- Finally Watched the Watchmen

Finally Watched the Watchmen

11:54, 8-Mar-2009 .. Posted in Movie Stuffs .. 17 comments .. Link

(best played while reading - 'tis long)

Much has been written and said already about Zac Snyder's adaptation of Watchmen, so I'll try to keep this brief.

Some have said it holds too close to the novel and what works in one medium doesn't work in another. Some have said they've changed too much and lost the essence of the novel. Some have said the casting is off. Some have said Snyder's style is too flashy and much of it is over the top. Some have said it's too baffling to those who haven't read the novel or misses too much to appease the long-term and passionate fans.

I agree.

To a degree...

Yes, a lot of the dialogue is patchy and brimming with exposition - better suited to a comic than a film - but then, it was no different with Sin City ("She smells how angels aughta smell...") and is forgivable if delivered right...which it wasn't always. Malin Akerman in particular struggled quite a bit, but I don't think that was entirely down to the script. She also features in one of the most comically out of place soft-core porno scenes ever committed to film. I realise the fetishistic appeal of putting on a costume to fight crime had to be highlighted, but it ran about a minute too long (which, in non-porn movie sex scenes, is a long time). Fortunately, the punch-line took some of the cringe-worthy edge off.

In terms of what they did change, the biggest question has hung over the absence of the ‘squid’ in the climax. I understood the reasoning behind this when I first heard about it - again, it goes back to the whole ‘what works in a comic might not work in a film’ thing - but it looked from the trailers that they’d gone for a straight up nuclear catastrophe, which worried me as it would completely undermine the point of Moore’s chosen disaster. Fortunately, this isn’t the case and the new idea works within in the context of the film, without missing the point from the book (though the aftermath is taken in a slightly different direction that isn’t quite as strong).

Along with Akerman, the only other questionable piece of casting was Matthew Goode as Ozymandias. The fact is, Ozymandias is a an imposing man in his 40s, with a perfect physique. Goode is a slim man barely out of his 20s whose costume is moulded to represent a perfect physique. However, physical shortcomings aside, Goode plays the part beautifully. He has wisdom beyond his years, is always cool and calculating and is absolutely believable as the world’s smartest man.

The rest of the casting is perfect, in particular Jackie Earl Haley as Rorschach. He’s the most enjoyable character to read in the book and Haley makes him the most enjoyable character to watch in the film.

(so much for keeping this brief)

Snyder’s direction is also pitch perfect, for the most part. The aforementioned sex scene may have been drawn out, but a certain precursor to it, that could have been equally as cringe-inducing, was handled with surprising subtlety. The action, though extreme (and ridiculous) at times, fits in with the context of the film, with only a fleeting reliance on wire-work. The gore may have been out of place, but helped to contrast against the heroes’ now quiet lives, most notably in a scene where Laurie (Silk Specter II) and Dan (Nite Owl II) are accosted by (beat living snot out of) a ten-strong gang. And kudos to him for mostly restraining his love of slow-motion.

As for the question of whether the film will baffle new-comers or disappoint fans, that’s really down to the individual. The introductory montage set to Dylan’s Desolation Row does a decent job of filling in some of the back-story, but the plot still plays out in quite a jumpy fashion. It also feels like it’s moving at a snail’s pace, at times, though that is fortunately made up for.

Personally, I loved it. A brilliant and complex story, told with love (if not always with skill), and an entertaining visual feast.

I’d also like to give a quick nod to My Chemical Romance at this point. Though I enjoyed their cover of Desolation Row, I failed to see the point of it - it’s a fast, heavy-ish scream-fest that could frankly have been a cover of anything - but when it explodes into the film's closing credits, it all makes sense.

**EDIT**

The film actualy opens with Dylan's The Times They Are a-Changing.
Leave a Comment

01:06, 9-Mar-2009 .. Posted by sarai
I loved all the songs they used in the movie, and while I didn't like the direction they took the ending it did work in the movie, it just didn't set with me.

