Watchmen

[N D Hill]

It looks as if it's really on its way. I don't quite know how to feel about this. I consider it to be my favorite graphic novel of all time, right above 'Dark Knight Returns' and 'V for Vendetta' and 'Maus.' I consider the graphic novel to be one of the most intelligent and clever executions of sequential storytelling ever. It commented on a genre and medium that were both plummeting into cliche, so it'll be interesting to see how the film pulls this off.

Check out the website here. Watchmen.com (http://watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com/)

[Brendan N]

I haven't had the fortune of reading it (really want to!), but I somehow doubt how well it will function as a film due to the themes and context. Maybe with the comicbookgonefilm fad of late it could pull it off.

Nevertheless, it should at least be an interesting film to watch.

[N D Hill]

Maybe with the comicbookgonefilm fad of late it could pull it off.

Yeah. That's really the only way I believe it could be done. The graphic novel was such a post modern example of sequential storytelling. The commentary was just as much on the medium itself as well as the genre and social context. For instance the backstory to the character "Rorschach" was arranged in such a way where the pages facing each other shared a bilateral symmetry like a Rorschach ink blot. Or another example would be Doctor Manhattan's flash backs and his explanation of how he no longer perceives time as being linear, making the panels a perfect means of depicting sort of a crystalized story which lets us view the whole before we read the episodic narrative.

Watchmen was really the perfect story for the comic book medium as the layout design became just as crucial to it's development as the characters themselves. I think in order for the film to work, it would have to achieve this on a level that's specific to film and sort of become its own entity. And of course with the slew of superhero movies, that could be doable. I'm just thinking how cliched the characters look and how they could come right of Joel Schumacher's shitty 'Batman and Robin.'... Hopefully this was intentional.

[Renegade89]

I personally am sick of adaptations, and im very pessimistic with these projects, always seem to build up hype and dissapoint in the end.

Ill admit, im interested, whether the end result is good or bad ill sure be on the theater watching.

Somehow i dont think a film will capture the story and concept as well as the original graphic novel, i mean that was something developed specifically for that media. But if the director do finds a way around it and make a good adaptation certainly will be a pleasure to watch, lets cross our fingers for the following year and hope for a miracle since this rarely happens.

If not, well, just pouring crap over another classic story that was just fine the way it was.

[tomwaits4noman]

Terry Gilliam was in talks at one stage he wanted to do it as a tv series in 5 hr pieces...

The director is the same guy who did 300, with comics there may be adding on fattening up the plot when it comes to Alan Moore, there is so much to watchmen... try read it in one sitting... so much information very dense.. they are going to have to be careful with what they strip away, also the ending now we are post 9/11 will be interesting how they handle it.

They will probably lost the sub plot of the kid reading the pirate comic even though that ties and reflects each strand together.

Either way Alan Moore is accepting no money for the adaption

[Alday.J]

Either way Alan Moore is accepting no money for the adaption

Wich is not a surprise. ;)

If you never read the comic book, please do ! That's one of the masterpiece of the comic book, EVER. The movie can wait, really. ;)

[N D Hill]

Either way Alan Moore is accepting no money for the adaption

Yeah. That's usually the case. In 'V For Vendetta' the only credit that was given said "Based on the graphic novel illustrated by David Lloyd." He hasn't accepted any credit since the shitty film adaptation of 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' which he was pretty quick to disown.

[tomwaits4noman]

yeah I saw League of Extraordinary Gentlemen fell asleep during it it is also famous as the film that made Sean Connery retire.

I enjoyed V for Vendetta it was some what cerebral for a comic adaption as in it was not all centered around fights and explosions then again I have not read the graphic novel, though apparently Moore gives extremely detailed notes on each panel of the scripts he gives the comic artists... basically tells the artist everything that is going to be in the frame.

[MidgardSerpent]

Reportedly, while Alan Moore is not involved, Dave Gibbons is. And he has been very positive about the movie so far.
First time I've seen any pics, and to be honest I'm not too crazy about them. I think the Comedian should look much more imposing than he does now. And Ozymandias looks to be wearing some kind of ridiculous 'muscle' suit, which in my opinion, doesn't fit the character at all. Silk Spectre's look is generic and a bit tacky. Luckily, they really got the look of Rorschach right, but his design was probably the easiest to pull off convincingly.

[HunterKiller_]

Haven't read the book myself, but know people who would swear their lives by how good it is, so I'm thinking they better do a good job or there are gonna be some angry, angry people...

[0kelvin]

They will probably lost the sub plot of the kid reading the pirate comic even though that ties and reflects each strand together.
Apparently the Black Freighter story won't be in the movie, but it is being filmed for the DVD.

I'm cautiously excited for this. The images look like they really nailed the characters.


Eric

[wiggum]

Ozymandias's costume is absolutely terrible, but the rest of the characters look pretty good.

I'm very curios about how they will deal with Dr. Manhattan though.

[N D Hill]

Ozymandias's costume is absolutely terrible

I think that's sort of the point. I remember one point of the Graphic Novel saying that the heros were accused of being fetishists.

[arttorney]

I am pretty sure they will make some changes that trivialize or even hide the sexuality related commentary of the series, particularly the rather troubled relationship between the Comedian and Sally Jupiter. I expect they will do something that distorts ideological stuff. They really butchered the politics of V is for Vendetta.

