I think the thing with New York is that people know the Turtles live there and don't have to constantly worry about reminding us where they live. I wouldn't mind seeing other characters used in Turtles like Usagi or the Stone soldiers like Tragg from Dimension X.
Like I said though, it's a matter of gradual descent into the excessive weirdness that makes it more plausible. I don't mind them not using Shredder as the only focus, but I still think he makes a big splash on film, you practically saw as much of Shredder in the 2nd movie as you did the Turtles.
The thing is though, critics and viewers loved Jack's Joker, it was one of the main praises of the film and alot of Joker's lines became trademark material. Another reason I say so many people loved him was that Heath Ledger admitted that he loved Nicholson's Joker and said he wouldn't dare try to imitate.
He didn't want to steal an act that was done so well, Joker's origins are not that important in the long run, who he was before or even what his real name was is fair game for Burton or any director, the key thing though like any version of Joker is the dip in the chemical acid bath.
Though comic books are the source of the idea, they are by no means chains forcing people to follow an identical formula, even if fans like the comic formula over the movie one. That doesn't mean who we saw in the first Batman film wasn't The Joker. Same with Green Goblin or Dr. Doom or anyone.
Mad Hatter isn't hard at all, technology is easy to incorporate just like Scarecrow's fear gas (which pissed me off because Begins made it a hallucianting drug and his gimmick is FEAR, not just Hallucinating gas). Poison ivy can come in easy, just remove the monster part of her plants abilities.
And state she has a natural immunity due to a birth defect. Movies can do ANYTHING, there are always ways around things. Mr. Freeze is too far out to do and Firefly and Riddler are too "comic book" dressed to be bought. Scarface though can easily come in because he's a great head case.
Scarface is not a demonic puppet, he's purely psychological and insanity is no stranger to Batman movies. Sure it might look weird but all the movie has to do is let the audience know the dummy isn't possessed by demons or magic, and people will accept it. Joker is proof enough that insanity takes many colors.
I think actually someone like the Rat King would be cool to see on screen, or even Baxter Stockmen's mousers, fly man or not. Again, it all depends on how much absurdity you throw at once. Remember, a little goes a long way.
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