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Watchmen

Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:09 am
by Gevaudan
I was wondering if anybody was going to post this, seeing as it comes out March 6th.

Trailer

Well, what is there to say about Watchmen that hasn't been said already? It's one of the greatest graphic novels of all time, the movie seems like it'll stay close to the book, great special effects, the actors look fine, and it's sure to be a hit. Any comments?

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:56 am
by W'rkncacnter
Dear lord, they had better get Rorshach right.

The thing I loved the most about the Watchmen was how it broke down the concept of the superhero and blurred the line between 'defender of the people' and 'costumed nutjob'. Rorshach epitomized this, to the point where he genuinely is a criminal, but still thinks of himself as a hero.

He'll be hard to play in a film; he had a lot of minute behavioral habits and features (always talks in short sentences and fragments, for example) that, if the actor misses one, will ultimately sabotage his performance.

But yea, I'm totally gonna see that. :D

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:42 pm
by Berserker
Bump for Watchmen. I'll be seeing this in IMAX on Saturday.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:41 pm
by Moss27
I haven't read the comics, but my brother thinks that the superheroes are boring, because all but one have no special powers. I really want to watch the movie, but it's rated R... probably can't go watch it.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:55 pm
by Whisperwind
Moss27 wrote:I haven't read the comics, but my brother thinks that the superheroes are boring, because all but one have no special powers.
"Moore used the story as a means to reflect contemporary anxieties and to deconstruct the superhero concept." ~ wiki

i actually like it BECAUSE they're just "normal" people who decided to don spandex and go help out. but the community, instead of being thankful, bans them because they dont "follow rules" (in the simplest terms, they're vigilantes and they're outside the law).. but when the world does need help, the characters are faced with the whole "oh NOW you want us to help.." view, and most are pretty "meh" about going back to that life to help because most of them have moved on with their lives.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 12:20 am
by Gevaudan
Berserker wrote:Bump for Watchmen. I'll be seeing this in IMAX on Saturday.
Thanks for the bump. I hope to watch it this weekend too.

The clips in the trailers stayed unusually close to the graphic novel. Actors are joining just to be on the DVD extras and be associated with the movie (Dan Payne, for one). I think that this movie will either be a classic, or people will realize that it simply wasn't meant for the motion picture medium. It also has a complex plot and lots of implied themes, and I'm worried if the average person will be able to draw anything out it other than "That wasn't the superhero movie I expected. I don't get it."

Then again, The Dark Knight was in a similar predicament, and it got rave reviews. Maybe Watchmen will do well too.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:37 am
by MattSullivan
Too long. Much too long

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 10:43 am
by Kaebora
Moss27 wrote:...my brother thinks that the superheroes are boring, because all but one have no special powers.
Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) (F) (genius, librarian, martial artist, computer expert)
Batman (M) (martial arts master, detective, inventor, master strategist, billionaire)
Batman (Terry McGinnis), in some continuities, the second Batman
Batman (Tim Drake), the former Robin replaces Batman in some continuities
Batwoman (F) (a moniker of female near-equivalents to Batman)
Black Widow (F) (former spy, gymnast, mercenary)
Captain America (M) (Artificially enhanced physiology at the maximum human level, martial arts and hand-to-hand combat training, master tactician and field commander, indestructible shield)
Catwoman (F) (master thief, judo expert, gymnast, whip master)
Elektra (F) (master assassin, gymnast, martial artist)
Green Arrow (master archer, arsenal of trick arrows, hand-to-hand combat training, swordsman)
Hawkeye (M) (master archer, arsenal of trick arrows, martial artist)
Ironman (M) (Genius-level intellect, wears suits of powered armor that endow him with superhuman abilities and supersonic flight, body technologically altered to enhance armor response time, able to connect to all technology in the world and control it remotely)
Nick Fury (M) (Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D)
Nightwing (M) (master martial artist,strategist, detective, worlds greatest gymnast)
The Punisher (M) (US marine, marksman, demolitions expert, master fighter, survivalist)
Robin, Batman's sidekick and later solo hero
Dick Grayson, later Nightwing (M) (martial artist, gymnast)
Sandman (1940s mystery man who used special knockout gas guns)
Unknown Soldier (M) (U.S. operative, master gunman/marksman, weaponer, martial artist)
Vigilante (M) (rider, gunman, marksman)
V, V For Vendetta (Uses knives and bombs against a fascist Britain government)

