Should I read the Watchmen before seeing the movie?

[F-ZeroOne]

Figured people might want to know, I just finished reading the book. Will see movie soon.

Finally got fed up of Mr. Moore standing on the front lawn scaring the neighbours, huh?

[Gubaba]

Figured people might want to know, I just finished reading the book. Will see movie soon.

So what did you think...?

[David Hingtgen]

Honestly---took a long time to really get going (really just the last 2 issues), so that there wasn't much left to see after the characters/motives were established. All character, no plot.

[Gubaba]

Honestly---took a long time to really get going (really just the last 2 issues), so that there wasn't much left to see after the characters/motives were established. All character, no plot.

As Dave Gibbons has said, the plot's ust a MacGuffin. I don't think the focus is even on the characters, really...it's HOW the story is told, the cross-cutting from scene to scene, the way the text comments on the action, the dozens of smiley faces, how the backup pages throw light on hints in the main comic, the tremndous amount of puns and wordplay (my favorite being the "Black Freighter" back cover ad for "The Veidt Method": "I WILL GIVE YOU BODIES BEYOND YOUR WILDEST IMAGININGS." You certainly did, Veidt. You certainly did).

There's a wealth of stuff to go back to and search for, and a tremendous amount of information packed into each panel. THAT'S what good about it.

As you say, the story kind of slowly founders for the first nine issues, and then suddenly rushes to a conclusion. And while the characters are deep by 1980s comic book standards, they're still rather flimsy. It's the technique that I believe put the book on Time Magazine's list of the best novels of the 20th century.

[taksraven]

As you say, the story kind of slowly founders for the first nine issues, and then suddenly rushes to a conclusion. And while the characters are deep by 1980s comic book standards, they're still rather flimsy. It's the technique that I believe put the book on Time Magazine's list of the best novels of the 20th century.

No comic could EVER be a match for a classic novel.

There, I said it.

Comedian and comic book fan Robin Williams joked, "'Is that a comic book? No! It's a graphic novel! Is that porn? No! It's adult entertainment!'"

BUT, I think that some movies give novels a run for their money. (Not many though)

Taksraven

Edited March 7, 2009 by taksraven

[Gubaba]

No comic could EVER be a match for a classic novel.

There, I said it.

Comedian and comic book fan Robin Williams joked, "'Is that a comic book? No! It's a graphic novel! Is that porn? No! It's adult entertainment!'"

BUT, I think that some movies give novels a run for their money. (Not many though)

Taksraven

I think they can; it's a different medium, with different strengths and weaknesses. I don't think the great be-all, end-all, comparable to Homer, Dante, and Shakespeare comic has been written yet. However, I don't doubt that someday it will be.