Watchmen

[Elbren]

Apple.com (http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/watchmen/)

Saw this last night at the midnight showing of The Dark Knight.

One of the greatest graphic novels of all time ... can't wait for this film.

For those not familiar with the story, it's basically a mystery.

It takes place in an alternate reality during the '80's. The US is close to a nuclear war w/ Russia and Super Heroes are common place in our society. After the murder of one of their own, one of the super heroes discovers a plot to discredit and eliminate them.

[Tank]

I just saw this trailer in front of The Dark Knight this morning. It looks incredible. I can't believe they might get it right. Dr.Manhatten looks just about perfect.

[cmcgarvey]

I'm skeptical about it.
The trailer looks okay, but the movie doesn't come out until next year.
A lot can happen during that time.
I can see the studio screwing everything up for Snyder and turning the film into complete crap.

[NewMarketSean]

I am ashamed to say that I have the book at home, started to read it once, and couldn't get into it. I will try to read it before the movie comes out, because the movie looks amazing.

[NewMarketSean]

I'm skeptical about it.
The trailer looks okay, but the movie doesn't come out until next year.
A lot can happen during that time.
I can see the studio screwing everything up for Snyder and turning the film into complete crap.

After 300, I think Snyder pretty much writes his own ticket.

[DREKTUNES]

I am ashamed to say that I have the book at home, started to read it once, and couldn't get into it. I will try to read it before the movie comes out, because the movie looks amazing.

Wow, really? That makes me sad. I read it when it came out, when I was 13. Which, after you read it, should explain a lot.

And the movie that has me worried is The Spirit. Huge Eisner fan, and it just looks like Sin City in Weirder Suits.

[Nigel Tufnel]

I can see where it could be a little hard to get into the book. What's the first line? Something like "dead dog in alley, tire tread on burst stomach"? That doesn't necessarily draw you in.

I think the biggest obstacle, though, is the whole Black Freighter comic-within-a-comic thing. It's kind of jarring at first as the book transitions between the actual story and the comic the kid's reading. But stick with it - it's worth it. And be prepared to need to reread it to really understand it, just like the kid complains about his pirate comic.

Any chance the movie retains the original ending?

[Tank]

I wasn't "hooked" until about the 3rd chapter. I couldn't put it down after that.

[cindyluvsbrady]

I HATED the preview for this,I told my kids that movie is a BIG NO!!!!!:eektf:

[Tank]

I HATED the preview for this,I told my kids that movie is a BIG NO!!!!!:eektf:

Why? :confused:

[ChaosLex]

The Director of 300 + Arguably the greatest graphic novel of all-time = Money in the bank.

Can't wait!!! :clap3:

[ChaosLex]

Why? :confused:

I'm going to guess it's because of the clip where Dr. Manhattan blows the Vietcong soldier to bits. :D

[ChaosLex]

***BEGIN NERD ALERT***

Speaking of comic books, who do you guys would think would win the following battle?

Dr. Manhattan (from Watchmen)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Manhattan

vs.

Saint of Killers (from the Preacher series)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_of_Killers

***END NERD ALERT***

[EddieO's21]

i'll be honest...i have no desire to see this movie...i'd rather see bolt

[The Wedge]

As nice looking as the trailer looked this has an extremely high risk to reward ratio, which is probably why it's only being made now.

I wonder if it will still take place in 85 and how much of the alternate history it retains (Vietnam being won decisively by US because of Dr. Manhatten, that leading to a much more tense Cold War with the Doomsday Clock being 5 minutes away and all, the repealing of the 25th(?) amendment and Nixon still being in office, etc).

[NewMarketSean]

As nice looking as the trailer looked this has an extremely high risk to reward ratio, which is probably why it's only being made now.

I wonder if it will still take place in 85 and how much of the alternate history it retains (Vietnam being won decisively by US because of Dr. Manhatten, that leading to a much more tense Cold War with the Doomsday Clock being 5 minutes away and all, the repealing of the 25th(?) amendment and Nixon still being in office, etc).

Looks like Dr. Manhattan was blasting moffo's in Vietnam in the trailer, so I think it's going to be loyal to the book. Remember, this is Zack Snyder... not Paul WS Anderson, making this movie. He will respect the source material just like he did for Dawn of the Dead and 300.

