Watchmen

[Darren Dirt]

Ebert* really liked it, and HR apparently didn't. Thanks, Snyder, for alienating and/or scaring off the non-fans of this brilliant source material...

*In a cosmic sense it doesn?t really matter who pushed the Comedian through the window. In a cosmic sense, nothing really matters, but best not meditate on that too much.

^ omg, Roger actually gets it! (The novel, I mean -- not commenting on metaphysical philosophy etc.

The film is rich enough to be seen more than once. I plan to see it again, this time on IMAX, and will have more to say about it. I?m not sure I understood all the nuances and implications, but I am sure I had a powerful experience. It?s not as entertaining as ?The Dark Knight,? but like the ?Matrix? films, LOTR and ?The Dark Knight,? it?s going to inspire fevered analysis. I don?t want to see it twice for that reason, however, but mostly just to have the experience again.

I for one -- having recently read it, and starting to re-read it -- am DEFINITELY seeing it on IMAX before the end of March. Who's with me?

[Tonnica]

I'm hoping to see it tomorrow at the 4:10 showing at the City Centre theatre. Mr. A will probably be along as well.

Why such an odd time and location? I have my heart set on seeing it ASAP. Plus the roads and streets are bad which means my mobility is even more limited than usual. This'll be a big one whether or not it stays true to the themes of the comic on top of what I've already seen as impressive visuals.

Clever use of the Abbreviation tag to mutter out a spoiler below. Don't hover over it with your cursor if you don't want to know.

Enk.

[Melbosa]

Enk.

WWWwwwwhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaattt!  Not going for sure now!

[Tonnica]

WWWwwwwhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaattt!  Not going for sure now!

lol

That's the most major diversion from the original I've heard about so far. It may affect things, it may not if they get the point of it across using a different method. Either way it'll be interesting to see what they've done.

[Darren Dirt]

I'm hoping to see it tomorrow at the 4:10 showing at the City Centre theatre. Mr. A will probably be along as well.

Why such an odd time and location? I have my heart set on seeing it ASAP. Plus the roads and streets are bad which means my mobility is even more limited than usual. This'll be a big one whether or not it stays true to the themes of the comic on top of what I've already seen as impressive visuals.

Clever use of the Abbreviation tag to mutter out a spoiler below. Don't hover over it with your cursor if you don't want to know.

Enk.

dammit, I can't make it this weekend, would have to be next week at the earliest.

fine, go without me -- surely you will want to see it again (maybe first time non-IMAX, second one IMAX?)

[Darren Dirt]

Sure "it" might not be the "cause" of the "event" at the end of the story -- but I thought the psychic-terror aspect of the "event" was more fascinating anyway, so hopefully they'll show that in some kind of detail rather than just bodies and blood.

And don't forget one other major omission -- the Black Freighter story, completely not mentioned (although a separate DVD coming out like next week, apparently)

Other than that, sounds like Snyder went the "Sin City" method and just used Gibbons' frames as his storyboard... with waaaaaaay too much slow-mo, apparently 

[Mr. Analog]

I can't wait to see it, you'd think I'd have read Watchmen all the way through by now, but no!

[Darren Dirt]

the (theoretical) SCIENCE behind Dr. Manhattan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmj1rpzDRZ0

and the FX behind him...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szrwAfJSZLY

[Darren Dirt]

'Watchmen' Reviews Are In: Everyone Disagrees! (lol)

What's the consensus on Zack Snyder's adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' universally lauded graphic novel?



Predictably, there isn't one. Critical reaction to the film has been split into three camps: those who immediately loved the book and now immediately love the movie (our own Kurt Loder called it a "monumental accomplishment"), those who love the book so much they believe the movie should never have been made, and those who never read the book and now are wondering, "Really? This junk is what everyone's so excited about?"

And so it goes. Will you love it? Hate it? Have you somehow never even heard of it? MTV News did the investigative work and now presents to you the good, the bad and the ugly "Watchmen" reviews.

The Good

"Fans of Alan Moore's landmark graphic novel, concerning a ring of Gotham superheroes brought out of retirement by an impending nuclear threat, will thrill to every pulpy line of dialogue and bloody act of retribution retained in director Zack Snyder's slavishly faithful adaptation." -- Justin Chang, Variety

"Honestly, if I have a complaint it is that the film feels brief to me. Two hours and 40 minutes and it went by like a blink for me. I easily would have patiently sat for another 2 hours, but that's me." -- Harry Knowles, Ain't It Cool News

"Another bold exercise in the liberation of the superhero movie. It's a compelling visceral film -- sound, images and characters combined into a decidedly odd visual experience that evokes the feel of a graphic novel. It seems charged from within by its power as a fable; we sense it's not interested in a plot so much as with the dilemma of functioning in a world losing hope." -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The Bad

"Even 'Watchmen' fanatics may be doomed to a disappointment that results from trying to stay this faithful to a comic book. The opening-credit sequence has a marvelous audacity ... [but] once the film proper begins, Snyder, who did such a terrific job of adapting the solemn Olympian war porn of '300,' treats each image with the same stuffy hermetic reverence. He doesn't move the camera or let the scenes breathe. He crams the film with bits and pieces, trapping his actors like bugs wriggling in the frame." -- Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

