Watchmen: A Reflection
Let me first say that I am a huge fan of WATCHMEN. I own the comic (and have for the last five years). Even though I came into the clique a bit late, what I read of WATCHMEN changed everything I believed and enjoyed about comics. Least you think I jest, you should read it for yourself.
So, it was with glee and a bit of worry when I read that WATCHMEN was being made into a movie. As a HP (Harry Potter) fan, I knew what being too loyal to the comic could do and not being loyal enough(ahem, X-Men III) could do to a franchise or in this case to a piece of literature.
Yes, WATCHMEN is a piece of literature. It won a HUGO. Need I say more?
Anyway, when I saw the trailers, I thought "Wow, that's awesome." But still I gnawed on my finger and rambled to myself in deep seeded worry. I liked 300 as much as the next geek, uh, moviegoer but WATCHMEN? That was another thing entirely.
I saw WATCHMEN opening weekend and took along someone who had no concept of the WATCHMEN, Alan Moore or the comic at all just to keep my perceptions honest. She had no clue about the movie other than it was about superheroes.
My only comment was, "You haven't seen superheroes like this."
To be frank, no one has. Even DARK KNIGHT didn't have the sex, the use of the F-word, and the sheer violence and scope of WATCHMEN. Really. I know there are some naysayers about the movie, but really, I expected it.
Now, I know Alan Moore wrote WATCHMEN and he also wrote many of my other favorite comics: CONSTANTINE, V for VENDETTA, THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMENT, FROM HELL, etc. The man is awesome and British. He denounced the movie from the beginning and even going so far as to remove his name from the movie all together.
Still, by itself, the WATCHMEN movie is not bad. It is not DARK KNIGHT. The acting in the DK movie is superb. I've heard of reviewers giving the movie a D, and I think that is unfair. It most certainly is a B+ movie. It is loyal to the comic, but not thoroughly. Some scenes were scaled back from the comic's intensity, and other rammed up. I don't understand Snyder's logic about how he did and what he chose to keep, cut, and cultivate, but overall the movie isn't bad.
It just isn't great.
I won't spoil any of it here for those who haven't seen it, but in reflection, I think Snyder did what he could. Could the makeup/special effects been better? For Nixon and Silk Spectre-Yes! For John--No. There is some fine acting in, but not enough to make it stand up and be noticed. It seems that many of the actors were underplaying their roles and that made me upset. It was like watching cardboard cutouts, but Rorschach's performance was awesome!
Still I feel like Snyder kind of gutted the character a bit.
My opinion is go see it. It's worth it. Then go read the comic. It is MORE than worth it.
Nicole
So, it was with glee and a bit of worry when I read that WATCHMEN was being made into a movie. As a HP (Harry Potter) fan, I knew what being too loyal to the comic could do and not being loyal enough(ahem, X-Men III) could do to a franchise or in this case to a piece of literature.
Yes, WATCHMEN is a piece of literature. It won a HUGO. Need I say more?
Anyway, when I saw the trailers, I thought "Wow, that's awesome." But still I gnawed on my finger and rambled to myself in deep seeded worry. I liked 300 as much as the next geek, uh, moviegoer but WATCHMEN? That was another thing entirely.
I saw WATCHMEN opening weekend and took along someone who had no concept of the WATCHMEN, Alan Moore or the comic at all just to keep my perceptions honest. She had no clue about the movie other than it was about superheroes.
My only comment was, "You haven't seen superheroes like this."
To be frank, no one has. Even DARK KNIGHT didn't have the sex, the use of the F-word, and the sheer violence and scope of WATCHMEN. Really. I know there are some naysayers about the movie, but really, I expected it.
Now, I know Alan Moore wrote WATCHMEN and he also wrote many of my other favorite comics: CONSTANTINE, V for VENDETTA, THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMENT, FROM HELL, etc. The man is awesome and British. He denounced the movie from the beginning and even going so far as to remove his name from the movie all together.
Still, by itself, the WATCHMEN movie is not bad. It is not DARK KNIGHT. The acting in the DK movie is superb. I've heard of reviewers giving the movie a D, and I think that is unfair. It most certainly is a B+ movie. It is loyal to the comic, but not thoroughly. Some scenes were scaled back from the comic's intensity, and other rammed up. I don't understand Snyder's logic about how he did and what he chose to keep, cut, and cultivate, but overall the movie isn't bad.
It just isn't great.
I won't spoil any of it here for those who haven't seen it, but in reflection, I think Snyder did what he could. Could the makeup/special effects been better? For Nixon and Silk Spectre-Yes! For John--No. There is some fine acting in, but not enough to make it stand up and be noticed. It seems that many of the actors were underplaying their roles and that made me upset. It was like watching cardboard cutouts, but Rorschach's performance was awesome!
Still I feel like Snyder kind of gutted the character a bit.
My opinion is go see it. It's worth it. Then go read the comic. It is MORE than worth it.
Nicole
