Leto Joker Vs Ledger Joker
Playing the Joker allows an actor to chew up scenery like a high honey badger, and Jared Leto certainly takes full advantage of that in Suicide Squad. Question is, does he manage to out-honey badger the late, great Heath Ledger from The Dark Knight (2008)?
VILLAIN POWERS
To be honest, he doesn't have much to do in Suicide Squad. For a start, he is not in the Squad. He spends the whole movie trying to liberate his girlfriend Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) from the group, and frankly, he is not very good at it.
He is one of the all-time great movie villains. This master of mayhem kills multiple citizens, officials and even Batman's (Christian Bale) girlfriend (Maggie Gyllenhaal). He forces his superhero nemesis as well as regular people to play sick games of death. Worse yet, he does it all with a smile.
ROUND ONE: LEDGER JOKER
Ledger Joker is evil incarnate while Leto Joker is but a manic romantic.
SEXY POWERS
Even as a dude, I can appreciate the fact that Leto is a sex god. Dressing up as the Joker just makes him more dangerously alluring. With slicked-back green hair, silver teeth, fearsome tattoos and a peacock-inspired wardrobe, he has turned the Joker into a rock star.
Ledger himself may have been a beautiful man, but he had no problem uglifying himself for the role. With weed-like hair, a smelly-looking purple suit and lipstick emphasising the scary scars at the corners of his mouth, he is truly monstrous.
ROUND TWO: LETO JOKER
There is no question whom one would rather.
ACTING POWERS
Leto is a terrific actor, and in fact he won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club (2013). His performance in Suicide Squad is off-the-charts flashy but is perhaps lacking a tad in terms of true menace.
One of the most respected actors of his generation, Ledger gave his all and was rewarded with a posthumous Best Supporting Actor Oscar. From his flat accent to his shambling demeanour, he utterly transformed himself.
ROUND THREE: LEDGER JOKER
Ledger brought a brave, harrowing art film performance to a superhero flick, winning the highest acclaims of his career for it.
THE WINNER: LEDGER JOKER
As much as we love Leto, his sexiness is no match for Ledger, who has the last laugh in this showdown.
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