bentley
Footballguy
Gary Cogill, the movie critic for WFAA in Dallas, said pretty much the same thing. His opinion was that it would have been a great six hour miniseries, but a mess of a movie.
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***OFFICIAL*** Watchmen movie thread (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter videoguy505
- Start date
Master of Past and Present
Footballguy
Never read the comic book or even had anything but a Yahoo synopsis of the plot going in. Went with one other person in the same boat.
It was a good watch and we were discussing many scenes afterwards trying to figure out what we thought this or that meant. I'm an action junky and liked the action but I was intrigued the whole way through trying to figure out the characters and where the movie was going.
Give it a big thumbs up and will rent it on video to watch a couple more times.
It was a good watch and we were discussing many scenes afterwards trying to figure out what we thought this or that meant. I'm an action junky and liked the action but I was intrigued the whole way through trying to figure out the characters and where the movie was going.
Give it a big thumbs up and will rent it on video to watch a couple more times.
timschochet
Footballguy
I had no idea that Rorschach was Kelly Leak. I just read that. Hilarious!
Corporation
Angry Bovine
The movie was pretty good, and I hate to say it because I despise the phrase, but it doesn't compare to the book. When reading the book, you get a real sense of oppression and the depravity of man. The movie should have been darker, and it would have helped explain Ozy's choice better. The movie really concentrated on Dr. Manhattan too much as well.If you haven't read it, you'd probably like the movie but would wonder what the fuss was all about. Good but not great.Corporation said:
Bob Magaw
Footballguy
desert rose
Footballguy
It happened.
Evilgrin 72
Distributor of Pain
Should I spend $14 a ticket to see this in IMAX, or $7.50 on a regular screen (new theater, so likely pretty big - not some old dumpo theater with screens the size of a postage stamp.)
SmoovySmoov
The Way of the Samurai
Fanboy here.........
There's no Tales of the Black Freighter. There's little of the New Frontiersman. There's very little of the newspaper stand, and the kid reading TOTBF. And for some reason, Snyder added blue dong to Dr. Manhattan. Having said that, I thought it was great. 9/10. Rorschach is my fave, and the character was nailed. Other than that, there is the different ending. I didn't HATE it, like I thought I would. My only hope is that, as faithful to the book as it is, that there is a 4 hour Director's Cut that includes the things that were trimmed out.
If you like the book, go see it. If you don't like the movie, read the book.
There's no Tales of the Black Freighter. There's little of the New Frontiersman. There's very little of the newspaper stand, and the kid reading TOTBF. And for some reason, Snyder added blue dong to Dr. Manhattan. Having said that, I thought it was great. 9/10. Rorschach is my fave, and the character was nailed. Other than that, there is the different ending. I didn't HATE it, like I thought I would. My only hope is that, as faithful to the book as it is, that there is a 4 hour Director's Cut that includes the things that were trimmed out.
If you like the book, go see it. If you don't like the movie, read the book.
NCCommish
Footballguy
They were on Snyder to cut the running time. He had to fight for what he got. Black freighter and Frontiersman get more time in the DVD release according to Snyder.
SmoovySmoov
The Way of the Samurai
:skeet:
peter griffin
Footballguy
Saw this yesterday, and wasn't quite sure what to expect. Here's a quick rundown of my thoughts. I have read the graphic novel about 10 times since I first bought a copy back in 2002.
Pros:
-Visually magnificient, the dinginess of the city, the splendor of Mars, all captured perfectly.
- While I thought all of the performances were at least passable, the two that really nailed their roles were Patrick Wilson as Dreiberg and Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach. While Rorschach is undoubtedly the meatier role, I felt Wilson did an excellent job portraying the most "everyman" out of the characters and making him relevant to the audience.
- Was very faithful to the source material. It was amazing how many scenes and parts of dialog seem to have been transplanted right from the book. I expected more deviation just as standard Hollywood operating procedure but was pleasantly surprised.