Looked a little more than merely "accused" to me. As I recall the newer Nightowl apparently had "writers block" in that department unless he and the lady started out in costume. The Comedian also specifically pegged a member of the older group for getting off on beating people up.

It looks like it will be hard for Ozymandias to do a lot of gymnastics in that outfit. They'll probably just turn him into a pompous brainiac with an archaeological theme.

[kingshaj]

these costumes are hilarious... almost parody

the original art had a humble unassuming quality that really made it refreshing at the time.

i'm starting to doubt they'll stop making rubber abs in my lifetime.

[REGNIRUTH]

I think that's sort of the point. I remember one point of the Graphic Novel saying that the heroes were accused of being fetishists.

after buying and reading the graphic novel of the watchmen, it's quite right, but then again, Ozymandias's costume reminds me of the bat nipples from batman and robin...

[timpaatkins]

http://gizmodo.com/376560/screw-computer-graphics-watchmen-world-gets-built-for-real

[t11]

:tihi:

[Aly Fell]

Great new image of The Minutemen, the original crimefighters from Watchmen. From Aint It Cool. Looks suitably cheesy! :)

http://www.aintitcool.com/images2008/mmpic.jpg

Original link: AINTITCOOL (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/36885)

[MattGamer]

i became a fan of the graphic novel because
of the movie's advertisements.

such a good book!! i hope the movie does it justice.

[Parka81]

The graphic novel has over 600 positive reviews on Amazon. I wonder if the movie can even match that kind of expectations.

[Aly Fell]

Time for a Watchmen update! Courtesy of Aintitcool and the linkys therein...

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39950

[Duq]

http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/watchmen/japanese-trailer

and a japanese trailer! Less action, more plot!

[Aly Fell]

More Watchmen viral gubbins! This is great fun...

n5WsciSNVS0

[Max Challie]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=320471&stc=1&d=1204986335
They look really worried. Is the villain really scary or is it just the illustrator?

[Adam Synapse]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=320471&stc=1&d=1204986335
They look really worried. Is the villain really scary or is it just the illustrator?

Dave Gibbons did it that way. Wouldn't you be worried? Cold War, Nuclear Armageddon, Mask killer, feelings of inadequecy.

[Hookswords]

Black Freighter trailer
http://www.mtv.com/videos/movie-trailers/341388/watchmen-tales-of-the-black-freighter.jhtml#id=1605027

[Dorkthrone]

Watchmen's got an 80 on RottenTomatoes.http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/watchmen/
So far, so good.

[s.ketch]

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808406490/video/12137791

Down at the bottom there's a play list with about 10 clips from the movie.

[ian.]

So far so good...
Keeping my fingers crossed.

[Hookswords]

An interesting interview with Gibbons

http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/17-03/ff_gibbons_qa?currentPage=1

[maxblack]

I just bought my tickets for the midnight Thursday screening. At 2.5 hours long, Friday might be a little rough. Hoping for the best....

[Hookswords]

http://www.redbubble.com/people/jameslillis/t-shirts/2610466-5-who-pacs-the-pacmen

[Aly Fell]

This is brilliant:

TT6KpsJs1Io

Or HERE (http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/485797)

[cdejong]

This is brilliant:

TT6KpsJs1Io

Or HERE (http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/485797)

They should make that into a full length TV show, hahahaha.

[Carnifex]

oh-my-fucking-god.
:D :D :D

[Dorkthrone]

That is probably the only actually funny thing on Newgrounds.

[Hookswords]

http://io9.com/5164592/wolverine-vs-rorschach-im-a-marvel-im-a-dc

vIhHema5PNg

[Parka81]

http://io9.com/5164592/wolverine-vs-rorschach-im-a-marvel-im-a-dc


That video was spoofed so many times and yet remains classic. Freaking good acting.

[N D Hill]

I saw the midnight showing last night. I think this is as good as a Watchmen movie can possibly be. That said, the comic book format was definitely the only medium in which it could be considered perfect. I did really enjoy the film though. Given the limitations of the medium itself, it was a very faithful retelling of what went on in the actual panels. However it really suffered from a lack of context in places. You begin to see very quickly how dependent the book is on all the supplemental material such as the excerpts from "Under the Hood" and "New Frontiersman" that were placed in between chapters. Most unforgivably, Rorschach's rants suffered a bit from truncation and omissions. That said, I still totally fucking geeked out watching it.

[Dizon]

That video was spoofed so many times and yet remains classic. Freaking good acting.

What movie is that from anyway?

I saw the midnight showing last night. I think this is as good as a Watchmen movie can possibly be. That said, the comic book format was definitely the only medium in which it could be considered perfect. I did really enjoy the film though. Given the limitations of the medium itself, it was a very faithful retelling of what went on in the actual panels. However it really suffered from a lack of context in places. You begin to see very quickly how dependent the book is on all the supplemental material such as the excerpts from "Under the Hood" and "New Frontiersman" that were placed in between chapters. Most unforgivably, Rorschach's rants suffered a bit from truncation and omissions. That said, I still totally fucking geeked out watching it.

Good point NDhill. GREAT movie though. Some parts I like were the music and the memorable opening creds.

[Hookswords]

What movie is that from anyway?

Downfall

[MattGamer]

N D Hill, could you possibly put a "spoiler warning" before
your text, for future readers who haven't seen the
movie (such as myself). :[

[Elwell]

What did he say that could possibly be considered spoilerish?