[DuffMan]

And the movie that has me worried is The Spirit. Huge Eisner fan, and it just looks like Sin City in Weirder Suits.

Are you saying this because you thought Sin City was bad, or just because that it looks like a Sin City knock off.

B/C I thought Sin City was fantastic!! I've got the Bonus Cut DVD and I love popping that in from time to time, whether it be just one of the "episodes" or all of them. I'm still holding out hope that they will make a second one.

[The Wedge]

Looks like Dr. Manhattan was blasting moffo's in Vietnam in the trailer, so I think it's going to be loyal to the book. Remember, this is Zack Snyder... not Paul WS Anderson, making this movie. He will respect the source material just like he did for Dawn of the Dead and 300.

Good point about the Vietcong blasting scene...they can't put it to much in the present without making the principles entirely too old.

[DREKTUNES]

Are you saying this because you thought Sin City was bad, or just because that it looks like a Sin City knock off.

B/C I thought Sin City was fantastic!! I've got the Bonus Cut DVD and I love popping that in from time to time, whether it be just one of the "episodes" or all of them. I'm still holding out hope that they will make a second one.

Looks like a knock off. I, too, loved the Sin City movie, as I thought it was (almost psychotically) loyal to the subject matter (and the author, as Rodriguez quit the Directors Guild, rather than not have Millar as codirector). The Spirit, however, looks loyal to the exact same approach. The only problem is, the Spirit wasn't like that at all. I have oodles of the stuff - got a buncha copies of the 70's reprint magazine when I was 13. It was wonderfully smart and funny, with great (often dark) story lines and artwork decades ahead of it's time. For those who don't know, The Spirit actually ran as a separate insert in Sunday papers. I own one of the wartime ones (not drawn by Eisner, as he was serving).

Seek out the comic. Read some. And then try to get your head around the "Sin City" approach. It just seems wrong.

[Elbren]

As nice looking as the trailer looked this has an extremely high risk to reward ratio, which is probably why it's only being made now.

I wonder if it will still take place in 85 and how much of the alternate history it retains (Vietnam being won decisively by US because of Dr. Manhatten, that leading to a much more tense Cold War with the Doomsday Clock being 5 minutes away and all, the repealing of the 25th(?) amendment and Nixon still being in office, etc).

Unfortunately, I really haven't kept up w/ the production of this movie, but I have seen at least one photo of a poster that had a picture of an elderly Nixon that read, "Four More Years".

[Leitch]

Oh man Dr. Manhattan vs. the Saint would be insane

[cindyluvsbrady]

Why? :confused:

I thought it looked HORRIBLE and Traumatizing:(
I actually cried because I found it so upsetting

[Elbren]

I thought it looked HORRIBLE and Traumatizing:(
I actually cried because I found it so upsetting

lol What?

What was so terrible about this trailer that it made you cry in a movie theatre? :confused:

[Lt Melmo]

As nice looking as the trailer looked this has an extremely high risk to reward ratio, which is probably why it's only being made now.

I wonder if it will still take place in 85 and how much of the alternate history it retains (Vietnam being won decisively by US because of Dr. Manhatten, that leading to a much more tense Cold War with the Doomsday Clock being 5 minutes away and all, the repealing of the 25th(?) amendment and Nixon still being in office, etc).
I was originally VERY skeptical about this, because I'm not a Snyder fan, but he's won me over. Everything he's said has given me the impression that he wants to be literally as loyal as possible. Except for Black Freighter, which at least will be available on DVD.

I've said from the beginning that the only way to adapt Watchmen is frame-by-frame, and this doesn't disappoint. Seriously. (http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/07/22/watchmen-comic-book-to-movie-comparison-video/)
After Jason Segel's Muppet movie, this is my next most-hyped.

[Lt Melmo]

I thought it looked HORRIBLE and Traumatizing:(
I actually cried because I found it so upsetting
How is it possible to enjoy the depression-fest of Dark Knight and hate this trailer?

[Objectivity]

I saw them on the cover of EW and thought, "Look, they're remaking a cheesy 90s superhero movie, complete with the old, bright, fake costumes."

