Friday, December 19, 2008

Batman: Mark Hamill's Joker

As brilliant and lauded as Heath Ledger's performance is, I'm glad to see this on YouTube, reminding us that Mark Hamill is likewise a genius when it comes to portraying the Clown Prince of Crime:



Around the time that Batman: Mask of the Phantasm came out, HBO did a "First Look" featurette on it that actually showed Hamill in the sound booth recording the voice, and it was amazing to see. Sadly, it wasn't on the DVD. I'd love to find that on YouTube!

Update 12/22: Thanks to John D, HBO First Look - Mask Of The Phantasm: Part 1 and Part 2.

7 comments:

Scott D. Parker said...

Lou,

I couldn't agree more about how well Hamill did the Joker. Up until TDK, I considered Hamill's Joker to be definitive. I still consider him to be definitive in terms of the original comic-book version of Joker. Ledger's Joker was good but different.

Lou Anders said...

I agree completely. In a sense, TDK isn't definitive so much as revisionary - a take on Batman that makes him *more* realistic and real-world than his comic book incarnation. I love both Ledger and Hamill's performance, and only wish it were possible to see more from the former.

E.M. Gist said...

They just announced Hamill and Conroy will be reprising the voices for the new Batman video game. Almost makes me wish I played video games

Lou Anders said...

I played until my son was born. I can't possibly consider it now, which is killing me. Batman:Vengenace used both of their voices, as well as the style of animation from B:TAS, and was well-written enough to feel like an episode.

John D. said...

Fear my Google-fu!

Batman - HBO First Look - Mask Of The Phantasm: Part 1 and Part 2

Anonymous said...

When I heard of TDK's creation, I wondered how anyone could perform a Joker matching Hamill's voice acting talent. Hamill is excellent in every role I know of, including Firelord Ozai in the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender. Ledger surprised me, in a good way. I wonder if the live action actor for Avatar will.

Thanks for embedding this video.

Lou Anders said...

Hi Ann, my pleasure.
I hear only good things about Avatar too, I really need to check that cartoon out.