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Rottenwatch: WATCHMEN
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Snowman Prophet of Doom
Member
I've never thought that Rorschach's journal would expose Adrian's plot. It's a bunch of stuff that seems totally nonsensical, it's written by a confirmed psychopath, and it's being published by a far-right newspaper that's not taken seriously by anybody. It would be treated in the same manner as the 9/11 'truth' movement (the difference being that 9/11 was not an evil plot, while this was).
polyh3dron
Banned
Anything is nitpickable if you feel the need to nitpick it.Kastro said:
Saw this yesterday with no previous knowledge about the source material. Thought it was pretty good and I liked the soundtrack a lot. Going in I was told that the Watchmen were normal people but that was not the case in the movie. Dr. Manhattan was kind of weird for me because he is so out of place it is hard to accept him as part of the universe. Snyder needs to work on his sex scenes. This and the one from 300 are just not that great.
So I'm fresh back from seeing it - and I haven't really read it, although I kind of did by spending and afternoon at Border's. At the very least I know what happened.
I liked it well enough. I kind of wish I hadn't read it beforehand. Normally, I can be very objective about how a movie unfolds, even if I know what is going to happen - I can pretend pretty well and kind of watch it as if it were the first time. Now Watchmen is a film I couldn't do that with, I think because it is so similar to the GN.
I wonder what it would actually be like to have no idea of the story and have it unfold - I think Watchmen would confuse a lot of people. It's not that it is subtle, but more that the scenes and moments that had weight in the book are just 'there' in the movie, because they were in the book. I know Comedian is kind of presented as a scumbag, but it seems like SSII never even really meets him, except for the briefest of moments, making the payoff for this arc not really well rooted - and this is how I felt about pretty much everything except Manhattan.
So overall it feels like total fan service - I'd really like to hear opinions of people who are just 'regular' movie goers, not fans of the book nor even what it's about.
For the record:
I liked it well enough. I kind of wish I hadn't read it beforehand. Normally, I can be very objective about how a movie unfolds, even if I know what is going to happen - I can pretend pretty well and kind of watch it as if it were the first time. Now Watchmen is a film I couldn't do that with, I think because it is so similar to the GN.
I wonder what it would actually be like to have no idea of the story and have it unfold - I think Watchmen would confuse a lot of people. It's not that it is subtle, but more that the scenes and moments that had weight in the book are just 'there' in the movie, because they were in the book. I know Comedian is kind of presented as a scumbag, but it seems like SSII never even really meets him, except for the briefest of moments, making the payoff for this arc not really well rooted - and this is how I felt about pretty much everything except Manhattan.
So overall it feels like total fan service - I'd really like to hear opinions of people who are just 'regular' movie goers, not fans of the book nor even what it's about.
For the record:
I think Rorschach laying into the pedo with a cleaver to be a bit out of place, and I think the squid is much better - and I'm not even much of a follower of the book. For reasons explained above, the squid seems more like something that people would rally against - totally alien. In some ways, there would be huge resentment towards the US if Manhattan were responsible. I'm not sure it would be the same uniting force as a giant squid - think Independence Day. What actually happened to the giant squid in the book anyway?
I went earlier today and was pretty shocked to see people bringing their young kids to the film. I mean, I saw kids from roughly the age of three to seven in the theater. Shitty parents bum me out.
I didn't have very high hopes for the film, so I was pleasantly surprised. The only problem I had with the movie was Snyder's affinity for slow motion, but it's not like I didn't expect it.
I didn't have very high hopes for the film, so I was pleasantly surprised. The only problem I had with the movie was Snyder's affinity for slow motion, but it's not like I didn't expect it.
Snowman Prophet of Doom
Member
Honestly, I think the slow motion was done fairly tastefully; it's better than it was in 300, and it usually works as an effective tool for stylizing the action.
In my opinion, this movie does a very good job of adapting Watchmen. It captures the relevant plot details and does a good job of fleshing out the characters, at least to an extent. As an avid Watchmen fan and a reader of the graphic novel, I'd probably give it something like a 9/10. I think, though, that the movie would be confusing the first time around to anybody that hasn't read the book. Not to say that it doesn't exist well as its own entity, but certain events are fleshed out better in the graphic novel and make it easier to follow. I think that any person who didn't like the movie on their first viewing (who has not read the GN) should give it a second chance; I think the movie would improve upon a second viewing.
