Watchmen

[innerSpaceman]

I finally finished reading the GN ... and, for the most part, to my surprise ... I liked the movie better.

Wow.


The parts of the story that really take flight for me are when the retired heroes swing back into action, both Dan and Laurie, and then Dan and Rorschauch ... and also Rorschach's stint in prison. All of which were better and more lively in the film. (Um, I can't believe Rorschach's best line was just thrown away as an "off-screen" re-tell by someone else in the GN ... and that's just one illustrative symptom of why these sections were more flat in the book.)


The book was best in the Jon segments ... both when he's tripping through time as a great way to tell his story, and his stint on Mars.

Jon's backstory was told very well in the film, but the Mars stuff was meh. Both parts excellent in the book, and the only parts I found better than their movie counterparts.


I've gotta say, now that I've read it and seen it, I don't know what all the broohaha was about. As I've said, I'm a sucker for retired superhero stories. And I LOVE the world created where all of them are masked vigilantes, but human ... and the ONE with Superpowers does not have something retarded like elasticity or invisibility ... but is rather a true Superman of all-around enhancements.


BUT ... I don't think the story did much with this world. The denoument was trite and disappointing. Jon's story arc devolved into insignificance and, yes, disappointment.


Nice blue penis, though.


I give the whole project 3 stars ... and, unbelieveably, find the movie a better deal than the book. Wow.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I've gotta say, now that I've read it and seen it, I don't know what all the broohaha was about. As I've said, I'm a sucker for retired superhero stories.

This (I believe, the fanboys need to back me up) is the original retired superhero story, which is why it was such a big deal. All the others took their cue from this one.

As for the rest of it, we disagree, I thought it was a fun read, kept me hooked....though I admit I have very little to compare it to as I don't read comics. I'm sure some of the best stuff went right over my head.

Curious - which "best line" are you referring to?

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

This (I believe, the fanboys need to back me up) is the original retired superhero story, which is why it was such a big deal. All the others took their cue from this one.

It's like the Beatles.

Some time back, The Moonie Juniors did not get what all the fuss was about in regards to the Beatles. So I made a CD full of period music:

Da Doo Ron Ron, One fine day, Figertips Pt. 2, Under the boardwalk, Walk like a man, etc...

And in the middle of it all I added: A Hard day Night and Please Please Me.

The contrast is striking.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

This (I believe, the fanboys need to back me up) is the original retired superhero story, which is why it was such a big deal. All the others took their cue from this one.

Similar to the Beatles, Watchmen was the first that hit comic readers in the chest. The last revival of Comics in the 70's was fading and for many years we were just getting the same old stuff with nothing new. Comics were fairly uninspired until Watchmen came along and just blew the doors off. Longtime readers had gone thru many revivals of "Comics" in each decade but nothing really turned the "world" on its ear like Watchmen. The line between good/bad was muddied and the thought of bright and shiney heroes in thier underware was spun into the idea that there was a human side and "heroes" were more vunerable than the general sterotype.