-The use of music was outstanding, specifically "The Times They Are a Changin" in the title sequence, "The Sound of Silence" at the Comedian's funeral, Philip Glass' "Pruit Igoe" and "Prophecies". Would've liked to see them use Dylan's version of "All Along the Watchtower" instead of Jimi's, but didn't detract from the film at all.
Cons:
-My only real big problem with the movie may seem like nitpicking, but in the subtle change I feel like the filmmakers
- Some other minor gripes:
- Too much slow mo fighting, just got to be overused in my opinion.
- I don't like the idea of Dan and Laurie being together but still operating as superheroes. I felt that although it wasn't expressly stated that they quit adventuring, that it was implied that because they were together, they were both able to let go of that former lifestyle.
All in all a great adaptation, but it missed the oppurtunity to be truly outstanding based on the subtle change mentioned in the spoiler tags.
Pros:
-Visually magnificient, the dinginess of the city, the splendor of Mars, all captured perfectly.
- While I thought all of the performances were at least passable, the two that really nailed their roles were Patrick Wilson as Dreiberg and Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach. While Rorschach is undoubtedly the meatier role, I felt Wilson did an excellent job portraying the most "everyman" out of the characters and making him relevant to the audience.
- Was very faithful to the source material. It was amazing how many scenes and parts of dialog seem to have been transplanted right from the book. I expected more deviation just as standard Hollywood operating procedure but was pleasantly surprised.
-The use of music was outstanding, specifically "The Times They Are a Changin" in the title sequence, "The Sound of Silence" at the Comedian's funeral, Philip Glass' "Pruit Igoe" and "Prophecies". Would've liked to see them use Dylan's version of "All Along the Watchtower" instead of Jimi's, but didn't detract from the film at all.
Cons:
-My only real big problem with the movie may seem like nitpicking, but in the subtle change I feel like the filmmakers
- Some other minor gripes:
- Too much slow mo fighting, just got to be overused in my opinion.
- I don't like the idea of Dan and Laurie being together but still operating as superheroes. I felt that although it wasn't expressly stated that they quit adventuring, that it was implied that because they were together, they were both able to let go of that former lifestyle.
All in all a great adaptation, but it missed the oppurtunity to be truly outstanding based on the subtle change mentioned in the spoiler tags.
Arsenal of Doom
Footballguy
Just got back. I thought they did a good job overall, but I think the dedication to the source material limited the movie. V for Vendetta went the other way, kept the major storyline and themes but built a movie around them rather than trying to reconstruct the graphic novel in movie form. I think V was a much better movie as a result, even though many fanboys hated it for changing so much.
Mr. Retukes
Footballguy
To me, the movie was just so-so but Jackie Earle Haley was incredible.
Also, this movie has one of the most graphic sex scenes I've ever seen in an R-rated theatrical release.
Also, this movie has one of the most graphic sex scenes I've ever seen in an R-rated theatrical release.
No. 16
Footballguy
If you mean most awkward then yes. As far as graphic... have you seen Monster's Ball or anything with Angelina Jolie in it?
Sundays Rule
Footballguy
I love the graphic novel and wasn't dissapointed in the film. It's impossible to really capture it in its entirety on film but it did a good enough job. I thought the Bob Dylan montage was awesome and probably the best part of the film. You have to read the graphic novel then watch it in order to get a full appreciation.
Pooch
More Yang than Yin
Saw it today on IMAX and thought it was outstanding. Fans of the graphic novel won't be disappointed as this film pretty much captures the mood and the character of it perfectly. I thought the acting was pretty good throughout. Captured the rage of Rorschach and the reticence of Nite Owl completely. The special effects team did a great job depicting Dr. Manhattan with CGI. Malin Akerman is smoking hot throughout as Silk Spectre and does a pretty steamy and revealing sex scene.
