Watchmen

[markc2]

Originally Posted by fotno

My nephew (18 years old) just watched it yesterday evening, and quite liked it. He had told me earlier in the week he was going and asked me if I'd heard of it. Of course I had no choice but to regale him with the story of how I waited in anticipation as each issue reached the book store, and read each one time and again waiting on the next. When I had finished my thumbnail sketch of the story he asked; "So it's kind of like X-Men right?" Of course I told him that it was nothing like X-Men, and if the movie stayed true to the source material, he'd soon see what I meant.

Early this morning he was on my doorstep, and with wide eyes, the first words out of his mouth were an excited; "It's NOTHING like X-Men." From his description at least, the filmmakers really made a stab at trying to be true to the book, and he and his friends (about 10 young people) truly enjoyed it.

awesome the dawn of a new age

[markc2]

Rorschach, I think was my favorite. I just saw the movie, and I really can't imagine it shorter, it wouldn't have done the book justice. Evil was evil in this no sugar coating at all, if anything had vinegar/alcohol poured on it.

I really hope this film does very well.

Mark

[soundmotor]

Ebert gives it the biggest thumbs up I can recall ever reading from him -

Watchmen Review

[markc2]

Oops forgot, THE SOUNDTRACK, this is going to be one hell of a soundtrack. Jimmy Hendrix and Nat "King" Cole, on the same album.

[winters860]

Originally Posted by markc2

Oops forgot, THE SOUNDTRACK, this is going to be one hell of a soundtrack. Jimmy Hendrix and Nat "King" Cole, on the same album.

The only thing from it I've heard has been the My Chemical Romance cover of "Desolation Row".

[markc2]

Originally Posted by winters860

The only thing from it I've heard has been the My Chemical Romance cover of "Desolation Row".

So Much more to it

As a comic book, Watchmen presented an alternate history of the 20th century, twisting the familiar into the surreal. Director Zack Snyder chooses to cherry-pick chestnuts from every decade of the story's time line. There's a little Billie Holiday, a little Nat King Cole, a bit of Simon & Garfunkel and Janis Joplin, some ironic disco via KC & the Sunshine Band, some somber sobriety with Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," and a whole lot of Bob Dylan (whose "The Times They Are A-Changin'" opens the film, underscoring a montage telling the story's alternate history), who is then covered by Jimi Hendrix and My Chemical Romance, whose truncated cover of the epic "Desolation Row" is performed in the "style of the Sex Pistols", as requested of the band by Snyder. MCR's "Desolation Row" is placed here at the beginning, not the end as it is in the film, all the better to get attention -- and it does get attention with its buzzy guitars and Gerard Way's affected snarl. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

[Zeromancer]

Originally Posted by winters860

The only thing from it I've heard has been the My Chemical Romance cover of "Desolation Row".

The music they used in the trailers wasn't even in the movie
Smashing Pumpkins
and also
Muse
but I can understand since this movie took place in the 80's.

[Wolverine]

Well the opening weekend numbers came in at $55.7 million.
While "success" can not always be measured in dollars it usually is in Hollywood so it will be interesting to see where it goes this week. It is just not the type of movie alot of people can get their hands around so the fact it was made so true to the original book is a feat by itself.

[OvenMaster]

Originally Posted by fotno

I consider myself fortunate to have been a comic fan during a time when the all of the walls of comic tradition were being smashed down by people like Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Bill Sienkiewicz, Neil Gaiman et al... It was as if the comic genre was maturing at speed with me. As I outgrew the traditional stories and art of Detective Comics or X-Men, along came V For Vendetta, Watchmen, The Dark Knight, Death, and Elektra Assassin.

For a time, I eagerly anticipated each and every film adaptation that claimed to be inspired in any way by these mold-breakers. But after the disappointments of the Daredevil, Batman, and Elektra films I was (shall we say) not particularly enthused to hear that Moore's V For Vendetta and Watchmen were slated to begin production. I was pleasantly surprised to find that in the case of V For Vendetta at least, the film makers had managed to stay true enough to the story that I actually enjoyed it. I hope that Watchmen will be similar experience. I will watch it, but I doubt very seriously I will trek to a theater to do so. There's something about paying $10 a ticket to be disappointed that seemingly increases that disappointment exponentially.

I knew I liked you for a reason.
I have always loved comics, but some of the film adaptations have been of uneven quality ("Batman" to me was "ehhh..", "Daredevil" got two thumbs way up from me, the "X-Men" trio were [to me] superb).
Whenever a promising movie is released, I always check out Roger Ebert's review as Soundmotor has done. He's given "Watchmen" four stars. That's enough for me to not only eagerly look forward to watching the movie, but buying a DVD of it to keep.

[fotno]

I didn't know you were a comics fan Tom, that's good to know buddy. I don't collect like I used to, but I still have a fair catalog of books that I bought "back in the day", and I still get them out and read my favorites now and again.

I also liked the X-Men movies, and I must say Spiderman and Spiderman 2 are good films IMO. I liked Sin City also... I wasn't as wild about Daredevil as I wanted to be, and I'm still waiting for someone to do good film adaptation of some of my favorites.

[onepixel]

It was all right. A complex story with a bit to many sub-plots/characters/diversions that spanned decades. I'm still trying to figure out why Dr. Manhattan doesn't wear pants.

[EchoWars]

The sub-plots and 'diversions' are what add to the richness of the story. I enjoyed it, but incredibly annoying problems with the soundtrack in the theatre caused me to miss some important dialog (charge $10 a ticket, and can't keep their frickin' chit working properly).

[rickr15]

Originally Posted by EchoWars

The sub-plots and 'diversions' are what add to the richness of the story. I enjoyed it, but incredibly annoying problems with the soundtrack in the theatre caused me to miss some important dialog (charge $10 a ticket, and can't keep their frickin' chit working properly).

Did you give them your card?

Rumor has it your pretty good with that kind of thing.

[Ashfan]

Originally Posted by screenersam

I'm definitely going to see. Glad they staying close to the original story; they really screwed up LXG, which greatly disappointed me; in fact probably the most disappointing movie I've ever watched (the Matthew Broderick giant lizard movie a close 2nd). I notice just about every scene on the previews is from the original GN.
I do think they got Rorshach's voice wrong. it's supposed to be flat and monotone, like Bruce Willis or Michael Madsen, instead of growly.

I don't have my copy of the book handy. I loaned it to a friend to read before he saw the movie, so I can't check to see how Rohrshach's voice was described in the book. However, I thought it was perfect in the movie. Dr. M is as close to a human computer as there is among the Watchmen, despite Ozymandias beeing the world's smartest man. So his voice generally (not always!) has a "I'm sorry, Dave" Hal the computer emotionless inflection. On the other end of the spectrum is Rohrshach, who is ruled solely by emotion. His world-weary growl is perfect expression, IMHO, of his living in a time where he has to try and deal with too many soul-shattering crimes.

[slow_jazz]

I thought it was way tooo longgg....

Silk Specter/Lori was worth the price though. What a costume and body....