Just to name a few.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 2:40 pm
by MoonKit
Kaebora wrote:
Moss27 wrote:...my brother thinks that the superheroes are boring, because all but one have no special powers.
Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) (F) (genius, librarian, martial artist, computer expert)
Batman (M) (martial arts master, detective, inventor, master strategist, billionaire)
Batman (Terry McGinnis), in some continuities, the second Batman
Batman (Tim Drake), the former Robin replaces Batman in some continuities
Batwoman (F) (a moniker of female near-equivalents to Batman)
Black Widow (F) (former spy, gymnast, mercenary)
Captain America (M) (Artificially enhanced physiology at the maximum human level, martial arts and hand-to-hand combat training, master tactician and field commander, indestructible shield)
Catwoman (F) (master thief, judo expert, gymnast, whip master)
Elektra (F) (master assassin, gymnast, martial artist)
Green Arrow (master archer, arsenal of trick arrows, hand-to-hand combat training, swordsman)
Hawkeye (M) (master archer, arsenal of trick arrows, martial artist)
Ironman (M) (Genius-level intellect, wears suits of powered armor that endow him with superhuman abilities and supersonic flight, body technologically altered to enhance armor response time, able to connect to all technology in the world and control it remotely)
Nick Fury (M) (Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D)
Nightwing (M) (master martial artist,strategist, detective, worlds greatest gymnast)
The Punisher (M) (US marine, marksman, demolitions expert, master fighter, survivalist)
Robin, Batman's sidekick and later solo hero
Dick Grayson, later Nightwing (M) (martial artist, gymnast)
Sandman (1940s mystery man who used special knockout gas guns)
Unknown Soldier (M) (U.S. operative, master gunman/marksman, weaponer, martial artist)
Vigilante (M) (rider, gunman, marksman)
V, V For Vendetta (Uses knives and bombs against a fascist Britain government)

Just to name a few.
Psst! But the ones with the powers are the coolest. The X-Men are my favorite. C'mon, mutants rock!

Anyway...will be seeing Watchmen with my room mate though I get the feeling Im not gonna like it.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 3:31 pm
by Teh_DarkJokerWolf
MattSullivan wrote:Too long. Much too long
Yes and it was HORRIBLE! I want my $9.50 back! I left about halfway through the movie. I thought I was watching a bloody porno flick, not that I mind those, but I saw so much flesh. Even saw male bits which I was quite shocked to see. The commercials made it look like it was so awesome. I mean wow I was completely lost till the very end...Still it was like all this to explain this?! Complete waste of money I could have used for the move :P

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:54 pm
by Berserker
I thought it was amazing, I can't wait to see it again.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:55 pm
by Silveera-Ice
Oh dear, was it really that bad? I was thinking about seeing it, they always make the films look great in trailers, but the reality never quite makes it...

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:10 pm
by Teh_DarkJokerWolf
Berserker wrote:I thought it was amazing, I can't wait to see it again.
Please...do tell me what made it so amazing. If it was the CGI affects that's about it. The story was horrible the first movie I have EVER nearly fallen asleep on :P

Silveera-Ice wrote:Oh dear, was it really that bad? I was thinking about seeing it, they always make the films look great in trailers, but the reality never quite makes it...
Yes it was really bad lol I will never go to a movie on opening day again unless it is something I KNOW I'll like. I had such high hopes for the flick. I did not come there to see people screwing every 5 mins...

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:20 pm
by Berserker
Silveera-Ice wrote:Oh dear, was it really that bad? I was thinking about seeing it, they always make the films look great in trailers, but the reality never quite makes it...

Nope, I didn't think it was bad, I thought it was great. Complex deconstruction of super hero tropes from their conception in the 1930s to modern day. It's a nihilistic analysis of American value systems seen through multiple viewpoints which are juxtaposed against each other: one extremist who believes our society is not beyond saving, but who advocates radical, violent change in the name of justice; another who believes society is a morbid farce, an illusion with no meaning; another who views society through the cosmological pedestal of the godhead, at first recognizing current events as only an insignificant blip in the fabric of the universe; another who walks blindly through society's shadows, not oblivious to the violence around him, but who struggles to overcome his feelings of powerlessness against it. Etc. Set against the backdrop of nuclear annihilation with ironic, almost parodist imagery, and a popular soundtrack cleverly chosen with pieces that reflect the zeitgeist of each scene and the characters within them? Few movies are this bold.

The film was huge, colorful, and operatic. Thematic subtleties break through the screen in massive, violent spectacle, making no qualms about grabbing the viewer by the collar and giving him a look to kill. Watchmen will definitely leave a sour taste in the mouths of people looking for good old fashioned super hero antics, who aren't prepared for analysis, or for the deluge of details thrown at you from the very beginning. The ending especially is one area that somewhat falters in coherency for people who haven't read the book, but it isn't incomprehensible.

