Watch the Watchmen movie...
It is a brave attempt.
Not one that would embrace the most common sense however. Actually, it would be a little crazy to try. The original source of “The Watchmen,” being an illustrated graphic novel, could only be seen as unfilmable.
There’s even a well-known conversation held between comic book author Alan Moore and film director Terry Gilliam who talked about the possibility of bringing the much maligned source to the big screen treatment. Gilliam asked how Moore would feel if he would direct the film.
Moore answered simply, “Don’t.” And Gilliam respected his wishes.
The film scrooge believes the comic book art form should stand out on its own without the proper movie to be in its company.
It isn’t so terrible.
However, despite some minor technical flaws, “The Watchmen” film turns out to be much better than I thought it would be considering the difficulty of translating the comic book. Much of it must be contributed to the visual flair and exceptional style of narration. Some people will gawk at it with criticisms. I’m not one of them.
The first scene, in its sheer brutality, is a brilliant introduction to the world of The Watchmen. The first fight, primal, savage, a bloodthirsty battle that leads the first of the fallen The Comedian to his death. Which sets everything in the plot into motion. You can see the constant raining outside as they fight. The mood is somber, washed out.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan played the Comedian in this film and almost didn’t do the script after seeing his character was killed off in page three of the screenplay. However, being persuaded by his age, he found that his character is seen through the eyes of other characters in flashbacks.
And it is his character puts everything into motion.
The film revolves around the remaining Watchman who must unravel the mystery surrounding the Comedian’s death and the possibility of a surrounding evil who is eliminating heroes. However, digging deeper into the mystery, the heroes led by Rorschach is led to a much more frightening reality. The possibility of one of their own turning his back on them.
I’m glad that they have kept the story set in 1985 which makes more sense. It is a perfect time of right wing conservatism that has reached its apex during a time when vigilante heroes are outlawed and the high tensions of the cold war continues to escalate. This is a story of many “What-Ifs” including the not far-fetch possibility of Richard Nixon clinging to White House power for a fifth term. Almost unimaginable, really.
If one would look very closely to the film’s backgrounds, you can see the nearly duplicate version of the war room as envisioned in the Dr. Strangelove film starring Peter Sellers. A nice little tribute.
The film is a technical achievement that is stunning, many details neatly crafted, with sincere portions of the historical references placed into the story. Every single scenes is a visual triumph that drags the viewer into the indomitable world of politics and superheroes.
Well, there’s only one true superheroes with any extraordinary powers in the form of Dr. Manhattan. The other ones are all vigilante type rogues who rely on gimmicks and ploys as heroes. They have no powers to resolve their problems.
It’s interesting to note that the actor Billy Crudup used his own voice as the Dr. Manhattan character instead of resorting to an electronic tone. Which gives his character a certain humanity that hasn’t been lost yet. Despite his character is cutting himself off from the rest of the world as he becomes something closer to a god.
There’s a lot of beautiful stuff in the film which persuades you with its magnificence of colors. Not only that, the film offers a lot to take in regarding the story. It’s very complex. Thankfully, I do like such movies that makes you think through many layers of plot.
One other thing. The film offers a very good soundtrack using some surprising songs to fill the orchestra of the visual effects in the story. My favorite has to be Simon and Garfunkle’s illuminating song “Sounds of Silence” which is a perfect for the cemetery setting where The Comedian is left to his resting place.
Many of the performances are very good… considering they are mostly unknown actors. Which furthers my argument that comic book films should have not known actors to play the parts. Jackie Earle Haley gives a tour-de-force performance as the man of mystery Rorschach… and one of the best lines in the film is given to him when the inmates threaten him inside the prison. Rorschach simply isn’t afraid because he has nothing to lose as he says, “You’re all locked in here… with me.”
The film is a very good social commentary on the fears of nuclear war and how the heroes find they have no more place in the world that is casting them out. Humanity is growing up. And this story is grown-up. This isn’t one to take the children to go see.
But it s a film with many visual influences that transcend the entire audience to offer a different kind of comic book story. Making it accessible to the audiences who may not be famliar with the comic. It is a poetry of words made into film. And one where those involved in the film can be a little proud of achieving.
Until next time, try not to vote for Nixon.
