I saw this film yesterday, and I have to say, I really liked it. In my opinion, the major change that was made still worked very well, and I can understand why it was made. I particularly liked how Dr Manhattan and Rorshach turned out - they were very much like how I had imagined them while reading the GN. :)
With regards to Dr. Manhattan's nudity, I would have been disappointed had they censored him. I think it's an important part of showing his detachment from humanity - he just doesn't see the point in clothing as we do. Additionally, there seems to be a general acceptance for a lot of violence in films, but as soon as there's any nudity (particularly male nudity), there's an outcry. It just seems odd to me.
However, saying that, I do agree on thinking that the US rating for the film seems a little odd, given its general content. Here in the UK, it's rated for over-18s only, which I think is the right choice.
Just my two cents, and another vote for the film being awesome. :)
Jackie Earle Haley is Rorschach. WOW! I remember liking that character when reading the book, but the story was about the Comedian and Nite Owl II for me, but now...
I'm with Heathy and DEMAND a Rorschach solo prequel.
Just curious
Just curious
** spoiler omitted **
Oh yeah baby...and in true Rorschach form does he leave his mark...
I enjoyed the movie; didnt read any of the comics so I was stumped on who the bad guy was until it came out at the end of the movie; nicely done.
Is there something wrong with me? I saw the preview and said, "My god, that looks horrible!"
Then again, "she's just not that into you" sure didn't look very appealing, either -- mostly because I'm not a chick... I've never read comic books (couldn't afford them as a kid) and as an adult I don't usually enjoy movies made from them. In both cases, apparently I'm just not the target audience, I suspect.
Then again, if there's anyone here who hated "Spiderman," "300," and "Sin City" (like me), but who liked this one, then I'd maybe be willing to give it a chance.
Jackie Earle Haley is Rorschach.
Definitely. He really nails it.
On the down side, I didn't think much of Malin (Laurie Jupiter), which is a shame given so much of the movie depends on her performance, which generally just wasnt believable.(not even When she says "I love you mom", which is probably th emost down to earth part of the story, if you think aobut it)
Overall a decent movie, but not a great one... and some of the changes at the end just don;t make as much sense as they might, which is a shame.
For example Jons last conversation with Adrian is transfered over to being between Laurie and Dan, which loses a massive part of its impact (Jon after all, KNOWS the future, Laurie doesnt).
Haley *is* terrific in it, though, and its worth a *ahem* watch..but don't get you hopes up too high.
I'd say about 3.5 out of 5...
If you've not read the comic, but even halfway enjoyed the movie, I'd recommend you go get it. Its far deeper & more involving than the movie and the ending makes more sense.
The nudity didn't bother me in and of itself, just that I wasn't expecting it. Mainly I believe this is due to the fact I haven't read the comic, and don't know about the plot beyond the movie. I was expecting "another superhero movie"(tm).
I must say it wasn't that. There were a few kids in the audience, which suprised me some (especially when they weren't walked out by their parents) but that's not my issue either.
Having not been able to eye-tolerate the GN (I read the text boxes), the film was a pleasant surprise. My commentary here is strictly on the film.
For me, it was almost like being tossed back to age 14, bringing back some elements from nearly 25 years ago, then skipping forward over the next few years until the Berlin Wall fell.
Mulling it over the past few hours, I'd have to say that the film made me think much more than I would have thought for an R-rated movie, especially post-movie.
Additionally, there seems to be a general acceptance for a lot of violence in films, but as soon as there's any nudity (particularly male nudity), there's an outcry. It just seems odd to me.
I won't outcry. But I am damn glad I peeked into this thread before seeing the film. Had I not been warned about the "lower" Manhattan syndrome before seeing the film, I could have been offput by it.
Now, I understand, and fully support "turning the tables" on nudity in films. But I will outcry a bit about the large amount of bare male ass in the film, with a corresponding small amount (none as far as I am concerned) of bare female ass. And we were even cheated on the bare breast scene. Not to mention, the "inflatable" top (it looked like a balloon) of Silk Specter's outfit looked absolutely silly. Her outfit from the waist down was stellar though.
If you refuse, you die; she dies; everybody dies!
Is there something wrong with me? I saw the preview and said, "My god, that looks horrible!"
I didn't think much of the previews either. It looks a lot better in context and on a big screen, though.
Whether folks liked the film or not, I really think people should take a moment to realize how amazing it is that Zak Snyder managed to put it together like he did. I can't imagine that it was anything but an uphill fight to get the studio to approve most of what he did. Execs were very likely pushing to make it more kid friendly, but the result we got is very close to the comic itself.