The soundtrack was pretty ace, for the most part. The use of Philip Glass for Doctor Manhattan was an inspired, inspired choice on Snyder's part.
In my opinion, this movie does a very good job of adapting Watchmen. It captures the relevant plot details and does a good job of fleshing out the characters, at least to an extent. As an avid Watchmen fan and a reader of the graphic novel, I'd probably give it something like a 9/10. I think, though, that the movie would be confusing the first time around to anybody that hasn't read the book. Not to say that it doesn't exist well as its own entity, but certain events are fleshed out better in the graphic novel and make it easier to follow. I think that any person who didn't like the movie on their first viewing (who has not read the GN) should give it a second chance; I think the movie would improve upon a second viewing.
The soundtrack was pretty ace, for the most part. The use of Philip Glass for Doctor Manhattan was an inspired, inspired choice on Snyder's part.
polyh3dron
Banned
Kusagari said:
Ozy didn't want to hurt them, only stop them from hurting him. This guy killed the fucking Comedian, remember?
polyh3dron said:
that doesn't mean it wasn't over-the-top and silly. the comic established his physical dominance in a much better way without resorting to ridiculous fight segments dumbed down for a mass audience.
I also missed the line with Rorshach saying "Veidt. Get rid of cat."
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Clevinger said:
I'm guessing he's referring to the way the science of Ozy's training is explained in the book.
Just got back from watching it. I found it amusing when I saw a family with two children about ten and fourteen years old walk out of the theater near the end where Laurie and Dan reminisce in Dan's apartment.
Where did Laurie get the gun to shoot Adrian? I'm guessing it was taken from the officer she disarmed in the prison?
Buckethead
Banned
Kastro said:
Indeed. Ozzy was a puss in the movie.
I don't remember him being a vagitarian either. Was he in the book?
Buckethead
Banned
digital said:
She takes it off that copper that was douching it up at Dan's, which was cut out of the theatrical version. So plothole there. :lol
Freshmaker
I am Korean.
It didn't work all that well in the book.Clevinger said:
I enjoyed it, it's a tough call on whether to recommend it , diehard fans of the comic book and people that like the taste of alan moores old man dick will likely hate this movie I suppose. I was a fan of the book once it got up to speed but not some diehard "best comic ever" type of person and I also haven't read it in 3 years. I remembered enough to know what was coming in most of the scenes, I was happy to see matt frewer still getting work and the alleged new ending worked out fine
.
What I am curious about now is if they filmed some variations on some of the scenes so they can re-integrate anything that was cut from comic to film.
I don't consider this a replacement for the comic book but it's an enjoyable romp within the sea of garbage that most of hollywood presents and well, it's almost more faithful then I'd ever thought possible.
Here's hoping it's a financial success so more studios will take risks like this.
it's really not any different from the comic , they merely cut out every reference of the squid and with no squid anywhere in the plot, the ending they used actually seems more plausible within the world we are presented with
What I am curious about now is if they filmed some variations on some of the scenes so they can re-integrate anything that was cut from comic to film.
I don't consider this a replacement for the comic book but it's an enjoyable romp within the sea of garbage that most of hollywood presents and well, it's almost more faithful then I'd ever thought possible.
Here's hoping it's a financial success so more studios will take risks like this.
Fun Factor
Formerly FTWer
Anybody thinking this will do big numbers over the weekend?
The early IMAX showing I went to was nearly full. Hopefully it can ride off The Dark Knight/Iron Man momentum to a $80 million 1st week.
The early IMAX showing I went to was nearly full. Hopefully it can ride off The Dark Knight/Iron Man momentum to a $80 million 1st week.
Buckethead
Banned
Kastro said:
Ahh, now it comes back. How could I forget.
Fun Factor
Formerly FTWer
Kastro said:
Then again, Hitler was a vegetarian only because of his gastric stomach problems.
Really cheap shot of Rorschach tying Vegans with Hitler.
Scullibundo said:
This is by far the main thing I missed in the movie: Adrian / Ozymandias' backstory and character development. Where are the scenes establishing how he has gained complete control over his mind and body?
I also would have preferred more of the story of his youth - how he willingly gave away his inherited fortune, how he retraced Alexander the Great's path, etc.
And yeah, the badass smirk following the "I suppose I'd have to catch the bullet" line should've been in the movie. As should've been the "I really wasn't sure it would work" after he catches it.
