WATCHMEN Movie Discussion (SPOILERS allowed)!
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I saw Watchmen last night thanks to a friend at the MPAA.
JEH is great as Rorshach. The visuals are terrific and in most cases true to the book. As many of you have guessed, it looks like the graphic novel sprung to life for the most part. And it earns its R rating, which is good news for those of you into that sort of thing.
The other actors are ... not great. There seems to be a bit of prequel here, with the focus on building a world to the detriment of basic things like credible motivations within scenes etc. The net effect is that some of the philosophical discussions are unintentionally humorous.
Dr Manhattan is deadpan and while it works in the book, here he just seems disinterested in even being in the movie. It's the reality vs verisimilitude argument and I don't see a workable solution there for cinema, really. I know some have speculated about the Nite Owl costume being a girdle or something, but Dan is not really that tubby in civilian clothes either. I guess they dropped that aspect because it wasn't sexy enough. Also: there is a lot of blue ^^^^ in this movie. Many of you will also enjoy seeing rather more of Silk Specter than is shown in the previews.
The reason behind the Comedian's death remains. The climax, as has been much discussed, is changed from the book. I know many of you will write this off based on my previous posts, but it doesn't work. The goal is to unite the world in fear of Dr Manhattan, but the film makes it plain (as does the book) that the world already hates and fears Dr Manhattan, and superheroes in general. This also makes nonsense of efforts to get Manhattan off Earth earlier in the story. Now, I'm not saying they had to film the squid (although the book is widely recognized as the greatest comic ever because of the story, and changing that takes enormous hubris that sadly the scriptwriters lacked the talent to support). But as presented here it makes not one iota of sense, undermining the entire point of the book.
Comic fans are going to love this movie. Second week box office will be interesting, because I don't see word of mouth happening. Between this and 300 some basic weaknesses of Snyder as a director emerge, and to be blunt this is a story that requires a stronger understanding of character, emotion and nuance than Snyder can pull off. But I congratulate him on the visuals - no other director would have been as accomplished in terms of remaining faithful to the book. This is no Dark Knight as far as mainstream audiences are likely to be concerned.
Gorgeous, but dumb as a sack of hammers.
JEH is great as Rorshach. The visuals are terrific and in most cases true to the book. As many of you have guessed, it looks like the graphic novel sprung to life for the most part. And it earns its R rating, which is good news for those of you into that sort of thing.
The other actors are ... not great. There seems to be a bit of prequel here, with the focus on building a world to the detriment of basic things like credible motivations within scenes etc. The net effect is that some of the philosophical discussions are unintentionally humorous.
Dr Manhattan is deadpan and while it works in the book, here he just seems disinterested in even being in the movie. It's the reality vs verisimilitude argument and I don't see a workable solution there for cinema, really. I know some have speculated about the Nite Owl costume being a girdle or something, but Dan is not really that tubby in civilian clothes either. I guess they dropped that aspect because it wasn't sexy enough. Also: there is a lot of blue ^^^^ in this movie. Many of you will also enjoy seeing rather more of Silk Specter than is shown in the previews.
The reason behind the Comedian's death remains. The climax, as has been much discussed, is changed from the book. I know many of you will write this off based on my previous posts, but it doesn't work. The goal is to unite the world in fear of Dr Manhattan, but the film makes it plain (as does the book) that the world already hates and fears Dr Manhattan, and superheroes in general. This also makes nonsense of efforts to get Manhattan off Earth earlier in the story. Now, I'm not saying they had to film the squid (although the book is widely recognized as the greatest comic ever because of the story, and changing that takes enormous hubris that sadly the scriptwriters lacked the talent to support). But as presented here it makes not one iota of sense, undermining the entire point of the book.
Comic fans are going to love this movie. Second week box office will be interesting, because I don't see word of mouth happening. Between this and 300 some basic weaknesses of Snyder as a director emerge, and to be blunt this is a story that requires a stronger understanding of character, emotion and nuance than Snyder can pull off. But I congratulate him on the visuals - no other director would have been as accomplished in terms of remaining faithful to the book. This is no Dark Knight as far as mainstream audiences are likely to be concerned.
Gorgeous, but dumb as a sack of hammers.
The Mike
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I'm actually glad to read this. Dr. Manhattan himself is uninterested in society as a whole and losing touch with humanity, its the basis for his faults and severe "weakness" considering his God like power. If when you see him on screen he seems like he could care less about even being in the film then its the Dr. Manhattan I was hoping to see.