The trailer helped win me over a bit, but those photos are going to turn a lot of people off.

[Lt Melmo]

I saw them on the cover of EW and thought, "Look, they're remaking a cheesy 90s superhero movie, complete with the old, bright, fake costumes."

The trailer helped win me over a bit, but those photos are going to turn a lot of people off.
Something you have to consider... I was wary at first, seeing as it's Zack Snyder and I've never liked him that much, but according to him, he's staying true to the original comic as much as possible. And one of the big things about Watchmen is that it deconstructed superheroes and comic books. Snyder has said that with the film, he intends to deconstruct comic book movies. Ozymandias's breast-plate makes room for his nipples. I think it's great.

[Objectivity]

Something you have to consider... I was wary at first, seeing as it's Zack Snyder and I've never liked him that much...

The man has made two movies - 300 and Dawn of the Dead. I'm not sure if you can say you liked him that much. That would be like saying you think that Steven Spielberg guy is the worst director ever you'd only ever seen A.I.

He had a hot movie. Now he has to follow it up well to show that 300 was about him and not a bunch of technical CG magic.

[Tank]

As nice looking as the trailer looked this has an extremely high risk to reward ratio, which is probably why it's only being made now.

I wonder if it will still take place in 85 and how much of the alternate history it retains (Vietnam being won decisively by US because of Dr. Manhatten, that leading to a much more tense Cold War with the Doomsday Clock being 5 minutes away and all, the repealing of the 25th(?) amendment and Nixon still being in office, etc).

It does takes place in 1985. I read that its a very loyal adaptation.

[Lt Melmo]

The man has made two movies - 300 and Dawn of the Dead. I'm not sure if you can say you liked him that much. That would be like saying you think that Steven Spielberg guy is the worst director ever you'd only ever seen A.I.

He had a hot movie. Now he has to follow it up well to show that 300 was about him and not a bunch of technical CG magic.
I actually kinda liked 300, it's more of a basic distrust in him, because every time he talks he just gives you the impression that he's Brett Ratner 2. Plus, "Zach" is the only way to spell it.

[Elbren]

ComingSoon.net (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=49894)

New teaser trailer (shows alot more new footage).

Apparently, this aired on SpikeTV (never watch that station) during some awards show on the 22nd. This definitely gets me pumped up to see this movie ... but also, makes me wanna give a big 'ol F U to Fox. DO NOT ruin this movie for me w/ your crappy ass lawsuit. :mad:

[Tank]

I can't wait.

[DuffMan]

ComingSoon.net (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=49894)

New teaser trailer (shows alot more new footage).

Apparently, this aired on SpikeTV (never watch that station) during some awards show on the 22nd. This definitely gets me pumped up to see this movie ... but also, makes me wanna give a big 'ol F U to Fox. DO NOT ruin this movie for me w/ your crappy ass lawsuit. :mad:

A little update here, WB and Fox reached an out of court settlement regarding this movie. Everything is a go for this movie which comes out on March 6th!

[Mashed Potatoes]

I just read the book and it kicked so much butt my excitement level has increased dramatically. Although now I'm also very fearful that Snyder will F it up. I wish he would just deal with the visual aspect of the movie and leave the storyline and script to others. Wedge says he's staying loyal to the comic, if not, may God have mercy on all of us.

I'm interested to see how he adapts the parallel comic story line and the "historical documents" into movie form, or whether he leaves them out.

[Nigel Tufnel]

I think I read that he's filming the Black Freighter stuff, but just for the DVD. I don't think it's going to be in the theater version.

[NewMarketSean]

I just started reading the book yesterday.

[NewMarketSean]

Just finished the book. I'm torn. I liked the ideas and themes, but the story gets a bit too bogged down at times and a lot of the dialogue is tedious. I loved the ending though... I didn't see that coming at all.

As for the movie, I think they're going to have to make some changes to make the story flow better than the book and of course that will draw the ire of fanboys. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie though... I think it can improve upon the book, if that sounds crazy.

[ChaosLex]

I hope they don't cut out my favorite line from Rorshach...

