WATCHMEN

[vcool]

Who watched the watchmen?

[ad_hominem]

Not yet, but I'm planning to this weekend. I'm quietly hopeful...

[MayheM]

I am going tomorrow morning... It looks so freaking good...

[whiffen]

Expected it to suck, it didn't disappoint that thought.

[wood250]

is it worth seeing or not?

[whiffen]

Ehh... Watching it won't hurt but I don't think it was pay 10$ for popcorn worthy.

It had some nice visual effects but the movie itself was BLAHHH and long.

Probably something to rent one day or just watch a stream of. But that's just my opinion

[Generalvivi]

I loved it! It was a good movie

edit : and even though it was almost 3 hrs.... I would watch it again

[YokaI]

I don't really see what people like in this graphic novel / movie, it looks pretty bland to me. The computer graphics are ok but I don't like movies that are just a bunch of mixed media. They always tend to lose substance. The gaphic novels are alright too, but I just don't know why it is regarded as being unique when it is pretty generic.

[Mr-Jigsaw]

The gaphic novels are alright too, but I just don't know why it is regarded as being unique when it is pretty generic.

I didn't realize there were so many superhero genre deconstructions out there.

[ghost12332]

Just watched it. Loved it. 5/5 stars. Special effects were fucking awesome, and there are so many sub-plots within the movie that are all wrapped up perfectly.

[vcool]

Saw it on Friday.

I thought the movie was good. The plot, while not being that original, had a rather unexpected ending (I never read the comic).

sure, there are tons of the "greater sacrifice for common good" type movies, but this was the first time I saw the "evil" masterplan carried out. Usually in the end the sacrifice is averted, and some new, humane solution is found.

The actors did a good job, all of them, and it makes me wonder whether it was because none of the major stars were in it. Fighting, while being over-the-top, was also fairly good, and so were the special effects.

I definitely liked it much more than all the other super-hero movies (spiderman) because it was so much more gritty and cynical.

I don't remember pregnant women being shot in Spider-Man. Have you?

It's not that enjoy violence, but the movie is much less idealized, much more realistic and brutal than the aforementioned spiderman.

Though I wouldn't call it an educational movie with some higher message, I thought it was hinting at some kind of meaning. You can't achieve peace by being peacful and tolerant, peace needs a tough hand and a couple of sacrifices. That's what I think, at least.

The only thing that I didn't like was the excessive sex and

Roscharchs's death. That guy kicked ass.

PS: the music was ace. The oldie blues to Jimi Hedrix in the

epic finale

- the director certainly has taste in music.

[MayheM]

I for one loved the movie!!! I got up this morning and went to see it and enjoyed it very much. Visuals and the story where very well done. I like that it was a comic movie that was not afraid to be violent. I guess it is more like what the world would be like if in fact heros like that exsisted... Oh and Rorschach is the freakin man!!! and I totally agree with V cool about him. The music was also really good too. It helped place the movie in its time period...

So yeah all and all... 5 out of 5 for this guy...

[Sacul15]

It was a good movie. Not quite the groundbreaking epic that I had hoped for, but definitely more than a one-time see. Concerning the main characters, the only one I really liked was Rorschach- all the others seems like cardboard cutouts- the Superman-esque indestructible guy, the hot chick, the concerned and honest "good guy", the smart and bold leader. Rorschach, despite being a brutal psychopath, seemed to be the only one who had any integrity.

Case in point:

At the end of the movie, he was the only one who defended his beliefs (that justice and truth are more important than peace), as every one else settled with the cheap utilitarian "greater good" conclusion.

[Athlete{UK}]

I don't really see what people like in this graphic novel / movie, it looks pretty bland to me. The computer graphics are ok but I don't like movies that are just a bunch of mixed media. They always tend to lose substance. The gaphic novels are alright too, but I just don't know why it is regarded as being unique when it is pretty generic.

It can be considered generic now sure but that's only because it is so massively influential in just about everything that followed.

