Official Watchmen movie thread

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Shortcut
Just saw it today. I'm glad I read the book before watching the movie, since the story would be fairly inaccessible otherwise.

That said, I liked that the movie was very faithful to the book. Janey Slater was fuckng hot! The writers showed good judgment with the scenes they left out in order to condense the story into 2.5 hrs.

The more I think about it, Watchmen would be a terrific candidate as a mini-series...that way they'd have time to spend on some of the really powerful stuff (e.g. the psychologist gradually transforming from a happy go-lucky guy to a completely disillusioned, dejected soul)

And Janey Slater was fucking hot!

i feel this way also. There's just so much more depth to the graphic novel that had to be cut from the movie. So many back stories were left untold. I read the book last week, and while sitting thru the movie I was constantly thinking HTF can anyone follow this movie w/o reading the book - so many little things just werent explained.

I really wanted to like the movie, but I didnt. Couldve been the theater though. The AC wasnt working properly and it got waaay too hot in there. Also the surround sound system wasnt working properly and it sounded like blown out computer speakers. Really killed the experience for me. Never going to this stupid theater again (Regal Commerce center 18 on R1. 1 in North Brunswick, NJ)

I will give this movie a try when it comes out on DVD and view it properly in my home theater system

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Ballatician
Both SS's were hot as hell. Too much blue dong as said before. How did Dr. Manhattan draw that symbol on his head? Was it the hydrogen atom or something?

Another small thing they left out from the movie. In the comic, military authorities came up with a suit for him which included a helmet with some sort of a logo on it. When Dr. Manhattan asked them why that logo and what it means, the guy just shrugged saying all superheroes have to have a logo and he guessed this means something nuclear. To that Dr. Manhattan said if he is to have a logo, it will be something that means something - and he drew a hydrogen atom on his forehead

 

[Sedition]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP

Originally posted by: Sedition

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
I HAVE to get this off my chest!! RAWR!!!
First off though, I enjoyed the movie, and I think everyone involved with the movie should be extremely proud of themselves.

K..well, phok. I have one major gripe. It's the millions dying scene. In the comic, all the momentum towards the end was going towards a more optimistic upswing. Watchmen band together, almost solving the crime. Dr. Manhatton and Laurie is on their way back to Earth... ok flip the page, next chapter..

Then it's nothing but blood, guts, and dead people. To me, that was a total WTF when I read the comic. It was very disheartening.
The movie should've just showed all the blood/guts of millions, then show how it was done. Take the momentum to a more optimistic tone, only to have nothing but death and destruction.

Not true. The last scene before the countless dead is Adrian kicking both their asses, explaining his plan, and telling them he did it 35 minutes ago.

I do somewhat agree that it was missing something with out the blood and guts and horror and most importantly a big ugly squid, but I imagine that was something to do with ratings.
You can see in earlier posts by other posters that they thought the movie was verging on too gruesome. Imagine a city filled with blood and guts, news reports of mothers eating their children in horror and all the nastiness that went into Veidt's plan.

ahh thanks for the clarification. I just remember going "holy crap!"

Heh, I remember my reaction more than the story. It's been awhile since I've read it.

And on that point, I completely agree. I remember figuring out a bit before that it must be Veidt behind everything but I couldn't for the life of me figure out why or how or what. The whole exchange and all the events leading up to the explosion were so amazing and visual. It was bouncing back and forth to the New Stand in New York and it was right when all the "new york citizens" that had been developed thus far had all gotten together in the same place and were fighting with each other.

I really felt that the things that held the movie back the most was the time constraints. You could feel parts of the movie being pulled out. The best example of this is the New Yorkers especially the Kid and the News Stand guy and Mason's Murder. There is one point in the bar when Rorschach is torturing the one guy and Dan is standing guard I could feel the absence. You watch Dan look over his shoulder and stare at the Knot-top kid and I swear it looked like he was about to admit to Mason's murder just like in the comic book.
I did read in the wiki article that Hollis's death was one of the last things purged so I am almost positive it will be in a director's cut. I just hope they shot more stuff like this and took it out after production.

To be completely frank, if they come out with a 5 hour director's cut, I couldn't be happier. If only they made it available on the big screen. Hollywood really needs to consider doing this. Unrated, uncut director's final work. It could be limited runs in select theaters and cities, whatever they had to do, but to have that experience in a theater. There couldn't be anything better.

 

[brownzilla786]

Originally posted by: ducci
I didn't read the book.