Hope some of that makes it into the Director's Cut.
Witchfinder General
punched Wheelchair Mike
Rlan said:The original book had Veidt create the Alien Invasion in so to get the world to join against a common enemy. The film makes Manhatten the enemy, but he leaves. The film in essence makes him the "real god", in a "play nice, or I'll be back" fashion
Except that rather than facing an alien threat that dwarves the petty squabbles of mankind we get an enemy that is American grown and touted as an American super weapon, thus creating a situation where America's enemies could conceivably unite against the USA. Stupid.
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
i thought it was pretty awesome.
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
GOOD MOTHERFUCKING MOVIE!
So awesome on so many levels, I can't even describe it! Perfect adaption of the comic! Love the new ending too
Glad no one laughed at Manhattan's junk. People did laugh at naked Dan but that occurs only once in the movie so....
So awesome on so many levels, I can't even describe it! Perfect adaption of the comic! Love the new ending too
Glad no one laughed at Manhattan's junk. People did laugh at naked Dan but that occurs only once in the movie so....
Snowman Prophet of Doom
Member
Rindain said:
The "I wasn't sure it would work" line actually comes after he "disintegrates" Manhattan; after the bullet catch, he says something like, "Something ELSE I wasn't sure would work."
Anyway, I would definitely agree that the Director's Cut needs, more than anything, to flesh out Veidt a little bit more. Besides the badass smirk, I also wanted "I DID IT!", and I never got it. It's the only time that Adrian really shows any emotion at all in the GN (aside from regret when talking to Manhattan at the end), and it's one of the better frames in the whole novel. Of course, I also missed his back story, but that's a given.
Also, maybe it's just me, but I enjoyed most of the acting in the movie. Jackie Earle Haley was amazing as Rorschach, as was Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan. Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Patrick Wilson gave awesome performances as well, and Matthew Goodman, while giving an interpretation that is extremely different than the comic, did a good job capturing the Ozy that exists in the universe of the movie. The only performance I didn't like, really, was the girl who played Laurie, and even then, she gave a perfectly acceptable performance. It could and should have been better, but part of the weakness was in the writing. Laurie's bitterness didn't come through nearly enough in the movie, though I acknowledge that this may have been the result of the cutting. She seemed too... I don't know, feminine. She didn't have that sort of tomboyish, embittered attitude that defines SSII and makes her motivations more clear. That's not to say that the character in the movie had no motivation or goals; she did, it's just that they were fairly different from the novel, and I prefer the novel's version of the character.
Anyway, I would definitely agree that the Director's Cut needs, more than anything, to flesh out Veidt a little bit more. Besides the badass smirk, I also wanted "I DID IT!", and I never got it. It's the only time that Adrian really shows any emotion at all in the GN (aside from regret when talking to Manhattan at the end), and it's one of the better frames in the whole novel. Of course, I also missed his back story, but that's a given.
Also, maybe it's just me, but I enjoyed most of the acting in the movie. Jackie Earle Haley was amazing as Rorschach, as was Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan. Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Patrick Wilson gave awesome performances as well, and Matthew Goodman, while giving an interpretation that is extremely different than the comic, did a good job capturing the Ozy that exists in the universe of the movie. The only performance I didn't like, really, was the girl who played Laurie, and even then, she gave a perfectly acceptable performance. It could and should have been better, but part of the weakness was in the writing. Laurie's bitterness didn't come through nearly enough in the movie, though I acknowledge that this may have been the result of the cutting. She seemed too... I don't know, feminine. She didn't have that sort of tomboyish, embittered attitude that defines SSII and makes her motivations more clear. That's not to say that the character in the movie had no motivation or goals; she did, it's just that they were fairly different from the novel, and I prefer the novel's version of the character.
The Lamonster
Member
I loved it.
Should have fleshed out Ozy more...otherwise, fucking awesome movie.
Should have fleshed out Ozy more...otherwise, fucking awesome movie.
Prime crotch
Banned
I really don't get why the sex scene between Owlman and Silk had to be turned into a joke. Considering Moore's very open stance on sexuality, the scene seemed almost prudish, if you can't shoot one tastefully do it humorously.
It's the little things like that, that Snyder or the writters missed big time and ruin the movie as an adaptation.
It's the little things like that, that Snyder or the writters missed big time and ruin the movie as an adaptation.