If you have read and loved the novel do not miss this movie! (The co-plot involving the pirate story is missed, of course, but it would've added too much time to the movie. It's long enough at 2hrs 40min)
Incredible sound track including:
# "The Times They Are A'Changin'"
Written and Performed by Bob Dylan
# "Hallelujah"
Written and Performed by Leonard Cohen
# "First We Take Manhattan"
Written and Performed by Leonard Cohen
# "Me and Bobby McGee"
Written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster
Performed by Janis Joplin
# "All Along The Watchtower"
Written by Bob Dylan
Performed by Jimi Hendrix
# "The Sounds of Silence"
Written by Paul Simon
Performed by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
# "99 Luftballons"
Written by Nena and Jörn-Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen
Performed by Nena
# "I'm Your Boogie Man"
Written by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch
Performed by KC & The Sunshine Band
If you have read and loved the novel do not miss this movie! (The co-plot involving the pirate story is missed, of course, but it would've added too much time to the movie. It's long enough at 2hrs 40min)
Incredible sound track including:
# "The Times They Are A'Changin'"
Written and Performed by Bob Dylan
# "Hallelujah"
Written and Performed by Leonard Cohen
# "First We Take Manhattan"
Written and Performed by Leonard Cohen
# "Me and Bobby McGee"
Written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster
Performed by Janis Joplin
# "All Along The Watchtower"
Written by Bob Dylan
Performed by Jimi Hendrix
# "The Sounds of Silence"
Written by Paul Simon
Performed by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
# "99 Luftballons"
Written by Nena and Jörn-Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen
Performed by Nena
# "I'm Your Boogie Man"
Written by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch
Performed by KC & The Sunshine Band
Eephus
Footballguy
Watchmen is a movie that's easy to respect but hard to love. The filmmakers stayed much truer to the source material than I expected, which is part of the problem. The book was more backstory and texture than plot, which doesn't work as well in a 160 min movie. Snyder probably could have taken the minimal plot from the book and wrapped a completely different and possibly better movie around it. But by keeping so much of the book intact, it killed the forward momentum of the story. I could see how this could be frustrating to an audience who wasn't familiar with the original story.
Moore's story was rooted in the language and semiotics of comic books. The page layouts, palette, transitions and flashbacks have more impact and make more sense when looking at a two page spread. Even the Watchmen motion comic, which I thought was outstanding, suffered in this regard. Watchmen was as much a comic book about comics as it was a story of superheroes or a cautionary tale for the nuclear age. Some of this was lost in the translation to a different medium.
Moore's story was rooted in the language and semiotics of comic books. The page layouts, palette, transitions and flashbacks have more impact and make more sense when looking at a two page spread. Even the Watchmen motion comic, which I thought was outstanding, suffered in this regard. Watchmen was as much a comic book about comics as it was a story of superheroes or a cautionary tale for the nuclear age. Some of this was lost in the translation to a different medium.
Lott's Fingertip
Footballguy
My experience:
I saw the Watchmen teasers last year and thought "Oh, yeah... that looks sweet!"
I did a little research and found out that the graphic novel was critically acclaimed and apparently a big deal. So I bought the graphic novel to read.
I was rather disappointed in the graphic novel. I like to read, and I like good comic books, but the Watchmen graphic novel just DRAGGED. I really liked the plot and the characters, but it was extremely plodding, imo. I can appreciate why people liked it so much; it was a departure from the norm, the way the story was told was technically interesting... but I really expected more. To me, it was merely solid.
As the movie approached, I only read one review, which pretty much said the movie was going to tank. Uh oh.
I have to say, I enjoyed the movie far more than the graphic novel. Nearly every movie I have seen that was adapted from a book, I enjoyed the book FAR more. There is so much more depth in a book than a movie. And certainly there is more depth in the graphic novel, but the biggest thing that made the movie better for me was the pacing... the movie was interesting throughout; I really did not think there were any slow parts, and the 2:40 went by quickly for me.
I certainly think reading the graphic novel beforehand added to my enjoyment of the movie. The 5 people that I saw it with all had not read it, but they all liked the movie. They didn't love it, but liked it.
Good, well-made flick, but knowledge of the backstory and character histories buoyed my enjoyment.
I saw the Watchmen teasers last year and thought "Oh, yeah... that looks sweet!"
I did a little research and found out that the graphic novel was critically acclaimed and apparently a big deal. So I bought the graphic novel to read.
