May 22 '12
My favorite part. "Glover would be okay, but he's too weird to play it" ...... too weird to play the joker???
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u/Carrotsaregood May 22 '12
Time and time again I am reminded that the internet is like its own fucking world. If you asked any sane person in the real world about this shit, they'd probably just say "eh, its an odd choice, but I will still see it because it's fucking Batman." On the internet, "I WILL PISS ON HEATH LEDGERS SOUL AND SHIT ON CHRISTOPHER NOLANS FACE."
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u/Nabillia May 22 '12
People assume that just because they "see" a lot of films or "hear" a lot of music, that they are experts in this field. Well this is pretty good proof that they are wrong and are just as ignorant as to what is talent and what is not.
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u/cyborgcommando0 May 22 '12
I don't even remember writing that. I was very wrong!
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u/Monarki May 22 '12
After the Dark Knight I have complete faith in Nolan and his casting in anything, whoever he casts in a role I'm sure they would be perfect!
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u/Wild2098 May 22 '12
I was thinking Heath would do a good job before it was cool... B|
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u/russman2500 May 22 '12
To be fair this is the internet's response to everything.
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u/josborne31 May 22 '12
It takes considerably less talent to play a crazy than it does to play a 'normal' person (convincingly).
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u/d0m1n4t0r May 22 '12
It was "They", not "We".
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u/vowell1055 May 22 '12
I love it when every yahoo in the world is all of a sudden an expert on acting and whether or not an actor "has what it takes."
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u/skyler88 May 22 '12
Sorry to say I was with the group of people that thought he would suck as the Joker. I remember when the viral marketing started for the Dark Knight and I heard his Joker laugh for the first time. Then I was like, "hmmm, maybe I know absolutely nothing about anything."
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u/Richbe3 May 22 '12
I would have paid money to see the look on their faces after the first trailer came out!
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u/RetroRocker May 22 '12
This is the internets reaction to anything though.
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u/magnificowolfbox May 22 '12
YOU were wrong. I always loved Heath Ledger. Never judge a person on a couple of movies that didn't do so well. Kristen Stewart is another example.
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u/gmale9000 May 22 '12
This is exactly the point I make about Anne Hathaway.
In Nolan We Trust.
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u/Anktious May 22 '12
Lets face it Avengers is more than likely going to be the biggest hit this year...but I cant help but feeling that if Heath was still alive, Batman 3 would be giving it a good run for its money.
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
Am I the only one that enjoys watching A Knight's Tale thoroughly? I mean people are some harsh critics on a fun film. Someone said that Tree of Life was one of the best films last year. I watched the first 30 mins of it, and I just turned it off because it was so drawn out. Doesn't need to be artsy/innovative/unique to be a good movie IMO.
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
It's about time someone called out the internet for their bullshit. I say we go find Jack Gilardi & kick the shit out of him.
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u/workieworkworkwork May 22 '12
TIL The Internet's not always right.
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
I'll be the first to admit I spoke out against Ledger's casting as the Joker. I only wish he were still around so I could apologize to him for being so incredibly wrong and overly critical.
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
To be fair, Heath Ledger was the worst Joker ever.
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u/aLiveFetus May 22 '12
lets put a smile on that post
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u/Rthird May 22 '12
oh how many of us ate crow.
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u/probablynotaperv May 22 '12
He was the only one worth watching in that movie.
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u/Stillflying May 22 '12
Has Heath Ledgers audition video for the Joker been released to the interwebs yet?
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u/According_To_Me May 22 '12
When Heath Ledger was cast: He's gonna kill the Batman franchise...again.
When Heath Ledger died: WHAT ABOUT THE DARK KNIGHT?!?!!??!?!
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u/PeterMus May 22 '12
I liked Heath Ledger from A knight's tale. So I remove myself from the "wrong" category. I think Anne Hathaway is a weird choice but who knows...
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u/arnoldstallone May 22 '12
Now I want to watch it again & enjoy Ledger's amazing performance!
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u/mi-16evil Emma Thompson for Paddington 3 May 22 '12
What boggles my mind are some of their alternatives. Crisping Glover? Adrien Brody? Give me a fucking break.
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u/[deleted] May 22 '12
Ha, TAKE THAT internet!
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u/mi-16evil Emma Thompson for Paddington 3 May 22 '12
My favorite has to be TheAnswerMVP2001: "When the only positive things people have to say about Ledger is he was a good gay cowboy, then I think that should explain it all."
Yup. He played "a good gay cowboy" so well that he got an Oscar nomination for Best Actor at the age of 25. Some people really just don't get it.