Prime crotch
Banned
hallelujah! hallelujah! hallelujah! Rings a bell?Tabris said:
Prime crotch
Banned
So they felt awkward or lacked a sense of humour, everyone on mine was bursting out laughing when the punchline came. The point is, the scene was turned into a longer joke for the punchline.Tabris said:
Boogie9IGN
Member
Those sex scenes were hot
<3ed the movie
lol @ Manhattan's flopping blue dong
that is all
<3ed the movie
lol @ Manhattan's flopping blue dong
that is all
I walked out of it. It felt like i was watching the Cliff Notes of the graphic novel. Nobody I was with really cared about any of the characters, and if i hadn't read it beforehand i'm not sure I would have either.
I really wish this had been split into two films, if for nothing else but to flesh out all of the characters.
I'm not going to sit here and pretend to be some huge Watchmen fan or anything, but as a casual fan who has been exposed to the source material I was pretty let down. And my expectations weren't exactly high to begin with.
I really wish this had been split into two films, if for nothing else but to flesh out all of the characters.
I'm not going to sit here and pretend to be some huge Watchmen fan or anything, but as a casual fan who has been exposed to the source material I was pretty let down. And my expectations weren't exactly high to begin with.
Really, really liked the movie (just got back an hour ago). I haven´t read the book at all, but knew the basic plot beforehand so didn´t go in totally blind. Having never read the book, I felt they did a fantastic job of transitioning a graphic novel to the screen. To take a graphic novel and turn it into a movie is, really, no easy task, for various reasons (fanboys, artistic integrity, etc.), but I could tell this movie was faithful to the source material where anyone, fan or newbie (hate to use that term), would be able to get into it and enjoy it.
I was actually amazed at the amount of people at the end of the movie who, after walking out of the theater, began to talk, rather loudly, about how they didn´t get the movie and didn´t know what the fuck was going on through a lot of the movie. I felt the story was quite straightforward and not at all convoluted. While there was a lot of material presented throughout the film, it was done in such a manner and pacing that at no point did I feel lost or confused, everything played out in a logical fashion and tied up quite nicely at the end. I was left with very few lingering questions, and those questions I do have I assume will be answered in the graphic novel which my friend, who went with me, lent to me and is sitting right next to me (and after reading the first 20 pages, I can see the movie seems to have pretty much lifted the book from its pages and plastered it on the big screen, which, having never read the book before, is actually really fucking annoying).
8 out of 10, 3 out of 4, 4 of 5, whatever, it´s a good fucking movie.
Points deducted for the laaaaaaaaame acting during the Mars scene.
I was actually amazed at the amount of people at the end of the movie who, after walking out of the theater, began to talk, rather loudly, about how they didn´t get the movie and didn´t know what the fuck was going on through a lot of the movie. I felt the story was quite straightforward and not at all convoluted. While there was a lot of material presented throughout the film, it was done in such a manner and pacing that at no point did I feel lost or confused, everything played out in a logical fashion and tied up quite nicely at the end. I was left with very few lingering questions, and those questions I do have I assume will be answered in the graphic novel which my friend, who went with me, lent to me and is sitting right next to me (and after reading the first 20 pages, I can see the movie seems to have pretty much lifted the book from its pages and plastered it on the big screen, which, having never read the book before, is actually really fucking annoying).
8 out of 10, 3 out of 4, 4 of 5, whatever, it´s a good fucking movie.
Points deducted for the laaaaaaaaame acting during the Mars scene.
i thought this was a bad movie all around.
the pacing was bad, the dialogue was bad, the acting was bad, the cgi was bad, the music choices were bad, there was too much exposition, there was too much blue dong, the sex scene was embarrassing, the characters were one-note, the fight/action scenes were over the top, etc etc.
literally the only good thing about the movie was seeing silk spectre naked.
the pacing was bad, the dialogue was bad, the acting was bad, the cgi was bad, the music choices were bad, there was too much exposition, there was too much blue dong, the sex scene was embarrassing, the characters were one-note, the fight/action scenes were over the top, etc etc.
literally the only good thing about the movie was seeing silk spectre naked.
â Narayan
Member
I agree, except I enjoyed Rorschach, The Comedian, and Nite Owl. They were pretty spot on.raziel said:
â Narayan
Member
Yeah, I was pretty disappointed that the movie literally doesn't have its own score.
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