I was rather disappointed in the graphic novel. I like to read, and I like good comic books, but the Watchmen graphic novel just DRAGGED. I really liked the plot and the characters, but it was extremely plodding, imo. I can appreciate why people liked it so much; it was a departure from the norm, the way the story was told was technically interesting... but I really expected more. To me, it was merely solid.
As the movie approached, I only read one review, which pretty much said the movie was going to tank. Uh oh.
I have to say, I enjoyed the movie far more than the graphic novel. Nearly every movie I have seen that was adapted from a book, I enjoyed the book FAR more. There is so much more depth in a book than a movie. And certainly there is more depth in the graphic novel, but the biggest thing that made the movie better for me was the pacing... the movie was interesting throughout; I really did not think there were any slow parts, and the 2:40 went by quickly for me.
I certainly think reading the graphic novel beforehand added to my enjoyment of the movie. The 5 people that I saw it with all had not read it, but they all liked the movie. They didn't love it, but liked it.
Good, well-made flick, but knowledge of the backstory and character histories buoyed my enjoyment.
NorvilleBarnes
Footballguy
Saw it last night in an Imax theater. Thought it was good - but not great. I've never read the novel so I could tell walking out and overhearing the conversation that the people who had got a lot more out of it than I did.
My problem was that there were so many disjointed things going on, backstory, and jumping around, that by the time you saw all the gritty failings of some of the characters it was difficult to care about them. I agree with the poster who said you just end up being a spectator and not getting involved. The more interesting parts seemed the least significant to me - I found myself thinking thank god for the random back alley assaults and prison attacks.
My problem was that there were so many disjointed things going on, backstory, and jumping around, that by the time you saw all the gritty failings of some of the characters it was difficult to care about them. I agree with the poster who said you just end up being a spectator and not getting involved. The more interesting parts seemed the least significant to me - I found myself thinking thank god for the random back alley assaults and prison attacks.
Sundays Rule
Footballguy
Anyone like the Dylan cover of Desolation Row by My Chemical Romance at the end there? I actually didn't think it half bad.
AnonymousBob
Footballguy
I absolutely despised 300...I thought it was an absolutely horrible movie. Based upon the previews of Watchmen I think it looks pretty awesome...but my concern is it's the same style as 300.
Does it compare to 300 as far as the cartoony look/feel and the slow motion nonsense? I was fine with a little bit of it in 300 but I thought it was so heavy handed and overdone I couldn't focus on the movie itself. I guess my concern with Watchmen is the director again went with style over substance and the movie as a whole lacked a soul.
Does it compare to 300 as far as the cartoony look/feel and the slow motion nonsense? I was fine with a little bit of it in 300 but I thought it was so heavy handed and overdone I couldn't focus on the movie itself. I guess my concern with Watchmen is the director again went with style over substance and the movie as a whole lacked a soul.
Eephus
Footballguy
Glad you loved it. Run and buy the book.Eephus said:Knew next to nothing about it walking in, walked out in wonder.Absolutely loved it.
Agent 47
Footballguy
Glad you loved it. Run and buy the book.Eephus said:Knew next to nothing about it walking in, walked out in wonder.Absolutely loved it.
I plan on it.Loved Dr. Manhattan, even with the excessive peni.
Agent 47
Footballguy
Have never read the graphic novel and hardly know anything about it.
Thought the movie was very solid. B+. Heroes aren't cool enough to get me more psyched though.
It's a bit annoying to hear everyone ##### and moan about a lot of the action being slowed down. It was a relief to me. In every other action movie everyone complains everything is too fast and they can't see what is happening. I thought the action sequences were well done.
Silk Spectre II goes up their in the pantheon of hot movie appearances. Never got tired of looking at her in this movie. Kind of like Angelina in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Just smoking.
Entertaining and interesting movie.
Best line of the movie, "You think I'm locked in here with you. But you are really locked in here with me." Audience went wild. The prison scenes were the highlight of the movie.
Thought the movie was very solid. B+. Heroes aren't cool enough to get me more psyched though.
