WATCHMEN! So… What did ya Think!?
Comments(34)
- By drvenkman
Hey folks, There were a hand full of people that went to the midnight Watchmen showing and throughout the weekend most geeks are going to make their way to the theaters to watch it. Last night Mr. Black, Mazer, Abe Froman, and I went to the midnight screening. This was the second time I have seen it and it was just as good as the first time I saw it! It is such a great film! There are those people out there that did not like it and thats cool, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and you know what? We want to hear it! We want to know what you thought, weather you loved it or hated it we want to know why.
I know everyone that went with me last night loved it. Mazer said “It was darker than he expected.” and Mr Black agreed with me that it was slightly better than ‘The Dark Knight’. I myself noticed a few things I did not notice before. One of those things is that when New York City was totally obliterated the Twin Towers are standing at the end, which I thought was very cool.
So! Let us know what you thought of the movie in the Rant Back below or chat it up in our little chat window! We’ll be there!
It is almost a copy/paste of the grafic novel, but something´s missing somewhere. Nevertheless it´s a great movie and another Snyder´s brilliant job.
Faithful to a fault. What makes a great graphic novel doesn’t always translate to a great movie – and while I enjoy the graphic novel with each reading of it, I didn’t find the movie to be an overall enjoyable experience.
Personally, I was a little underwhelmed by the movie, I thought it was VERY uneven, but, it definitely had some great moments, and I’m “satisfied” with it, just not in LOVE with it like I was hoping to be…so, I’d give it a 7/10 for my own personal score, as a very devoted fan of the original graphic novel, which I’d easily prefer over the movie.
Bad. Unimaginably, indescribably bad (but I’ll go ahead and take a shot anyway…). Possibly the most exposition-heavy script I’ve ever encountered (”You know honey, I’m 67 years old, and…”–thanks for that bit of info, wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise, right?). Acting, such as it was, was atrocious–lines delivered like they were on the set of “One Life to Live”. Didn’t care about any of the characters, or their back stories, didn’t care about the existential crises they were all, as washed up heroes, facing (something the graphic novel executed on brilliantly). Thought the faux ‘85 NYC was completely unconvincing, as was the faux older Nixon etc (in fact, all of the set and make-up effects were so poorly done as to be laughable–seriously, you’ll actually gasp at how badly they aged some of the characters). Soundtrack was ripped right from “Blade Runner”–again, so shamelessly you’ll fall out of your chair when you hear, at the end of the funeral scene, the background piece that sounds EXACTLY like “Blade Runner Blues.” And, of course, the ending (or lack thereof), something that, in the book, for me, really “pulled the whole thing together” (Dude-voice on that one), one they did away with entirely in the movie, and yet, for reasons which really aren’t terribly clear (though I guess they saved some run time from not having to set the thing up… I can hear the thinking now: “We’ve gotta cut this sucker down! I know, take out the ending, and then we can take out all that stuff that sets up the ending! Brilliant!”). All in all a terrible, terrible waste of time, money, and energy (and that’s just me going to see the thing! Let alone the people who made the movie or, God forbid, the rabid fans who’ve been waiting 20 years for it to manifest on the big screen…). On a positive note, however: fellow who played Rorschach really pulled out all the stops, as did the guy who played Veidt. In fact, if the whole movie was an hour forty min of just these two–one hero, one villain–we might have really had something, here… But alas: we didn’t. Epic failure.
A side note: I just read that Dave Gibbons says he actually helped envision the different ending For Zack Snyder’s Watchmen adaptation.
Wow!! I thought it was a beautiful film. Very complex story and like it has been said before very true to the novel. I don’t think this will be as popular as the other Superhero films, and don’t believe it is actually in the same category. The action sequences in this movie are great, but they certainly can’t carry the movie.
I fall into the “utterly and irredeemably bad” section.
Not only was a disappointed but I was surprised at how bad they actually made it, and I’m a huge fan of Zack Snyder’s previous films.
I also think that people who say they like it are being a bit too easy on it because of the superficial delights.
