It is a testament to Heath Ledger's showstopping performance in The Dark Knight that one of the most exciting moments from all eight feature-length Batman movies dating back to 1966 is nothing more than a simple three-minute monologue. By the time the Joker had left the room, all memories of Jack Nicholson's take on the character had vanished as audiences were transfixed by Ledger's charismatically unhinged Clown Prince of Crime. An eerie laugh echoes throughout the room as the Joker enters the scene, before he casually dispatches of one of Gambol's men with a memorable pencil trick. As effective as it is economic, in just a couple of minutes the Joker belittles those around him, lays out his plan, makes his demands and then exits. A perfect introduction to the character's manic energy, elevated by the subtle tics and drawling delivery that Ledger had developed for his villainous turn. By the time the scene was over, this version of the Joker had already become iconic.
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