The Watchmen

[promethuem5]

I was seriously debating picking up the soundtrack (probably not the score), glad to hear it's solid... I'm a huge MCR dork, so Desolation Row gets really high marks in my book. I actually don't have alot of stuff from the OST (like Watchtower), so it's probably a good buy for me.

[miles316]

He already underwent penance... As he says (and this time, I had to pull out the comic to check), "I know people think me callous, but I've made myself feel every death. By day, I imagine endless faces. By night...

Well, I dream about swimming towards a hideous... No, never mind. It isn't significant."

(Of course, he's wrong about that last bit...it's EXTRAORDINARILY significant...)

The extent of his financial gain at the end of the comic is that he has released a new brand of cologne.

I seriously doubt even he would kill three million people just so his new scent would be a hit.

I'm not taking about stinking cologne; Veidt company is benefiting from the destruction he wrought on the city's, and by extension Veidt himself profited.

[Gubaba]

I'm not taking about stinking cologne; Veidt company is benefiting from the destruction he wrought on the city's, and by extension Veidt himself profited.

Yes. You said that he was profiting by having his company do the reconstruction. I said he wasn't. You asked if the comic showed his company doing the reconstruction, because if it did, that would prove your hypothesis. I said it didn't. It showed him debuting a new cologne, and that's it.

Now, if I understand your post correctly, you're saying that, proof be damned, he benefitted financially. Why are you so attached to that reading of the ending?

[RedWolf]

Most people here have been saying that the comics is different from the movie, but not in plot, storyline or characters. it's really hard to explain. so just buy it, or borrow it from someone, or even download the thing, and judge for yourself.

I was expecting the original Night Owl to kick the bucket...Oh well

The sex didn't add to the plot in my opinion.

Oh yes no frakkin giant squid.

Too bad...

[miles316]

Yes. You said that he was profiting by having his company do the reconstruction. I said he wasn't. You asked if the comic showed his company doing the reconstruction, because if it did, that would prove your hypothesis. I said it didn't. It showed him debuting a new cologne, and that's it.

Now, if I understand your post correctly, you're saying that, proof be damned, he benefitted financially. Why are you so attached to that reading of the ending?

I went ahead and watched part of the motion comic from On Demand that has the ending. Non of them showed him atoning for his sins other than the verbal platitudes Veidt spews to soothe his conscious. I will admit that it is a major flaw in the film showing his company rebuilding, and not putting it in to context. Showing a newspaper article announcing Veidt contributing to the reconstruction at a discount, or creating a fund to help the injured would have worked. I do plan to buy the graphic novel in the near future.

Edited March 14, 2009 by miles316

[bob joe mac]

I was expecting the original Night Owl to kick the bucket...Oh well

The sex didn't add to the plot in my opinion.

Oh yes no frakkin giant squid.

Too bad...

night owl 1 will kick the bucket just gonna have to wait for the directors cut. My reasoning is I remember seeing some thugs break down his door and his shocked face in one of the trailers.

Also for those talking about the over exaggeration of the the sex and violence don't worry it was all there in the comic too. Last chapter begins with about 4 pages of just bloody corpses...

[promethuem5]

Honestly I really liked the changes to the ending... the giant squid always seemed like the weakest part of the ending of the comic... all this real world humanity and deconstruction stuff and then we still manage to end the book with some kind of space monster?

[Radd]

I liked the squid, but it's something that sits better in the imagination than on the printed page or the moving screen. The physical squid itself was only part of the whole thing, remember. There was all that time of build up, nightmares around the world. Suddenly this thing arrives letting loose an explosion of madness and brain death. Very Lovecraftian. Given that, as I said, it could only really play out so far as illustration in a book, I really doubt they would have done all that better with it on screen, the changed ending doesn't bother me too much. On the other hand, they spend some significant moments in the comic explaining why Doctor Manhattan isn't all knowing and all powerful and so while more immediate an enemy, he isn't quite so extraordinary as the threat the squid represented. Of course, the movie was also long as it is (which I personally don't mind, but you know how Hollywood has such a low opinion of the public's attention span) and there was a lot of little things which would have had to have been addressed for the squid ending to make sense. The missing artists, the genetic engineering stuff. All very small things, but they would have had to have been slipped in somewhere.

