![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
WATCHMEN non-post: the surrender
I had been taking notes for a massive WATCHMEN review post. Which, it became increasingly evident, would have become *ten* posts. Maybe more.
I could do entire posts on the different endings, on the effect the comic has had to modern comics for better and for worse, on how I actually kind of preferred movie!Ozymandias to comic!Ozymandias, on whether or not some/all the things Alan Moore predicted came true and/or totally didn't come true and are now quaint fears from a bygone era, on the paradox of how a totally fucked-up Objectivist with utterly reprehensible views could manage to be badass and awesome, on how this movie has affected the non-fan world at large for the better or for the worse, on how the sheer fact that this has caused millions of average people to buy the comic when they barely ever did that for the any other superhero-related comics, not even THE DARK KNIGHT...
Then I accidentally deleted the notes. Which is fine, because really, I have better things to do with my time. I think all that energy is still tapped out from THE DARK KNIGHT. Funny thing I realized: every other fan is giving WATCHMEN the same level of scrutiny that I gave THE DARK KNIGHT (while most others seemed content to just flail say how awesome it was). Being on the other end of this en masse dissection has been fascinating yet exhausting.
I will say this, though: even if you don't think WATCHMEN deserves a second viewing, see it again anyway. If nothing else, when it comes out on DVD this Fall in the super-extended 302 minute edition. For all its faults, they've pulled off some amazing feats that deserve notice and recognition, but I suspect those will only come with time and repeat viewings.
I could do entire posts on the different endings, on the effect the comic has had to modern comics for better and for worse, on how I actually kind of preferred movie!Ozymandias to comic!Ozymandias, on whether or not some/all the things Alan Moore predicted came true and/or totally didn't come true and are now quaint fears from a bygone era, on the paradox of how a totally fucked-up Objectivist with utterly reprehensible views could manage to be badass and awesome, on how this movie has affected the non-fan world at large for the better or for the worse, on how the sheer fact that this has caused millions of average people to buy the comic when they barely ever did that for the any other superhero-related comics, not even THE DARK KNIGHT...
Then I accidentally deleted the notes. Which is fine, because really, I have better things to do with my time. I think all that energy is still tapped out from THE DARK KNIGHT. Funny thing I realized: every other fan is giving WATCHMEN the same level of scrutiny that I gave THE DARK KNIGHT (while most others seemed content to just flail say how awesome it was). Being on the other end of this en masse dissection has been fascinating yet exhausting.
I will say this, though: even if you don't think WATCHMEN deserves a second viewing, see it again anyway. If nothing else, when it comes out on DVD this Fall in the super-extended 302 minute edition. For all its faults, they've pulled off some amazing feats that deserve notice and recognition, but I suspect those will only come with time and repeat viewings.
no subject
Joking, of course. Sort of
I suppose the silver lining to the film 'under performing' at the box office is that it will be released on DVD that much sooner. I took my dad to see it, and he seemed to really enjoy it (like many people he got a kick out of Rorschach and referred to him as 'that scrappy little guy'). My mom actually sounded interested when I was describing it to her, so at least when I buy it on DVD I have someone I can force to watch it with me. Fun times.
no subject
Ultimately, I still really, really liked it, and am getting a little frustratedly nonplussed as to the reactions of many others. I sort of feel like people are measuring it up against what they'd want to see, rather than what it is, particularly what it is in the grander scope of comic and superhero movies.
Ultimately, many of my comments and responses seem to hinge on "but let's wait and see how the final expanded DVD looks." So really, I just won't be able to give a final word there, nor will anybody else.
Yeah, by all sensible accounts, WB is still gonna come away from this with a tidy profit to justify all the expenses. Did anyone really think this was going to be a record-breaking blockbuster? Even with a streamlined (I suspect some might wrongly say "neutered") storyline, it's still frickin' WATCHMEN!
You took your Dad? Awesome! Had he read the comic?
no subject
That's not to dismiss the film's numerous faults, or to say that the apprehension was unfounded, I just agree that it's not always being judged by its own merits as a film. It was sort of hamstrung at the gate by people's own expectations and preconceptions.
Speaking of the DVD, bits of Under the Hood have been 'leaked', and based on the stills I've seen it looks pretty neat. I think I'm actually more excited about it than The Black Freighter.
Dad hasn't read the comic, no. I was planning on leaving it with him, but when I was unpacking earlier I noticed I must have absentmindedly picked it up when I was gathering my books. So much for that. He said he had some difficulty following it in the beginning (especially as I didn't do a terribly good job trying to set the stage over the previews) but everything started to come together pretty quickly. He was still talking about it when I left, so I figure I can count him as a fan.
no subject
no subject
no subject