"Remember boys, I'm not stuck in here with you. You're stuck in here with me." :rofl:

[PaulFolk]

Just finished the book. I'm torn. I liked the ideas and themes, but the story gets a bit too bogged down at times and a lot of the dialogue is tedious. I loved the ending though... I didn't see that coming at all.
I didn't like the ending much-- it was overly complicated and didn't make much sense. But I hear the movie has completely changed the ending, so I'm looking forward to that.

[Lucky Jim]

I didn't like the ending much-- it was overly complicated and didn't make much sense. But I hear the movie has completely changed the ending, so I'm looking forward to that.

Worked wonders for The Natural. :rolleyes: ;)

[Scrat1]

I read the graphic novel earlier this summer and have to say I don't get the hype. I thought it was boring. I much preferred Ghost World.

[Spoonless]

But I hear the movie has completely changed the ending[...]

I'm going to be pretty miffed if this is true.

[NewMarketSean]

I didn't like the ending much-- it was overly complicated and didn't make much sense. But I hear the movie has completely changed the ending, so I'm looking forward to that.

It made sense, but it was just kinda strange. Anyway, I appreciated it because I totally did not see it coming at all. Sure they can make some changes to the book for the movie, but totally changing the ending will take away from what made the story.

[Nigel Tufnel]

I'm not sure that the ending is completely different. From what I've read, they got rid of the squid-from-space, but replaced it with something else, and kept the rest more or less intact. But I could be wrong about that.

I thought the original ending was great, so I hope they didn't change too much.

[NewMarketSean]

I'm not sure that the ending is completely different. From what I've read, they got rid of the squid-from-space, but replaced it with something else, and kept the rest more or less intact. But I could be wrong about that.

I thought the original ending was great, so I hope they didn't change too much.

One thing I do hope they change is how the ending is revealed while the characters are in Antarctica. That scene dragged on and on and became the worst kind of "the talking killer syndrome" I've seen in a long time.

In other words, I hope the ending is more foreshadowed throughout the movie because in the book it seemed like there was a TON of backstory about the characters and very little plot development until the last 2 chapters, so Veidt had to explain everything for the ending to make any sense.

[PaulFolk]

It made sense, but it was just kinda strange. Anyway, I appreciated it because I totally did not see it coming at all. Sure they can make some changes to the book for the movie, but totally changing the ending will take away from what made the story.
Kinda strange? I mean, let's take a look at it...


(anyone who hasn't read Watchmen and doesn't want the end spoiled, stop reading now...)


So Veidt assembles a team of brilliant experts from various fields of literature, art, etc., and has them work together to create a gigantic alien squid (!) that he then somehow teleports (!) into New York City from Antarctica, and even though the squid isn't actually alive, the process of teleporting it causes the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.

That, to me, is an ending that doesn't make any sense. I understand the motivation behind Veidt's plan, but the plan itself was convoluted and nonsensical. Surely he could've found an easier way. That's what I'm hoping comes across in the movie's new ending. I'm glad the giant squid won't be in it.

[Spoonless]

Kinda strange? I mean, let's take a look at it...


(anyone who hasn't read Watchmen and doesn't want the end spoiled, stop reading now...)


So Veidt assembles a team of brilliant experts from various fields of literature, art, etc., and has them work together to create a gigantic alien squid (!) that he then somehow teleports (!) into New York City from Antarctica, and even though the squid isn't actually alive, the process of teleporting it causes the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.

That, to me, is an ending that doesn't make any sense. I understand the motivation behind Veidt's plan, but the plan itself was convoluted and nonsensical. Surely he could've found an easier way. That's what I'm hoping comes across in the movie's new ending. I'm glad the giant squid won't be in it.
The squid was alive, IIRC, it just wouldn't survive the teleportation. So when it's teleported, it dies, and its death releases a huge amount of psychic energy that kills people.

The point behind creating the monster was that it would look like an alien invasion. Since it would be a force from outside the current World attacking, it would cause nations to bond together to fight it.

[Nigel Tufnel]

The squid was alive, IIRC, it just wouldn't survive the teleportation. So when it's teleported, it dies, and its death releases a huge amount of psychic energy that kills people.

The point behind creating the monster was that it would look like an alien invasion. Since it would be a force from outside the current World attacking, it would cause nations to bond together to fight it.

Exactly what I was going to say, except put better.

