It's great. I haven't followed any of the controversy, so I don't know about that. I know weird internet people love the Joker character but that's about it. It's kinda the virgin version of the punisher skull that fashy cops like and appears on all these facebook profiles pics? Idgi.

I don't watch a lot of superhero movies because the good:garbage ratio makes it not worth the time for me. So, can't really compare Joker performances other than Nicholson, Ledger, Phoenix. All entirely different actors performing (almost) entirely different characters.

No sequel needed. Superhero movies are still somehow a cash cow, but rarely is quality considered - I don't see any reason to weaken this movie with a sequel.

Phoenix might be one of the greatest living actors. It was the quietest movie audience I've seen in the cinema in a long time - Phoenix took everyone in that theater from his first scene and kept them the whole time. Excellent performance.