Saw the movie last Saturday…
So, did I like the movie version?
I guess I’ll be among the lot who would enjoy being splattered with Alan Moore’s venom and spite, because I seriously loved the movie. (Duuude, Alan Moore just killed me! Yes!)
Zack Snyder once again proves that a movie can be loyal to the source material… well not totally but still, the most loyal comic book adaptation to date. It has finally been filmed with full respect. The plot preserved, the core unremoved
(Before I proceed, let it be known you are free to express your opinion, I will not entertain any debates… if you do open one with others please maintain mutual respect… yes this is pretty much a very sensitive matter to the comics community hehe)
The graphic novel is credited to being the most influential of modern superhero fiction, and indeed it came out when hero books are mostly adventure type stories. Watchmen became a psychological biography of masked vigilantes, questioning what society sees as good, and making us explore our own humanity and question our morals.
And the movie couldn’t have been released in a better time (the worse being earlier). Hero movies have been popping up everywhere within the last decade. And people seeing those would have been treated to the same formula: A hero vs villain angle. Watchmen will have offered a different recipe of what is good and what is bad.
I loved the movie, I’m sure not everyone will share the same adoration of it. I loved the different angle on the ending since it provides more logic to everything and even grounds the story more towards a realistic parallel 1985… well to me at least. And it has been always the fear of that inevitable outcome that will engage the moviegoers rather than an unknown and sudden alien threat. I actually think it was better than the original (there I said it, please put your pitchforks down), as it gives more reason for Doc Manhattan to leave the galaxy… an Alien threat would have people begging for Manhattan to help them, actually, aside from just becoming united against a common enemy. A common enemy within makes it the more scarier.
And my review: The casting was really great, I was completely sold on who they were portraying. I can say nothing more. I also enjoyed the intro very very very much. The whole movie was Epic
Did I say I loved it? The only problem is, non comic book fans would probably not receive it as good. It also did get a little dragging around the middle. There were missing parts, sure, but it didn’t have that much effect to the whole. And besides not everyone will have the will to sit through a 5 hour movie. (And surely not everyone enjoys reading a book)
Now, would Alan Moore hate it? Some concludes he would. I personally have no idea what he would think about it. I mean he is avoiding a glimpse of the movie because of his hatred of Hollywood, mainly because of how it has treated most of his creations. All of them were way off from their original sources, and because of Fox’s LXG, Alan Moore had even been accused of plagiarism. Anybody would be definitely pissed off with that, since after all he had nothing to do with the direction Fox went for. SO Thank God, Fox never made the movie, Thank you Warner for taking more control of your titles
As said, Mr. Alan Moore has cursed Hollywood and severed all goodwill for having mutilated his creations and being sued was the final nail in the coffin. Now, if Hollywood had started off adapting Moore novels with the same degree of respect and vision as Snyder did on Watchmen, who knows what he would be thinking about Hollywood… probably still hate them but I’m guessing nothing near venom and spite. Actually now I’m wondering what a Snyder directed LXG would look like. I haven’t yet read The League book, but I am aware how grossly inaccurate the characters were… so no question that what I watched wasn’t Moore’s.
The only person who can probably persuade Moore to watch the Watchmen movie, would be Dave Gibbons, the book’s artist… it’s a slim chance.
In whole is it better than the book? Well no, there will always be something missing, something to further deconstruct or understand a hero. But the movie still had presented the same questions as in the book. As much as some things could be told better in comic book form, subtleties can be enhanced by movies and make it more effective conveying expressions. Did it ruin Alan Moore’s creation? Well it made me go back and reread the book, and still enjoy it. So no. Loving the book doesn’t mean hating the movie and vice versa.
The whole adaptation doesn’t end with the movie alone. Warner had produced two other companion stories, based on the books within the book; Under the Hood, and the animated Tales of the Black Freighter… a review can be read here:
www.aintitcool.com/node/40376There’s also a rumor that on the DVD release an alternate ending will be featured much more loyal to the book. Although I hope they don’t limit that to the Blu-ray; much like what they did to the features of the Dark Knight DVD…. Grrrrrrr
It is always darkest before the dawn.
Well, the long night is nearly over. Prepare. The sun is coming, so buckle up, Manila!
This year, The Next Big Event… just got even BIGGER!!!
Hobbylink Productions, Inc. is proud to present the event that is destined to be the ULTIMATE hobbyist’ convention in the Philippines:
THE 1ST MANILA COMIC-CON!
Get ready as local pop culture history is set to be re-written on August 8 and 9, 2009; at the SM MEGATRADE HALLS 1 and 2, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City!
Yes. Biggest can’t be the BEST, unless there would be, AND OF COURSE THERE WOULD BE:
* More celebrated local and international Filipino Comic Book Artists to meet!
* More eye-popping exhibits of comic book art, larger-than-life original sculptures and hard to find toys!
* More booths to start or expand your collection at great prices!
* More programs including fascinating panel discussions and COSPLAY!
And since everything is MORE, the only thing we need more of is YOU! So mark your calendars and be part of history.
Manila Comic ConFor more information and questions please join the mailing listgroups.yahoo.com/group/manilac…For Indie Comics Creators Please contact
Felix Cua of Druids Keep at
(02)854-5332 Tuesday-Saturday 2:00pm -8pm
Sunday 1:00pm -6:00pm