I'm pretty sure there was a minor scene in an earlier chapter where Veidt said that he had perfected teleportation, except whatever was teleported would die seconds after rematerializing. And I think there was also a minor subplot about a missing psychic early on - Viedt used his brain to create the psychic shock. So, at least within the world of Watchmen, it was more or less established that Viedt's plan was possible.

[Lt Melmo]

See, the problem with the Watchmen film is that it's going to popularize the comic book for a generation of people who don't really read comic books, or at least superhero comic books (including me). It's brilliance shines the best when you look at it in the context of other superhero comics, especially disregarding all the pomo stuff that came after it. I never really gained an appreciation for it until I heard true comic book fans discuss its value to the superhero canon.

About the ending, I'll quote B from Progressive Boink (and one of the writers of The Dugout), who knows his comic books:

Okay, I've had this conversation with a lot of people so I'll try to give the abridged version here.

Understanding Veidt and his role in the story, particularly the ending (which most people who read it for the first time in 2008 have a problem with), is to understand the context of the comic's publication and its inspirations. People will wrongly tell you that the characters in the book are loosely based on Batman (Night Owl) or Superman (Manhattan) or whatever, but they aren't - they're based on characters from Charlton Comics. Manhattan is Captain Atom, Rorschach is The Question, Nite Owl is Blue Beetle.

The original Watchmen idea was "Who Killed the Peacemaker?", a mystery story with the Charlton characters DC Comics had just acquired. Dick Giordano was DC's editor at the time and had gotten his start in the industry as an artist for Charlton, and he didn't feel great about giving his "babies" to someone like Alan Moore, especially since the characters were being integrated into normal DC continuity.

What Ozymandias does in the story is a reveal without a reveal. I tried to do something like it with Aranea in Seven Hill City. The big reveal is on the cover. You really aren't supposed to be surprised by it, but your natural instincts as a reader are either "I'm surprised by this" or "I'm not surprised by this!" Ozy is clearly the heel from almost the first second he shows up. And his "evil plan" is snatched directly in spirit from the countless comic book villain plots, where the righteous villain thinks that by doing the most retarded thing imaginable he can somehow conquer all. See Kevin Spacey in "Superman Returns" for a recent example of this. Ozy's plan is JACKED UP STUPID. He wants to do something that makes zero sense and he's got like 20 years of reasoning behind it, all of which he will explain to you now. That's why when he tells Owl, Owl is like "what are you serious."

That gives us the great big idea of the ending - what if one of those random bull**** Charlton villain plans were to actually happen in the real world, and what if it worked? Against all odds, what if it worked? What if nothing you did could stop the wheels that were already put into motion? What if you were a puppet, and you couldn't see the strings like Dr. Manhattan, and you had to go through with it even though you had no idea why? Ozy's stupid plan for world unity happens, he does it before anybody can stop him, and then everyone just has to deal with it. You can't waltz in and beat him up and save the day. That's the rorschach blot. There is nothing you can do.
That is, of course, just one interpretation.

[PaulFolk]

The squid was alive, IIRC, it just wouldn't survive the teleportation. So when it's teleported, it dies, and its death releases a huge amount of psychic energy that kills people.
Oh yeah-- I forgot all about the "psychic energy" hooey. That just makes it worse!

Again, I understand why Veidt did what he did. But what he actually did was inane.

[Spoonless]

Oh yeah-- I forgot all about the "psychic energy" hooey. That just makes it worse!

Again, I understand why Veidt did what he did. But what he actually did was inane.
...it's a comic book. There's a glowing blue guy in it with god-like powers.:laughlol:

[NewMarketSean]

What's funny about the ending, is that I was reading about tachyons the day before I finished Watchmen. So when they started talking about tachyons as a way to confused Dr. Manhattan I was like *oh snap*, I know what they are talking about!

After reading the Wiki profile for both the book and the movie, I am very much looking forward to seeing it. If Snyder can pull this off without inducing any eye-rolling by way of dialogue or characterization, then I'd say he's one of the best mainstream directors out there today.

Also, Alan Moore, what a kook. Fascinating guy and all, brilliant as all get out, but his criticizing of Snyder based on what he *heard* about 300 is plain old stupid. He should know better. I'd bet he'd have an issue with just about any company or group of people he had to work with.