I’m conflicted by this movie. It made me realize that Alan Moore may have been right all along – this should not have been made into a movie.
For some reason, while it kept fairly faithful to the graphic novel, it didn’t cause the same emotions in me that the graphic novel does. Maybe by trying to stick so close to the source material, something was lost in translating it to a different medium (I never thought I’d say that). However, there were moments where I completely enjoyed the spectacle and the experience of seeing those panels come to life.
I also found it interesting what they kept in, what they got rid of, and what changed completely (the “new” ending did nothing for me).
I really liked the movie. And I liked it more the 2nd time. The first time I enjoyed it, but spent a lot of time noticing what was straight from the comic and what was changed. The 2nd time, I left that all at the door and fully enjoyed the movie.
I think, ultimately, they stayed true to the story. Yes, they changed the ending, but it had the same desired affect and worked. And by changing it the way they did, you were able to cut a couple of subplots that you knew you would have to cut.
I also think what they cut was fine. It helped move the movie along. Granted, I am waiting for the Director’s Cut with all the newspaper stand scenes back in, plus the Black Freighter DVD.
I went with my fiance earlier this week, and she had never read the book at all, and didn’t know much about Watchmen in general, other than the Absolute edition is sitting on our coffee table. She liked it, and she isn’t a big fan of violent movies normally. A coworker of mine also saw it, and never having read the books, said she would have liked a little more back story on some of the characters, but still liked it. I am hoping that this does well with mainstream audiences, as fanboys (and girls) alone will not make this movie a success.
It was great! The ending was as good as the ending of the novel in my opinion and worked much better for the movie. My only complaint was the CG just wasn’t on the level of the latest big budget movies like Iron Man.
I’m with the folks who say it’s great but doesn’t translate the emotions of the book quite the same. Not better than Dark Knight, but great movie none the less. However I think I only say that because of my great love for the source material. I have a feeling if I’d never read the book, it’d be much more jarring the way the movie focuses on explaining one character at a time, and at great length. Eventually you spend so much time exploring the characters, that the overall story takes a back seat, only to return once all the backstories are explained.
I really like how they nailed the look of the comics. Despite some of the above haters, I think the movie had perfect casting, wonderful effects and really pulled me into that world. I believed it was the world of that comic.
What I think it really needs, unfortunately, is way more screen time to tell the full story. We don’t have the subplots of the scientists (well, 2 scenes hardly counts), or the news vendor. We only lightly grasp the history of the super heroes, because it’s more focused on the newer heroes. It’s hard to cram that whole book into what was almost 3 hours, but it felt like it needed almost another 2 hours to tell it well. I think the lack of some of what was cut makes the story more fragmented.
And as for the ending change I think it worked very well. I LOVED the end in the comics for sure, but for the movie I can see how it would come off poorly. Especially without the story of the scientists, psychics, artists, etc. Unfortunately the fact that Dr Manhattan is the supposed destroyer, it leaves no bodies. And I think that was part of the horror of the end. Those full page shots of bodies everywhere, blood running down the walls. The death of millions is still horrific, but the visual was lacking somewhat. However I’ll commend them on destroying more cities than just new york, and thereby really cementing the idea that the world would put aside their differences and come together.
Overall I think I loved it, but I’m still having a hard time digesting it all. I’m really curious to see how the directors cut comes out. And I’m afraid that, as I said before, people who haven’t read the book will be turned away by the staccato pacing. But I’ll certainly be seeing it again.
Lots of great arguments people have made regarding why they liked or disliked the movie. I do agree that the effects could have been better if it had a bigger budget, but they did a great job with what they had to work with. I never really got annoyed with it. I do agree with Krugglemugg when he says “it leaves no bodies. And I think that was part of the horror of the end. Those full page shots of bodies everywhere, blood running down the walls. The death of millions is still horrific, but the visual was lacking somewhat.” I was hoping to see that madness as well. May it will be in the extended version.
