One thing much of the public sees in a situation like this is a tribute on the DVD of the movie. I feel that these features have to be handled with delicacy, grace, and dignity. Otherwise, it becomes part of the marketing that are DVD sales. Christopher Nolan, director of The Dark Knight issued a heartfelt article about is experience working with Ledger. His words and comments were full of trust and sincerity for the actor. I believe that if a tribute feature is released on DVD, it will be one of the best ever presented to the public. Never have I seen a director feel the loss of an actor like that of Christopher Nolan.

The issue of Heath Ledger's death is still not over. A baptist church, that shall remain nameless, will be protesting at his funeral. They protest the message of hate toward homosexuals and state that they will protest Ledger's funeral for his portrayal as a gay cowboy in the movie Brokeback Mountain.

This kind of publicity is negative not only toward the Ledger family, but also toward The Dark Knight. I will not make any assumptions to whether or not this protest will be bad for the release of the film or not. I only hope that the work that Ledger and Nolan put into this film will be seen by the public and appreciated for the raw talent that they both put forth. Heath Ledger, no matter the controversy surrounding his death, will be sorely missed and all hope for the best for his family and friends.

It has been said, before this tragedy happened I must add, that he put on an absolutely fantastic performance as the Joker in the new Batman film, Dark Knight. I cannot wait to see this movie, although I've got a feeling that it might just get a bit more emotional than I think it was meant to be. Heath Ledger played some brilliant roles in his short life and my favorite of all was in a Knights Tale. It was a funny and touching movie and he played the part so well. People said he was on the up after playing the Joker so well but unfortunately, he will never get the chance to prove this statement true.

Recent reports in various news sites have also revealed that Jack Nicholson had warned the young actor about taking on a role as demanding and draining as the Joker. It had affected him when he played the part in the original Batman movie. In November Heath Ledger admitted to being exhausted and having trouble sleeping and even went so far as to tell reporters that he had started taking sleeping tablets to help him get some rest. It seems such a tragedy that work affected this bright young star so much that in the end, it took his life.

Heath Ledger will be sorely missed by many dedicated fans, admirers and even the general public who enjoyed so many of his previous movies. My thoughts go out once again to his family and friends.

I was a bit surprised to hear that he'd been cast to play the Joker in the upcoming Batman film The Dark Knight, the sequel to “Batman Begins”. I'll admit I was skeptical at first, not because of the “Broke-bat” jokes that kept coming out but because I wasn't sure if he was the right guy. Then I saw the trailers and was more than impressed by his portrayal of the character as a psycho-clown rather than just doing what Jack Nicholson did in 1989's Batman. It made me look forward to seeing the movie even more, and impressed by Ledger's acting abilities.

Then, last Tuesday night, I got the news after checking my e-mail. Heath Ledger, 28 years-old, had been found dead in a New York City apartment. My jaw dropped. I was shocked. I just couldn't believe it. This talented young man, who had a promising career and a surefire hit movie on the way, was gone, taken before his time like many other young celebrities before him. It just didn't make any sense to me.

Naturally, talk and speculation has been building about the whole thing. The cause of death, whether drugs were involved, his physical state from being, as he told the New York Times, “stressed out just a little too much” from playing the Joker... All that so-called “good” stuff that people just have to know. I'm sure his family wants to know, since it would put them at ease to know what took this member of their family.

But frankly, does it really matter in the end? We can have all the answers we want, they can make as much sense as the world being round, but it all adds up to one thing. Heath Ledger is gone, taken before his time like so many before him. As much as I hope and pray for his family that his death was accidental and/or due to health issues, I still can't help but feel this is just another senseless death in the Hollywood machine.

And then there's how this will affect The Dark Knight. The film will come out as planned, of that I'm sure. Warner Bros. and DC Comics wouldn't delay or shelve the film because of this, as that would be an insult to Ledger's memory. What concerns me is that people won't go to see the movie because they like it, but because of Ledger's death hanging over it, much in the same way as it was for The Crow when Brandon Lee died. Me, I still plan to see it, but because I've already been looking forward to it long before this tragedy and to not see it because of Ledger's death would be the same as not releasing it, an insult to his memory.

So here's to Heath Ledger, a talented young man taken before his time. Not all of us were fans of his works, but we can take them for what they are and acknowledge the mark he made on Hollywood. He will be missed.

May he rest in peace.

Heath Ledger was an amazingly talented actor who was set to be the next Johnny Depp, he has taken on an amazing range of roles proving that he has real range and talent from A Knights Tale to Brokeback Mountain and the soon to be released Dark Knight movie. It is a real loss to the world, by all reports he was a polite considerate man not effect by his success and he was respected by fellow actors and fans alike.

He did not deserve to go like this and my prayers go out to his family and friends in this terrible time, I ask God to be with them. I never met Heath like many I just know him from his films but I have so much respect for him and thank him for the joy he brought us all through his films, the world is a darker place now he is not it it.

Rest in Peace Heath Ledger

Always in our hearts.

Since the investigation is ongoing I would like to take this time to focus on Ledger's life and achievements since I think jumping to conclusions at this time would be rather premature and only detrimental.

He was 28 years old.

Heath Ledger, famous for roles in the films "10 things I Hate About You," "The Patriot" and "Brokeback Mountain" rose to fame in 1999. Other roles include "A Knight's Tale" and "Monster's Ball."

He was born in Western Australia in 1979.

Dear readers, my suggestion is leave all speculation about his demise to investigators. Keep his family in your prayers during this tumultuous time. I'll remember Heath as a talented actor, and a very driven individual. One that would not be typecasted or stereotyped,and that talent is his legacy. I pray for strength for his family.