The movie was mediocre.

The soundtrack was terrible.

The sex scenes were terrible.

It just seemed like the movie didn't know what it wanted to be. It had some really gritty moments which were done great. Rorschach in particular was very interesting. His scene in the prison was probably the highlight of the movie - from the interview with the psychiatrist to his encounters with other inmates. Very well done.

But then it had very whimsical and fantasy scenes that weren't done well at all. Most of the scenes with Dr. Manhattan were done this way and it was completely uninteresting. To top it off, the soundtrack to the entire movie was ridiculous and felt completely out of place. It was like they just licensed some songs from that era and threw them in wherever.

And as I mentioned before - the sex scenes were awful - particularly the one between the Silk Spectre II and the Nite Owl II in the ship. Yes, she's naked! Great. Big deal. It was tacky and done in poor taste. It completely contrasted (and not in a good way) the rest of the movie. And to top it off, the ridiculous ending of the scene - with the fire shooting out of the ship - I would have loved to been in the storyboard meeting for that one where everyone agreed that would be a good idea. If that was detailed in the book, then it was either one of those things that works in print but doesn't translate well into film - or more likely, was just as absurd in both forms.

It felt long. It was long. But it was decently entertaining. I would like to have seen Frank Miller direct this. I think he has a better grasp of the comic film-noir genre.

This. Except I thought the soundtrack was pretty good. Movie was painfully long and the sex scenes were just unnecessary and did not add to anything. The movie was not organized in a way to constantly move you forward, there was always some back tracking to peoples memories (some were good, some were not) and it felt like the movie was all over the place. I would not recommend it to anyone unless your some diehard fan.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: brownzilla786
The movie was not organized in a way to constantly move you forward, there was always some back tracking to peoples memories (some were good, some were not) and it felt like the movie was all over the place. I would not recommend it to anyone unless your some diehard fan.

Heh, if you think the movie is all over the place, read the comic. There's a reason why Moore said it was unfilmable.

 

[Sedition]

Originally posted by: brownzilla786

Originally posted by: ducci
I didn't read the book.

The movie was mediocre.

The soundtrack was terrible.

The sex scenes were terrible.

It just seemed like the movie didn't know what it wanted to be. It had some really gritty moments which were done great. Rorschach in particular was very interesting. His scene in the prison was probably the highlight of the movie - from the interview with the psychiatrist to his encounters with other inmates. Very well done.

But then it had very whimsical and fantasy scenes that weren't done well at all. Most of the scenes with Dr. Manhattan were done this way and it was completely uninteresting. To top it off, the soundtrack to the entire movie was ridiculous and felt completely out of place. It was like they just licensed some songs from that era and threw them in wherever.

And as I mentioned before - the sex scenes were awful - particularly the one between the Silk Spectre II and the Nite Owl II in the ship. Yes, she's naked! Great. Big deal. It was tacky and done in poor taste. It completely contrasted (and not in a good way) the rest of the movie. And to top it off, the ridiculous ending of the scene - with the fire shooting out of the ship - I would have loved to been in the storyboard meeting for that one where everyone agreed that would be a good idea. If that was detailed in the book, then it was either one of those things that works in print but doesn't translate well into film - or more likely, was just as absurd in both forms.

It felt long. It was long. But it was decently entertaining. I would like to have seen Frank Miller direct this. I think he has a better grasp of the comic film-noir genre.

This. Except I thought the soundtrack was pretty good. Movie was painfully long and the sex scenes were just unnecessary and did not add to anything. The movie was not organized in a way to constantly move you forward, there was always some back tracking to peoples memories (some were good, some were not) and it felt like the movie was all over the place. I would not recommend it to anyone unless your some diehard fan.

All this tells me is that you would hate the book, because it jumps around even more and its longer, and it has significantly more development and characters. Sorry you can't appreciate good complex storytelling. Your only argument was the sex scene that I agree seemed to be drawn out a little to sell to that teen male demographic.


About 90% of the people who I know who knew NOTHING about watchmen liked or loved the movie. Only a few didn't really like it but almost all said they might have to read the book just because the movie intrigued them. The one review I think Ooo posted said it the best I think it could have been said (paraphrasing) if anything else we finally have a 2.5 hour commercial to read The Watchmen novel.

 

[Oceandevi]

Originally posted by: Kev
what the hell was that thing they were floating around in on mars?