It's a bit annoying to hear everyone ##### and moan about a lot of the action being slowed down. It was a relief to me. In every other action movie everyone complains everything is too fast and they can't see what is happening. I thought the action sequences were well done.
Silk Spectre II goes up their in the pantheon of hot movie appearances. Never got tired of looking at her in this movie. Kind of like Angelina in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Just smoking.
Entertaining and interesting movie.
Best line of the movie, "You think I'm locked in here with you. But you are really locked in here with me." Audience went wild. The prison scenes were the highlight of the movie.
guitarmonkiy
Footballguy
I've been psyched for this movie since the first previews came out months ago. Re-read the book twice in the past two months. I saw it Friday night in IMAX, and again in IMAX last night. I absolutely loved it. As most FBGs have been saying, it does seem like the people that haven't read the graphic novel didn't seem to like it as much. Everyone I know that read the book loved it. I really thought they did a good job with the character development, as you could really see where each of them were coming from, even the Comedian's cynical ways, and Dr. Manhattan's detachment from humans. I definitely plan on buying this the day the DVD comes out. 
Bob Magaw
Footballguy
nice review...that quite possibly might be the first time the word semiotics has been used in the FFA (or at least in a post about comics, graphic novels), but it was a fitting one...a reason moore said it was unfilmable was that it wouldn't translate to that medium... i disagree... he seems as uncompromising as rorsach...i do agree that it is a challenge, & ultimately i find the source material more satisfying... moore's prose is so dense & layered, that it practically demands lingering, pondering, savoring... same for the brilliant art, where some pages are basically works of art, more beautiful than much of what stands for art in 20th century painting (excepting artists like dali, escher, etc)...watchmen transcended the comics genre & was one of the first graphic novels to be accepted as LITERATURE (along with frank miller's dark knight)...for me, it is great art on at least four levels...1) the writing...2) the images...3) the way the writing & images tied in together4) its post-modern maturity & critique of the genre & cultureas moore has noted, with a movie, an intrinsic feature is that it races by at 24 frames for second, making it impossible in a viewing to take in all the layers & levels (of course, this critique doesn't speak to multiple viewings, comparable to multiple readings?)one advantage to a movie, of course, is the inclusion of music, & the power that comes from a well conceived & executed meshing of image & sound... there may have been others, but i think as was noted above, the use of phillip glass in the dr. manahattan flashback scenes was brilliant... hard to imagine any different music which would have served the scene better...i wish more of ozymandias back story could have been included, ideally with visual flashback structure & narration, rather than a brief, imo talky but incomplete explication to the iacoca delegation... no doubt some compromises & cuts had to be made in a 2:40 movie that could have been 4-6 hours or more, but it seems like more could have been done in just 1-2 minutes, & he was a pretty central character...i liked it a lot, personally i didn't think it dragged at all, i thought snyder was an excellent choice, though i'm sure my appreciation was helped by reading it for the first time a few weeks ago... hard to tell how easy the plot would have been to follow & how much less involved i might have been with the characters if i didn't have that background & context coming in... given that, i had no problem with the pacing...it was very faithful to the source material, as advertised (pretty astounding how much of the source material they WERE able to include... & maybe more on a directors cut, including the story-inside-the-story pirate comic, which was simultaneously released on DVD already with the theatrical version?)... not sure if a reason was given for the the change of ending... if somebody knows & can put it in a spoiler box, it would be much appreciated...BTW, it raked in $55 mil in the first weekend... should be interesting if it has legs, given the challenging source material, & the fact that non-readers may not get as much enjoyment out of it... word of mouth buzz is critical for blockbusters... its reputation precedes it, but will non-readers enjoy it enough to propogate the movie going meme?i think it will kill overseas & in the after theatrical release DVD/blu-ray market...also, i thought the casting was OUTSTANDING, & helped by the fact that (other than billy crudup, who himself isn't a massive star), there weren't a lot of well known faces to detract from the ensemble dynamic... it wouldn't have been the same (or as good) with leonard dicaprio or russel crowe, etc... agree that rorsach & nite owl portrayals were great, but i also liked the comedian, dr. manhattan & silk spectre was SMOKIN!Eephus said:
they all seemed to have done their homework (or were well prepped by the director) and had their respective characters down... they seemed like believable characters with fleshed out motivations that actually lived in an alternate, but parallel reality...the beginning montage was a great way to convey some of the backstory of the alternate/parallel world...dr. manhattan's perception of "time" makes for a fascinating character, & the flashback of his backstory was imo was outstanding, & maintained the spirit of the graphic novel, which was probably my favorite part or scene in THAT medium...
