DEL TORO LOVES LEDGER'S JOKER

Moviemaker GUILLERMO DEL TORO has lavished praise on HEATH LEDGER's take on BATMAN's arch rival THE JOKER.

The Pan's Labyrinth director insists the actor's portrayal of the smiling supervillain in Batman Begins sequel The Dark Knight is excellent.

He tells MTV news, "I love it. Every time I see more of Heath Ledger's Joker, I like it more.

"That's a good sign because if something is going the wrong way, the more you see about it, the less you ingratiate yourself with it."

The Joker was last played on the big screen by legendary star Jack Nicholson in 1989 movie, Batman.