tech.gadgets.video.geekculture.gaming.kittens.
Brief, non-spoilery review of ‘Watchmen’
Like I said, this mini-review shouldn’t have any major spoilers, but if you’re super concerned about spoilers anyway I’d suggest not reading any further. OK, now let’s get on with it. I’m also going to assume you’ve read the book, because if you haven’t this post will make even less sense.
I loved the comic book, so it was very cool to see the pages brought to life (and I’m talking word-for-word, shot-for-shot in most cases). They had to take out the Tales of the Black Freighter unfortunately, but they’re releasing that as a supplemental animated short. The only time the film diverges from the main storyline of the graphic novel is at the very end. Now this is the part where I’m a little worried that crazy fans of the original will try to lynch me… The ending in the movie made a lot more sense in the context of the plot than the ending in the comic. If Zach Snyder was going to change anything in this film, altering the ending as he did was absolutely his smartest move. He made it palatable to movie-going audiences, while also staying true to the spirit of the book.
The casting choices were great, I thought, although I found the Nite Owl II to be a little over-sincere and sappy. That’s exactly how he feels in the book, so I guess it’s just a tad more frustrating to actually watch him be that awkward in person. Everyone else was spot on, especially Rorschach. People were actually cheering for him in the horrific jailhouse scene, which shows both how well-written this character is (and how convincingly he was acted).
The worst (read: most intensely uncomfortable thing I’ve had to sit through in a long time) part of the film was the love scene. The third one. It went on for so long, and was so gratuitous, that people were laughing uncomfortably and squirming in their seats. A couple shots to illustrate the point is one thing, but this went on a good 3 minutes too long. It seemed like an eternity.
So, those are my main points without trying to go into it too much. I loved the film, and I definitely suggest seeing it, especially if you’ve read the original. If you haven’t, the story might be a little harder to follow, but you’ll probably still enjoy the film from a action/visual effects perspective (and for some of the great lines).
If you’ve had a chance to see it, let me know your thoughts in the comments! I’m especially curious to know how the really diehard fans of the book are reacting to the movie.
Image from Saturday Morning Watchmen on Newgrounds.
No related posts.
-
#52 written by Chief Mudda Clucker 2 years ago
Overall, I enjoyed the movie especially Rorschach’s character. Unlike many of the folks here, I’ve never read any of the Watchmen comics. It still made sense to me as a novice. Frankly, I felt like the movie could have benefitted from another 1 to 2 hours worth of material to fill out the characters. I found the direction given to both the Owl guy and miss sexy outfit to be lacking. Both of their performances were wooden and totally unconvincing… Another thing, the makeup effects were horrible, most notably, Silk Spectre II’s mother, Ozymandias’ wig, and generally anyone with facial prosthetics. In this age of Benjamin Button digital make-up perfection, anything less stands out like a sore thumb.
-
I thought the casting for Ozymandias was all wrong. He had no muscle mass at all and he is able to do what he does in this film? Please.
I thought the sex scene was hot and hilarious. I would have picked one or the other personally.
Veronica and other fans of the comic (the squid), I think you’ll enjoy this. It’s hilarious:
Hitler’s Response to Zack Synder’s Watchmen
http://film-book.com/hitlers-response-to-zack-synders-watchmen/ -
I had similar thoughts. I enjoyed the movie and completely agree that the ending change was an excellent choice. But had problems with Malin Akerman and Matthew Goode. I also felt the 3rd sex scene was too much as well as Dr. Manhattan’s schlong…a bit much.
here’s my thoughts: http://www.traeblain.com/i-watch-the-watchmen/
-
#60 written by Carlos 2 years ago
Liked it, but was disappointed it wasn’t great.
Didn’t really like the ending, felt like it had holes. Doc Manhattan was part of their society, after all, and wouldn’t someone question why he went on a killing spree? Sure the guy’s disconnected from humanity, but murderous?
Agreed, though, that the comic book ending might not be as readily-accepted.
Snyder has no subtlety. Liked how Rorschach was quiet and more calculating in the comics. In the film, he was just angry and angrier. Would be scarier if he calmly and methodically lit the Genovese killer on fire, him screaming in agony.
Silk Spectre was also inconsistent in her portrayal. She kills two people in the streetfight but not in the prison. Shouldn’t have to be an amoral vigilante, that’s more Rorschach, Manhattan, and Comedian.
