Casto, have you ever read a Batman comic? I mean, since the 1970's?
Batman Begins was closer to the modern Batman than anything by Burton.
yeah im with Sir Auros on this one.....seems like you watched the old "bam!" and "biff!" batman one too many times and thought "oh gee, the joker is supposed to be a laughing retard all the time and never really accomplish anything". read this
http://stars.ign.com/articles/841/841564p1.html from ign on the many faces of the joker. as you can see, the joker originally started out as an insane murderer that was more about killing and destruction than throwing cards at people.
tim burtons' portrayal of the joker was indeed great and i loved the first two films to death....and they still are great. burton's adaptation of the joker took the original maniacal version of the joker and combined it with the lunatic laughing boy of the old batman tv show and jack nicholason's acting is what you got. it was great.
that being said, heath ledgers joker is much closer to the original intent of what the joker was supposed to be. a messed up dude, that was more like a serial killer than a guy that wants to take over gotham city by filling up clown balloons with gas. and i always thought the actual joker making "chemical accident" was done a little campy. im supposed to believe (yes i know its a comic book movie, but bear with me) that a guy falls into acid and comes out with perfect clown makeup (a.k.a. tim burtons joker). heath ledger's look is much more believeable with the scarring and makeup done sloppily, clothes strewn together to kinda resemble a clown outfit. IMO, an insane serial killer isnt going to take the time to walk down to the local taylor to get measured for a purple suit. the makeup will be shoddy and he will look nasty and dirty.
obviously im a fan of batman begins as well, as the scarecrow was also made much more believable. im so glad they didnt make him look like a wizard of oz scarecrow adaptation....although im guessing howard wouldve liked that better.

sheesh!