There are a few drafts of previous Watchmen scripts floating around the Net that are absolutely pathetic. It's quite amazing that this is the movie we got rather than one of the previous studio-friendly versions that had been in the works.
Jackie Earle Haley is Rorschach.
I'm with Heathy and DEMAND a Rorschach solo prequel.
I have to concur, Rorschach just about stole the movie from the rest of the cast.
There are some classic moments in the film though that I enjoyed immensely.
One serious flaw with the new ending.
|
One the flaw
He, knew it was happing,he knew just how it worked, his mind new he would be stripped apart molecule by molecule. And he was like an prodigy anyhow. Unliky anyone else can meet all them needs
Is The Crotchmen out at the XXX store yet?And we were even cheated on the bare breast scene.Did you see the same movie I did?
Take at least another week to get to shelf - pron industry is fast, but I don't know that they're THAT fast...
EDIT: Although you get the "cable-ready pron" just by editing down the actual movie itself. You'll even have hotel-room video quality if you edit-down the almost-universally-horrid bootleg videos that come out within a week or so of mainstream release...
I thought all the male nudity was handled in an incredibly tasteful fashion, just like in the comics. Manhattan isn't a model strutting his stuff and chuckling about how he's a dirty boy, and the film didn't treat him like one. He's just a dude so out of touch that he doesn't bother with clothes. The film neither insults us by hiding it nor by tarting it up as some kind of porn. It's one of the healthiest depictions of ordinary nudity I've ever seen in the movies.
I thought all the male nudity was handled in an incredibly tasteful fashion, just like in the comics. Manhattan isn't a model strutting his stuff and chuckling about how he's a dirty boy, and the film didn't treat him like one. He's just a dude so out of touch that he doesn't bother with clothes. The film neither insults us by hiding it nor by tarting it up as some kind of porn. It's one of the healthiest depictions of ordinary nudity I've ever seen in the movies.
Agreed - I didn't even really pay much attention to that part.
A couple more thoughts:
1. "You people just don't get it; I'm not stuck in here with you, you're stuck in here with me!"
2. Having not read the book, I was a bit confused when Ozymandias beat the pulp out of Rorschach and what's-his-name near the film's end. I was sure that he had found a way to Manhattan himself, thus enabling such a scrawny guy to kick so much butt. But then it turned out he was still just a smart guy, and I scratched my head for a moment.
A couple more thoughts:
1. "You people just don't get it; I'm not stuck in here with you, you're stuck in here with me!"
2. Having not read the book, I was a bit confused when Ozymandias beat the pulp out of Rorschach and what's-his-name near the film's end. I was sure that he had found a way to Manhattan himself, thus enabling such a scrawny guy to kick so much butt. But then it turned out he was still just a smart guy, and I scratched my head for a moment.
Rorschach's voice-over as he dropped off his journal & made his way to Antarctica with Owl made it pretty clear that Ozy was a serious bad-ass that he did NOT look forward to having to square off with, especially as he only had Owl with him for back up. (I think Rorschach wanted at least the rest of the Watchmen to make the beat-down workable.) By far smarter, REALLY fast ... what was not clear until the slobberknocker commenced was the sheer clobber-factor Ozy was also packing. Part of the reason Owl even got to bloody Ozy's face up a bit was because of the admission of guilt by Ozy, who had previously never killed anyone - and, even against Rorschach and Owl and Silk Spectre he refrained from inflicting serious injury (relatively speaking) in the hand-to-hand confrontation with his fellow Watchmen. Ozy basically threw Owl a bone (so to speak) as far as I could tell...
Rorschach was (for me) the most appealing character, with Ozy and Dr Manhattan as tied for 2nd not far behind him.
Tequila Sunrise:
2. Having not read the book, I was a bit confused when Ozymandias beat the pulp out of Rorschach and what's-his-name near the film's end. I was sure that he had found a way to Manhattan himself, thus enabling such a scrawny guy to kick so much butt. But then it turned out he was still just a smart guy, and I scratched my head for a moment.
He's the Perfect Man: perfect intelligence, perfect health, perfect beauty, perfect body and perfect training. He could beat any non-superhuman at anything. This wasn't conveyed very clearly in the movie, and the actor isn't quite up for it either.
|
A couple more thoughts:
1. "You people just don't get it; I'm not stuck in here with you, you're stuck in here with me!"
you need to play the 360 retro live game to understand those words fully :P
also the guy has been pucnhing criminals (sometimes to the death) for a long time... he is not afraid of killing them... the only reason he doesn't is because they hadn't given him a reason.
