Will Tom Hardy's Bane outperform Heath Ledger's Joker?

**Shocker** · 02-03-2012, 08:55 PM

They all said it couldn't be done, I think I remember Michael Caine saying it in Empire Magazine and I actually believed it too...until Tom Hardy was announced as Bane. Tom Hardy is a terrific actor (Bronson, Inception, Warrior just to name a few examples of his awesome performances), better than Heath Ledger if you compare all their movies together. I'm convinced Tom Hardy might outshine Heath Ledger but the question I ask to you, is do you think he will?

**Big Papa** · 02-03-2012, 09:18 PM

No.

I'm a big fan of Tom Hardy. Just recently saw Bronson and it far exceed my expectations simply because of Hardy (despite the amount of penis he showed). I also like the Bane character.

But Ledger's version of the Joker is iconic. I know some people feel that its been overrated because of Ledger's death but I honestly don't think that's the case. Don't get me wrong - it wasn't all Ledger. The Joker in The Dark Knight was a beautifully written character in a really strong story. It would have been an interesting character so long as it was played by any good actor. But Ledger made it something way beyond interesting. He owned it. In a great film with a really strong cast, Ledger completely stood out and that says a great deal.

Do I expect good things out of Hardy as Bane? Yes, absolutely. Do I expect it to top what Ledger managed with the Joker? No. But I'm prepared to be wrong.

**Fuji Vice** · 02-03-2012, 10:11 PM

Papa, you should have just stopped at no, which was what I was going to do until I read your post. It's not even a question of topping performances (and I agree that Hardy is a good actor). He can't top Ledger's performance as The Joker because he's not playing The Joker, he's playing Bane. Bane IS a great character in his own right, and I have confidence that Hardy will do a great job with it, but no, he won't outdo Ledger's work from the previous film. In fact, I think its partially to his detriment that he even has to be made to live up that performance, that hardly seems fair to him.

**heel316** · 02-03-2012, 10:18 PM

Frankly, you can never say Yes before watching the movie.

This coming from a big fan of Tom Hardy, and he isn't that great an actor that u can expect him to topple Ledger's performance. If it was like Pacino or Brando playing Bane, you could begin discussions, but with Hardy, you cannot say you expect him to topple that, coz it would be wrong.

That said, in such performances, the character is like 50% the deal, Who could have said Ledger would give a good performance before seeing the movie? And he gave one which transcended the word 'terrific'. Once the movie is out, and all the aspects and dialogues of the character are out, then only we will know.

**Suffy** · 02-03-2012, 10:29 PM

So we're going to make wild assumptions from an actor hyping his own movie and a trailer...that makes perfect sense and is not outlandish in the slightest...#sarcasm

**Troy** · 02-04-2012, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Suffy

So we're going to make wild assumptions from an actor hyping his own movie and a trailer...that makes perfect sense and is not outlandish in the slightest...#sarcasm

Yes.

Because some people like to do this for fun. It happens a lot on forums and other message boards. #notsarcasm

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**CAPS LOCK** · 02-04-2012, 01:11 PM

I think people are getting ahead of themselves with this. I more-so view how supposedly awesome the Joker character was when Heath did it was because he is now dead. Remember before Michael Jackson died, he was a pedophile and all that sheet? Then all of a sudden, after he dies, "Oh, man, he was so great! Blah blah blah, he helped a lot of people! Blah blah blah revolutionized music, blah blah blah". It's like, the same concept. Don't get me wrong, both guys were great in their respective professions, but their deaths really catapulted them to a whole new level.

Also, it's a different character. Bane isn't the Joker, and vice-versa, so let's not compare apples and oranges. It's like if people were to compare who would win in a fight between Superman and Goku. In a lot of cases it's been Goku, and in a lot of cases it has also been Superman. Both sides have an intrigue in their characters that makes them memorable, and all that good stuff. So, yea, thug life and all that sheet.

**Shocker** · 02-04-2012, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by Suffy

So we're going to make wild assumptions from an actor hyping his own movie and a trailer...that makes perfect sense and is not outlandish in the slightest...#sarcasm

I haven't assumed anything off either of those two things. I haven't even seen the trailer or him hyping up the movie.

**Suffy** · 02-04-2012, 02:25 PM

The very fact that you brought it up at this juncture is beyond stupid...that is not hyperbole I seriously think this is one of the dumbest questions I have ever seen.

We heard Bane say what...one line in the trailer and saw a little more in that 6 minute cut...Michael Caine comes out and starts hyping it up...and you are ready to begin asking the question "can he outdo Heath Ledger"...I can't be the only one who thinks this is retarded...