[Arshes Nei]

You know I could put in a tag if you guys would find it useful.

[MattGamer]

Elwell: I would consider this a few spoilers.
Given the limitations of the medium itself, it was a very faithful retelling of what went on in the actual panels. However it really suffered from a lack of context in places. You begin to see very quickly how dependent the book is on all the supplemental material such as the excerpts from "Under the Hood" and "New Frontiersman" that were placed in between chapters. Most unforgivably, Rorschach's rants suffered a bit from truncation and omissions.

Arshes Nei: there's a tag for that?

[Arshes Nei]

Arshes Nei: there's a tag for that?

I can make one if there's enough interest... they're not that hard to implement in to bbcode. It can at least cover the text but I can see if there are ones that are out there for images. Put a request in the support forum so I can remember to follow up.

[Elwell]

I hardly think "there's stuff in the book that isn't in the movie, and it suffers for it," counts as a spoiler. If you do, I suggest you avoid absolutely all press coverage and internet discussion.

[N D Hill]

Elwell: I would consider this a few spoilers.

Given the limitations of the medium itself, it was a very faithful retelling of what went on in the actual panels. However it really suffered from a lack of context in places. You begin to see very quickly how dependent the book is on all the supplemental material such as the excerpts from "Under the Hood" and "New Frontiersman" that were placed in between chapters. Most unforgivably, Rorschach's rants suffered a bit from truncation and omissions.



And You would be wrong.

[MattGamer]

Well excuuuseee me for trying to assist future fans of
Watchmen. Those who have or have not read the
graphic novel. All I requested was a spoiler warning.

Elwell: And I do avoid all press coverage of Watchmen
at my friends house. I do not subscribe to cable or
watch local tv and only see it advertised there. I have only
seen the trailer and read the graphic novel.

No hard feelings, and forgive my gall.

[N D Hill]

Well excuuuseee me for trying to assist future fans of
Watchmen. Those who have or have not read the
graphic novel. All I requested was a spoiler warning.


Again. You would be wrong. I've revealed no plot points. I've only acknowledged that a difference in the two formats exists. No offense but you have not proven you even know what a spoiler is. If I simply acknowledge that the themes are conveyed more effectively and that the plot is more coherent in the novel than that means that people who have not read it might actually pick it up. That is an assistance to "future fans".

Not only that, but given the amount of discussion, promotional photos and marketing videos already linked here, you should've known better than to even click on this thread if you don't want to be exposed to anything. You can probably bet that on a thread titled "Watchmen" there is a pretty good chance that people are discussing it within.

[MattGamer]

... :/

[Flake]

I'm soo unsure as to whether I should watch this or wait for the longer dvd version in July..

Meanwhile I shall read the book again and pout a bit.

[Aly Fell]

Oh dear... just watched 'The Culture Show' on BBC 2. Mark Kermode (nice man) didn't like it: "Zack Snyder is no Christopher Nolan," or Paul Greengrass or Terry Gilliam for that matter (his words). Style over substance... They showed that interview with Alan Moore from a couple of years ago first, where he wanders around Northampton and remarks how all the movies made from his books and stories are piles of proverbial... I should have guessed that was setting us up for Mark Kermode's opinion!

Still can't wait! :)

I wonder if there are any movie chaps out there prepared/brave/stupid/ignorant enough to do Melinda Gebbie and Moore's 'Lost Girls'..?

[Arshes Nei]

Well considering this is a March release, vs Summer Blockbuster, it may be a lukewarm response. It's good but not great?

[Dorkthrone]

Great movie. I think ND Hill summed up my opinions on this film.

[smugbug]

I've been watching the making of this movie closely since day one. I even know the "spoilers".

But I don't care. I eagerly await my seeing it FINALLY on Monday. After all these years...the Watchmen will be on the big screen. Wow.

[N D Hill]

Here's a great excerpt from an interview with Alan Moore. His reading of Rorschach's monologue is absolutely perfect and brilliant and I wish that the actor who played him had pulled more inspiration from it. Moore conveys wonderfully just how utterly incompatible Rorschach is with the world. I love the abrupt, monotone and awkward cadence to his voice.

qKebCtCTbCA

[Aly Fell]

I love the abrupt, monotone and awkward cadence to his voice.


Ha ha! That's because he's from Northampton! But yes, the slight pauses, the dropping of words and hesitations are symptomatic of Rorschach's inability to fit in and are really relevant. I've noticed a lot of the deep croaky voice thing in so many characters right now. Christian Bale's 'voiceover man' tones in the Batman films really felt forced. It's like listening to someone trying to do an impression of Darth Vader or Christopher Lee and not quite getting it.

Comics Brittania was a good series. If you like Brit comics from The Dandy to Viz to (yes) Watchmen, then seek it out for some great interviews.

[D@niel]

The film had a cool soundtrack!:D

[N D Hill]

The film had a cool soundtrack!

Yeah. The sampling of period pieces was a great touch. Honestly, I had expected that they would do that for a Watchmen movie long before I even knew they were making this one. It's kind of a no brainer given the span of the story. The original composed work was good as well. Very noirish. Some hints of Blade Runner in there too. Also, I love that they snuck Philip Glass stuff in there too.



Comics Brittania was a good series. If you like Brit comics from The Dandy to Viz to (yes) Watchmen, then seek it out for some great interviews.

Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out. I would say about half of what I read right now comes from the other side of the pond.