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scoobygang
Footballguy
I think this is exactly right. To put it another way, Watchmen was a giant formalist step forward in the history of comic books, but it wasn't really substantively revolutionary. The great irony, to me, is that the stuff that was most copied from Watchmen were substantive elements. Flawed super heroes. Unflinching depictions of violence. 20 years on, so many comics have taken those elements from Watchmen (and from Miller's Dark Knight stuff) that they've become cliche. It's almost refreshing nowadays to read a comic that features actual noble and heroic super heroes.I think that's why Moore felt that Watchmen was "unfilmable". Snyder gave it the college try, and I actually like it a bit more than I thought I would, but the movie felt to me like a distillation of all the substantive elements of the comic book without a lot of thought about how to translate the formalistic elements. One of the joys of reading Watchmen was seeing how that alternate reality was constructed out of fake "found items". It gave the reader a feeling that he was participating in constructing that world, or at least in piecing together the way different events and themes worked together in the world. The movie just couldn't do that. Snyder had to give us a straight narrative. So we get a movie that is faithful to the comics only in the most literal way. I think it's a very common problem in film adaptations of "literary fiction." Movies like Atonement and Revolutionary Road end up cramming all the incident of a novel into a movie, but they rarely get the essence of the novel. Because the magic in a great novel, even a great graphic novel, is in HOW it's told.Eephus said:
Sabertooth
Footballguy
Trailers down?
SkyRattlers
Anti-aliai
Saw this last night. I had no knowledge at all about who and what The Watchmen were before seeing the movie. A previous poster said it best....I can respect the movie for what it was but I couldn't love it. The characters all seemed to be very well crafted and the acting was very good. But I never found myself caring about the story. I was simply observing what was happening rather than being enthralled and looking forward to the next scene.
My friends and I joked afterwards about how strange it was to see so much richard in a movie whose primary audience is 18-40 year old men.
My friends and I joked afterwards about how strange it was to see so much richard in a movie whose primary audience is 18-40 year old men.
Kendall
I heart waffles
I haven't read the novel and saw the movie on Sunday. I agree with the other posters that said they just felt like they couldn't emotionally invest themselves in the movie. I felt like I was just observing, not that I was participating or trying to figure anything out, but just observing a presentation of facts. It seemed like there was too much in the movie and I would have preferred to watch a storyline on just Rorschach or The Comedian (the two most interesting characters to me). I ordered the novel, I had never heard it was on Time's 100 greatest American Novels. I haven't read comics since I was maybe thirteen, so I'm a bit skeptical. But I respect a lot of your opinions and am giving it a chance.
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Abrantes
Footballguy
Dash
Road Monkey
Most stores are carrying the Watchmen Motion Comics on DVD (a frame by frame copy of the original art with slight modifications, animation and a voice over). The faithful will tell you it pales in comparison to the Graphic Novel, but I thoroughly enjoyed them, despite the one voice actor doing all the voices (including the women). The soundtrack is very well done, using classic composition to aid the suspenseful moments. You can preview the motion comics on iTunes and nefarious web sites.
ArcticEdge
Footballguy
Bonfire
Footballguy
i think this was a good movie. it seems in this thread, people are grading it a little too harshly as compared to the novel. if you put anything under this intense of a microscope it will be faulty, both the anticipation because the previews looked so good and the comic fanboys are leading to more criticism than warranted IMO. i think its definitely worth the prices of a ticket, saw it in IMAX myself and worth the $15.