-
#61 written by Stan 2 years ago
am i the only one who liked that scene? it pretty much summed all up what silk spectre 2 lost while beeing in a relationship with manhattan… this warmth and the safe feeling only a “human” can give to another human. its something so simple and very natural but still people feel offended. why?
greetings from germany
-
I finally saw WATCHMEN last night … even popped for the IMAX version.
I like Veronica’s review and have enjoyed most of the comments in the thread here.
Did I think the movie was a perfect adaptation of the book? No, but that is not a feasible goal anyway. Did I think they did a good job making a film in the spirit of the book? Hell yeah!
-
#63 written by Nilsen31 2 years ago
great review, Queen of Twitter!!
the great honor was bestowed upon you last night.
http://g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/videos/37188/Hottest-Twitter-Chicks-Pics.html
stay classy G4.
-
Veronica, I read your review first and finally saw the movie. I was anxious to see this graphic, long sex scene but was pleasantly surprised to find a hot and funny sex scene. Please note that I’m more of a film nerd than comic… I thought this scene paired with the other two was quite important and well constructed although I completely understand that it could make some people uncomfortable. I explain here, http://www.sarahatwood.net/2009/03/14/good-use-of-sex/.
-
I saw you mini-reviewed this and I cringed a little as I opened the review up. (Since most reviews of this movie leaned in one direction or the other – fairly extremely, I might add – I was worried this would be an extreme tilt in one direction or the other.)
I was surprised to find that your opinion was very similar to mine: Snyder absolutely made the right choice in altering the ending – in fact, it made the story significantly more poignant. (The ending in the comic ALWAYS bothered me.)
…uh, and you’re right. Don’t mention this at too many comicon events, you will get lynched.
Nice non-spoilery review.
-
#67 written by Dylan Damkoehler 2 years ago
I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. It is not “the best graphic novel of all time” as some have said (“Ronin” by Frank Miller gets my vote), certainly a high water mark though. I read Watchmen when it first came out and have been a fan for years. I have read about this being made into a movie for almost as long, with many directors picking up the project only to drop it when they realized the complexity. I am proud a fellow Wisconsinite (you go Zack) finally made this story into a coherent and visually stunning film. That being said, I think the story would be served better as an animated mini-series, maybe 12, 1 hour long episodes. Then the “Black Freighter” and some of the less cinematic elements could be incorporated and really flesh out the story. Not complaining, just saying… this gift horse has hay stuck in its teeth.
-
I must say as someone that hadn’t read the book before hand, I really feel like the move assumed too much. For a movie with sooo much story it felt like it lacked plot.
I left the theater with this numb feeling of mediocrity. I knew I didn’t hate it, but I knew it wasn’t what I thought it would be either. It was an odd feeling for me. I’m never so ho-hum about a movie.
It wasn’t until I talked to my one friend that had read the books that I realized just how much I’d miss out on. Stuff like the de-humanization of Dr. Manhattan that I’m guessing is analyzed to some extent in the book… is glazed over in the movie. There was a million little details that he brought up over and over again that I was enthralled by, but that the movie failed to let me in on.
I really feel like the movie failed for those that didn’t read the book, but perhaps that’s how it had to be given just how much there was to tell.
Suffice to say, I’m going to read the novel then go back and watch it again and I’ve told anyone that I run into… go buy the novel, then watch the movie… you won’t be disappointed.
p.s. Agreed the love scene while very hot for a while (and as a guy, hey I’m all for that) it got super awkward once seconds became minutes. Ending it with an Austin Power’s style orgasm scene pretty much killed the entire scene too I might add.
-
I didn’t read the book, but after seeing the movie, it made me want to read the book. I thought the material was thoughtful and engaging, and the movie was just beautifully shot, everything was bold and larger than life and heroic. Usually something like a love scene that gratuitous would bother me, but I kinda expected it to go to excess: there’s something about Nite Owl II and Silk Spectre II’s heroism that’s bound up in sensuality.
That having been said, it’s not a movie I generally recommend. I thought the acting was flat in places it really needed to be sharp (Silk Spectre I and II’s conversations with each other were awful). And not having read the book, I was sitting there near the end being like “who cares what this evil plan is, can you just end this movie?”
More of my thoughts are here (lots of spoilers ahead): http://www.ashokkarra.com/2009/03/thoughts-on-watchmen-movie/
-
#72 written by Zielonyef 2 years ago
I will do this in points:
- Rorschach was great. Nothing more to add. And scene of his death… Masterpiece.
- Sex scene. Yeah it was a bit long. Yeah it made people in theater act strangely. But hey! We are all animals. And this is what animals do.