I think everything was fabulous. They advertised it as the most critically acclaimed graphic novel of all time – not that it was going to be the best comic book MOVIE ever. Those that put it up on such a high pedestal and got disappointed, well that’s your fault for being so easily wooed by a PR team doing their job. You take what you want out of a movie, so if you go in and pick it apart, you’re going to have such a biased opinion about it. Open your minds a little, admire the talent. No one is perfect and that goes for films too.
I loved Watchmen, and I’ll probably see it numerous times. People need to remember that directors aren’t gods; they’ve got budgets, and MPAA, and other companies barking at them the whole time. I’m sure if Snyder COULD, he would have filmed the comic in its entirety. But what he did with the money, and time, and resources – absolutely awesome. Would you have rather had Woody Allen direct it? I don’t think so.
And if this movie is remade in 10 years, someone needs to start breaking fingers of writers.
As someone relatively new to watchmen (Read the graphic novel in August of 08 and bought it for myself at Christmas), I thought the movie adaptation was amazing. I especially enjoyed the opener that gave you so much background info in so little time.
So many people lifted the Watchmen up and up until there was nowhere else to go. Expectations and wants and needs from the fans as far as the movie was concerned just continued to boil and when it finally was released (After further cock teasing from the law suit by Fox) people sat down expecting the curtains to part a God of entertainment to reach out and tickle their brains with the very tip of his finger, thus causing simultaneous mind orgasams that would send the mind and body thrusting and wriggling around with tremors that could only be rivaled an actual earthquake in their panties and what they got was a movie well cast with great acting, beautiful sets and a story that is idolised (maybe a little too reverently) by thousands the world over.
To quote what i wrote in my blog “It’s like at Christmas time, when you were a kid? You come down the stairs and park your ass in front of the tree and you see the giant box with the shiny paper on it with your name written in your parents hand writing on the card and you think “Omg it actually looks like (*insert whatever the fuck it is you asked for*)” but no… it can’t be! You’re not that lucky! right? Then you open the box and lo and behold there it is, in all its shiny new splendor. Exactly what you had asked for, begged for, wish and hoped for, right there in your hands.”
The problem is, sometime you actually get what you asked for. Yeah it’s a blessing (WOOHOO! YAY WE GOT WHAT WE WANTED!) but at the same time, people will always find a way to see the bad in the good.
“Yes it’s what i asked for, but it’s the wrong colour!”
“It’s the wrong size!”
“It’s the wrong blah blah blah”
For over 20 years people have been asking for this movie, have been hoping and wishing for it and as good of a job as Zack Snyder and team have done, people will always complain that it’s just not quite what they wanted.
I liked it
No giant squid but hey, i got to see a hot woman fuck an owl.
I loved it. My wife hasn’t read it and she loved it. I’d venture to say the new ending was better than the book. *SPOILER* In the book, humanity bonds to fight an alien threat after a single attack. In this new ending “As long as people think John is watching us…”, much more plausable especially within a 3 hour movie.
Of course the emotions don’t translate, we’re listening to people speak instead of creating the conversations in our heads with the book. All in all, this was easily the best possible translation to film possible.
My only real complaint was how little hate Laurie showed for the Comedian. In the book, it’s a horrific realization. In the movie, a mild annoyance.
—Matt
I honestly don’t understand how any fan of the book could watch this movie and say they didn’t like it. Epic failure?!?! Are you kidding me?! Some people are just too damn cynical. If you go to a movie, you are going for the purpose of being entertained. And this was a great movie. I thought that the casting, special effects, and story were spot on. Yes, they had to change some things, they have to make a movie more accessable to a main stream audience, and I think Zack Snyder did a terrific job. Without taking all of the time required to set up and execute all of the subplots and backstories, he was able to cut down a very lengthy and complex story into a movie just shy of 3 hours that would make sense to anyone off the street that didn’t know what “watchmen” was supposed to be. No one else in Hollywood would have stayed as true to the original book. And Snyder has even said that he shot some of the extra and extended scenes for the sole purpose of creating a directors cut for dvd! So instead of hanging out in cunt town and calling this movie undescribably bad, you just should enjoy it and appreciate it. This is a wonderful movie.
