Roger Ebert gives Watchmen four stars:
I didn't think the review was spoilery for the movie; not even really for the book (which it appears he hasn't read). His final paragraph:
I’m not sure I understood all the nuances and implications, but I am sure I had a powerful experience. It’s not as entertaining as “The Dark Knight,” but like the “Matrix” films, LOTR and “The Dark Knight,” it’s going to inspire fevered analysis. I don’t want to see it twice for that reason, however, but mostly just to have the experience again.
I'm sorry Ebert has lost his voice, but I'm very glad he still has his mind, his fingers, and the Internet.
So I saw the movie tonight. I did indeed feel like I missed some stuff by not reading the graphic novel first. I enjoyed the movie and would call it "good" (like about a 3/3.5 out of 5). I enjoyed Spiderman 2 better, but Watchmen is definitely better than Spidey 3 or Xmen 3.
The scene that Jessica referenced above with the music accompaniment made me laugh out loud in the theater, but I actually think that the director intended the scene to be that cheesy.
The main thing that I felt I was missing is the characters' motivations. I do not (for the life of me) understand what was going through the mind of
Ozymandias with his final solution. How had he come to the conclusion that this was the only way to save humankind? And did he really think this was a permanent solution? Beau had to explain to me that the point of Moore's novel is to point out that superheroes aren't fun people to be around and that their way of looking at the world was fundamentally flawed. I now get that, but I'm not sure the movie made this point particularly well.
Can I just say there was a whole lot of blue penis action? I was shocked. Damn. Overall, I was entertained by the movie. I didn't laugh as much as most of the people in the theater. I found the violence really gross most of the time. I thought it was over the top, but again I think that was the director's point.
I'm currently reading the graphic novel, and if the scene is the scene I'm thinking about, simply reading it made me laugh out loud, what with the visuals and the whole "FINALLY!" of it all.
My friend who lent me the novel saw the midnight showing and was mightily impressed, thought it was faithful in content and spirit, and absolutely loved it. Although, I'm a little skeptical of her "spirit" report, since she didn't seem to comprehend that it was different than "original content".
I haven't seen it in the movie yet, but my understanding is that
the blue penis action is HUGE in the movie, compared to wee (so to speak)
in the comic.
ah, yes, ita, that was my chicas other comment: her boyfriend and guy friends were a bit discomfited by the presence of the
blue bits.
The scene that Jessica referenced above with the music accompaniment made me laugh out loud in the theater, but I actually think that the director intended the scene to be that cheesy.
that was the impression I got, too.
I was quite pleased with Watchmen, overall. I felt it was very faithful to the graphic novel. It was interesting that the feeling (that I always had) of not being very emotionally involved with the novel was kind of amplified by the movie. It was fascinating to watch, and the visuals were great, but I never felt myself being completely absorbed by my interest in the story and the characters.
Just got back too. I knew that reading the graphic novel before seeing the movie was a mistake, but I didn't listen to myself. I feel like I can't quite articulate my issues yet. I thought I would have a few nits to pick, I didn't think I'd walk out disliking the film to the point of almost hating it.
Things I will say: I don't think Zack Snyder read the same book I did. I think almost every musical choice was a misstep. I think that the blue penis action was, while accurate, also a misstep, because that's all the audience could think about whenever it was onscreen. Everything about the Jupiter women makes me want to punch something. I think the change in the ending was not only unnecessary, but missed the entire point in a big way. In a way that kind of makes me really angry.
It's a lovely stand of trees, but it's in a completely different forest, if that metaphor makes any sense.
eta: sorry about that.
Haha, sorry that I killed the thread!