Not one that would embrace the most common sense however. Actually, it would be a little crazy to try. The original source of “The Watchmen,” being an illustrated graphic novel, could only be seen as unfilmable.
There’s even a well-known conversation held between comic book author Alan Moore and film director Terry Gilliam who talked about the possibility of bringing the much maligned source to the big screen treatment. Gilliam asked how Moore would feel if he would direct the film.
Moore answered simply, “Don’t.” And Gilliam respected his wishes.
The film scrooge believes the comic book art form should stand out on its own without the proper movie to be in its company.
It isn’t so terrible.
However, despite some minor technical flaws, “The Watchmen” film turns out to be much better than I thought it would be considering the difficulty of translating the comic book. Much of it must be contributed to the visual flair and exceptional style of narration. Some people will gawk at it with criticisms. I’m not one of them.
The first scene, in its sheer brutality, is a brilliant introduction to the world of The Watchmen. The first fight, primal, savage, a bloodthirsty battle that leads the first of the fallen The Comedian to his death. Which sets everything in the plot into motion. You can see the constant raining outside as they fight. The mood is somber, washed out.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan played the Comedian in this film and almost didn’t do the script after seeing his character was killed off in page three of the screenplay. However, being persuaded by his age, he found that his character is seen through the eyes of other characters in flashbacks.
And it is his character puts everything into motion.
The film revolves around the remaining Watchman who must unravel the mystery surrounding the Comedian’s death and the possibility of a surrounding evil who is eliminating heroes. However, digging deeper into the mystery, the heroes led by Rorschach is led to a much more frightening reality. The possibility of one of their own turning his back on them.
I’m glad that they have kept the story set in 1985 which makes more sense. It is a perfect time of right wing conservatism that has reached its apex during a time when vigilante heroes are outlawed and the high tensions of the cold war continues to escalate. This is a story of many “What-Ifs” including the not far-fetch possibility of Richard Nixon clinging to White House power for a fifth term. Almost unimaginable, really.
If one would look very closely to the film’s backgrounds, you can see the nearly duplicate version of the war room as envisioned in the Dr. Strangelove film starring Peter Sellers. A nice little tribute.
The film is a technical achievement that is stunning, many details neatly crafted, with sincere portions of the historical references placed into the story. Every single scenes is a visual triumph that drags the viewer into the indomitable world of politics and superheroes.
Well, there’s only one true superheroes with any extraordinary powers in the form of Dr. Manhattan. The other ones are all vigilante type rogues who rely on gimmicks and ploys as heroes. They have no powers to resolve their problems.
It’s interesting to note that the actor Billy Crudup used his own voice as the Dr. Manhattan character instead of resorting to an electronic tone. Which gives his character a certain humanity that hasn’t been lost yet. Despite his character is cutting himself off from the rest of the world as he becomes something closer to a god.
There’s a lot of beautiful stuff in the film which persuades you with its magnificence of colors. Not only that, the film offers a lot to take in regarding the story. It’s very complex. Thankfully, I do like such movies that makes you think through many layers of plot.
One other thing. The film offers a very good soundtrack using some surprising songs to fill the orchestra of the visual effects in the story. My favorite has to be Simon and Garfunkle’s illuminating song “Sounds of Silence” which is a perfect for the cemetery setting where The Comedian is left to his resting place.
Many of the performances are very good… considering they are mostly unknown actors. Which furthers my argument that comic book films should have not known actors to play the parts. Jackie Earle Haley gives a tour-de-force performance as the man of mystery Rorschach… and one of the best lines in the film is given to him when the inmates threaten him inside the prison. Rorschach simply isn’t afraid because he has nothing to lose as he says, “You’re all locked in here… with me.”
The film is a very good social commentary on the fears of nuclear war and how the heroes find they have no more place in the world that is casting them out. Humanity is growing up. And this story is grown-up. This isn’t one to take the children to go see.
But it s a film with many visual influences that transcend the entire audience to offer a different kind of comic book story. Making it accessible to the audiences who may not be famliar with the comic. It is a poetry of words made into film. And one where those involved in the film can be a little proud of achieving.
Until next time, try not to vote for Nixon.
posted by K.M. Paters at 12:15 PM
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