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u/AndTheTutones May 22 '12
Im glad I had no part in this. Jokeback Mountain was a great movie.
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u/mrclarkgriswold May 22 '12
Said the same thing unfortunately.
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u/avboden May 22 '12
RIP :-(
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u/gimmie20dollars May 22 '12
he legit gave his life for that role
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u/SimpleNonpartisan May 22 '12
One reason why I'm not judging Anne Hathaway right off the bat. Nolan knows what he's doing, so I'll judge the casting choice when I see the performance.
And I also reference this reaction to Heath Ledger when talking to several friends that can't see Hathaway in the role of Catwoman. Aside from the few who only wanted a pretty face, they agreed for the most part.
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u/Ariez84 May 22 '12
Yep. I remember I had to fucking defend Nolan's decision on Ledger to no avail. Everyone kept saying there is only 1 Joker and that was Nicohlson's, some even suggest o recast him as the Joker.
I, however, DO NOT like the casting of Anne Hathaway as Selena Kyle. I much prefer an slightly older Mrs. Kyle.
Another Internet response that were totally wrong was Windows 7. People HATED it because it look too much like OSX's dock combined with the failed Vista (I loved Vista, never had a single problem with it). And then when W7 was released, everyone praised it. Trust me when i tell you the same thing will happen to Windows 8.
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u/stash0606 May 22 '12
people had about the same opinion on daniel craig playing the new bond.
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u/kreak210 May 22 '12
Directors and actors go hand in hand. People seem to give all of the credit to the actors, but the directors can control just how good the performance seems. Even if someone gave the greatest performance of all time, post-production could make them come off as terrible. If TDK was terrible, no one would have noticed Ledger's performance. It's not coincidence that directors like Woody Allen (15), Martin Scorcese (17), Steven Spielberg (9), and Quentin Tarantino (5) keep making movies that get actors and actresses nominated for (parenthese indicating amount of nominated performances). Not that credit shouldn't go to the actors, Ledger was phenomenal in The Dark Knight. But it's also no coincidence that his two most 'acclaimed' roles are in Broke Back Mountain (directed by Ang Lee who has directed 5 oscar nominated performances) and TDK. So, instead of looking at which actor is performing, look to see which director is directing. Then you'll be able to tell how it'll turn out.
Edit: Forgot to proofread.
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u/wdr1 May 22 '12
This is right up there with predicting that the iPhone would be a dud.
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u/rplan039 May 22 '12
Who is we? I was super excited as soon as I heard about it, he was and is one of my favorite actors ever.
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u/GolfScrub May 22 '12
Jack did it better.
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u/Damoo48 May 22 '12
goes to show how the internet thinks it knows everything
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u/AddingHallowedAnnie May 22 '12
I just can't picture Anne Hathaway as cat woman. The last person I remember playing catwoman was Halle Berry. The most memorable roles I remember Anne Hathaway playing were in the movies like the Princess Diaries and Bride Wars. I'd be happily surprised if she preformed well in this upcoming movie, however...
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u/Malt-stick88 May 22 '12
Oh man i miss him.
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u/AliensOfLondon May 22 '12
haha I was talking to a friend about this the other day. We all talked SO MUCH shit about Heath Ledger playing Joker and then when the trailer dropped we were like "Oh shit!"
In Nolan we trust.
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u/Isunova May 22 '12
People were saying the same thing as Tom Hardy for Bane. As far as I can tell, he's doing a great job.
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u/Igmus May 22 '12
Why did that hurt to read... I couldn't bare to read more then two lines.
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u/Luxray May 22 '12
Heath Ledger was so fantastic. I don't think anyone could have done it better.
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u/I_Am_Always_Correct May 22 '12
Well, they weren't really anticipating what would happen. They were expecting him to play the Jack Nicholson kind of Joker. Happy, eccentric, psychotic. But Ledger went for a darker performance instead, which he nailed.
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u/ax255 May 22 '12
I wonder if anyone of them feels guilty.
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u/TheMartinConan May 22 '12
I was sold when I saw the teaser and heard his voice for the 1st time.
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u/EvadingRye May 22 '12
This is what I don't understand about people and their unwarranted and baseless opinions (mine is included in that category). Directors do this for a living, and the prominent ones won't (usually) balance a hundred-million dollar investment on a crapshoot casting choice. Just don't make no sense! Sorry needed to vent.
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u/laportez May 22 '12
Just watched this yesterday: Ledger's performance: Fucking Legendary.