some say this movie is really not part of batman cannon. phoenix's joker is much older than ledger's. remember when he first shows up at wayne manner. bruce is very young. by the time bruce becomes batman he would be fighting an old man. the movie is great because we can actually feel for the character. they guy is beaten down time and time again. his uncontrollable laughter is part of his having a terrible head injury. his mother has lied to him and he finds out the sad way he was adopted. she told him thomas wayne is his father. de niro was great in his role.