By the way, yes, there are a couple of sex scenes in the movie. They are not obscene, and they serve to accentuate personality traits of the characters involved. There were also scenes of uncompromising violence, much like Sin City. I don't see how these things make the film "porno." People do not "screw every 5 minutes" as Teh_DarkJokerWolf claims, HUGELY exaggerating, I might add.

One male character is also seen nude, for brief periods of time, in a completely non-sexual and discrete manner (the character has lost his ability to comprehend why he should wear clothes to begin with... one hallmark of his detached, inhuman personality.) I don't personally know any adults who are genuinely bothered by this, but I'm sure there are some out there, and maybe that drives home one point of the film, that perhaps we need more honesty in our world, and fewer self-imposed ethical illusions?

I know many people who have seen it, who did not read the book beforehand, who fully understood the storyline, enjoyed it, and even want to see it again to catch all the details. I also know people like Teh_DarkJokerWolf, who didn't get it, didn't want to get it, and who were disgusted by it. Really the only thing you can do is see it and decide for yourself.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:16 pm
by Terastas
W'rkncacnter wrote:Dear lord, they had better get Rorshach right.

The thing I loved the most about the Watchmen was how it broke down the concept of the superhero and blurred the line between 'defender of the people' and 'costumed nutjob'. Rorshach epitomized this, to the point where he genuinely is a criminal, but still thinks of himself as a hero.

He'll be hard to play in a film; he had a lot of minute behavioral habits and features (always talks in short sentences and fragments, for example) that, if the actor misses one, will ultimately sabotage his performance.

But yea, I'm totally gonna see that. :D
The good news is that most of the reviews I've read, even those highly critical of the film, said that the guy who plays Rorschach is great.

The bad news is that some of them referred to it as his "unique spin" on Rorschach. . . So. . . No promises, I guess. :P

I have a bad feeling, however, that no matter how accurate the actor was to the original character, the webkins are going to do to Rorschach what they did to Heath Ledger's Joker, IE: cosplay like crazy and completely ruin everything that had previously been cool about him.

Mind you, I haven't seen the movie yet, but I did do a lot of reading up on the original graphic novel beforehand and I can see why this is going to piss off a lot of theatergoers, especially the ones that will be going with the expectation of seeing a typical superhero flick. It is absolutely not a superhero movie. I can't believe some people actually thought it would be -- the trailer itself has Rorschach saying "they'll cry out 'save us' and I'll say 'no!'" Shouldn't that have been a hint?

Also, it's by the same guys that did 300 and Sin City. Knowing that, was it really that big of a surprise that it was a little more on the gritty side?

For those of you unfamiliar with the graphic novel: the basic plot is sort of a much darker, grittier version of the plot from The Incredibles; IE: costumed vigilantism is outlawed and the superheroes all have to hang up their capes and return to their day jobs (which some do more gracefully than others).

As for the nudity. . . I can't say for the movie, but in the graphic novel, it's all just one character, is rarely full-frontal, and whenever it was, his man-bits were "understated" (like Michelangelo's 'David'). Nudity and pornography are two completely different things, and to the best of my knowledge, Watchmen only contains nudity.

I'm probably going to catch hell for this, but if anyone has any doubts as to whether or not Watchmen is for them or not, click here and decide for yourself.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:56 pm
by Berserker
Rorschach was perfect imo.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:07 pm
by Moss27
Kaebora wrote:
Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) (F) (genius, librarian, martial artist, computer expert)
Batman (M) (martial arts master, detective, inventor, master strategist, billionaire)
Batman (Terry McGinnis), in some continuities, the second Batman
Batman (Tim Drake), the former Robin replaces Batman in some continuities
Batwoman (F) (a moniker of female near-equivalents to Batman)
Black Widow (F) (former spy, gymnast, mercenary)
Captain America (M) (Artificially enhanced physiology at the maximum human level, martial arts and hand-to-hand combat training, master tactician and field commander, indestructible shield)
Catwoman (F) (master thief, judo expert, gymnast, whip master)
Elektra (F) (master assassin, gymnast, martial artist)
Green Arrow (master archer, arsenal of trick arrows, hand-to-hand combat training, swordsman)
Hawkeye (M) (master archer, arsenal of trick arrows, martial artist)
Ironman (M) (Genius-level intellect, wears suits of powered armor that endow him with superhuman abilities and supersonic flight, body technologically altered to enhance armor response time, able to connect to all technology in the world and control it remotely)
Nick Fury (M) (Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D)
Nightwing (M) (master martial artist,strategist, detective, worlds greatest gymnast)
The Punisher (M) (US marine, marksman, demolitions expert, master fighter, survivalist)
Robin, Batman's sidekick and later solo hero
Dick Grayson, later Nightwing (M) (martial artist, gymnast)
Sandman (1940s mystery man who used special knockout gas guns)
Unknown Soldier (M) (U.S. operative, master gunman/marksman, weaponer, martial artist)
Vigilante (M) (rider, gunman, marksman)
V, V For Vendetta (Uses knives and bombs against a fascist Britain government)