I think people will generally be happy with how Dr Manhattan is handled. It didn't work for me personally (I was also not satisfied with his voice, for example). But I suspect I will be in the minority here.
For people who like action and visuals, this movie is going to be a hit.
For people who like story and character, it's something of a misfire.
Better than The Spirit!
Scar
Super Freak
I'm reserving my verdict until I see it on screen. For example, I have no problem with Dr. M's voice. Just going to wait and see. Not a chance it will be as big as TDK, being that the characters are unfamiliar to the public and the R rating limits the audience. But it isn't the general public or box office dollars that I'm interested in. I'm interested in seeing how the comic book fan base reacts to the movie. That will be the true measure of success or failure, and whatever it achieves among any demographic, it will doubtless be a hit for many and disappoint at least some.
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I hope this movie tanks at the BO. No sequel....
This depends on how you define the comic book fan base. People who came to Watchmen from Marvel/DC are probably going to love this film. People who came to Watchmen from Alan Moore/Comics Reporter are probably ... not. From one perspective Snyder nailed it and from another perspective he really dropped the ball. So it depends where you're coming from and why you think Watchmen is a great book.
Personally, having seen the film, I think Snyder thinks it's a great book because Rorshach and Dr Manhattan are "cool." He certainly doesn't seem to get what Alan Moore was writing, if that makes sense. But I admit I will probably be in the minority - I don't understand why people think 300 is a good movie, for example.
I hope this movie tanks at the BO. No sequel....
Well, Zack Snyder already said he wouldn't do a sequel, so I don't think we have anything to fear.
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Oh and around the 3:20 or so mark, you can hear Ozy's speech....which he is NOT in private, but in public. So, American Voice = public, German voice thing = private.
https://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/watchmen/b-roll-i
https://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/watchmen/b-roll-i
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Zack wont do it....but hopefully WB doesnt get greedy? I heard some talk...probably wrong...but you never know.
plasmid303
Super Freak
I have a question, Barbelith: How are the action sequences? Are they all shot in slow motion like in 300? I was afraid of this after seeing most of the Watchmen trailers and footage thus far.
If you sped up the action scenes in 300 it'd be shortened by half.
If you sped up the action scenes in 300 it'd be shortened by half.
The Mike
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Zack wont do it....but hopefully WB doesnt get greedy? I heard some talk...probably wrong...but you never know.
DC Comics has been treatening a Watchmen sequel or prequel for years but nothing has come out of it. I suspect the same will occur over at WB. I see them going for other books in the same vein instead going after something that Moore himself would never write unlike 300 where Miller is scripting the sequel/prequel.
tomandshell
Blue Flame of the West/Mod
Scar
Super Freak
Perhaps if one falls exclusively into one camp and refuses to see how and why the other side feels as they do, but as a follower of all of the above, I will have to wait and gauge for myself. I don't know many comic followers personally who remain with one of the above without acknowledging the perspective of the others.
Alan would puke in his soup if asked to do a sequel, and rightly so.
Darth Waller
Are you on the square?
The Mike
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How many remember this review:
"...a film with comic book characters, an unbelievable story, no political or social commentary, lousy acting, preposterous dialogue, and a ridiculously simplistic morality. In other words, a BAD MOVIE."
It ran in the New Yorker. Anyone know what film?
Sometimes reviewers and critics don't know their heads from their ^^^ holes. I can't wait to see it and be amazed.
"...a film with comic book characters, an unbelievable story, no political or social commentary, lousy acting, preposterous dialogue, and a ridiculously simplistic morality. In other words, a BAD MOVIE."
It ran in the New Yorker. Anyone know what film?
Star Wars: A New Hope
Sometimes reviewers and critics don't know their heads from their ^^^ holes. I can't wait to see it and be amazed.
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Because its a mindless action movie with pretty colors and gore....
Atleast thats why I like it.
And dont blame Snyder for that. Take it up with Miller....Synder atleast tried to put more depth in....
Also FINALLY the HURM...
https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808406490/video/12117851
DarkArtist81
Super Freak
Here is what makes me not give a crap about that guy's review...
If he can say that, he was ready to say the movie was just as bad.
And I don't get the hate for 300, I loved that movie. It was almost 100% exactly like the written work, and while the action was over the top.. it was supposed to be. I thought it worked.. but that's just me.