"Alan Moore was right. There isn't a movie in his landmark graphic novel 'Watchmen' -- at least not a really good one. What we get instead is something acceptable but pedestrian, an adaptation that is more a prisoner of its story than the master of it." -- Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

" 'Watchmen' is a lighter version of very dark material. On its own, the movie is an efficient adrenaline delivery machine, occasionally taking flight and occasionally sputtering, but most often just motoring down a long road with colorful scenery to pass the time." -- Peter Martin, Cinematical.com

The Ugly

" 'Watchmen' features this year's hands-down winner of the bad movie sex award, superhero division: a moment of bliss that takes place on board Nite Owl's nifty little airship, accompanied by Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah.' " -- A.O. Scott, The New York Times

"The bad news about 'Watchmen' is that it grinds and squelches on for two and a half hours, like a major operation. The good news is that you don't have to stay past the opening credit sequence -- easily the highlight of the film." -- Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

"Whenever a fight begins (and there's one about every 15 minutes in this 160-minute movie), brace yourself for an abundance of narratively pointless bone-crunching, finger-twisting, limb-sawing, and skull-hacking. These extreme sports are often filmed in 'Matrix'-style slow motion, a technique that tends to grind the story to a halt. Like the money shots in porn movies, Snyder's action scenes are an end in themselves -- gratifying if you like that sort of thing, gross if you don't." -- Dana Stevens, Slate

[Tonnica]

Reviews are all over the place. If you like it, you like it. If you don't, you really don't. I've already written up my walls of text elsewhere about the movie but in short: read the book before I saw it, liked it, will see again.

I'm totally up for seeing it at the IMAX, it's a good venue for this movie. It's the kind of movie to be surrounded by for a few hours.

There are parts in Watchmen that reach the point of over-the-top violence and that applies to both the book and the movie. The grittiness of the comic translates directly to exaggerated blood on the big screen. Those who don't like gore, be prepared to do some looking away.

There are bits and pieces that were glossed over to compact the story in to the time frame. The Black Freighter story is no longer part of the main storyline (but it is hinted at), the news stand scenes are trimmed down to a few short shots, Hollis Mason's death is not present, Rorschach's origins and psychoanalysis are trimmed down, he no longer jumps out of the fridge the first time he meets with Moloch, and he doesn't swipe sugar cubes from Night Owl. You bet your sweet butt the walls of text at the end of each chapter aren't present either.
These are all little niggly things that help to complete the book. give it and the reader a sense of dipping in to something more than just a comic with a blue dude that doesn't like pants. The movie while robust only manages to provide so much but what it does provide is visually faithful and does try to be reverent of the source material. Zack Snyder did a pretty good job. I'd challenge anyone else to do better.

And yes the sex scene in Archimedes is pretty bad looping all the way back to funny.

(Of course I would challenge others to do better. That would mean more Rorschach. But I digress, I'm just one of "those" fans.)

[Darren Dirt]

And yes the sex scene in Archimedes is pretty bad* looping all the way back to funny.

(Of course I would challenge others to do better. That would mean more Rorschach. But I digress, I'm just one of "those" fans.)

heh, based on the first bolded text above, the second bolded text was not necessary to be said

Also, * "Matrix Reloaded" bad or just "would fast-forward when watching at home with family members" bad?

IMAX this week anyone?

[Tonnica]

heh, based on the first bolded text above, the second bolded text was not necessary to be said

Also, * "Matrix Reloaded" bad or just "would fast-forward when watching at home with family members" bad?

lol busted. My propeller, it spins with great force. I did whisper RRAAAARRL as Rorschach jumped through the window. Sigh.

A Saturday or Sunday showing would be ideal. They don't have the times posted for this weekend yet but I'll bet they'll have it starting between 12:00-2:00 PM.

[Darren Dirt]

lol busted. My propeller, it spins with great force. I did whisper RRAAAARRL as Rorschach jumped through the window. Sigh.

hurm.



and on a "slightly silly" note...
Watchmen photoshop contest -- Gizmodo encourages its creative regulars to make obvious jokes visually come alive:
lolroxbury'd
lolironman'd
lolswayze'd
lolnicholson'd
lolwalle'd
lolLHC'd
lolzod'd
^ saved you some time

and, elsewhere... loleasteregg'd

[Darren Dirt]

Saturday Morning Watchmen (I changed my mind, I no longer "miss the 80s*")


also, apparently Directors Cut Theatrical Release might be coming... and it even includes dialogue between the Bernies (!)



*I really really don't.

[Darren Dirt]

a glowing, motivating review: http://www.watchmencomicmovie.com/030609-watchmen-movie-review.php


Also more of the viral marketing: "being vigilant isn't a crime, being a vigilante is"
(more here and, not surprisingly, here)


...and for you Moore purists...
Alan Moore talks: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=CD8A370BD4702DB9