- To continue last point. I really liked rationalistic view on world, especially in Manhattan’s words.
- Ozymadias was a little bit too flat in my opinion. Same as doctor that interviewed Rorschach. But i see retrievement of mask better than in comic.
- Most terrible scene in film is when Nite Owl is saying “But the country’s disintegrating. What’s happened to America? What’s happened to the American dream?” It gave me a lot of laughter. And strange looks from other people in the theater as I was the only one laughing. I find these words too pathetic for my taste.
But I am not american maybe that is the reason.Cheers!
-
#74 written by J.E. 2 years ago
I think your spot on. Going into the movie I knew about the change to the end and was expecting to hate it as a result, but in the end the change became a minor detail. The point was that all nations could unite against a common enemy, weather that be a giant squid alien, or Dr. Manhattan didn’t really matter in the end. As for the sex and violence, I feel like the filmmakers failed at an attempt to make the movie as shacking and ground breaking as the book. The fact is that the book was not ground breaking for the violence and sex, but for creating the genre of the gritty antihero. This was revolutionary when the book was released. The movie could not ever capture the same feel, because we live in a world that has been influenced so heavily by the themes that it created that it would never shock us on its own. And you can say what you want about the music, I did not like all of it, but I think that the opening title sequence was as close to perfect as you can get for setting the tone and the circumstance of the rest of the movie.
-
I found Watchmen to be a great movie, really. I read the book, and it was mind blowing. Really! Everyone played their roles spot on, and the fights, the secrets, the revelations, the deaths (ooh, they hurt), the suspense – it all worked out right! Kudos to Zack Snyder (although he could’ve added some extras) for his work! Can’t wait for the Black Freighter animation! =)
-
#76 written by IrishJerk 2 years ago
I got a problem with any movie that has a social agenda. The swinging pee pee of Mr. Manhattan was nauseating the love scene was really unnecessary and really the whole movie was boring. The trailer again had all the best parts in it and I would have been happy with just watching that. My anticipation of the movie was more exciting than the movie itself. Next time when I notice a lack of reviews on opening week I will stick to my gut feelings and not go…
-
#77 written by Oge 2 years ago
i agree w/ your points! i thought it was a good movie. it’s funny, i didn’t really notice manhattan’s member like other viewers, but i did read the novel a few years ago so it was no surprise. though the ending was done well, i think it was a better book than movie. i can see how viewers like irish were bored, & it’s disappointing because it is such a great story. ah well-rorschach was tops & i’m definitely seeing it again. hopefully imax style
-
I hadn’t gotten around to talking about the movie on my own site, but ran into yours via Twitter. Your comments are nearly a match to how I felt. Even after three showings (so clearly I enjoyed most of the film), the sex scene is annoyingly cheesy. I will admit that seeing Silk Spectre II naked is not a bad thing, but it was filmed in such a Skin-e-max-Showtime over-the-top way that it I actually felt embarrassed watching it. And the rocket blast! Actually, the whole thing might be working at cross purposes, since the film is in major need of comic relief at that point (at least for novice audiences). Maybe that is how we need to take it.
And while I missed the “giant squid,” the movie version makes a hell of a lot more sense to our own version of reality.
Interesting website. I will check you out more in the future.
-
- Comment Feed for this Post
Very interesting blog post – and follow-up commentary, thank you!
I live in a rural area – and The Watchmen won’t reach here for several more weeks. I’m reading reactions in anticipation. Regarding the “Hallelujah” scene in the film, I have tried to keep up on that especially (as I serve as manager to the artist, Allison Crowe, whose version was originally accompanying the Nite Owl and Silk Spectre II tryst).
Crave Online asked Zack Snyder before the release: “What about the Leonard Cohen song?”
Zack Snyder: “There are two Leonard Cohen’s because there is a Leonard Cohen on the end titles as well. Hallelujah, that love scene, I originally had the Allison Crowe version of that song, a version I’ve always loved, but in the end was just too romantic. Everybody thought that I meant it. They thought the love scene was serious, not that it isn’t serious but her version was too sexy. So I was like yeah, I’ve got to go back to the Leonard Cohen. For me it is incredibly ironic, even with that version of the song it is incredibly ironic. I don’t care what version of Hallelujah is on, that love scene it is ridiculous, but in a great way. With Leonard Cohen it is like you can’t miss it now, can you? I’m sure some people will but that is fine.”
Thanks again for the stimulating discussion.