[Hookswords]

This about sums it up

w2yv8aT0UFc

[Psychotime]

YDDHHrt6l4w

Super Lolz.

[smugbug]

The awesome opening credit sequence from the movie is up online. Via the company that put it all together, yU+Co.

Watch it here: http://motionographer.com/theater/yuco-the-watchmen-titles/

Enjoy!

[Aly Fell]

Thanks Patricia. As you posted that, a friend who'd just got from the film back sent me the same link! What a stunning opening montage!

[smugbug]

Thanks Patricia. As you posted that, a friend who'd just got from the film back sent me the same link! What a stunning opening montage!

Your very welcome! It is a stunner, ain't it? And the actress who is Silhouette is, too. Wow.

I REALLY can't wait to see this up on the big screen now!

[Saturns Gate]

Awesome film! :) I was one of those who were a little bit worried about the whole transition from graphic novel to film but on the whole it stands on its own two feet.

Some viewers who aren't familiar with the comic will find parts quite hard to understand I imagine. The ending in my opinion was changed for the better, I will say no more!.

[Demo]

Wow that opening clip sequence was completly amazing...theirs no way im missing this movie

[Aly Fell]

Your very welcome! It is a stunner, ain't it? And the actress who is Silhouette is, too. Wow.

I REALLY can't wait to see this up on the big screen now!

When she grabs that nurse I felt my heart go bum diddy bum! She's fabulous! I wanna go now, but got to work... :(

By the way her name is Apollonia Vanova
http://www.thepromotionpeople.ca/images/ApolloniaVanova.jpg

Saturns Gate - So you went in the end then Sean? You can tell me all about it on Monday! ;)

Edit: By the way, that link to the titles doesn't work anymore. Looks like someone wasn't supposed to do dat!

[Mock]

I really don't think they could have done a better job casting for this film. Ror especially was just top notch, especially in his final scene. I agree that the change to the ending was for the better. Without spoiling what it is, I think it delivers the same statement as Moore intended, but does it in a manner that I think has less of a "What the fuck just happened?" after effect.

All in all, I share the opinion that this was as good as any Watchmen movie could possibly be. People who haven't read the novel might not understand parts of it, but I think it can still stand alone as a great movie without having read the original material.

Even if people miss out on some of the points they're trying to make, it's still visually stunning. And I agree. That opening sequence is amazing.

[Aly Fell]

Very small spoiler ahead, if a comment on the opening title is considered a spoiler!:








The first shot of the opening sequence appears to be the first Nite Owl saving Bruce Wayne's parents, outside Gotham Opera House! Lol! And the Happy Retirement Sally is... well, I'll leave it there, but spot the painting! ;) There seems to be references aplenty brimming over!

[smugbug]

http://www.thepromotionpeople.ca/images/ApolloniaVanova.jpg




Thank you, sir! I repeat what I said earlier about her: WOW.


Edit: By the way, that link to the titles doesn't work anymore. Looks like someone wasn't supposed to do dat!

Dangnammit.

At least I was able to save the QT to my desktop - just in time!

ETA: Found a non-downloadable version here... ETA ETA: out of respect for the company who created this masterpiece of an opening sequence, I won't post the Trailer Addict link. Why? Because Trailer Addict has a history of stealing content and then placing their own logo on it. Bad, bad, bad.

[Dizon]

I found another site that hosts the opening creds.

http://www.watchmencomicmovie.com/030709-watchmen-movie-opening-titles-video.php

[guggemmaneuver]

held out on looking at this thread or any reviews until i could witness it myself and...

i just got back from watchmen and ... loved it, despite already stated differences from graphic novel. i was cringing in fear that the soundtrack would be horrid but it was actually quite good. all in all very solid and an enjoyable, if abbreviated, retelling.

[tomwaits4noman]

IMO

watchmen was good, I think Sydner captured the over all look of the film
but god the slo mo........................ it worked in the scene with the Comedian at the start,
but to have it in most fight scenes takes from the gritty realism of the original source material, it makes it feel like a cartoon superhero film.

All the key scenes were there and congrads to Synder and the script writers for shoe horning it into a coherent 2 and half hr film, but he failed to capture the emotional depth of the story.

Worth watching on the big screen though

[Cthogua]

I went to see it last night, and I have to say the further I get away from it, the more I enjoyed it. I think I was just a little dazed by the end of it. Having not read the graphic novel there was alot to keep up with. However the more and more I think about it, the more badass it becomes. I'm definitely going to pick up the graphic novel today. One annoying thing was that there were two like 10 year old kids sitting behind me giggling through most of it. (not to spoil anything but there's some extremely graphic violence, and some essentially softcore moments that definitely didn't seem appropriate for chillins....I mean it was rated R) Then later one of them said "This is a weird moive" :P I"m glad they went that extreme though, I really despise all the PG-13 superhero movies.

[Aly Fell]

I love the twist in the opening credits based on this:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/08/06/nyregion/06kiss.2_span.jpg

[Jason Rainville]

The opening sequence is being taken down everywhere, here's one place that still has it (http://www.cinemablend.com/new.php?id=12264) (at the moment)

[Jovian M]

The soundtrack was definitely all over the place, but I loved the movie. I'll have to pick up the graphic novel in a little while. Akerman was so hot as Silk Spectre II.

