Just read Watchmen graphic novel

[Britbillsfan]

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol...icle5791888.ece

 

This one is positive.

 

I think mixed reviews on Watchmen will be par for the course. The reviews in the UK are mostly positive, though.

 

I'll probably love it...

[ACor58]

First Watchmen movie review

 

Okay, the first review is in...and it's a bad one. But if you read the review, it basically takes the storyline to task. Which is how I felt after reading Watchmen; that the story was kinda weak. So a weak story makes a weak movie.

 

PTR

 

I really have very little use for movie critics, especially those that review comic book movies. They just don't get it. They should stick to salivating over movies like The Reader and Benjamin Button, which 90% of the population will never see or like.

[Andrew in CA]

I just saw the movie in IMAX. I thought it was great, and I think the new ending was satisfactory. A few things: for those who haven't read the book, I don't think the movie is going to make much sense. There is so much to cover, from the characters' origins, to the original minutemen, to the alternate future, to the actual "whodunnit" type plot, that a lot of it gets bogged down. I really felt that if I hadn't already known what was going on, I would be totally lost. Also, the movie is violent, almost Hostel-type violence in some scenes. I can see how this would really bother people. Finally, I know it's a comic book movie, but Nixon looked like a friggin' cartoon! Cut down on the face putty. Overall, I really enjoyed it, but I don't think it's for everybody- in fact, I don't think it's for very many people at all. After a good first weekend, I don't think it's going to do very well. I can't see myself recommending this to many people.

[2003]

I just saw the movie in IMAX. I thought it was great, and I think the new ending was satisfactory. A few things: for those who haven't read the book, I don't think the movie is going to make much sense. There is so much to cover, from the characters' origins, to the original minutemen, to the alternate future, to the actual "whodunnit" type plot, that a lot of it gets bogged down. I really felt that if I hadn't already known what was going on, I would be totally lost. Also, the movie is violent, almost Hostel-type violence in some scenes. I can see how this would really bother people. Finally, I know it's a comic book movie, but Nixon looked like a friggin' cartoon! Cut down on the face putty. Overall, I really enjoyed it, but I don't think it's for everybody- in fact, I don't think it's for very many people at all. After a good first weekend, I don't think it's going to do very well. I can't see myself recommending this to many people.

I saw it too. I did not read the novel, but the movie was tremendous. I think it made perfect sense, but there were a few scenes that were a little too graphic for my virgin eyes.

[Wooderson]

I just got back from seeing Watchmen and I thought it was a well put together film. I've read some of the graphic novel so I went into the movie kind of knowing about half of what was going on. I thought Rorshash was played tremendously. He seemed to be an almost exact portrayal from the book. I also really enjoyed the beginning credits as it travels through years of history.

 

Any thoughts?

 

 

Wood

[PromoTheRobot]

I just saw it too and I really liked it. In fact I will dare say Zach Snyder improved the story with the new ending. (Blasphemy, I know.) Wife was not as into it but she never read the story.

 

I wonder if any of you would agree that Jackie Earle Haley gave an Oscar-worthy performance as Rorschach? I think it compared well to Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight. Not saying he'll get nominated. Movies like Watchmen rarely get credit from the Academy.

 

PTR

[PromoTheRobot]

I just saw it too. Reading the novel is a huge help in enjoying it. I also agree Jackie Earle Haley was tremendous as Rorschach. Right up with Heath Ledger's Joker if you ask me. Haley was the only cast member who was a Watchman fan growing up. May explain why he was so good.

 

PTR

[Wooderson]

I just saw it too and I really liked it. In fact I will dare say Zach Snyder improved the story with the new ending. (Blasphemy, I know.) Wife was not as into it but she never read the story.

I wonder if any of you would agree that Jackie Earle Haley gave an Oscar-worthy performance as Rorschach? I think it compared well to Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight. Not saying he'll get nominated. Movies like Watchmen rarely get credit from the Academy.

 

PTR

 

My thoughts exactly. He was tremendous.

[/dev/null]

I haven't seen the movie nor read the books

 

But I just thought we need another thread

[Mantis Toboggan M.D]

I just saw it. A lot of kids in the theater. I wonder how the parents reacted to taking their children to the softcore porn scenes. And several in my opinion hilarious Mr. Manhattan scenes.

Good movie overall. I read the book and saw the movie and i felt that it did a good job. I actually like the ending of the movie more than the book.

[Mark Vader]

I just saw it, and I had not read the graphic novel, so I knew absolutely nothing about the story going in. I thought it was a very good movie. As far as box office success goes, it will have a big opening weekend, but I think word-of-mouth might not be strong enough to make it a blockbuster. The movie is very heavy handed, with very little humor and the violence is very graphic. I found the story to be complex and very interesting, but most people going to see this are going to want grand special effects and lots of explosions, not pscyhological turmoil and heavy philosophy. It also had good pacing. Despite it's nearly 3 hour running time, I did not find myself bored for one minute. Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach gave the best performance, and I was also impressed with Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian.

 

Unfortunately people will compare this film to "300", which is unfair. "300" is more mindless entertainment than "Watchmen" is, but that's what happens to directors of popular films. I cannot say that this movie is for everyone, yet I hope people give it a chance.

 

I agree with you BC Bills Fan, what was up with the make-up job they did for Richard Nixon? It looked amateurish and comedic. Yet the make-up on Carla Gugino was great. You can make her look like an old woman, and she's still one of the sexiest women around.

 

I also agree with you Wooderson, I loved the opening credits sequence. Very clever.