[ChaosLex]

Also, Alan Moore, what a kook. Fascinating guy and all, brilliant as all get out, but his criticizing of Snyder based on what he *heard* about 300 is plain old stupid. He should know better. I'd bet he'd have an issue with just about any company or group of people he had to work with.

Moore is critical of any film being made of his work. IIRC, he was p.o.ed that From Hell and V for Vendetta were turned into motion pictures.

[NewMarketSean]

Moore is critical of any film being made of his work. IIRC, he was p.o.ed that From Hell and V for Vendetta were turned into motion pictures.

If he was POed that those books were turned into movies, which weren't that bad, I wonder what he thought about The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

[HoodGuy007]

I just saw another trailer for the movie. Needless to say, I am psyched.

[eastonguy]

Just found out today that I get to sneak preview this movie this week.

[Spoonless]

Just found out today that I get to sneak preview this movie this week.

Just found out today that I seriously hate you.

Just kidding. Have fun and be sure to tell us how you liked it. :D

[Tank]

Just found out today that I get to sneak preview this movie this week.

Awesome. Tell us what you think. I pre-ordered my tickets for the midnight showing on March 5th.

[Camden_yardbird]

Highlight this post for small spoiler:

The director stated in an interview that they changed the ending. Sorry no Giant Squid.

[J.D.]

Awesome. Tell us what you think. I pre-ordered my tickets for the midnight showing on March 5th.

For where, White Marsh? I have a feeling that's where I'll be seeing it.

[Tank]

For where, White Marsh? I have a feeling that's where I'll be seeing it.

Yeah, at the avenue. Can't wait.

[J.D.]

Yeah, at the avenue. Can't wait.

Meh, maybe I'll try to run into ya or something. I'll be there with a group of people. At least 3. I know they REALLY wanna go to the Senator to see it, but I don't think that the Senator is showing a midnight screening. I'd rather see it in pretty IMAX anyway.

[Tank]

Yeah, IMAX is great. I think its worth the extra couple dollars.

I'll be there with my girlfriend and my cousin. Maybe I'll see ya there.

[Tank]

Getting ready to go see it... Can't flippin' wait!

[NewMarketSean]

I am seeing it tonight. Can't wait!!!!

[J.D.]

Saw it last night. Let me just say: Wow. The movie was beautiful, the mood was perfect, they absolutely nailed the characters. VERY few gripes about the movie overall. I was afraid that they weren't going to be loyal to the source material... but they were. Just... fantastic movie. Not as good as The Dark Knight, but easily the second best comic book movie I've seen, and one of the best movies I've seen in the last year or so.

[Tank]

Absolutely incredible. They nailed it. I can honestly say I don't have any complaints. Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach is so unbelievably good. He is Rorschach. One of the best characters of all time. I can't wait to see the director's cut with the 40 minutes of footage they cut for the theatrical release.

I need to see this again as soon as possible.

10/10

[SrMeowMeow]

That was the perfect movie. I get chills thinking about it. Once I get immersed in something I don't really notice minor flaws, and I'm sure some actors weren't perfect or some dialogue was stilted or whatever, but it was true to the source material, visually brilliant, and all the (minor) changes they made just made it tighter.

But, I mean, the Comedian? He was brilliant. The attempted rape and the murders and the brutal violence - I'm a pretty peaceful guy, but the book is dark as anything you'll read and the movie really kept that atmosphere without being gory to the point of silliness. Rorschach was great, and so was Nite Owl, and everyone else was competent.

And so many great one-liners. My personal favorite is "that's the most fun I've had since Woodward and Bernstein." :D

I'll be seeing it again on Tuesday with more friends and I'm still excited. What I said about how I gloss over minor flaws once I get fully immersed - most movies don't get that far with me. But as soon as the lights went down I was totally hooked. It was sleek, glossy and stylish on the outside, and violent, seedy, and neurotic on the inside - just like the city, the characters, and even the book.

[Moose Milligan]

I thought it was pretty good. The philosophy stuff got old after awhile though, maybe its cause it was 1 in the morning, but it seems like they tried to say a lot without really saying anything at all.