2. Having not read the book, I was a bit confused when Ozymandias beat the pulp out of Rorschach and what's-his-name near the film's end. I was sure that he had found a way to Manhattan himself, thus enabling such a scrawny guy to kick so much butt. But then it turned out he was still just a smart guy, and I scratched my head for a moment.
it is not said in the movie... but the guy is master of about 11 martial arts... as a villain hescared the hell out of Roscraft... who is not easily scared...
reference taken from wikipedia
In the book, Ozymandius represents the philosophy of Solipsism - that reality conforms to to what you believe. Thus through force-of-will he made himself the not just the smartest and richest, but also the most athletic man in the world.
Yeah his athleticism definitely didn't come across in the movie. He had the smart thing and the pretty boy thing going on but...yeah. Not that I expect much consistency in a movie where any shlub can go out and single handedly dispatch a gang of senselessly violent thugs just by putting on a halloween costume.
And we were even cheated on the bare breast scene.Did you see the same movie I did?
Apparently not.
The movie I saw, the breasts looked fake. Not in the "tee-hee, silly actress thought she needed augmentation surgery," but in the "what the hell? Is she wearing a prosthetic chest?" kind of way.
Now, I certainly could be wrong... But the scenes where quick, chopped, and the actress did very little movement when her bare breasts were on the screen. All of which help support my theory rather that counter it.
When I get to see it at home, with the pause ability, I'll be able to verify.
Saw it Monday and although I almost failed a Constitution check at the end (shouldn't have had that large Mt Dew). I was blown away.
Translating a comic to the movie screen requires so many changes and adaptions; sound, music, the tone of how things are said, the lack of little boxes with additional information and just filling in between the comic panels, it's a miracle that any comic is successfully adapted.
But they did a great job and I can't wait for the extended DVD!
And while there were only about 6 of us in the theater for the afternoon showing, we were all in the same mindset.
When we saw Dollar Bill's death scene, we all said "No Capes!"
We were waiting for each classic line and when "The Watchtower" played as they aproached Karnak, we were all thinking, "Ozy is the fifth Cylon!"
2. Having not read the book, I was a bit confused when Ozymandias beat the pulp out of Rorschach and what's-his-name near the film's end. I was sure that he had found a way to Manhattan himself, thus enabling such a scrawny guy to kick so much butt. But then it turned out he was still just a smart guy, and I scratched my head for a moment.Yeah his athleticism definitely didn't come across in the movie. He had the smart thing and the pretty boy thing going on but...yeah. Not that I expect much consistency in a movie where any shlub can go out and single handedly dispatch a gang of senselessly violent thugs just by putting on a halloween costume.
He didn't seem to have much problem with the assassin that shoots Lee Iacoca. I suppose technically he doesn't have superpowers but he is much closer to it than either Rorshach or Nite Owl.
|
|
He didn't seem to have much problem with the assassin that shoots Lee Iacoca. I suppose technically he doesn't have superpowers but he is much closer to it than either Rorshach or Nite Owl.
** spoiler omitted **
good points Craig...
yes everyone had good resons to kill him... even Laurie they just didn't showed it in the movie... i suppose it went with the other 45 minutes of movie...
I was lucky to get into an advance screening at the Ft. Gordon theater last weekend. Definately worth the three hour wait. I agree that this is the best adaptation you can get in a movie barring a LotR-style production.I had almost forgotten Ft. Gordon existed...
Wow! Ft. Gordon Theater... memories from 1994! Nothing like watching movies proceeded by the National Anthem and in camo fatigues. :)
5.> Did NOT like the ending... it felt off to me somehow, but at the same time the ending was entirely appropriate to the movie as presented. It's plot issues for me but that's me.
The ending was the one part of the movie I REALLY liked. I thought it was an exceptional way to present an arch-villain.
Rorschach's prison scene was also pretty awesome.
Dr. Mahattan's blue schlong wasn't an issue, but from a movie go'er stand point, unnecessary. It was relatively obvious that Manhattan and NightOwl2 had a lovers triangle with opposite qualities going on without the schlong. *shrugs* Whatever works, bring on the blue woman porn!
The ending was the one part of the movie I REALLY liked. I thought it was an exceptional way to present an arch-villain.
Having heard tid-bits from friends who have read the book(s), I honestly think I prefer this ending to the original that apparently involved an alien invasion of some sort.