[chriskot]

Just saw it. Awesome film. I don't think that I liked the ending as much as the ending to the original novel, but it worked pretty well anyway. I was quite surprised at how closely it followed the source material otherwise. The whole thing was really well done.

[Dorkthrone]

And the Happy Retirement Sally is... well, I'll leave it there, but spot the painting!
*SPOILERS?*

The Last Supper?
http://www.quantumyoga.org/images/the-last-supper.gif
http://img4.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wmlastsupper.jpg

[Stacybean]

One annoying thing was that there were two like 10 year old kids sitting behind me giggling through most of it.

I know right?
*spoilers*
The audience I was with giggled at really odd places too (not just children but grown men sitting near me as well.) They couldn't show a full body shot of Jon without giggles going up and down the theater. Haven't these people ever seen a penis before? I just find it odd that a full blown sex scene on screen elicits no reaction but a bare penis is suddenly shocking to people. And what causes people to laugh when a mother is slapping her son and saying she wishes she had an abortion? It makes me miss Portland.

But I really loved this movie. I may go see it again. It was cast so well sometimes even the expression on a character's face gave me flashes of certain panels (like Dan with laurie in the living room scene, Rorschach at the psychiatrists desk.) The only thing that bothered me was Nixon's face. How was that big old shnonking nose supposed to be even close to realistic? he looked like a caricature. It does suck that the ending was changed but I guess necessary...and I guess I'm the only one who thought that some of the soundtrack was way too generic? I've heard too many of those songs in too many other movies...

[MattGamer]

Saw it, loved it. I think fans and non-fans of the graphic novel
will enjoy this piece of work.

***********SPOILER************




Jon's nudity had people giggling all over my theatre as well.
Though this one guy brought in his kids who was like 6-7
years old. I felt a little disturbed by that, moreover than any
Rorchach scene.

And yes, I do believe the Watchmen are preforming the Last Supper in
the intro.

The non-squid ending was kind of sad, but how they worked with it
was appealing. Like they followed the graphic novel frame by frame, but
then created their own Hollywood stamp of approval upon it.

[Dizon]

Saw it, loved it. I think fans and non-fans of the graphic novel
will enjoy this piece of work.

***********SPOILER************




Jon's nudity had people giggling all over my theatre as well.
Though this one guy brought in his kids who was like 6-7
years old. I felt a little disturbed by that, moreover than any
Rorchach scene.

And yes, I do believe the Watchmen are preforming the Last Supper in
the intro.

The non-squid ending was kind of sad, but how they worked with it
was appealing. Like they followed the graphic novel frame by frame, but
then created their own Hollywood stamp of approval upon it.

I recall a mother taking her kid out during that one scene with Rorshach haha. There were lots of kids too. Don't they pay attention to the R rating?

I think the way they presented the nudity was well done especially during Doc Manhattan's scenes. Some scenes were staged so you were focusing on the important stuff rather than Manhattan's ding dong( unless you choose to look, of course).

[HunterKiller_]

I think it's about as good as a Watchmen movie will get.

[Dorkthrone]

I recall a mother taking her kid out during that one scene with Rorshach haha. There were lots of kids too. Don't they pay attention to the R rating?

I think the way they presented the nudity was well done especially during Doc Manhattan's scenes. Some scenes were staged so you were focusing on the important stuff rather than Manhattan's ding dong( unless you choose to look, of course).
Though the Leonard Cohen scene was just awful.
I definitely think they handled Dr. Manhattan's nudity rather tastefully. If you've been to a life drawing class, I don't think it will touch a nerve.

[smugbug]

Incredible movie. Having read the GN, thought the movie was spot-on. And....*spoiler warning*...................

.....thought the change in the ending from the GN to the one in the movie worked extremely well.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Edward Blake/The Comedian surprised me! He was so good - he chewed up the scenes he was in. The opening sequence (fight between him and "you know who") was incredible. The sound effects/editing in this movie was simply outstanding - really gave the violence in the film that much more punch (sorry, no pun intended. heh) and it was very obvious in that scene.

Jackie Earle Haley is what you call "inspired casting" as Rorschach. BTW, my favorite film of his is 1979's "Breaking Away" - highly recommend that movie. Anyways, Haley is now officially, an acting god. Again....*spoilers*...........That last scene of him telling Dr. Manhattan to "do it". Egads. Wrenching. Tragic.

Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan. He made a character I envisioned as nearly mechanized and very removed from anything remotely human (when I've read the GN), one of the most human characters. Almost touching. And he did it by his voice - there was also slight inflections in his expressions. When he asked Laurie to smile again.....very sad.

Carla Gugino as Sally Jupitor/Silk Specter I - a living, breathing epitome of the pin-up superheroine. Geezus. Wow.

I thought, since these two basically carried the brunt of the weight of the movie on their shoulders, Patrick Wilson and Malin Akerman did great. Especially Wilson (Dan Dreiberg/Night Owl II) - there were moments where he took me back to the GN - but he also made the character his. Not easy to do at all. There's been a lot of negative chatter about Akerman (Laurie/SS II), I don't get why. I thought she did well in a sea of fantastic - that's the only quibble I have. She also made a character I had a "bleh" feeling about in the GN, believable in the dramatic and action sequences.

Mathew Goode was good (hah!) as Veidt/Ozymandias. I don't wish another actor (I've heard Jude Law being thrown out there as a preference) to have had this part, but I get his calm, rational thinking and how it could be due to his intelligence; especially when he's the dude about to destroy major cities/kill millions to "save humanity".

