WATCHMEN Movie Discussion (SPOILERS allowed)!

[Kabukiman]

Watchmen is not meant to entertain you!

That's because it's like the bible.

 

[Scar]

Gotta say I disagree with the Wizard beef with Goode as Veidt. Aside from physique, I thought he was perfect in getting across the character as he is portrayed in the book. I'm surprised that they didn't mention JDM as the Comedian, whose portrayal of the character truly blew me away in this film. JEH was superb, but I would have preferred less of a growl.

Nice to see more people than just the few of us are starting to have deep discussion about the story.

 

[Nocturne]

I had no problem with Goode's Veidt, he came across as an intelligent yet elegant person and through his performance I didn't doubt that. It was also refreshingly free of arrogance, in a way he's similar to Rais Al Ghul, someone who believes the world needs saving from itself (such as when he dealt with the other businessmen) but that the ends to do that justified the means.

Possibly witnessing the devasation of the cities as opposed to bodies piled in the streets helps stop the average viewer just immediately dismissing his character as a mass murderer (the bodies would bring home reality of his actions far more immediately) who was faking the character we saw throughout the story.

 

[DarkArtist81]

Gotta say I disagree with the Wizard beef with Goode as Veidt. Aside from physique, I thought he was perfect in getting across the character as he is portrayed in the book. I'm surprised that they didn't mention JDM as the Comedian, whose portrayal of the character truly blew me away in this film. JEH was superb, but I would have preferred less of a growl.

Nice to see more people than just the few of us are starting to have deep discussion about the story.

I have to agree with you about Goode, I think he did a fantastic job. I just saw this for the second time and it's amazing how well Goode walks the line between madman and hero..

I think it's really the best film we could have hoped for, and felt like it was really meant to be watched by fans of the material. The Directors cut will only make that feeling even more evident. Snyder may not be Hitchcock or Spielberg... but he took this job in an effort to make sure Watchmen wasn't butchered by someone else. I honestly don't mind a single change he made or was forced to make by the studios, these are minor evils rather than the larger ones that the studios initially wanted. I.e.. updated in modern day, no Comedian funeral, etc.

Seeing the film the second time took away all the criticisms from me, made this movie even more enjoyable and without stress.

 

[Scar]

I had no problem with Goode's Veidt, he came across as an intelligent yet elegant person and through his performance I didn't doubt that. It was also refreshingly free of arrogance, in a way he's similar to Rais Al Ghul, someone who believes the world needs saving from itself (such as when he dealt with the other businessmen) but that the ends to do that justified the means.

Possibly witnessing the devasation of the cities as opposed to bodies piled in the streets helps stop the average viewer just immediately dismissing his character as a mass murderer (the bodies would bring home reality of his actions far more immediately) who was faking the character we saw throughout the story.

Wow, what an excellent comparison! In terms of his goals, I'd say Veidt is very much intent on saving the world through sacrificing many.

Where he and Ra's differ, I think, is that Ra's is more intent on saving the planet itself than humanity, and he would like to restructure mankind from the bottom up, using select individuals worthy of perpetuating the human race as stewards of the planet. That, and I believe Veidt would die to save humanity, whereas Ra's' only true enemy aside from the Detective, is death... which he has spent his entire adult life (all 600+ years) trying to evade. To me, in many ways both see themselves as rightful autocrats (especially Ra's) but Ra's, unlike Veidt, doesn't seem at all haunted or remorseful for having taken or seeking to take so very many lives in the name of his cause; Veidt knows his goals to be noble, but it pains him for having had to kill so very many.

Again, very very nice comparison.

 

[Scar]

I have to agree with you about Goode, I think he did a fantastic job. I just saw this for the second time and it's amazing how well Goode walks the line between madman and hero..

I think it's really the best film we could have hoped for, and felt like it was really meant to be watched by fans of the material. The Directors cut will only make that feeling even more evident. Snyder may not be Hitchcock or Spielberg... but he took this job in an effort to make sure Watchmen wasn't butchered by someone else. I honestly don't mind a single change he made or was forced to make by the studios, these are minor evils rather than the larger ones that the studios initially wanted. I.e.. updated in modern day, no Comedian funeral, etc.

Seeing the film the second time took away all the criticisms from me, made this movie even more enjoyable and without stress.

Same here. More people are picking apart Mail Akerman, this was the first I saw anyone have a problem with Goode's portrayal.