Regarding Veidt, the movie really doesn't show his sadness and thoughtfulness regarding the whole plan. In the book, I thought that it was made pretty clear that his motives were pure, and that he was really torn up emotionally. He really thought that this was the only way to save the world, and the book itself leaves it very unclear as to whether or not he's wrong. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that this is the whole point of it all. We see a world that is closer to the brink of nuclear annihilation than we experienced with the Cuban missle crisis. The bombs were going to drop. Is it wrong to sacrifice millions of lives to save the rest from the end of the world?

Probably my favourite thing about the book was that it left you with that moral quandary to mull over.

[Gubaba]

Honestly I really liked the changes to the ending... the giant squid always seemed like the weakest part of the ending of the comic... all this real world humanity and deconstruction stuff and then we still manage to end the book with some kind of space monster?

So the naked blue guy who can change his size, see neutrinos, and create a glass of water out of nothing is okay, but a dead monster created in a lab isn't...?

I dunno, I think the squid was fine, although it looks a little dated now.

Edited March 15, 2009 by Gubaba

[one_klump]

So the naked blue guy who can change his size, see neutrinos, and create a glass of water out of nothing is okay

and still be able to NOT wear pants and have no one around him say a single word about it.

[Gubaba]

and still be able to NOT wear pants and have no one around him say a single word about it.

Q: Where does a giant blue guy who can vaporize people walk around naked?

A: Anywhere he wants!

[miles316]

and still be able to NOT wear pants and have no one around him say a single word about it.

The watchman known DR Manhattan for years, and probably got tired of telling him to put pants on.

[Mr March]

Watchmen was okay. Better than you'd think, but not as good as you'd hoped.

The execution of the script was daring and bold for a film adaptation, though stumbled in some key places. Snyder and Co. definitely remained faithful both to the literal interpretation of the book and the spirit of the material. The effects were great, soundtrack was solid and the movie was perfectly paced. The problem was some of the actors. Malin Akerman as the Silk Spectre and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian were terrible. Their poor performances sucked so much out of the film. Each awfully delivered line was a punch in the gut and sadly, so many scenes depended upon them anchoring the emotional moment. They were not up to the task. As a result, Patrick Wilson and Billy Crudup were only partially successful in their roles, since many of the best scenes required acting against Akerman and Morgan. Oh, and the sex scenes: Akerman totally sucked all the outrage from her sequence with Dr. Manhattan, the first Dan/Laurie sex scene was brilliantly done with all the awkwardness that there should have been but the final sex scene between Dan/Laurie was a full blown disaster (aside from the fan service). I think Akerman is now up there with Jessica Alba as the worst actors of their generation and pay grade. Oh, and fire whoever the hell they got to play Nixon. What a hack!

It's so sad, because with a better cast, a script doctor and better actor direction, Watchmen would have been a great film. Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl, Billy Crudup as Dr Manhattan and Matthew Goode as Adrian Veidt were solid (and I admit, I was feeling negative about Wilson before I saw the film). Carla Gugino ate up her scenes as Sally and Jackie Earl Haley stole the show as Rorschach. The CGI for Dr. Manhattan (based on Billy's performance) is perhaps some of the best CGI acting ever put on film.

Oh, and "blue wang" has become the new detestable geek meme of the internet, officially displacing the contemptible "raped my childhood" war cry.

Overall, 3 out of 5. Like Franz Ferdinand sing, "You could have it so much better

[David Hingtgen]

Surely I can't be the first person here to have found something this awesome:

The "lost" 80's Saturday morning Watchmen cartoon opening:

::edit:: Nope, was posted earlier. Deserves posting again though.

[Gubaba]

Surely I can't be the first person here to have found something this awesome:

The "lost" 80's Saturday morning Watchmen cartoon opening:

::edit:: Nope, was posted earlier. Deserves posting again though.

I love how many stupid people in the comments section think this thing is real.

Some people have no sense of irony...

[miles316]

Surely I can't be the first person here to have found something this awesome:

The "lost" 80's Saturday morning Watchmen cartoon opening:

::edit:: Nope, was posted earlier. Deserves posting again though.

Was this some Fan creation? I thought it was pretty good for a spoof.

[reddsun1]

Was this some Fan creation? I thought it was pretty good for a spoof.

Yup, I think this is definitely some home-made stuff. Probably with Flash Media?