Agent 47
Footballguy
I started reading this and didn't think I would finish.I did.nice review...that quite possibly might be the first time the word semiotics has been used in the FFA (or at least in a post about comics, graphic novels), but it was a fitting one...a reason moore said it was unfilmable was that it wouldn't translate to that medium... i disagree... he seems as uncompromising as rorsach...i do agree that it is a challenge, & ultimately i find the source material more satisfying... moore's prose is so dense & layered, that it practically demands lingering, pondering, savoring... same for the brilliant art, where some pages are basically works of art, more beautiful than much of what stands for art in 20th century painting (excepting artists like dali, escher, etc)...watchmen transcended the comics genre & was one of the first graphic novels to be accepted as LITERATURE (along with frank miller's dark knight)...for me, it is great art on at least four levels...1) the writing...2) the images...3) the way the writing & images tied in together4) its post-modern maturity & critique of the genre & cultureas moore has noted, with a movie, an intrinsic feature is that it races by at 24 frames for second, making it impossible in a viewing to take in all the layers & levels (of course, this critique doesn't speak to multiple viewings, comparable to multiple readings?)one advantage to a movie, of course, is the inclusion of music, & the power that comes from a well conceived & executed meshing of image & sound... there may have been others, but i think as was noted above, the use of phillip glass in the dr. manahattan flashback scenes was brilliant... hard to imagine any different music which would have served the scene better...i wish more of ozymandias back story could have been included, ideally with visual flashback structure & narration, rather than a brief, imo talky but incomplete explication to the iacoca delegation... no doubt some compromises & cuts had to be made in a 2:40 movie that could have been 4-6 hours or more, but it seems like more could have been done in just 1-2 minutes, & he was a pretty central character...i liked it a lot, personally i didn't think it dragged at all, i thought snyder was an excellent choice, though i'm sure my appreciation was helped by reading it for the first time a few weeks ago... hard to tell how easy the plot would have been to follow & how much less involved i might have been with the characters if i didn't have that background & context coming in... given that, i had no problem with the pacing...it was very faithful to the source material, as advertised (pretty astounding how much of the source material they WERE able to include... & maybe more on a directors cut, including the story-inside-the-story pirate comic, which was simultaneously released on DVD already with the theatrical version?)... not sure if a reason was given for the the change of ending... if somebody knows & can put it in a spoiler box, it would be much appreciated...BTW, it raked in $55 mil in the first weekend... should be interesting if it has legs, given the challenging source material, & the fact that non-readers may not get as much enjoyment out of it... word of mouth buzz is critical for blockbusters... its reputation precedes it, but will non-readers enjoy it enough to propogate the movie going meme?i think it will kill overseas & in the after theatrical release DVD/blu-ray market...also, i thought the casting was OUTSTANDING, & helped by the fact that (other than billy crudup, who himself isn't a massive star), there weren't a lot of well known faces to detract from the ensemble dynamic... it wouldn't have been the same (or as good) with leonard dicaprio or russel crowe, etc... agree that rorsach & nite owl portrayals were great, but i also liked the comedian, dr. manhattan & silk spectre was SMOKIN!they all seemed to have done their homework (or were well prepped by the director) and had their respective characters down... they seemed like believable characters with fleshed out motivations that actually lived in an alternate, but parallel reality...the beginning montage was a great way to convey some of the backstory of the alternate/parallel world...dr. manhattan's perception of "time" makes for a fascinating character, & the flashback of his backstory was imo was outstanding, & maintained the spirit of the graphic novel, which was probably my favorite part or scene in THAT medium...
Zaxxon
Footballguy
Do you get a notice every time he posts or something? Wow.It happened.
ArcticEdge
Footballguy
Kelly Leak and any scene with him was , the main chick was super hot, and with a few exceptions, the rest was so so..
, the main chick was super hot, and with a few exceptions, the rest was so so..
Shrek
Having a great season
I went last night with a friend who has read the book. I've never read it. I must say that after reding so much negativity, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Sure, it was essentially 300 for alternate-reality masked superheroes, but that was OK by me.
