The Watchmen

[Ziero]

Re: The Watchmen

I D/l'd it a while back but never actually read it. Now I'm just gonna wait to see the movie before I actually read it. If you read a book before you see a movie based on the book, you'll spend the whole time comparing the two. So I'll just wait for the movie then read the book, and if I like the book I'll buy the hardcover to put on my bookshelf

[Skoal]

Re: The Watchmen

I D/l'd it a while back but never actually read it. Now I'm just gonna wait to see the movie before I actually read it. If you read a book before you see a movie based on the book, you'll spend the whole time comparing the two. So I'll just wait for the movie then read the book, and if I like the book I'll buy the hardcover to put on my bookshelf

I am the same way. Thank jenova I never read Dune before I watched the original movie. I love them both but they are completely different. Of course when I first saw Dune I was a kid and therefore probably would not have understood the book.

[TheGrandMom]

Re: The Watchmen

Yes, I started to read the comic series but stopped. I figured it was better to go in fresh and watch the movie and then read the comic series. I know how Hollywood puts their own spin in things.

[Ziero]

Re: The Watchmen

So I saw it last night....and it was good.

Apparently it was also very comic accurate, while indeed having some "Hollywood spin" but for all the right reasons. It's certainly unlike any other comic book movie ever made to date, so if you don't know about Watchmen don't go in expecting anything close to previous stories. This film made TDK look like a kiddie flick, Watchmen makes full use of it's R rating and rightfully so.

[Durahansolo]

Re: The Watchmen

So I saw it last night....and it was good.

Apparently it was also very comic accurate, while indeed having some "Hollywood spin" but for all the right reasons. It's certainly unlike any other comic book movie ever made to date, so if you don't know about Watchmen don't go in expecting anything close to previous stories. This film made TDK look like a kiddie flick, Watchmen makes full use of it's R rating and rightfully so.

It was pure EPIX! I agree TDK was dark but Watchmen was on a different level. I saw Watchmen at the IMAX on Saturday morning, I usually go to morning shows so I can beat the crowd lol. I got there about 20 mins early and got a pretty good seat. I was about 1 row down from the vertical absolute center and about 2 seats over from the horizontal absolute center. The Sound Effects and the Visuals were awesome, and there were some scenes in the movie that were impossible to describe because of the awesomeness. What I found funny though and since I didn't read the Graphic Novel I might've missed out, but did anybody other than Mr. Manhattan have powers? I mean I enjoyed the fight scenes since they were well designed and full of awesomeness (have I over used that word yet?) but I was seriously missing out on the super powers.

EDIT: Nevermind that last part about the super powers, I think I've figured it out...

Super Powers Spoilers

In keeping with the realism of the series, although the costumed crime fighters of Watchmen are commonly called "superheroes", the only character who possesses obvious superhuman powers is Doctor Manhattan

[meSchnitzel]

Re: The Watchmen

It was pure EPIX! I agree TDK was dark but Watchmen was on a different level. I saw Watchmen at the IMAX on Saturday morning, I usually go to morning shows so I can beat the crowd lol. I got there about 20 mins early and got a pretty good seat. I was about 1 row down from the vertical absolute center and about 2 seats over from the horizontal absolute center. The Sound Effects and the Visuals were awesome, and there were some scenes in the movie that were impossible to describe because of the awesomeness. What I found funny though and since I didn't read the Graphic Novel I might've missed out, but did anybody other than Mr. Manhattan have powers? I mean I enjoyed the fight scenes since they were well designed and full of awesomeness (have I over used that word yet?) but I was seriously missing out on the super powers.

This was definetly the best movie I have seen in YEARS! It blew TDK out of the water in terms of cool, though I don't think any one character will ever be as cool as Ledger's Joker.

I too was in the dark on the super powers. As far as I could tell it was only Dr. Manhattan, but it seemed like the "bad guy" also did. Though I won't say more as to not spoil it for anyone that hasn't read the comic or seen the movie just yet.

[Durahansolo]

Re: The Watchmen

The Smashing Pumpkins song from the trailer should've played through the whole movie. That would've been the only thing that could've possibly made it more epic.

[cloverest]

Re: The Watchmen

A long-time fan of the novel, I was pleased enough with the movie adaptation. The opening credits were fantastic, and the characterizations of the Comedian and Rorschach were spot-on. I thought the soundtrack kind of suffered the Forrest Gump effect, where it seems as though they just threw in a lot of music from several different eras without a lot of thought. Did not like the characterization of Veidt. I disagree with the ending of the movie and how it was changed from the comic. And I kind of wasn't feeling the imminent threat of nuclear war. But the action was great, the Dr. Manhattan time perception scenes were well done and beautiful, and it had a lot of great moments. I'm curious to see what was cut and what will be added to the film's run-time (as material is inevitably added to epic movies like these) upon its DVD release.

[Ziero]

Re: The Watchmen

That's kind of the biggest thing about Watchmen as a whole, other then Manhatten, there are no super powers. These characters weren't strong/fast/powerful because of any kind of special super human capabilities, but rather they were strong/fast/powerful because they were all too human. Most of them were driven more by their faults then anything else.