[baronv]

Finally saw the movie the other day. I read the comic a while back, thought it was good though not super-stupendous like Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

Watchmen was o.k., not spectacular/amazing or super-bad. Just o.k., good for a matinee flick. I think that the shorter run-time hurt learning and caring about the characters and their backgrounds, which I thought was what made the comic good, knowing the history of each individual and why they act the way they do.

Zack Snyder stayed as close to the graphic novel as he could (though the ending was blah to me)...a bit too close. Some parts should have been tweaked for a movie since when reading in comic-form the scenes play dramatically, but when seen on the screen does at times end up cheesy.

The Nite Owl and Rorsach actors were good, Malin Ackerman as Silk Specter II was ok as well, not bad like I saw others posting. The only actor I found weak was the Ozymidas one, didn't have an outstanding presence as someone who knows and is the smartest person in the world. I wish Dr. Manhattan's voice was more monotone or stronger, the voice used seemed very wimpy to me even if it was the actor's own voice.

Will give it a another chance once the Director's Cut DVD comes out. So far I personally give it a 2.5/3 out of 5. Interesting, but had to recommend a second viewing.

[taksraven]

Was this some Fan creation? I thought it was pretty good for a spoof.

Of course its fan made, its got that dicky/nerdy sort of quality to it.

Taksraven

[Radd]

I wish Dr. Manhattan's voice was more monotone or stronger, the voice used seemed very wimpy to me even if it was the actor's own voice.

I actually disagree. A strong, booming voice is what you'd expect, sure, but I thought the softer, yet confident voice really lent itself better to who he was as a character.

[areaseven]

Saw Watchmen last night, and I enjoyed it a lot. Sure, it's not The Dark Knight, Iron Man or Sin City, but it's one of the 10 best superhero films, IMO.

[taksraven]

According to media reports, the film is starting to go belly-up box-office-wise. Not a huge surprise there. Should do some respectable business on DVD though.

Taksraven

[Gubaba]

According to media reports, the film is starting to go belly-up box-office-wise. Not a huge surprise there. Should do some respectable business on DVD though.

Taksraven

It'll take the DVD years to recoup the costs, though...the advertising budget alone must've been astronomical.

And everyone in Hollywood is now beginning to think, "Are super-hero movies over...? What'll we do now?"

[kanedaestes]

Funny much of the promotional stuff was saying this will be the end of superhero movies as we know them. Too bad it is not how they intended that statement to be.

[bob joe mac]

It'll take the DVD years to recoup the costs, though...the advertising budget alone must've been astronomical.

And everyone in Hollywood is now beginning to think, "Are super-hero movies over...? What'll we do now?"

I dunno stats tell me that its already made its budget of $120 with a gross revenue of $137 million. I don't think Hollywood's gonna stop trying to whore our superheros. lol

[taksraven]

It'll take the DVD years to recoup the costs, though...the advertising budget alone must've been astronomical.

And everyone in Hollywood is now beginning to think, "Are super-hero movies over...? What'll we do now?"

I didn't say that DVD would be the saving grace of this film, just that the sales should still be good.

Advertising budgets are usually well hidden and are rarely counted as part of the production costs of the film. (Publicly at least.)

I doubt that there would be a huge panic about superhero films in Hollywood yet. Watchmen is an isolated case in every sense of the word and since its a standalone, there will *never* be talk of a sequel. If one of the truly gigantic superhero franchises stumbled, however, such as Batman, THEN you would see people in Hollywood really start to push the panic button.

Personally, I think that we can all see that the Superhero/comic film market is really becoming oversaturated, and with projects like the "Justice League" live-action film being put on "indefinite hiatus", I think that some Hollywood people are starting to come to see the oversaturation of the market as well.

Of course the global financial crisis will give some studio's the excuse to put other projects on delay or hold as well.

Taksraven

[dreamweaver13]

I doubt that there would be a huge panic about superhero films in Hollywood yet. Watchmen is an isolated case in every sense of the word and since its a standalone, there will *never* be talk of a sequel. If one of the truly gigantic superhero franchises stumbled, however, such as Batman, THEN you would see people in Hollywood really start to push the panic button.

Personally, I think that we can all see that the Superhero/comic film market is really becoming oversaturated, and with projects like the "Justice League" live-action film being put on "indefinite hiatus", I think that some Hollywood people are starting to come to see the oversaturation of the market as well.