01:17, 9-Mar-2009 .. Posted by DeeJay
I love reading your reviews. You truly do have a way with words and make me want to see the movies you cover.

01:31, 9-Mar-2009 .. Posted by bebbet
Thanks, Deej :D

02:42, 9-Mar-2009 .. Posted by engieviral
I think I will be aquiring the soundtrack to this movie myself.

Having not read the book (yet), I think the movie stands in it's own right. It got alot of flack, but that was either from fanboy fanatics or people that expected an action spectacular like most 'superhero movies' and weren't willing to broaden their horizons.

08:01, 9-Mar-2009 .. Posted by dantesinferno
I actually had tickets reserved to the premiere last friday, but couldn't get anyone to go with me. Son of a bitch.

08:25, 9-Mar-2009 .. Posted by bebbet
engie: Bizarrely, the soundtrack opens rather than ends with MCR's version of Desolation Row, an doesn't feature Dylan's at all!

Dante: Did you not go alone? I know it isn't ideal, but sometimes it must be done.

09:09, 9-Mar-2009 .. Posted by dantesinferno
Believe me, I would have, but I had booked two tickets and the theatre would have charged me for two. And what with just moving in to a new place, and trying to save some cash for our trip to London and for some new furniture, for the first time ever my obsession with comic books or movies has to come second. Or third. Or, if we are to be precise, 47th, just between "We do have to eat, right" and "Mmmmm, that snow sure does look mightily appetising".

But I'm going to grab a daily showing some day, the tickets are a bit cheaper and there aren't any pasty faced teens around.

09:13, 9-Mar-2009 .. Posted by bebbet
Ah, they hadn't already been paid for! That's alright, then.

But surely there are clothes you could sell, a breakfast or two you could go without or a poll you could polish to raise the funds?

09:04, 9-Mar-2009 .. Posted by dantesinferno
I tried to sell the dog, no one wanted him. And my kidneys are pretty much worthless.

02:50, 10-Mar-2009 .. Posted by bebbet
I bet there are bits of your brain that could fetch a fair sum...

08:55, 10-Mar-2009 .. Posted by dantesinferno
But thems I need. If I let go of the good bits in my noggin, I would become a religious person. And that is not acceptable.

02:02, 12-Mar-2009 .. Posted by strangecloud
i watched it too...love the soundtrack! besides dylan, there's simon and garfunkel and leonard cohen in there...very nice! heh

07:36, 13-Mar-2009 .. Posted by birdsnest
see my only problems with the movie were the sound track (i loved the songs just thought they were out of place, a proper score would have done well in many of the scenes) and when Rorschach is in prision and yells my favorite line in the comic (you don't get it, I'm not stuck in here with you, you're stuck in here with me!). they ran past it. that was always the best part of Rorschach for me. they could have done a better job with that.
and while i'm sure dante will appreciate staring at dr. manhattans schlong through out the whole movie, i on the other hand was hoping he woudl have gotten the ken doll treatment.
i didnt have a problem with malin. she was the weakest link but few actresses would have shined compared to nite owl and Rorschach. they were both played extremly well.

01:24, 14-Mar-2009 .. Posted by bebbet
My favourite line for the novel is, "And all of the whores and politicians will look up and shout 'Save us!', and I'll look down and whisper, 'No'." It wasn't quite right in the film, but I was releived to see it wasn't as butchered as the trailer made out.

And are you really so insecure about your sexuality that those few glancing shots of Doc. M's junk made you uncomfortable?

02:35, 14-Mar-2009 .. Posted by birdsnest
he should have whispered no.

yes. yes i am. it made feel weird and invoked strange emotions...that i'd rather not talk about......so...uh..what are you doing later tonight......
:P

12:19, 14-Mar-2009 .. Posted by bebbet
Butch, manly things...

03:46, 14-Mar-2009 .. Posted by birdsnest
i like em butch.

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