Originally Posted By jasmine7 Okay, I know we have some people here who were looking forward to Watchmen, so if you saw it, what did ya think? I went to see it Saturday morning, and I'm still digesting it. I've read the graphic novel several times, so this was all familiar to me. The violence was a little too much for me at times (had to look away several times), even more graphic than it was in the comic. The one thing I didn't like about the violence was that they had Dan and Laurie killing people (particularly in their fight with the Top Knot gang). It really goes counter to their personalities for them to kill. Comedian? Sure. Rorschach? Absolutely! Nite Owl II & Silk Spectre II? Ummm. . . not so much. As for the performances, I really enjoyed the whole cast with the exception of Malin Akerman as Laurie/Silk Spectre II. Yeah, she looked fab in the costume (and out, lol), but I just really didn't buy her performance. I'm not sure what it was, but she just didn't click for me. Jackie Earle Haley was a revelation as Rorschach. I haven't seen him in anything else, though I am familiar with his name from hearing about Little Children (need to see that movie now!), but he just plain was Rorschach. He got the mannerisms, the voice, everything perfect. He was absolutely my favorite thing about the movie, and I can't wait to go see it again and devour more of his performance. His final scene is heartbreaking, and I loved his friendship with Dan. Just a brilliant performance, and I'd love to see an Oscar nom for it. The big topics about Watchmen seem to be the changed ending and the sex scene between Nite Owl II & Silk Spectre II. I really didn't have a problem with either of them (I actually prefer the changed ending), but I'd love to hear your thoughts on both of them.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Jackie Earle Haley was perfect as Rorshach. (Jasmine, also check out "Breaking Away -- a terrific 1979 film Haley was in, which also stars a young Dennis Quaid). I agree, the changed ending worked for me -- my daughter preferred the original ending. The violence was very stylized and "CSI"-like with slow motion closeups and so forth. It was violent but it never felt "real" to me, but I can see why it might bother some. My wife didn't read the graphic novel, so I was wondering if she would enjoy the movie, but she did very much. She couldn't believe nearly 3 hours went by. She is a huge fan of all the crime/mystery shows on TV and she really enjoyed "Watchmen" in the same way.
Originally Posted By cstephens Kar2oonMan wrote: > My wife didn't read the graphic novel, so I was wondering if she would enjoy the movie, but she did very much. She couldn't believe nearly 3 hours went by. I'm in the same boat. I know about the history and pedigree of the graphic novel, but I've never read it and didn't know the story at all. I really enjoyed the movie. I liked learning about all the characters. I *really* liked Rorschach - but I wanted to know how his mask did that! We went to a 10pm show on Saturday night, and I was never bored or tired or noticed the almost 3 hour movie. I'm figuring on seeing it one more time in theatres. /cs
Originally Posted By DAR I just saw it this afternoon with my dad, who never read the gn. But he liked it and so did I. The violence didn't bother me, in fact I thought it was comical when Dr. Manhattan disposed of the foes in the restaraunt. The only spot where it was a little too much was Rorschach discovering the little girl.
Originally Posted By jasmine7 <<I *really* liked Rorschach - but I wanted to know how his mask did that!<< Well, in the book, he took a job as a tailor after leaving school. One of the jobs he had there was making a dress out of a fabric made of heat & pressure-sensitive liquids that were suspended between layers of latex & fabric which was created by Dr. Manhattan. This dress was supposed to be for Kitty Genovese, but she wasn't happy with it, so he took it home because it fascinated him. After she was killed outside her apartment, Kovacs became Rorschach and used the dress to make his mask. I always loved that part of his backstory, and I hope that it was filmed & will be in the extended cut DVD.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >> I *really* liked Rorschach - but I wanted to know how his mask did that!<< If you enjoyed the movie, give the graphic novel a look-see. I think you'll really enjoy it. There are several backstories that are explored in more depth, and even a story-within-a-story pirate adventure that foreshadows things in the main Watchmen tale (which I saw in the trailers will be released direct to video. I finally got around to reading the graphic novel only a couple of months ago and became a total fan of it instantly. There's also a neat animated comic book version on iTunes which is pretty clever.
Originally Posted By DAR By the way there was a great in-joke during the scene where Adrian is meeting with Lee Iacocca and the others. A little spoiler here so if you haven't seen the film here's a warning....... 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 When they walk out into the lobby you can hear on the muzak Everyone Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears.