Funny how it's Batman that could serve as the barometer for the demise of the superhero movie franchise. last i remember, it was also Batman (& Robin) that caused its death in the 90s.

[sharky]

I actually disagree. A strong, booming voice is what you'd expect, sure, but I thought the softer, yet confident voice really lent itself better to who he was as a character.

He probably didn't want to change his voice after the accident because it's part of who he was before he became Dr. Manhattan. That's the way people knew him before. Having said that, I'm sure he compensated for his voice by giving himself a porno sized package.

The other thing I wonder about is why, with all his practically omnipotent powers, he couldn't create hair on his head.

[taksraven]

The other thing I wonder about is why, with all his practically omnipotent powers, he couldn't create hair on his head.

Why not have human coloured skin and normal eyes and general appearance. I think in terms of appearance there may be some limitation to his powers. (If I'm wrong, whatever, just don't go off at me like a fanboy.... )

Taksraven

[miles316]

Why not have human coloured skin and normal eyes and general appearance. I think in terms of appearance there may be some limitation to his powers. (If I'm wrong, whatever, just don't go off at me like a fanboy.... )

Taksraven

DR, Manhattan has to balance all of his powers in order to do the things he does maybe a normal complexion and hair was a sacrifice he had to do in order to maintain a corporeal form. DR, M consciousness is literally holding him self together, and his work with the watchmen, and science which require his ability like being in multiple places at the same time is difficult.

[Gubaba]

DR, Manhattan has to balance all of his powers in order to do the things he does maybe a normal complexion and hair was a sacrifice he had to do in order to maintain a corporeal form. DR, M consciousness is literally holding him self together, and his work with the watchmen, and science which require his ability like being in multiple places at the same time is difficult.

I never got the impression that anything was difficult for him (except seeing through tachyons). Where did you get this information?

[miles316]

I never got the impression that anything was difficult for him (except seeing through tachyons). Where did you get this information?

It's just conjecture.

[Robelwell202]

Watchmen was okay. Better than you'd think, but not as good as you'd hoped.

The execution of the script was daring and bold for a film adaptation, though stumbled in some key places. Snyder and Co. definitely remained faithful both to the literal interpretation of the book and the spirit of the material. The effects were great, soundtrack was solid and the movie was perfectly paced. The problem was some of the actors. Malin Akerman as the Silk Spectre and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian were terrible. Their poor performances sucked so much out of the film. Each awfully delivered line was a punch in the gut and sadly, so many scenes depended upon them anchoring the emotional moment. They were not up to the task. As a result, Patrick Wilson and Billy Crudup were only partially successful in their roles, since many of the best scenes required acting against Akerman and Morgan. Oh, and the sex scenes: Akerman totally sucked all the outrage from her sequence with Dr. Manhattan, the first Dan/Laurie sex scene was brilliantly done with all the awkwardness that there should have been but the final sex scene between Dan/Laurie was a full blown disaster (aside from the fan service). I think Akerman is now up there with Jessica Alba as the worst actors of their generation and pay grade. Oh, and fire whoever the hell they got to play Nixon. What a hack!

It's so sad, because with a better cast, a script doctor and better actor direction, Watchmen would have been a great film. Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl, Billy Crudup as Dr Manhattan and Matthew Goode as Adrian Veidt were solid (and I admit, I was feeling negative about Wilson before I saw the film). Carla Gugino ate up her scenes as Sally and Jackie Earl Haley stole the show as Rorschach. The CGI for Dr. Manhattan (based on Billy's performance) is perhaps some of the best CGI acting ever put on film.

Oh, and "blue wang" has become the new detestable geek meme of the internet, officially displacing the contemptible "raped my childhood" war cry.

Overall, 3 out of 5. Like Franz Ferdinand sing, "You could have it so much better

I gotta disgree, slightly, with you. I thought the casting was well done. Every character was cast pretty well. Rorschach was excellent, the best part of the film. I only had one real problem with the film, the sex scene in 'Archie' was waaaaaaay too gratuitous... In the book, there was nothing like it. I gotta remove a couple respect point from Snyder for that... he was doing so well, up to that point.

Edited March 21, 2009 by Robelwell202

[taksraven]

Old news, I know, but still really funny...

[bandit29]

...horrible dialogue/script writing, atrocious acting and too much blue wang and man ass..

ok fight scenes, Rorschach and Silk Spectre II made it somewhat tolerable..

meh worth seeing once..