Good action, good characters. Rorschach was to this movie was like Marv was to Sin City. "I'm not locked in here with you! You're locked in here with ME!" hahaha that was awesome.

Might go check out the book. 4.5/5 for me.

[Tank]

That was the perfect movie. I get chills thinking about it. Once I get immersed in something I don't really notice minor flaws, and I'm sure some actors weren't perfect or some dialogue was stilted or whatever, but it was true to the source material, visually brilliant, and all the (minor) changes they made just made it tighter.

But, I mean, the Comedian? He was brilliant. The attempted rape and the murders and the brutal violence - I'm a pretty peaceful guy, but the book is dark as anything you'll read and the movie really kept that atmosphere without being gory to the point of silliness. Rorschach was great, and so was Nite Owl, and everyone else was competent.

And so many great one-liners. My personal favorite is "that's the most fun I've had since Woodward and Bernstein." :D

I'll be seeing it again on Tuesday with more friends and I'm still excited. What I said about how I gloss over minor flaws once I get fully immersed - most movies don't get that far with me. But as soon as the lights went down I was totally hooked. It was sleek, glossy and stylish on the outside, and violent, seedy, and neurotic on the inside - just like the city, the characters, and even the book.

Couldn't agree more.


Good action, good characters. Rorschach was to this movie was like Marv was to Sin City. "I'm not locked in here with you! You're locked in here with ME!" hahaha that was awesome.

Might go check out the book. 4.5/5 for me.

That was my favorite line.

And I would strongly suggest checking out the book. If you liked the movie, you'll definitely like the book even more.

Snyder has said his real intention is to get people to check out the book, so it looks like he succeeded.

[NewMarketSean]

Hmmm... let me preface this review by saying that I read the book a few weeks ago, and wasn't blown away by it. I thought the story was weak and that the messages were a little too heavy-handed. However, it was something that stayed with me, and the more I read about the book, and the more I went back to it to re-read individual scenes, the more I liked it and respected it. However it's not something that I overly enjoyed.

As for the movie, I was disappointed. In a phrase, it's too loyal to the book. Snyder does deserve some credit for this, but at the same time, that loyalty squeezed the life out of the movie. The characters are bland. The plot is weak and lacks suspense. And the whole thing felt at once jam-packed with information and bloated by scenes too long. Snyder should have went off on his own more often, allowed scenes to breathe on their own instead of cramming the next comic-book panel down our throats. The scenes on Mars, which were by far the best scenes of the book, were glossed over and chopped up. Those scenes should have been the dramatic center of the film, but instead it was hacked up and destroyed by a bad actress in Ackerman.

There were a few moments in the book where I was surprised. Like Rorshack's identity... by the man behind the plot... and the book's ending. The movie fumbled these opportunities for suspense. It was like the movie was made for fanboys who had read the book so they didn't have to build up any suspense.

All that said... like the book, it's something that has stayed with me. I like the changed ending, even though it does rip off The Dark Knight a bit. I loved Haley as Rorshack, he was the center of the film. I liked Dr. Manhattan's origin story. I liked the Comedian and his story. I loved the opening credits and the use of most of the music in the film.

So I'll hold out my final judgment until I see the director's cut on DVD alone, without an immature audience that laughed every time Dr. Manhattan was naked and during the sex scene, but right now, I have to say that this movie is a 2.5 our of 4.

[Lt Melmo]

I like the changed ending, even though it does rip off The Dark Knight a bit.
These kinds of statements always bother me... the script was written long before TDK came out, and principal photography ended last February.

[NewMarketSean]

These kinds of statements always bother me... the script was written long before TDK came out, and principal photography ended last February.

Which version of the script? I know it's an unlikely scenario that the writers learned of TDK's ending and said "we should steal it" but the fact that the endings were very similar took me out of the film for a second.

[Lt Melmo]

Which version of the script? I know it's an unlikely scenario that the writers learned of TDK's ending and said "we should steal it" but the fact that the endings were very similar took me out of the film for a second.
When I say "last February" I mean 2008, not 2009. So even if they made huge changes to the script in production, they stopped filming months before TDK came out. So you can be pretty certain that they wrote that scene without having any idea of TDK's ending.

[McLovin]

I haven't read the book. I thought that the movie was just mediocre.