It was only touched upon in the film, but as stated the "Costumed Hero" bit started out when a bunch of cops tried to "level the playing field" when criminals started wearing costumes of their own. Sort of a reverse of TDKs "escalation" where badguys would become more bizarre and brazen due to Batman being so bizarre and brazen. Watchmen asked the question "If super heros were real, who would actually dawn these masks?" And the answer ended up being people who were, more often then not, just as bad or *worse* as those they would be fighting against.

Dr. M was used to show just the opposite though, a "what if" someone was actually given these omnipotent powers and how would they react. And his entire purpose was to show him slowly distancing himself from the world as he lost more and more of his humanity. The entire universe was opened to him so it was hard for Dr M to see things through the eyes of such finite creatures.

I never read the comic myself, but I was familiar with the story and characters. Mainly since a friend of mine who is far more into comics then myself repeatedly like to point out how all the Watchmen were inspired by DC/Charlton Comics characters. But after seeing the film I definately have to check out the book and will most likely track down a nice hard cover version to add to my collection. And I eagerly look forward to the “Crazy Ultimate Freaky Edition” DVD as that should have loads of story related extras and extended footage.

[Durahansolo]

Re: The Watchmen

And I eagerly look forward to the “Crazy Ultimate Freaky Edition” DVD as that should have loads of story related extras and extended footage.

THIS^^

Also, did anybody watch this? [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Watchmen-Tales-Freighter-Digital-Blu-ray/dp/B001QTWC00/ref=pd_cp_d_3/191-0858006-3490949?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_r=1RFCVN8F6NTQYMEWTTE4&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=413864101&pf_rd_i=B001FB55H6]Amazon.com: Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter & Under the Hood (+ Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]: Gerard Butler: Movies & TV[/ame]

I might have to go scoop it before the Watchmen movie comes out on Blu-ray because people will be trying to get both lol.

[Omniblast]

Re: The Watchmen

I never read the novel/comic book of the Watchmen, but went to go see it anyways.

I think that after watching it at a near midnight showing at the IMAX theater. I may end up buying it on blu-ray when it comes out. It's very gritty and well someone also told me that before the Watchmen, comics were all sunshine and flowers.

After this, all the comics went dark and scary. Wow.

I do enjoy all of Dr. Manhattan's lines. Damn he's such a naked bad ass.

This movie is not for kids. "Mommy, why was that man naked and his penis blue?" Also the sex scene in there as well.

[Durahansolo]

Re: The Watchmen

This movie is not for kids. "Mommy, why was that man naked and his penis blue?" Also the sex scene in there as well.

What was funny, I didn't even realize that his johnson was showing until I saw the guy sitting about a seat down from me pointing at the screen. I was too busy looking at the special effects lmao. I could also see a kid asking "Mommy why is she bent over the pool table, and why is he behind her?" I also thought most of the soundtrack music was pretty good, for some reason it had that Fallout 3 feeling to it.

[Solymir]

Re: The Watchmen

THIS^^

Also, did anybody watch this? Amazon.com: Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter & Under the Hood (+ Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]: Gerard Butler: Movies & TV

I might have to go scoop it before the Watchmen movie comes out on Blu-ray because people will be trying to get both lol.

I didn't get out to see the movie this past weekend, may have to change that with all the good reactions I am reading. However I did see a behind the scenes look with some director/cast interviews on G4 and they said that the Black Freighter "movie" was supposed to be incorporated into the actual Watchmen movie. It was like the first thing the studio or whoever cut from the film so they had to make it a stand alone movie. Then one person (I think the director) mentioned it will probably be added back in for the Director's Cut version of the DVD/Blu-Ray.

[Caspian]

Re: The Watchmen

I thought the movie was excellent. Terrifically done.

Thoughts

I wasn't a huge fan of what they changed the ending into. I'm not sure why everyone would think Manhattan was still watching. He left because he was freaking out about giving his friends cancer and I figure the explosions would have been seen as a temper tantrum. Not him wanting everyone to make nice. I get why they didn't use the book's ending, it would almost certainly come across as campy. Ofcourse I think in both the book and the movie, it would just delay the old feuds and you'd be right back in a nuclear standoff within a couple years.
The sex scene struck me as a bit much. Don't get me wrong, she had terrific boobies and I didn't mind seeing them, just after awhile it felt like watching Cinemax late at night. And I did miss it when they're on the couch fooling around and Veidt's tv special is on with him doing acrobatics and such and the announcers keep making overt sexual innuendoes the whole time. It got the point across and it was just hilarious.
One thing I thought the movie did better than the book was Manhattan killing Rorschach. It was much more emotional and real.
Have to say Rorschach is probably my favorite character. Hard not to love a guy who has a strong code of ethics and doesn't waiver from it when it's convenient.
I wish they would have done more showing how f'ing smart Veidt was. The guy really is ridiculously brilliant.

Despite my few dislikes, it didn't really detract from the movie. I loved it. Very well done, and definitely looking forward to owning it on BD.

Ziero: I got my copy off of Amazon. Hardbound and wasn't all that much as I recall. I'd definitely recommend it. Excellent read.

[Tickmeoff]

Re: The Watchmen

Came close to falling asleep in the theatre a few times watching this movie and my girlfriend actually did fall asleep for a while before the whole prison riot scene.

Not that it was a bad film, but not exactly the most interesting thing I have seen. When I saw the ~50 on metacritic before release I was thinking "Wow, what the hell did they do, this movie looked epic," and after going to see the film I was kind of like "Oh.. I guess metacritic was actually spot on with this one."