Watchmen [POTENTIAL SPOILERS!!!]

[Aftershock]

[Benza]

[Spanca]

Finally saw it last night. I think this thread helped to soften my expectations and as a result I loved it. It wasn't perfect, but then few (if any) adaptations are. And they're always that, adaptations, so you can't expect a live action reproduction of the comic. The re-worked ending was satisfactory, although perhaps a little rushed in its setup. If they'd done the same ending as the comic, you'd be looking at a movie well over 3 hours that would put it beyond the reach of anyone who hadn't read the comic, so all in all a fair compromise.

8/10

[Big Pete]

Having never read the graphic novel I went into the cinema last night with firm interest and left feeling satisfied. While the film was far from perfect I found it appealed to my tastes and I can understand why the graphic novel was so well received by the comic book community.

Above Average.
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[Sin Ogaris]

I pretty much agree with all sentiments. Saw the film tonight and I thoroughly enjoyed it, let it be noted I'm in the "haven't read the comic" crew but it made for a really deep and thought provoking movie. My only gripes were that it felt like there was too big a gap between the segments, i.e. it'd move away from Spectre and Owl for ages and I'd almost forget what the Hell point they were at.

Oh and I feel it necessary to state this little tidbit. I hate Zack Snyder's directing. I first felt it during 300 and it was simply compounded by The Watchmen. You don't have to slowmo EVERYTHING we aren't idiots, the real World works in real time so we're more than capable of watching a film in the same way.

[kaerlis]

Goddamn LOVED rorschach
Goddamn LOVED the comedian
their acting alone made my ticket well worth it.

bit rushed as a movie, hard to push so much into normal movie length. i think using a bit more length would've helped. the flashbacks were a tad confusing too but that can't be helped, it wouldn't be the same story otherwise. and the period music i found at times distracting or working against scenes, sometimes i wanted quiet or complimentary music.

all in all pretty damn good, and the above are very small in something so hugely challenging as a work of cinema to make.
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[Jim Dash]

Just got home from seeing it. Havn't read the graphic novel, had never heard of it prior to the movie.

Loved it though. I appreciated how it differed from other 'superhero' movies. By being thought provoking and generally unpredictable, it kept me hooked. John and all his philosophies did annoy me a bit, though. I guess only because it cut into the action.

[Aftershock]

I loved John's philosophising. I love the fact that its so different a perspective so as to not even come into consideration for most people.
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[bradc1988]

I thought it was terrible really. None of the people I saw it with were impressed, there was just too much bullshit.

There were a few good parts, and I really liked the Comedian, but the poor writing let it down.

6/10
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[matrix-cat]

I finally caved and saw it, and it was pretty much exactly as I had predicted. Watchmen is a comic, and a comic it should have stayed. There is no way, no way at all, that a movie could ever have been anywhere near as good as the book. It didn't need to be made. The book is rightfully regarded as the greatest in its medium, the movie will be forgotten in a few months' time. There was no point to its creation, you don't need to turn something into something it isn't just because you can.
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[mattstep]

[lapzod]

I saw this yet again tonight, and I have come to the conclusion the music is fantastic for it. Yes, it may seem out of place, but look deeper into it.

The scene with the assassination attempt on Veidt? Tears For Fears' Everybody Wants to Rule the World is playing in the background.

I don't think I need to point out the 99 luftballons connection.

And it brings me to 'All Along The Watchtower' when Rorschach and Night Owl crash Veidt's party.

There must be some kind of way out of here
Said the joker to the thief
Theres too much confusion
Thief is Rorschach (can open locks) Joker is Night Owl?

Who feel that life is but a joke but uh
But you and I weve been through that
And this is not our fate
So let us not talk falsely now
The hours getting late
Life is but a joke? Sounds exactly the problem the Comedian had. We've been through that and this is not our fate? They've seen the problem, and aren't falling for it...

All along the watchtower
Princes kept the view
While all the women came and went
Bare-foot servants to, but huh
Outside in the cold distance
A wild cat did growl
Two riders were approachin
And the wind began to howl
Princes kept the view? Veidt kept watch on his screens, and the line 'a wild cat did growl actually happens as his cat notices Rorschach and Night Owl approaching (two riders hey?)

[mattstep]

^ Sure some of the lyrics may be able to be interpreted in such a way that they fit the action, however I still believe the music was by far the worst aspect of the film.

I feel a soundtrack is meant to enrich the film you are watching, it's primary purpose is to create mood and atmosphere which compliments the images on screen and in some cases add some additional depth or context.

Sure one could argue that the song selection evokes a sense of time as they were a product of the 80s (or earlier if from the flashbacks) but by that logic Starship's We Built This City may well have been blaring during the films apocalyptic finale. Also, I'm aware that Moore has quoted lyrics from many of the songs used within the novel itself, but again, that doesn't automatically mean it's a good choice when literally played over the images.

For me the constant stream of well known pop tunes (while many are indeed awesome songs in the own right) completely detracted from the images on screen. Sometimes the just felt downright inappropriate, other times they made what could have been a poignant moment unintentionally (and inappropriately) funny... I'm looking at you Hallelujah and Ride Of The Valkyries. But either way almost every song tore me completely out of the film. At first I thought "Wow that's poor song selection! Ah well, lets just forget it and move on". But no, the "hits" just kept on comen! By the 4th or 5th song I was honestly getting physically angry. The musical choices completely hampered my enjoyment of the film. It destroyed numerous scenes and really stopped my from getting swept up in the world of the film.

On another note...

NOVEL AND EXTENDED SCENE SPOILERS!

I'm beginning to have some hope that the Director's Cut DVD release may rectify some of the structural and pacing problems with the film itself. In an interview on the Creative Screenwriter podcast the film's writers discussed some films that got left on the cutting room floor that are expected to be restored on DVD. Some of the mentioned scenes:

- More character development for Hollis Mason.
- The death of Hollis Mason including including build-up and development of the Knot-Tops
- Aftermath of Hollis Mason's death with Dan spotting the Knot-Tops in a bar
- Build up of the New Frontiersman as a paper and it's reporters
- More development of Rorschach's respect for New Frontiersman
- A scene in which Silk Spectre II escapes from custody

And maybe some more I have forgotten, I did listen to it a week ago after all!

Hopefully these scenes can help with either enriching character or with the build up to the finale, so that the final shots before the explosion actually have some impact...
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ALL THINGS PILKINGTON

[mattstep]

Just got back from my 2nd viewing.

Pretty much confirmed my initial feelings about the film. I did find this time, going in prepared for the soundtrack did make it a little easier to ignore.

It was also nice to be reminded that it did do Dr Manhattan and Rorschach very well, and that there were some things that the film does succeed at.

However I still very much feel that the film fails in many key aspects and overall doesn't work very well as a piece of cinema.
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ALL THINGS PILKINGTON

[mattstep]

Sorry for filling this thread with posts (they where ages apart, honestly ).

But for those who are interested it looks as though there there is a 3 hour and 10 minute cut that may be released for a limited theatrical run. And if that's not enough Watchmen, there is an even longer directors cut in the works that clocks in at 3 hours and 30 minutes (about an hour longer than the original theatrical release) that is on the cards. I presume the latter will be DVD only.

You can read a little more about it here.

In other Watchmen news, looks like someone was a huge fan of Snyder's vision...
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ALL THINGS PILKINGTON