I heard someone say last week (I think it was Jimmy Fallon) that the first 40 minutes made up the most action packed 40 minutes in the history of the world. Yeah....No. I think it was quite boring and tedious at times.

[NewMarketSean]

Yeah, there wasn't much action. It's not an action movie. Snyder had to extend fight scenes to get more action into the movie.

I have a feeling that most people who haven't read the book will find it boring and long and most fans of the book will love it.

Since I respected the book more than I enjoyed it, I can respect the loyalty of the movie to the book, but I didn't necessarily enjoy the movie either.

[SrMeowMeow]

There is no room for dissenting opinions on this topic. Either you loved the movie or you are a bad person.

[Tank]

I think the director's cut will help with the flow of the movie.

It seems people either "got it" (got wrapped up in the movie) or they thought it was boring. I've heard from people that have seen it 2 and 3 times that it gets better with each view. Which is cool, because thats how the book is.

My girlfriend had never even heard of it and she liked it alot. She told some of her friends they "have to see it".

[PaulFolk]

Just saw it last night. It stayed very loyal to the book, IMO. The only major change was a good one--replacing the stupid giant squid with a more interesting ending. The film was a little too long for my tastes, but I guess that's bound to happen when you're trying to condense such a large-scope graphic novel, even when you're leaving out the more useless scenes.

As others have said, Jackie Earle Haley was fantastic as Rorschach. I also liked Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl--I liked his character a lot more in the movie than I did in the book, where he seemed like more of a non-entity.

Interesting use of music. I definitely didn't expect to hear Jimi Hendrix blaring during the Antarctica scene.

All in all, a quality film, though not as good as Dark Knight.

[ChaosLex]

Silk Spectre is a friggin' babe. :eektf:

[DuffMan]

Silk Spectre is a friggin' babe. :eektf:

And her daugher is pretty hot as well!;)

As far as the movie goes (I saw it on Friday) I thought it was good, not great. I was talking to a friend about it and we kind of described it as having plenty of "style" but no "soul". Now that I've seen the movie I do want to read the Novel now and see how that is and, see if I like it more/less or the same as the novel. I did enjoy the intro to the movie alot and loved the music that they chose for the intro as well. Alot of quality songs in the movie.

[Mackus]

Finally saw this last night. I thought it was really good. Stayed very loyal to the book, and as Paul said the change at the ending was actually an improvement. They only changed the "weapon" at the end, not the meaning of the ending.

They left out some stuff, most notably the Black Freighter stuff which was a pretty good foil to the storyline, hitting on themes associated with Rorschach, Nite Owl, Doc Manhattan, and Ozzymandias. I know they are releasing an extended version with that stuff cut in there, but they didn't introduce the comic stand or the kid who reads the book besides just showing them in the background of one scene. Also, with the ending being different, the fact that Freighter's author is missing (he was designing the squid-thing for Veidt) isn't really important.

I think the movie stands alone pretty well, although I read the book first so I knew the basic storyline. Some of my friends who haven't read it were a bit lost. I feel they did a good job of staying loyal to the message of the book.

[Greg Pappas]

I really enjoyed this, and liked it better than the graphic novel... however, I must admit that I failed to capture the true essence of the story in the book... that's unusual for me.

Rorschach was brilliantly portrayed by Mr. Haley. I can honestly say that it was among the greatest character performances ever... not Ledger great, but not far behind.

Overall I was impressed with the acting, direction, music and cinematography. I'd rate it a solid A-.

[ChaosLex]

I really wish I had the powers of Dr. Manhattan. God, that'd be freakin' awesome.

[allstar1579]

I really wish I had the powers of Dr. Manhattan. God, that'd be freakin' awesome.

You wanna be blue and naked? More power to ya dude.

[Lucky Jim]

Might be easier to be blue and "Never Nude".

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/56/135163128_f72dd8ddd8.jpg?v=0

[Jagwar]

You wanna be blue and naked? More power to ya dude.

Here's to hoping it doesn't end up as his profile pic

:beerchug1:

[ChaosLex]

Here's to hoping it doesn't end up as his profile pic

:beerchug1:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=31097670&op=1&o=global&view=global&subj=115202212&id=115202212