A ford focus. duh

 

[swbsam]

I was actually really bored. I liked the first 20 minutes, and there were moments that worked throughout.. But, all in all, the movie lacked a soul...

And I read the book when I was 15.. I don't care for a shot-by-shot remake, I want something that captures the spirit of the book.. The movie didn't.. Sad, really.

 

[Baked]

Was listening to NPR this morning talking about this movie. Movie manager calls in and tells the host some dumb fucks bring their 3-4 year olds to watch Watchmen, thinking it's like Spider-Man. LMAO. Way to go not researching the movie before you bring your kid to a R rated movie with sex, violence, and a ton of fucked up shit. I can see parental QQ groups getting up in arms over this movie.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Baked
Was listening to NPR this morning talking about this movie. Movie manager calls in and tells the host some dumb fucks bring their 3-4 year olds to watch Watchmen, thinking it's like Spider-Man. LMAO. Way to go not researching the movie before you bring your kid to a R rated movie with sex, violence, and a ton of fucked up shit. I can see parental QQ groups getting up in arms over this movie.

Called it.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Baked
Was listening to NPR this morning talking about this movie. Movie manager calls in and tells the host some dumb fucks bring their 3-4 year olds to watch Watchmen, thinking it's like Spider-Man. LMAO. Way to go not researching the movie before you bring your kid to a R rated movie with sex, violence, and a ton of fucked up shit. I can see parental QQ groups getting up in arms over this movie.

LOL

 

[Oceandevi]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Baked
Was listening to NPR this morning talking about this movie. Movie manager calls in and tells the host some dumb fucks bring their 3-4 year olds to watch Watchmen, thinking it's like Spider-Man. LMAO. Way to go not researching the movie before you bring your kid to a R rated movie with sex, violence, and a ton of fucked up shit. I can see parental QQ groups getting up in arms over this movie.

LOL

There were many 10-12 year old kids when I watched it.

 

[jonks]

Originally posted by: ducci
I would like to have seen Frank Miller direct this. I think he has a better grasp of the comic film-noir genre.

I recommend you see The Spirit before ever recommending Frank Miller get behind the camera ever again.

 

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: Oceandevi

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Baked
Was listening to NPR this morning talking about this movie. Movie manager calls in and tells the host some dumb fucks bring their 3-4 year olds to watch Watchmen, thinking it's like Spider-Man. LMAO. Way to go not researching the movie before you bring your kid to a R rated movie with sex, violence, and a ton of fucked up shit. I can see parental QQ groups getting up in arms over this movie.

LOL

There were many 10-12 year old kids when I watched it.

me too. with their parents.

I personally don't really care how old they are as I don't think movies can warp their fragile little minds. My concern is that the parents will go all Tipper Gore on everything.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Baked
Was listening to NPR this morning talking about this movie. Movie manager calls in and tells the host some dumb fucks bring their 3-4 year olds to watch Watchmen, thinking it's like Spider-Man. LMAO. Way to go not researching the movie before you bring your kid to a R rated movie with sex, violence, and a ton of fucked up shit. I can see parental QQ groups getting up in arms over this movie.

I'm hoping that someone writes into the local paper about it like they did about 300 ( stating that it glorified war :roll: ). I want to write a retort to some idiotic parent so badly .

 

[Oceandevi]

Originally posted by: SirStev0

Originally posted by: Oceandevi

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Baked
Was listening to NPR this morning talking about this movie. Movie manager calls in and tells the host some dumb fucks bring their 3-4 year olds to watch Watchmen, thinking it's like Spider-Man. LMAO. Way to go not researching the movie before you bring your kid to a R rated movie with sex, violence, and a ton of fucked up shit. I can see parental QQ groups getting up in arms over this movie.

LOL

There were many 10-12 year old kids when I watched it.

me too. with their parents.

I personally don't really care how old they are as I don't think movies can warp their fragile little minds. My concern is that the parents will go all Tipper Gore on everything.

I was amused by the mental picture of mom covering up little timmy's eyes every time blue dong waved at them.

 

[lifeobry]

Never read the comic. Liked the movie. I was interested throughout.

Hardly too gruesome though. Only parts that got a mild reaction from me were when NiteOwl(sp?) punched that thug's elbow in half, cleaver to murderer's head repeatedly, and sawing off the dude's arms.

I liked the fight scenes though, especially the part where Adrian takes out the dude that tries to assasinate him, even though I saw that part in the trailer. That guy was BA.