As soon as I saw Rorschach take off the mask, I knew I recognized him. It took me about an hour to figure out where from, though. He was Moocher on Breaking Away (Don't forget to punch the clock!) I also agree with the poster who said that he was the best part of the movie. Wow did he ever command the screen during his scenes. The prison scenes were fantastic.
And it took me a few minutes to realize where I had seen Laurie's character before, too. Then it hit me- she was the third girl (Tori) in E's menage a trois with Sloane in Entourage. Hawt.
Aside from the length (2 hrs 40 min), I can't see a reason not to recommend this movie.
As soon as I saw Rorschach take off the mask, I knew I recognized him. It took me about an hour to figure out where from, though. He was Moocher on Breaking Away (Don't forget to punch the clock!) I also agree with the poster who said that he was the best part of the movie. Wow did he ever command the screen during his scenes. The prison scenes were fantastic.
And it took me a few minutes to realize where I had seen Laurie's character before, too. Then it hit me- she was the third girl (Tori) in E's menage a trois with Sloane in Entourage. Hawt.
Aside from the length (2 hrs 40 min), I can't see a reason not to recommend this movie.
fsufan
Footballguy
there were boos in my theater as wellDo you get a notice every time he posts or something? Wow.It happened.
ScottNorwood
Footballcutie
I thought it was spectacular
stbnetbloc
Footballguy
I haven't read the novel, but I enjoyed the film. It picked up really slow, but by the second hour it weaved together the philosophical and psychological issues well, I thought. And I really liked that very last scene.
I hear a lot about how the movie "should have" been more of this or less of that. Here's an interesting take by someone who is a big fan of the novel: 10 Things People Don't Seem to Get About the Watchmen.
I hear a lot about how the movie "should have" been more of this or less of that. Here's an interesting take by someone who is a big fan of the novel: 10 Things People Don't Seem to Get About the Watchmen.
Goldminer1
Footballguy
I didn't see 300 at the movies or on DVD, never read the Watchmen, novel.
Went to see Watchmen with a good buddy, and his sister, we all LOVED IT! One of the best movies I have seen in a lonnnnngggg time. My buddy and his sister agreed.
I do agree with those saying that the first part is "slow." I don't know if I'd call it slow, but the first 30-45 minutes are easily the "slowest" of the movie, once you get past that part, it is SPECTACULAR....
If you don't "get" this movie, go see it again...the symbolism and metaphors in this film are just amazing, it is a thinking man's movie hiding behind the curtain of being a "superhero" movie.
AWESOME, AWESOME, movie.
Went to see Watchmen with a good buddy, and his sister, we all LOVED IT! One of the best movies I have seen in a lonnnnngggg time. My buddy and his sister agreed.
I do agree with those saying that the first part is "slow." I don't know if I'd call it slow, but the first 30-45 minutes are easily the "slowest" of the movie, once you get past that part, it is SPECTACULAR....
If you don't "get" this movie, go see it again...the symbolism and metaphors in this film are just amazing, it is a thinking man's movie hiding behind the curtain of being a "superhero" movie.
AWESOME, AWESOME, movie.
fsufan
Footballguy
Watchmen raked in $55.7 million at the box office opening weekend, but a lot of people aren't sticking around to see the whole movie.
Chicago Tribune blogger Michael Phillips says a colleague of his figures "about a quarter" of moviegoers walked out of his show. And Popten.net writes of "mass walkouts" at a screening in New York. While many defend the film, more than one commenter admits to leaving before the R-rated graphic novel adaptation was over.
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/ta...f-watchmen.html
http://popten.net/2009/03/watchmen-walkouts/
Chicago Tribune blogger Michael Phillips says a colleague of his figures "about a quarter" of moviegoers walked out of his show. And Popten.net writes of "mass walkouts" at a screening in New York. While many defend the film, more than one commenter admits to leaving before the R-rated graphic novel adaptation was over.
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/ta...f-watchmen.html
http://popten.net/2009/03/watchmen-walkouts/
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