But wow. It took really hot and spicy Thai food and copious amounts of beer afterwards for me and my SO to sit and talk about this movie. Hell, we're still talking about and even talking about seeing it again later this week with some friends of ours. I need.to.see.this. again.

It's quite a good film.

[Max Challie]

I love the twist in the opening credits based on this:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/08/06/nyregion/06kiss.2_span.jpg

616093

[Hookswords]

Well I just went to see it. Luck happened that I had some vacation days to burn. So I went to a noon show. I'm sure there are still a ton of people going to see the movie, but I have no interest in sharing a theater with them. So it was nice, empty, no one clapping like an idiot. SPOILERS AHEAD, I suppose

The intro is awesome. Silhouette is smokin. It was a good way to show what you read from Hollis' book. I was curious how they were gonna work that. It felt really abridged. I can understand taking out some of the things they did. Where they make work in a novel they might bog down a film. But in that abridging it definitely felt like something was missing. The newstand and the Black Freighter obviously. But things like the psychiatrist's life and it falling apart and tying in with the streets and newstand. Even moments that they leave in they shortcut a bit, just enough to take some wind out of their sails. What remains are sort of inside jokes with those that have read the graphic novel. Over all it was well done. It didnt feel long at all. I was surprise by Dr. Manhattan's voice. I guess I always thought it would be more...I dont know....omnipotent sounding. Billy Crudup gave him a more innocent neutral sound, which makes total sense. One thing I did notice. Billy Crudup also did the voice for Ashitaka in Princess Mononoke. There are times where he does that voice and the dialog is almost the same. Not a point against it, just something I noticed. I love Princess Mononoke. I did experience some of the throat cancer issue with Rorschach like with Dark Knight, but overall it wasnt bad. His lines seemed les broken and disjointed than they do in the book. I'm curious to see what is added to the DVD release. I'd see it again for sure. Well done overall.

I didnt realize that the Silk Spectre piece that James Jean did was for the movie. I mean, beyond promos or anything. So, seeing it in the film brought a smile.

[Aly Fell]

This is fun! A Flickr account with lots of Watchmen promo stuff:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thenewfrontiersman/

[Bill]

To have done this movie right with the ahem... **Spoiler** squid in it, the companion pirate comic and the rest, the movie would have ended up at about 4.5(?) hours, and I'd have loved it. Have seen it twice now, though that's partially for having dozed off at the midnight showing. Akerman is not the best actress in the world but beyond that I think they showed a lot of repect for the source and made a very good movie.

[tgfx]

I just saw this thing last night and I have to say that is was the worst movie I have seen for some time now. How can you people like this sort of crap anyway? Every five minutes someone got killed. The violence was unnecessary and where are the morals of this movie?

I mean there was no action in this movie, and when they looked like they were about to engage in some sort of fight scene they started to remember crap from the past. If I wanted a history lesson I would go to the library...

Sorry if this seems hard but I find it frustrating that movies like these are being made. Safe yourself the 2 1/2 hours of pain and DON’T GO AND SEE IT.

[Aly Fell]

'Us people' eh..? ...sigh...

[Arshes Nei]

The violence was unnecessary and where are the morals of this movie?
.

GI JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOE

[Elwell]

If I wanted a history lesson I would go to the library...
Might not be a bad idea in general...

[Dave Kendall]

I just saw this thing last night and I have to say that is was the worst movie I have seen for some time now. How can you people like this sort of crap anyway? Every five minutes someone got killed. The violence was unnecessary and where are the morals of this movie?

I mean there was no action in this movie, and when they looked like they were about to engage in some sort of fight scene they started to remember crap from the past. If I wanted a history lesson I would go to the library...

Sorry if this seems hard but I find it frustrating that movies like these are being made. Safe yourself the 2 1/2 hours of pain and DON’T GO AND SEE IT.

It's awful TGFX. I've even heard they're making a comic book adaptation of the film, with pages of text to corrupt the purity of the comic form. Won't someone save the children.

[s.ketch]

Every five minutes someone got killed.

Whatever you do, do not watch the evening news.

I mean there was no action in this movie, and when they looked like they were about to engage in some sort of fight scene they started to remember crap from the past.

Yeah, the fight scene at Comedian's funeral was totally ruined.


If you haven't read the book, don't bother to see the movie. It was totally lost on those who haven't been exposed to Watchmen before. The only people I know who like it, are those who read before they went to the theater.

I think Zack got the mood just right and had great ideas for cinematography but the depth of the comic wasn't there, even in spirit. If anything the movie is a companion to the novel rather than a reproduction or a proper representation of it. Adrian was a miscast. Everyone having super strength and agility also bugged me.

Regardless of my complaints I do honestly like the movie. I don't think anyone else could have gotten closer. It could have been a lot worse.

[squidmonk3j]

ANGEL: I just saw this thing last night and I have to say that is was the worst movie I have seen for some time now. How can you people like this sort of crap anyway? Every five minutes someone got killed. The violence was unnecessary and where are the morals of this movie?

DEVIL: I mean there was no action in this movie, and when they looked like they were about to engage in some sort of fight scene they started to remember crap from the past. If I wanted a history lesson I would go to the library...