[outsidethebox]

I saw it last night with my wife. Knowing nothing about this movie except the previews. I sort of liked it. It was VERY violent! I found the movie pretty easy to follow considering I knew nothing about it. A couple of funny things and a few not so funny thing. I thought they were calling rorshak (I know that is not how you spell his name) horshack form welcome back Kotter TV show from the 70's. LOL! There was a guy a few seats across from me who fell asleep and was snoring LOUD!. There also was some idiot who brought a baby to the show who would every so often would burst out in a shrill scream! Why do people bring babies to the movies?

There also was this lady sitting in front of us who must have gotten up at least 5-6 times during the movie. One more thing, It was FREEZING in the theater! Beside having all those distractions, I kind of enjoyed the movie.

[Hazed and Amuzed]

My thoughts exactly. He was tremendous.

 

 

What a comeback this guy has made. From a Bad News Bear to an oscar nominated actor last year and now he has an amazing performance in one of the most anticipated movie this year. The rumor now is that he'll be playing the new Freddy Krugar, which I think he'll be able to pull off, he definitely has the look.

[Booster4324]

Incredible movie IMO. It stayed very faithful to it's original storyline (most of the deviations were for the better and while they left some stuff out, I totally understand the choices made) and had all my favorite moments from the original. The one area I thought they screwed up in was when Rorschach goes dark. The 5 year old kidnap victim. The scene would have been better IMO with the original script.

 

Otherwise, massive kudos, they took one of the best comics ever and did not mess it up badly. Other changes were for the better IMO (Dr Manhattan vs giant tentacled aliens). One last critique, when did Pinocchio become president?

[PromoTheRobot]

Incredible movie IMO. It stayed very faithful to it's original storyline (most of the deviations were for the better and while they left some stuff out, I totally understand the choices made) and had all my favorite moments from the original. The one area I thought they screwed up in was when Rorschach goes dark. The 5 year old kidnap victim. The scene would have been better IMO with the original script.

 

Otherwise, massive kudos, they took one of the best comics ever and did not mess it up badly. Other changes were for the better IMO (Dr Manhattan vs giant tentacled aliens). One last critique, when did Pinocchio become president?

Maybe that while Alan Moore is so pissed over the movie. Snyder improved his story. I always thought the original plot was a stretch, even for a comic book. Too many holes IMO. But the new ending is much more plausible without changing the heart of the novel.

 

PTR

[BillsWatch]

I read the originals when released and bought the hardcover just because. Some of the Minuteman sequences were different than I envisioned with changes unnecessary but most of the rest of the changes were acceptable or improved the story IMO although I am sure Alan Moore will be unhappy with film (whenever will he be happy?).

 

I though Patrick Wilson did a fabulous job as Nite Owl making the character both flawed but very dangerous; his characterization made Ozymandias a much more dangerous physical opponent than the character actor Matthew Goode represented. The Comedian was characterized perfectly in the movie and the expanded initial fight scene was needed IMO for the film. Both Silk Spectres were changed in the movie and I think it was made to make it more appealing to woman viewers. Doctor Manhattan was pretty much represented in the book and in the film they seemed to flaunt frontal nakedness in a way to say "look what we can do" unlike how Moore used it. I was expecting the 2-for-1 scene not to be shown. Rorschach was Rorschach and I agree the actor got into his head; I hope Jackie Earle Haley as easily can get out of Rorschach's mindset.

 

I think sales will be disappointing not because the movie did not represent the book well but because it did - even with the slasher-type movies I think this movie is going to be too disturbing for a number of viewers.

 

Oh and I think that all the aging makeup except for the elder scenes with the Comedian were terrible.

[Wooderson]

I also agree with you Wooderson, I loved the opening credits sequence. Very clever.

 

I just found this on youtube. I thought it fit perfectly into the beginning of the movie, as well as the choice of song. Kudos.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhxjvSL1aPk

[Andrew in CA]

I guess I was wrong in thinking that those that hadn't read the book would be lost- I'm glad I am. I too thought the opening credits were cool- it was also at that point that I thought that anybody that doesn't know the story is going to be wondering "wtf is going on?" And Booster, I agree with you, the Rorschach scene with the with the young kidnap victim would've been better had it not been tinkered with. Also, I think they should've gone back into Ozymandias's past a little more, it would've both better demonstrated his motivations and explain why he was such a skilled fighter.

[mtdoak]

My issue with the movie was with the ending, but not the change that was made (blaming Dr. M vs having a giant squid) but the decision not to show the piles of bodies in NY. I thought the violence was over the top in parts it didn't need to be (the clever to the head, the cutting off of the guys arms in prison, both weren't in the book) but pussied out in the one part where it needed to be gory. Moore's novel was violent to generate a emotional response and make the "compromise" ending much harder for the reader to swallow. Most people I was with didn't get that "I can't believe this" vibe. Snyder wasn't allowed by the studio to show bodies piled in the streets of NY like the GN, so it was almost as if he was over compensating the rest of the movie. Also, I thought the fighting scenes were bordering on retarded. Part of the idea of the book was that these (except for Manhattan) were normal people who were vigilantes. Why give them super duper strength and fighting ability? I know they were trying to sell tickets, but still, why not have the fighting stay in the realm of normalcy.

 

It was nice to see the book come to life and snyder stay faithful, but I think on alot of things, he just missed the point.

[Max Fischer]

I read the book with much anticipation. However, while it was "original" and somewhat thought provoking, I was turned off by its own self-importance. By the end I didn't really care about any of the characters and thought Dr. Manhattan was right - just go ahead and wipe everyone out, what difference does it make?

 

While the movie certainly looks impressive and true to the book, it also seeavyms to have the same heavy dose of self-importance. I get the feeling I'll leave the theater the same way I felt about the book. "Kinda cool, feast for the eyes, large serving of ideas but little pay-off in the end."