Hey folks, just saw it last night!
While I did very much enjoy the film I felt that there was an emotional element that was extremely lacking. When *SPOILER* Ozy revealed that he had just basically murdered millions, there wasn’t any sort of emotional anchor to care about. I also felt that the characters were (no pun intended) 2 dimensional, in that they were severely limited in terms of their emotional ranges. They seemed like wooden puppets playing their parts in the film with no room to create something raw and organic.
Also, I found it incredibly disturbing that all the Watchmen were uber bad asses with obligatory sexy-violent stylized fighting scenes. This made them more non-human to me than Dr. Manhattan.
BUT, for a popcorn flick, that is, one where you can leave your brain at the door and just hang on for the ride, this movie was really good.
I echo Shelle’s statement COMPLETELY.
Saw it in IMAX, with 300 of my closest friends! Thought it was a vulgar film, had limited redeeming spots. The only true super hero in the film is Dr Manhattan. The others are a collection of psychologically damaged bunch of ego maniacs. Film was a wierd collaboration of history and fantasy. Liked the sound trac and the MARS scenes. The rest…just a medium for more violence, blood, rape, death, child mutilations and nightmarish stuff. I prefer my superhero’s to be a little less like the criminal element they are supposedly protecting mankind from. Would not see this again. And yes I did request a refund
One of the worst movies that I have ever seen.
I never read the graphic novel, so I am by no means a fan boy disappointed about how the adaptation was handled. However, I am a “geek” and really was excited to see the film.
The visuals were, for the most part, stunning. Great use of CGI.
The story, however, was horrible. The “alternate reality” was very unbelievable – to the point of being insulting to my intelligence. The ending was, at best, unsatisfying and, at worst, just plain ridiculous. I do want to read the graphic novel…. I just have this feeling that Hollywood must have butchered it to produce such a horrible product.
Plot holes. Need I say more?
The pacing was akward and there were too many flashbacks. Can I say “too long”? That would be an understatement.
Perhaps, this film would have been more relevant in the early 80’s, but it certainly does not translate well into our time. Especially, given the benefit of hindsight to history.
I love action movies and, for the most part, have no problem with blood/gore (in fact, I think it tends to add more realism, so from that standpoint, I guess that I am somewhat of a fan). However, everything here was fairly gratuitous and excessive.
The characters – did anyone real give a crap about any of them? Perhaps, Night Owl was the most sympathetic character. But even then, there really was no attachment. At the end of the movie, I didn’t care about what they did to Rorshack (sp?) other than it just seemed plain ridiculous.
Oh…the constant speech-making by each of the characters. Give me a break. I kept thinking “oh boy, not again” every time a character would open their mouths.
So, how would you react if you found out that your mother voluntarily had sex with someone who had previoulsy beat her up / tried to rape her and that her father was the rapist/thug/murderer Comedian? Well, if you were the actress in this movie, you might shed a fake tear or two and then act like no big deal. Shouldn’t the revelation have been devastating? Putting that aside, how in the world was it a necessary part of the story? Just seemed to be a story line that lead to no where.
I will probably have nightmares about Dr. Manhattan and his ever present “blue manhood”. Was that really necessary? Just found it funny. Perhaps some finer point that the graphic novel would have told me about. I did find it strange that he would sometimes where his iron underwear or get dressed up in some scenes, but for the most part, just let it all hang out.
Horrible sex scene in Archimedes. Plain bad.
OK. I guess you can revoke my geek card. Just hated it.
No way you can compare it to the Dark Knight or Batman Begins. Those were actually well done movies.
It was a good film ultimately, because of its faithfulness to the original… although the changes to the end were neither credible nor satisfying. I doubt the character responsible would have laid a personal responsibility like that on someone else, and politically, blame would have been laid somewhere more terrestrial. I feel there were minutes at the end devoted to personal relationships which would have done better being devoted to nowhere at all… It was a LONG film. In the end, the result was impressive, and I was glad at the lumps it brought to my throat near the beginning.
