July 22, 2008
Are You Watching Watchmen?
As an admitted newbie to the graphic novel world, I had no idea why my friends were so excited when DC Comics started handing out Watchmen at Book Expo last year. They urged me to grab one anyway and boy am I glad they did, especially now that I’ve seen the trailer for the movie (out in 2009):
What do you guys think? Are you going to see it?
For those who are also new to Watchmen, it’s hard to fully describe the plot. Suffice to say that it’s about superheroes in an alternate, dystopian 1985 where the threat of nuclear war is imminent. More information is here:
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Comments
I've got goosebumps just thinking about it. Too bad I have to wait another 226 days to see it.
I have to admit, for all my excitement over this movie, I am worried about whether or not they'll be allowed to keep the original ending. The clips from the trailer are exciting and I'm going to be there when this one opens. I'm hopeful.
Who watches the Watchmen? I will!
This trailer has inspired me to re-read Watchmen for what is at least the billionth time. Now I know what to bring on the plane to San Diego!
I am worried that it is directed by the person who brought us the insipid 300. But with the Smashing Pumpkins blowup music throughout and iconic imagery from the graphic novel, there can be no doubt that it will make at least a few fanboy hearts race. Maybe Alan Moore will actually be happy about this adaptation. Or maybe it will be another League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
I always get super apprehensive when I know a movie is coming out based on a book that I LOVE. But I think Zach Snyder is the guy to make this movie stand up to the greatest that is the graphic novel. I like his style. And I'm glad there are no big names in this film! (I saw Angelina Jolie is going to be in the film adaptation of Atlas Shrugged...and I refuse to see that film now. I love the book too much.)
And by "greatest" I mean GREATNESS.
I agree Thom. This is a movie that is really going to demand a certain touch. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...
Dystopian? 1985? Superheroes? How can anyone not be interested?
Yeah, I'm a little skeptical about how Hollywood is gonna treat this. Especially the w/ the director from 300. Visuals look stunning overall, but I'm not sure about Dr. Manhattan...
I have no idea how they're going to handle the temporal hopscotch and the book-within-the-book lonely-sailor thing, but the trailer looks fantastic. And say what you want about 300; visually, it was stunning. Let's hope the director is all grows up now.
It's been reported that Tales of the Black Freighter--the story within the story--is going to be a separate animated short to be released on DVD right after the film's release. Snyder's hinted darkly at a someday-maybe "ulltimate edition" that will splice Black Freighter into the film itself.
I definitely need to reread this before the movie comes out because I am so watching it. The visuals look stunning.
yep. i just giggled with excitement after watching the trailer again. let's do this. snyder better not screw this up.
Come on, Billy Crudup and Carla Gugino are HUGE names! Didn't you see Spin City, Sin City, and Almost Famous?
I am nervous at the tone of the movie. The GN was pretty dark and serious, and the movie will have to find the balance between self-serious aggrandizing and consistency with the source material. The Dark Knight I believe struck that balance well--it is a movie that feels grounded in reality even when fantastic things happen. Though Batman is human and has wonderful toys, and isn't a blue deity figure. I guess it would have been too easy for Brian Singer to direct this, seeing how well he handled large casts in X1 and X2. But Superman Returns was a sadly boring movie.
I will be one of those folks reading the novel for the first time very soon so I am prepared for this movie. The mounting excitement is infectious and I'm ready to be a part of it! For years my friends have tried to get me to read Watchmen and I think that the time has finally come to see what all the hype is about...
I believe the wikipedia article said that Terry Gilliam pronounced Watchmen unfilmalbe. Sadly, I think I have to agree. Despite its undeniable cinematic quality, (SPOILER!!, sort of) the part where Dr. Manhattan basically lives his entire life all at once could never be fully realized on film because it would have to be presented in a linear way. But that aspect of Manhattan is so important to his character and he means within the larger novel. Also, I'm not sure if Zack Snyder is the man for the job. 300 did big business, but can anyone say it was a great movie?