BEWILDERED: Sorry if this seems hard but I find it frustrating that movies like these are being made. Safe yourself the 2 1/2 hours of pain and DON’T GO AND SEE IT.

don't be sorry, you just won the Cartoon Award .

[tgfx]

Sorry if I offended anyone. I went in there and thought I'd see another great Superhero movie, Like the X-MEN, but what I got was a bad nightmare. I've seen the trailer on apple.com and I loved it and that is why i went to see it. I did not even read any reviews or read anything on the Watchmen history. And this was ZACK for crying out loud...the dude that made 300...
;o)

[N D Hill]

I went in there and thought I'd see another great Superhero movie, Like the X-MEN

Christ... :nohope:

[Elwell]

Can you imagine how he'd have reacted if they'd left the squid and the pirates in?

[Dave Kendall]

tgfx on a serious note try and pick up some Alan Moore books. His Swamp thing run is the greatest horror comic ever written, The hard to find (Issue 15) Miracleman vs Kid Miracleman fight would have Wolverine crying for his mummy. I personally have not seen a better superhero fight in a comic. In reality it's what would happen if super humans duked it out in a populated city. You are right, Mr Moore does know nightmare and he knows how to squeeze the best out of his artists. Read watchmen and then go see the film again.

The movie was as near a triumph as possible. I can't wait to see the Black Frieghter cartoon. Elwell do you think they'll keep the tranvestite bucaneer, necrophilia shark rape in?;)

[Jacob Kobryn]

I just saw Watchmen in IMAX, wow... As a fan of the book I was incredibly impressed. It's probably the most stunning film I've ever seen graphically and audibly. It more than did the book justice, and that's something that can barely ever be said.

[Jacob Kobryn]

Oh, and I quite liked the soundtrack but I would have done things slightly differently... I would have had something weirdly happy playing while the comedian and Dr. Manhattan were fighting in Vietnam to add to The Comedians general irony and twisted actions...

[Aphotic Phoenix]

If you haven't read the book, don't bother to see the movie. It was totally lost on those who haven't been exposed to Watchmen before. The only people I know who like it, are those who read before they went to the theater.

Well now you know someone who liked the movie despite not reading the book before hand, although granted I knew enough about it that the friends who went with me didn't realize I hadn't. (If I haven't read a book before I know about the movie, I try to avoid ticket price remorse by reading the book later)

[Kagemusha22]

Oh dear... just watched 'The Culture Show' on BBC 2. Mark Kermode (nice man) didn't like it: "Zack Snyder is no Christopher Nolan," or Paul Greengrass or Terry Gilliam for that matter (his words). Style over substance... They showed that interview with Alan Moore from a couple of years ago first, where he wanders around Northampton and remarks how all the movies made from his books and stories are piles of proverbial... I should have guessed that was setting us up for Mark Kermode's opinion!

Yeah Mark's opinion of it isn't too high, he can get very finicky over small details whilst ignoring larger problems or a film's big pluses. Though I appreciate his opinions as he's one of the few media figures not affraid to express them;

xu8l0q4rgcg

[Zaxser]

I just saw this thing last night and I have to say that is was the worst movie I have seen for some time now. How can you people like this sort of crap anyway? Every five minutes someone got killed. The violence was unnecessary and where are the morals of this movie?

I mean there was no action in this movie, and when they looked like they were about to engage in some sort of fight scene they started to remember crap from the past. If I wanted a history lesson I would go to the library...

Sorry if this seems hard but I find it frustrating that movies like these are being made. Safe yourself the 2 1/2 hours of pain and DON’T GO AND SEE IT.

You've got to understand, a lot of us have a TON of nostalgia invested invested in this movie. I read the comic the first time when I had been 17 for a week. I loved it then and I remember loving it now. That was barely three years ago.

For older people here, they might have read it nearly 23 years ago, what do you think it's like for them?

Anyway, you might be able to appreciate the ED article (http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Watchmen) more than me.

[Jacob Kobryn]

I just wanted to point this out ...SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS... These are the only differences I caught between the book and the movie.













Obviously the Curse of the Black Freighter is absent.

SSII wasn't detained after the cancer scare with Dr. Manhattan. In fact, they never even show her finding out about or being effected by it. She leaves after her fight with him and that's it...

Rorschach brutally cleaves the little girl murderer in the face three times in stead of burning him alive.

The Comedian is shown murdering JFK.

Snyder added another and much more graphic love scene between Rorschach and The Comedian... ;) No, but he added another sex scene with NOII and SSII in the Owl-Mobile while hovering.

Added violence and chaos within Rorschach's prison stay. He encounters a midget criminal lord and his two large guards. He breaks the bigger guards hands and then ties them to his cell. In order to break in to his cell, the other guard ground his hands off. He kills the other guard by electrocution and the midget in a bathroom (though it's not specified how).

The end is different. Instead of fearing an alien invasion with the squid monster, etc, he frames an attack by Dr. Manhattan. Same core idea, different means. I'm actually glad they changed it, I found the original ending to be a tad ridiculous.

Rorschach's blood is in the shape of a Rorschach when he's killed by Dr. Manhattan. Cool touch IMO...

... And I think that's it.

[s.ketch]

I'm actually glad they changed it, I found the original ending to be a tad ridiculous.

