LONDON:

Sir Michael Caine said the Joker’s role played by actor Heath Ledger in the new Batman movie is as good as Jack Nicholson’s in the original Batman released in 1989.

Earlier, Nicholson had expressed his displeasure in not being asked to reprise his role as Joker in The Dark Knight, however, Caine, who acts as Alfred the butler believes Ledger’s portrayal of Joker is nastier, ananova.com reported. He said, “The problem was, how do you top Jack Nicholson as the Joker? Ledger plays the Joker and he is fantastic. I couldn’t see how Jack could be topped but he’s at least equal to him. It’s extraordinary. Jack’s Joker was a very nasty old uncle, this Joker is a maniacal, murderous psychopath.”

“And when you see the make-up — he looks like he’s mentally gone. He puts the make-up on to disguise himself and then goes and never takes it off again, or washes, so gradually it looks like leprosy. I’m a great fan of Christopher Nolan. I thought Batman Begins was the best Batman I’d ever seen. And I think this one will be better than that,” Caine added. The movie is directed by Christopher Nolan and stars Christian Bale as Batman.