Watchmen

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I thought it was a fantastic film. Faithful, well cast, well adapted from the source material. I think the music, though odd, was there to establish the nostalgia of it, since it's a period film. I "think" that was the choice they made to establish that, which I don't think was the best choice. I think the director missed some opportunities to set up the film properly, so many who didn't read the GN had little set up of what they were getting into. My sence from reviews on the WWW were that most were sizing it up to Dark Knight et al. and not as a film on its own. That is, although it's super-heroes, the story goes deeper into the social commentary and the grey line between good and bad and the human side of the Super-Hero existance. I think the tone of the film lost a bit of that and I think that hurts the experiance for those who've not read the GN. I guess I can only liken it too if "Rosebud" was left out of Citizen Kane.

It's flawed but well worth experiancing and based on the above, I think the GN should be read beforehand.

[Pirate Bill]

I'll join my voice to the minority here who loved it. And I haven't read the novel...yet. I've been wanting to, but just haven't. I'm definitely picking it up right away.

As much as I like the "Boy Scout" superheroes like Superman, I also love a flawed hero. So I think it was the characters in Watchmen that made for a more enjoyable movie experience. Especially Rorschach. What an awesomely psychotic anti-hero that you just have to love.

[blueerica]

Originally Posted by JWBear

Are Bill & I the only ones who loved the movie?

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

No, I rather enjoyed it.

I have never read the GN, so I liked it just as a movie. Even though all the daming critiques noted above are spot on.


But I'm a sucker for washed up Superheroes stories.

Even though I kinda liked it, I could tell it lost something in spiritual if not literal translation from the graphic novel. Because certainly there couldn't be such fanboy mania over this material if the GN weren't way, way better.

Originally Posted by Bornieo: Fully Loaded

It's flawed but well worth experiancing and based on the above, I think the GN should be read beforehand.

Originally Posted by Pirate Bill

I'll join my voice to the minority here who loved it. And I haven't read the novel...yet. I've been wanting to, but just haven't. I'm definitely picking it up right away.

As much as I like the "Boy Scout" superheroes like Superman, I also love a flawed hero. So I think it was the characters in Watchmen that made for a more enjoyable movie experience. Especially Rorschach. What an awesomely psychotic anti-hero that you just have to love.

I rather enjoyed the film, so, maybe we're less of a minority that was previously though (just, perhaps, not as vocal?). I'm a huge fan of the flawed hero and I didn't hate the music, even if it was a bit... copy-catish.

I have more questions than answers, and I want to read the GN. But, is it too late for me? Are things ruined? I think I'm going to order it, anyway... but figured it's worth asking of those who know the GN.

[blueerica]

I should add: there were a great number of children under, say, 8 at the movie... here in Utah. Theaters were packed. I can't imagine all of them were happy. Did they market the film to a crowd that's expecting X-Men?

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by blueerica

I rather enjoyed the film, so, maybe we're less of a minority that was previously though (just, perhaps, not as vocal?). I'm a huge fan of the flawed hero and I didn't hate the music, even if it was a bit... copy-catish.

I have more questions than answers, and I want to read the GN. But, is it too late for me? Are things ruined? I think I'm going to order it, anyway... but figured it's worth asking of those who know the GN.

Yes! Read the GN. There is so much depth and layering that the movie could not show. And since they changed one of the main plot points for the movie, you still get to discover the original plot device at the end.

Originally Posted by blueerica

I should add: there were a great number of children under, say, 8 at the movie... here in Utah. Theaters were packed. I can't imagine all of them were happy. Did they market the film to a crowd that's expecting X-Men?

There were small children in the theater when we saw it too. I know a lot of people are going to see it knowing nothing about it beforehand. If they think they are seeing just another Spiderman or X-Men, they are going to be very disappointed, confused, or both.

[Alex]

It depends. As long and packed with semi-pointless backstory as the movie was there is quite a bit more in the book (and with enough extra that it is no longer semi-pointless). For example, you'll know enough about the people involved to actually care about

Spoiler:

the reveal on SSII parentage.

The ending is different. Better in the movie, in my opinion.

That stupid lion thing won't seem completely out of place (they should have cut it since it was completely without explanation).

A lot more detail on Rorschach, which is good.

All in all, I'd say that if you were intrigued then read the GN. It certainly wouldn't be a burn. But at the same time I was flipping through it last night and it is remarkable how much of it is just a shot for shot storyboard of what was in the movie. So I might suggest waiting a couple months for the movie to fade.

I'm not a big fan of the GN but the movie did make me appreciate it more in that the huge flaws in the movie shined a light on the subtle good things about the novel.

[Alex]

Oh, and unlike the movie the novel really does feel like it exists in the 1980s. They told you this in the movie but nothing (in my opinion) really sold that beyond some of the music and the desktop computer on Ozy's desk.

I saw it in a reserved-seat theater in the balcony bar. So no children in sight. Very nice. I'm always amazed at what parents will take their children to. I can kind of understand this one if they didn't pay much attention. But my favorite was the four-year-old sitting in front of me during Four Brothers.

But kids would have been really traumatized if

Spoiler:

The images of post-explosion New York had been used in the movie. Stacks of mangled bodies everywhere.

[Pirate Bill]

Any parent that is taking a child to an R-rated movie without first previewing the movie is a stupid parent and deserves a swift kick in the head. If you can't do the kicking yourself then send the offenders my way and I'll kick them for you.

Back to Rorschach...

Here's how much I knew going into the movie: "The dude wears a lame mask with ink blots on the face? Ugh...I'm probably going to hate this guy."

Leaving the movie: "Dude, Rorschach rocks! Best. Hero. Ever!"

He got all the best lines. And even though the "bat growl" bugged me in Batman, it worked with Rorschach. And with his beautifully written dialog I could listen to him all day.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Pirate Bill

Any parent that is taking a child to an R-rated movie without first previewing the movie is a stupid parent and deserves a swift kick in the head.

I have a really funny story about that and a movie called "Pulp Fiction"

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Originally Posted by Alex

I'm always amazed at what parents will take their children to. I can kind of understand this one if they didn't pay much attention. But my favorite was the four-year-old sitting in front of me during Four Brothers

Originally Posted by Pirate Bill

Any parent that is taking a child to an R-rated movie without first previewing the movie is a stupid parent and deserves a swift kick in the head.

I saw Eyes Wide Shut opening weekend in a packed theater. Some dipsh¡t parents brought their two kids with them. Both kids appeared to be under 10 and both of the kids, in spite of numerous shushes, talked through the entire film! "Mommy, what's that?" "What is he doing to her?" "Why are they wearing masks?" I was ready to orphanize those kids!

Originally Posted by Moonliner

I have a really funny story about that and a movie called "Pulp Fiction"

Oh do tell!