Originally Posted By DAR I didn't mean in joke from the book but it had to do with Adrian status in the world.
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs I had to zoom past the posts since I haven't seen it yet, but may see it sometime this week. Did anyone buy the Motion Comic DVD? A friend of mine worked on chapters 3, either 6 or either 9, and chapters 10-12. I'm surprised no one's made the "Smurf on Steroids" joke yet...
Originally Posted By DAR Those of us who saw the film, what did you think of the opening credits? Myself I thought they were phenomenal.
Originally Posted By cstephens Dr. Manhattan didn't remind me of Smurfs. He reminded me of the Blue Man Group - the naked version of them. /cs
Originally Posted By DAR From the opening credit sequence look at the poster in the background when Nite Owl is punching the thug. <a href="http://io9.com/5167732/easter-eggs-and-missing-parts-in-watchmens-titles" target="_blank">http://io9.com/5167732/easter-...s-titles</a>
Originally Posted By jasmine7 Yeah, I saw that earlier tonight, Dar, and it blew my mind. I'm definitely going to have to look closer when I go see it again Saturday. As for your question about the opening sequence, I loved it. It was just done so well. I loved the mini-backstories we got to see (i.e. Dollar Bill's death), and I loved the shot framings. I think my favorite images from the opening are Silhouette kissing the nurse and Sally's retirement a la The Last Supper. That one in particular is probably my fave because it has so much going on in it.
Originally Posted By jasmine7 Sorry to post twice in a row, but I had to share this link to a letter written by Watchmen's screen writer, David Hayter. <a href="http://www.hardcorenerdity.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2239098%3ABlogPost%3A40658" target="_blank">http://www.hardcorenerdity.com...%3A40658</a> (Note: I haven't searched around that site apart from the letter, so there may be some stuff there that's more adult-themed than LP. Just a head's up.) I had planned on going to see Watchmen a second time tomorrow, but after reading this letter, I'm really leaning towards not going. Over all, Hayter meant well with his letter, but he just alienated a huge portion of the audience, the female portion. His letter is an appeal to the fans to go and see the film a second time, to give it another chance if they were let down (after all, the comic has layers, and he says the film does, too, and lends itself well to multiple viewings). That's all fine and good. But then, he has to go and end his letter with this little line: "Trust me. You'll come back, eventually. Just like Sally." Lovely. Compare comic fans to a rape victim and kind of insinuate that rape victims willingly come back for more. That line just left a horrid taste in my mouth, and I just don't think I want to support him with any more of my money. I'd really like to go back and see Jackie Earle Haley's brilliant performance again, but I just don't know if I can justfy it.
Originally Posted By cstephens Well, technically, she wasn't a rape victim. She was an attempted rape victim. Yeah, that comment was in poor taste, but sometimes, writers do stupid things. I haven't read his entire letter - don't really care what he has to say. And it doesn't stop me from wanting to see the film again. Also, I'm going to doubt that he's going to see any more money from the film. Writers don't generally get much of a take, especially with huge budgets. /cs
Originally Posted By BlueDevilSF Saw it over the weekend finally and enjoyed it a great deal. I got the same feeling from watching it as I did when I read it. I loved all the little details in the background (like the David Bowie and Village People cameos). Oh, yeah...and I'm glad they filmmakers and the studid didn't wuss out and make Dr. Manhattan look like a Ken doll!
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs You know, I didn't even catch that Last Supper "pose" until I looked at the link...I did catch the Studio 54 references...Veidt aka Oxicleanius or whatever his name was seems like he would SO fit in with that group.
Originally Posted By ctdsnark As a fan of the original book,I went to see it knowing full well it wouldn't be a straightforward adaption---there's just no way a book,ANY book,can be turned into a movie without some changes---but I had faith in director Zack "300" Snyder{which is weird because my teen nephews recently informed me that he helmed the "Dawn Of The Dead" remake,the very notion of such a film I was adamantly opposed to}---long story short,I wasn't disappointed. If I had I any complaints at all,and this still doesn't ruin the movie for me,but I REALLY wish they'd stuck with Adrian Veidt's original plan;Seeing the gargantuan bleeding corpse of that tentacled fake alien spread out over streets littered with corpses,that would've been SO COOL!!!
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I liked the Dawn of the Dead remake a lot. Didn't care for 300. Haven't seen Watchmen yet.