It definitely warrants seeing more than once. I want to be able to sit and enjoy it and not be constantly comparing it to the GN. The one thing I expected more people to react to with a bit more horror was the very graphic assassination of Kennedy during the opening credits. Can't say it bothered me personally, and seeing the Comedian slink away from the fence was just cool; the whole opening sequence thoroughly kicked ass.

 

[Nocturne]

Thank you

Do think the decision weighed on him, he was clearly feeling guilt from the way he just let Nite Owl hit him over and over without resisting, as if he felt he deserved punishment for what he did, even though he did it with the best intentions. He didn't even resist and just took it. Especially after seeing how he disabled both Nite Owl and Rorschach with very little effort.

 

[Scar]

Thank you

Do think the decision weighed on him, he was clearly feeling guilt from the way he just let Nite Owl hit him over and over without resisting, as if he felt he deserved punishment for what he did, even though he did it with the best intentions. He didn't even resist and just took it. Especially after seeing how he disabled both Nite Owl and Rorschach with very little effort.

That was actually one of the additions to the movie that I liked the most. He knew what he did was reprehensible and of the utmost horror, and that he deserved to be brutally punished. Really drove home his self-loathing for having killed so many innocent people.

 

[Nocturne]

In a way it almost makes you feel sorry for him even after doing what he did.

I just loved how it was all played so subtly and we weren't beaten over the head with a lot of things in Watchmen. Too many films these days just spell things out in huge neon lights. so your story is black and white with no room for audience interperatation.

Is like how pop music has gone from metaphor's to just blatantly saying things. Takes a lot of the fun and the art out of it.

 

[endless1]

wizard universe's review:

plant!!!! Plant!!! Plant!!!. Hack synder rules!!

 

[Dr.Mirakle32]

I've seen it twice. The first time, this past Monday when I liked it for what it was, despite its flaws, and again on Friday, when I fully embraced it, enjoyed it and loved almost every minute.

 

[barbelith]

Its not an action movie. Its a character drama.

The problem for the mainstream audience is that it's neither. It falls between two stools.

 

[Scar]

Is like how pop music has gone from metaphor's to just blatantly saying things. Takes a lot of the fun and the art out of it.

God I hate pop music. The Jonas Brothers should be made example of for being soft and weak.

 

[Scar]

I've seen it twice. The first time, this past Monday when I liked it for what it was, despite its flaws, and again on Friday, when I fully embraced it, enjoyed it and loved almost every minute.

I'm hoping to have a similar reaction upon viewing it again.

 

[CelticPredator]

The problem for the mainstream audience is that it's neither. It falls between two stools.

Its a character drama. Being that there are characters....and they go through dramatic issues.

 

[barbelith]

That was actually one of the additions to the movie that I liked the most. He knew what he did was reprehensible and of the utmost horror, and that he deserved to be brutally punished. Really drove home his self-loathing for having killed so many innocent people.

I liked this part too, because we lose the final Adrian/Jon scene from the book that hints at the self-doubt. Here it mutates into guilt, which isn't as powerful in my opinion but which is still a welcome adaptation.

Its a character drama.

It really isn't. The English Patient is a character drama. The Wrestler is a character drama. Magnolia is a character drama. One more year until film school!

 

[Rock83]

Saw it today,it was OK.What i strongly disliked about the movie was the choice of music,sure 99 luftballons and the other songs are great classics,but c`mon put it in a serious movie like this...

 

[Dr.Mirakle32]

The thing about the movie, is that while it preserves the story's basic message, much of its punch is lost in translation. So while still good, the movie is entertaining and action-packed, rushing to get from point A to B and so on, with little of the dramatic human element, philosophy and subtleties that made the novel so amazing. But this is completely understandable given the film's running time, and once that is acknowledged, the film is a blast.

 

[Scar]

Film school? Really? Can't say I'm surprised, but still.

 

[barbelith]

The thing about the movie, is that while it preserves the story's basic message, much of its punch is lost in translation. So while still good, the movie is entertaining and action-packed, rushing to get from point A to B and so on, with little of the dramatic human element, philosophy and subtleties that made the novel so amazing. But this is completely understandable given the film's running time, and once that is acknowledged, the film is a blast.

I'm holding out hope for the director's cut. Maybe we're missing some transitions and breathing space.

Film school? Really?

Not for me.