Just to name a few.
Lol, well I'M not the one who's complaining about the absence of superpowers. I'll be sure to have this list read to his face later. :D

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:28 pm
by Gevaudan
I especially liked how they altered the plot in a way that worked effectively. If they had followed it panel-for-panel and word-for-word, it probably would have been worse. It was necessary to cut and alter some parts of it simply because it was a different medium of storytelling. However, they kept in more than I thought they would (and in ways I didn't expect), and the few new interpretations and plot details worked a lot better in the movie itself that if they had duplicated the graphic novel. I hate being vague, but I don't want to spoil anything.

I also agree with you guys about Rorschach. He was fantastic and so was the actor, but I don't want to see guys in fedoras, trench coats, and painted sacks on their heads around the movie theaters. Personally, I don't know why everyone favors Rorschach's view; I think that all of their perspectives are worth considering. That's part of the appeal of Watchmen, because you choose your own interpretation. Moore and Gibbons distort your sense of good and evil by presenting you with a mix of them in many walks of life, grand and specific. Everyone, especially the characters, interprets things differently, and things are not always as they seem. I'd hate to see all of these fans jumping on the bandwagon of people who actually understand and like Rorschach's point of view, like Berserker and Terastas.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:01 pm
by Teh_DarkJokerWolf
Well I did like hearing the music from the freeborn trailer at the end LOL I wonder if anyone caught that besides myself. :Jester3: I always thought that music was original.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:18 pm
by MattSullivan
My favorite part was the opening credits. What a GREAT montage. it really recreates the look of the 20's, 30's, and beyond. Just amazing. Looked awesome but again, way too long.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:18 am
by Gevaudan
MattSullivan wrote:My favorite part was the opening credits. What a GREAT montage. it really recreates the look of the 20's, 30's, and beyond. Just amazing. Looked awesome but again, way too long.
The replication of the Zapruder film was especially chilling and real, and it foreshadowed both the violence and the historical accuracy of the film.

I realize that it was long, but I'm sure many more people will enjoy it when it comes out on DVD. It'll be easier to get to the parts you like, and you'll be able to rewatch it, just like how the graphic novel requires some rereading to fully understand it and to find hidden, recurring symbols and themes. I was actually surprised that most of the newsstand sequences were cut. I personally didn't mind the length, but then again I went to the bathroom before going into the theater. :D

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:51 am
by Midnight
.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 2:46 pm
by Bloodyredbaron
I'm going to be seeing glowing energy slongs in my nightmares from now until they day I die.

It was all right, didn't really live up to the hype, it certainly wasn't a bad film.

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:14 pm
by Silveera-Ice
Well, there seems to be mixed reactions to the film.. im confused... :? To see or not to see?, lol
But you have to admit that the trailer does make the film look good, but then again, we know what trailers are like. When I saw the trailer for the Dark Knight, I thought, well, i aint gonna see that, but I did and it was great...

Re: Watchmen

Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:51 pm
by Whisperwind
i just saw it and i loved it =] the soundtrack was a pleasant surprise! specially the inclusion of the original (read: german) 99 luftballons ^^ 80s music amuses me to much. its long, but it keeps moving and doesnt lag.

i think the main thing is that, for people who havent read the comic and don't really know what it's about, they can't go in expecting a typical superhero movie. there is no clean cut good guys and bad guys. its just not that type of film.

i'd say you should go into it expecting an alternate history style tale, a "what if people took comic books seriously and dressed up in spandex to fight crime", following the "superheros" themselves, seeing their character flaws and their own moral issues with the world during the cold war. it is not a generally happy movie. there are laughs, yes, but it's not like "lets go see batman/spiderman/the hulk/ironman/the xmen/etc kick some a**!". it makes you think, and you have to actually pay attention in between fight scenes or you'll be totally lost.

and yes, dr manhattan is a glowing blue naked guy, but it is definitely not obscene or pornographic. he isnt running through the whole movie with his penis flopping around. its just there, part of the human body. and there are sex scenes but they're definitely no worse than every other r rated movie out there. you see a few butts, a few boobs. the only penis is the CGI one. and the scenes actually have points, to show how the characters think, its not another movie where they just throw in a sex scene just to have a sex scene.

but thats my two cents anyway. it seems like you'll either love it or hate it, depending on what you wanted it to be/thought it would be.

/rant =P