It pretty much set the staple of subversion of the super hero genre. There is a lot of work on that now. Most recently heros which was a similar set up. even the current incarnation of batman owes a lot to the Watchmen.

I mean obviously from a younger standpoint it may look generic but that's because you grew up in a world that already had watchmen and was already influenced by it heavily. (not saying I didn't the book was still a little before my time too)

As an exercise in writing it is an absolout masterpiece in my opinion. It is a rareity in that it is a graphic novel in which the written imagry is just as important as the graphical. The characters are beautifully well crafted complete with meaningful motives, drives and very complex and complimentary flaws in their personalities. Nothing feels arbitary. The idea that Nightowl is a completely rediculous schoolboy fantasie that he is aware of yet still allows himself to enjoy is complimented by the idea that his partner and friend is Rorsach someone who believes in his conviction so completely and so without compromise it has driven him completely over the edge and yet they both work so well as characters. Individually their characters are very compelling too.

The character of Jon for isntance. His whole character arch hinges on the fact that he is so far beyond us all. Yet we are presented with a portayal of his character which is entirely subject to our standpoint as human. He comes off as a bit of a cock. At the same time the characters in the book reflect on this but Jon constantly makes the point that he is embroiled with things which are vastly suprior to us it's not that he is a dick who thinks himself better then us all. It's that in many ways he is better then us all and as humans we can't stand that idea.

it feels like you as the reader are actually arguing with Jon because every point you think up is answered within the context of the story.

At the end there is a triumph over Him by a human mind which leaves a bitter sweet feeling as well. On one hand you feel vindicated as a human that the superman was played into checkmate by a human mind and pure logic. On the other hand though this sees the "villian" win a character you identify with die and the "end of the world." Now this is just one facet of the story which is intricately woven right the way up to this point. A completely master class in writing imo. No country for old men can't even hold a candle close to this imo. Another facet is the end of Rorsach In a very different sence to Manhattan he is the victor. He is the only one who maintains his beliefes to the end. Only he has the moral courage to keep up his ideals even at the cost of his own life. An admirable quality...but is it right? That's a whole other facet to the story.

from a technical standpoint the comic is also brilliant. It's not the best art ever not by any means but each panel is carefully constructed. the imagry is hugely important. Some of the construction of a frame leaves a visual impact so breath taking that I need to re-read that panel a few times. The point at which Ozymandias reveals his plan has already been successful to Rorch and Night Owl. they both stand in shocked silence (it takes something to makes men in masks look that shocked.) The majority of the panel is black and behind them a clock marked "New York" shows it is 12 midnight. The time the clock at the end of every issue has been counting up to. Masterfully constructed.

[BlekksPoncho]

I loved every second it took to read your post athlete, as I haven't seen the film yet (damn flu), I was waiting for a nice long post by someone who has also read the novel rather than just people saying "wow great movie", although that isn't bad, it just obviously doesn't help me decide on whether to see the film as someone who has read the book. So thanks for that, it was a great read.

From someone who has read the book, is the film worth it? Does it do it justice?

I've already read about the things that have been omitted from the film, black freighter etc (although the black freighter is going to be apart of the dvd 3 hour long version of the film). I love the novel because of the gritty realism, intricate subplots, psychoanalysis of each and every major character and detailed descriptions of the scenes and world as a whole in this alternate 1985, the political and social views depicted, the conflicts of interests.

That's why I'm thinking...does the film do it justice? Is there all the background knowledge of the characters? Is there the deep meaning? Are all major characters even completed involved?

Or are most things overlooked? Snyder is amazing at directing action and gore but apparently not good at actual deep, serious moments, so how has he done?

Is it just a good action movie? Lots of shooting, fighting and explosions.

Or does he do all the serious sections of the story justice? Are they even in there?

Such as the rape scene, dog eating kid scene, nite owl 1 being murdered, the news vendor scenes.