Blue dong was distracting as was awkward love/sex scenes. Snyder can't film sexing at all. The music was pretty weak, too many instantly recognizable songs.

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: Oceandevi

Originally posted by: SirStev0

Originally posted by: Oceandevi

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Baked
Was listening to NPR this morning talking about this movie. Movie manager calls in and tells the host some dumb fucks bring their 3-4 year olds to watch Watchmen, thinking it's like Spider-Man. LMAO. Way to go not researching the movie before you bring your kid to a R rated movie with sex, violence, and a ton of fucked up shit. I can see parental QQ groups getting up in arms over this movie.

LOL

There were many 10-12 year old kids when I watched it.

me too. with their parents.

I personally don't really care how old they are as I don't think movies can warp their fragile little minds. My concern is that the parents will go all Tipper Gore on everything.

I was amused by the mental picture of mom covering up little timmy's eyes every time blue dong waved at them.

I honestly think if I, having read the graphic novel, was a father to a 10-12yo who was able to read through the entire graphic novel and enjoy it, I would take them to see this movie. I know at that age I would have appreciated it. Those that are taking unknowing (read: undeserving) kids to see this are now forced to explain blue dong as long as they need to.

 

[Ballatician]

Originally posted by: captains
sorry for giving my opinion

Ignore the rabid fanbois.

 

[Shortcut]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: brownzilla786
The movie was not organized in a way to constantly move you forward, there was always some back tracking to peoples memories (some were good, some were not) and it felt like the movie was all over the place. I would not recommend it to anyone unless your some diehard fan.

Heh, if you think the movie is all over the place, read the comic. There's a reason why Moore said it was unfilmable.

Yeah, all those frequent flashbacks were really jarring in the movie. I had to try and remember what happened from the book just to keep from getting lost.

 

[irishScott]

I don't buy into this "if you haven't read the novel you won't enjoy it" crap. I saw the movie cold turkey last weekend, then saw it again the next day (different group of friends). I just ordered the graphic novel from Amazon.

I also had no problem keeping up with the movie or it's plot/characters, but that's me I guess.

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Baked
Was listening to NPR this morning talking about this movie. Movie manager calls in and tells the host some dumb fucks bring their 3-4 year olds to watch Watchmen, thinking it's like Spider-Man. LMAO. Way to go not researching the movie before you bring your kid to a R rated movie with sex, violence, and a ton of fucked up shit. I can see parental QQ groups getting up in arms over this movie.

LOL

Yep. Back when I saw The Dark Knight a kid started crying after the opening scene. :roll:

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: Oceandevi

Originally posted by: SirStev0

Originally posted by: Oceandevi

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Baked
Was listening to NPR this morning talking about this movie. Movie manager calls in and tells the host some dumb fucks bring their 3-4 year olds to watch Watchmen, thinking it's like Spider-Man. LMAO. Way to go not researching the movie before you bring your kid to a R rated movie with sex, violence, and a ton of fucked up shit. I can see parental QQ groups getting up in arms over this movie.

LOL

There were many 10-12 year old kids when I watched it.

me too. with their parents.

I personally don't really care how old they are as I don't think movies can warp their fragile little minds. My concern is that the parents will go all Tipper Gore on everything.

I was amused by the mental picture of mom covering up little timmy's eyes every time blue dong waved at them.

Nothing like a 30 foot uncut blue dong to make parents scramble to cover up their kids' eyes lol.

Interesting how I bet they allowed them to watch all the gruesome violence without covering their eyes.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: Oceandevi

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Baked
Was listening to NPR this morning talking about this movie. Movie manager calls in and tells the host some dumb fucks bring their 3-4 year olds to watch Watchmen, thinking it's like Spider-Man. LMAO. Way to go not researching the movie before you bring your kid to a R rated movie with sex, violence, and a ton of fucked up shit. I can see parental QQ groups getting up in arms over this movie.

LOL

There were many 10-12 year old kids when I watched it.

Sadly, I wouldn't bring my kid to Finding Nemo either. The shark(s) at the beginning freak young kids out. Even Disney is Fing up these days.

 

[KeithTalent]

Just came back from this and thought it was fucking awesome. I had finally finished reading the GN about an hour prior, so maybe that helped, having it so fresh in my head, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, as did the ex who has never read the GN.

There were a few things they left out which I think would have been better left in, but nothing game-breaking.

The altered ending worked well and, in some ways, almost seemed a more logical way to do things.

Anyway, good stuff. :thumbsup:

KT