Heath Ledger's menacing portrayal of The Joker has been likened to the shark in Jaws by The Dark Knight director, Christopher Nolan.

Nolan praises the late actor for his intense performance.

“He’s like the shark in Jaws,” he says. “The Joker cuts through the film, he’s incredibly important, but he’s not a guy with a backstory. He’s a wild card.”

Ledger's co-star Christian Bale – who dons the famous cape for the second time -  also believes cinema audiences will be blown away by teh Aussie star's psychotic take on the character.

"He was incredibly intense in his performance but incredibly mellow and laid-back,” he has said.

"Certainly there was a great anarchist streak to it - just getting dirtier than anybody's envisioned The Joker before.

"(Heath had) power because he has no limits - absolutely nothing to lose."

Check out Ledger in action as The Joker here.