The squid ending is a homage to old sci fi comics where the heroes had to fight giant alien animals. Giant ants, giant spiders, giant crabs, etc. It was also to show how silly those plot devices were in comics. I like the squid ending because its part of the deconstruction like Dollar Bill getting his cape stuck in the revolving door. It's a parody of comic book stories which is even better because of The Comedian, and everything being a joke. The new end, while making sense, doesn't have the same message. I do like that Zack made a nod to that idea by having Ozy say "I'm not a comic book villain." However, its just not close enough for me.

[Jacob Kobryn]

Yeah, and there were several other inside jokes in the film as well. I guess I didn't exactly get that homage because other than Watchmen I've never read a comic/graphic novel in my life.

[kab]

I hadn't read the graphic novel before I saw the movie, but I bought it a week later and finished it in a couple of sittings, that stuff is addictive. Can't wait for the dvd now :)

[D@niel]

I enjoyed the film immensely having not read the graphic novel, still haven't...but I will:) There were so many clever homages parody's and BIG ideas to deal with how could you not enjoy it?:D

[AsaB]

I finally got to see the film a few days ago and I enjoyed tremendously! I didn't want it to end. The overall look and graphics in it was so much eye-candy. I read that a director's cut will be available on the upcoming DVD, about an hour longer, so I can't wait to get my hands on that.

And yes, I'm one of those who hadn't read the comic before but still loved it! I'm currently reading the comic now and having a blast. I was considering reading it before seeing the film, but I'm glad I didn't. Because now when I'm reading it, every scene or detail that wasn't included in the film is now more like a surprise bonus material. If it had been the other way around, I might be nagging about how they omitted those very scenes in the film.
Well, off to read some more!

[Stacybean]

Snyder added another and much more graphic love scene between Rorschach and The Comedian... ;) No, but he added another sex scene with NOII and SSII in the Owl-Mobile while hovering.

This is in the book, complete with cute little flame squirt. It's on page 27 of chapter 7. There's no depictions of thrusting like in the movie but you can see laurie's boobies :p

Added violence and chaos within Rorschach's prison stay. He encounters a midget criminal lord and his two large guards. He breaks the bigger guards hands and then ties them to his cell. In order to break in to his cell, the other guard ground his hands off. He kills the other guard by electrocution and the midget in a bathroom (though it's not specified how).


Nah, this was one of my most favorite scenes of the book. It's starts on page 14 of chapter 8 and ends on page 20. Although the guys hands aren't cut through, everything else is the same and I was really happy that they did the funny bathroom scene almost exactly the same.

[Jacob Kobryn]

Oh... fine... :P How don't I remember the two most "exciting" scenes? ;)

[Sorknes]

I've bumped into Watchmen time and again but actually never read it myself. When the movie was rumoured to come I decided to wait reading it until I've seen the movie , doing things the other way around for once. :)

So, I went to see it without reading it first, and it was a blast. The numerous references and hints to modern history, pop culture, art history, etc made it especially fun for one like me. I'm guessing this is something that came through in the novel from what I've heard, and that the moviemakers kept to those as well as adding in the same vein. Several times I was almost yelling "STOP! Put it back a few frames!", hehe. Especially fun because it was smack in the face but still you'd have to know about it to get it. Usually it's either overexplained or so obscure you wouldn't get it before the director or whoever tells you - and you're suspecting that it wasn't meant as that at all, but someone made a connection while being on hallucional drugs and they used it in a hit and miss way to make it sound deeper than it really was....

Only thing buggering me a lot was Nixons nose, which I can't explain in other ways than possibly Pinocchio, other than that a couple of writers and a couple of novels giving certain characters extremely big noses comes to mind.

I guess it does indeed mean that they managed to hit the target with me as an audience, I've seen it in the theater, I will buy the graphic novels AND I'll get me the DVD version so I have the time to watch through all that stuff hammering at you and be able to stop it as well as seeing what else they might've taken away from the movie. :)

[Earendil]

Watched it. Was overwhelmed. Bought the graphic novel...loved it. I think they did a great job, although Zack thought burning a person alive was too tame, so get him cleaved 3 times in the head. He trained me well up until that point though, because every time I thought he wasn't going to show anything, he did. :) I r quick learner.

Anyway, yeah, I'm kinda ressing this thread, but like I said, just finished the novel. Absolutely amazing.

[FightingSeraph]

I have the original novel, and I fucking loved it. Don't know if I'll see the movie though, and you guys ought to read what the guys at I-Mockery (http://www.i-mockery.com) have said about it.

[Dorkthrone]

I have the original novel, and I fucking loved it. Don't know if I'll see the movie though, and you guys ought to read what the guys at I-Mockery (http://www.i-mockery.com) have said about it.

Actually, I love the book, and the movie's much better than I thought it would be.

For better or for worse, the main storyline is exactly like the novel.

I kinda wish they had Hollis Mason's death or some scenes with the newspaper vendor, but it's still a very good film.

Though I reread the book after the movie and I'm surprised at how different the two seem.

[s.ketch]

I have possibly good news that the squid ending might come with the DVD release. I got the Black Freighter/Under the Hood DVD.

In Under the Hood Wally Weaver talks about how the universe would not allow a good super powered person without creating a balancing bad super powered force. He then says that he thinks the evil force would soon arrive on Earth. This, to me, is obvious foreshadowing of the squid, since it was supposed to be an alien. I think either that this was filmed with the intention of doing the squid ending that never happened or it might be on the Watchmen DVD as an alternate ending. Maybe even some kind of director's cut version. Anyways, still keeping my hopes up.