@Mark Green I thought the sex scene was very realistic (seriously, who ACTUALLY believes Hollywood sex these days) in comparison to most sex scenes, especially seeing as it’s supposed to represent at least ONE character’s sexual repression, yet it was presented with the degree of “kink” required to show Nite Owl’s need for his hero alter ego, and sexual attraction towards a female equivalent (i.e. the retention of the boots) whilst being irrevocably human. It was very faithful to the original.
Mark Green, I gotta say you wrote a nice little review there, I may not agree with you BUT you make some very valid points, and you back them up. No need to revoke your geek card, it is ok for a geek not to like a movie.
It’s great!!!
Mark Green: You do not have the right to call yourself a geek until you read the book.
KAthy: I hope you’re joking. If not, then you are incredibly uninformed as to what you were about to see.
@KAthy For a film for which the tagline is “Who watches the watchmen?” I’m amazed that you were surprised that most of the characters had flaws and kinks. It never claimed to be a superhero film or graphic novel, indeed only one of the characters is in fact super-human, and he represents that to be super human is to be different from being human altogether. The anti-hero and the far-from-perfect character have always been far more interesting, insightful and thought provoking in my mind.
I think you took what you expected the film to be about over what it is actually about.
@KAthy – Watchmen isn’t about Superheroes. I’m really sorry that you went in expecting to see someone wearing a cape and saving the world with hard work and super powers. As far as Watchmen is concerned the closest thing to a Superhero is a very disjointed, cold and emotionally vacant man that was once human and is now so far from what we are that he’s forgotten what it means to even BE human.
I’m really sad to hear that you didn’t enjoy the movie but it sounds to me like it never really had a chance with you anyway, considering it sounds like you went in expecting something along the lines of Superman/Batman/The X-men and got a movie about broken, disfunctional people trying to cope in a world that sometimes makes no sense, and facing a crisis that’s so horribly brilliant it makes you sick to your stomach.
@Mark Green – No one has the right to take your geek card away from you for anything you said, hell.. i HATED the X-Men movies to the point that i almost refuse to acknowledge their existance (this also goes to those movies that George Lucas made and accidently called Star Wars movies)
I highly reccomend the book to you though, i think for people that haven’t read it and would like to better understand the movie (That are willing to give it a proper go) reading the book is a way to expand your appreciation.
My friends are big fans of Watchmen. I agreed that I would go see it with them when it came out and they told me to read the graphic novel before I go see it with them. I finished the novel of Friday afternoon and I saw the movie on Friday night. I really liked the movie and thought that Snyder did a fantastic job with the screen adaptation. I’ve seen a lot comments on the change with the end of the movie and thought I would throw in my thoughts on the subject. What people have to understand is that this was already a 3 hour movie. By changing the ending the way they did, they eliminated several plot points. I mean look at the missing scientists gathered together to come up with the squid monster thing. So changing the ending probably had to be done to save some time in the movie. Plus the squid may have not gone over well with the audience members who have not read the books. I can see the reactions now…”Really?!? New York is being attacked by an exploding squid?!?” Overall I think the movie was awesome! I really loved the opening credits. The way they tied in the extra character material together was very creative. I think when I buy the DVD I won’t skip the credits for once! For those who saw the movie and didn’t like it, I challenge you to go read the novel and maybe it will change the perspective you have on the movie.
Thanks guys. Your responses were kinder than I thought they would be. LOL.
@Snivelus. Didn’t realize that there was a specific reading list to be a “geek”. LOL.
Look – my review was of the movie and not the book. As someone who really, really wanted to like the movie, I was incredibly disappointed. I can only imagine the perspective of the non-geeks viewing the movie.
@Mark Green: Oh dude, I was just messin’ with you. No offense.
Dude, thought about this movie all weekend and came to the conclusion that I liked it the more that I thought about it. I even decided I liked the changed ending! Can’t wait to see the extended cut and the extras!
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