Who'll Be Watching The Watchmen?

The Co=Ordinator wrote:*coughs*

May I just point out that I'm neither a comics nor graphic novel person. I have absolutely no love for modern Batman. I have never seen all of V for Vendetta. However I really liked what I have seen. I am very much looking forward to this movie. The last time I went to the cinema was to see the wonderful Cloverfield. I am intending to go to the cinema to watch the Watchmen. I am not expecting to be disappointed. Mock me with derision of you so desire. Herendeth this post consisting purely of short, sharp sentences.

According to ultimate judge of all human behaviour (Google), you are only the sixth person in history to use the phrase 'the wonderful Cloverfield'.

Still, I have seen all of V For Vendetta, and until they invent brain bleach, it will always be stuck there as a warning against too excited about film versions of comics that look really good in the trailer.

Which reminds me of something I feel I need to share, just to help prepare you in case it does happen - The Wachowski Brothers doing the next Superman movie.

Nick Barlow wrote:Which reminds me of something I feel I need to share, just to help prepare you in case it does happen - The Wachowski Brothers doing the next Superman movie.

Still have that brain bleach handy?

I don't think Ross's opinion means much when it comes to anything, really. Too many times I've seen him praise something to the face of somebody involved in it and then turn around and slag it in his reviews. Nor do his geeky credentials cut an ice - he's knowledgeably geeky/comic booky in way too narrow an outlook for me to trust what he says.

This is definitely a project when you have to experience it yourself and draw your own conclusions. Although I do agree with Frank's sharp observation that we could be looking at another potential "Blade Runner" here.

But then again, I actually rate Frank's critical prowess over and above JR's.

Well, it's funny how quickly my opposition to going melts when faced with free tickets to see it at the IMAX tonight!

The world would be a poorer place without hypocrisy Rich.

Well, you can't turn down free tickets!

You could always pass them on to people who really want them.

Yeah, right!

variety review says its a "fanboys delight" but is "timidly streamlined" and "undone by it's own reverence"

hmmmmm

I'm back from the press preview at the IMAX which was free.

The Co=Ordinator wrote:*coughs*

May I just point out that I'm neither a comics nor graphic novel person. I have absolutely no love for modern Batman. I have never seen all of V for Vendetta. However I really liked what I have seen. I am very much looking forward to this movie. The last time I went to the cinema was to see the wonderful Cloverfield. I am intending to go to the cinema to watch the Watchmen. I am not expecting to be disappointed. Mock me with derision of you so desire. Herendeth this post consisting purely of short, sharp sentences.

Just a little thought - if you haven't read the comic and you intend to go and see the film, then don't. For two reasons: you will be doing yourself a disservice because the comic is so much better, and because the film, though very good, would be much worse if you didn't know what was going on from the comic.

Here's a thought: from watching the film you can tell which bit the director has added himself. They're the s*** bits. They stand out like a sore thumb.

As to which review I'm waiting for* - Dr Kermode's. I may well not agree with it, and it's not really his thing, but at least it'll be intelligent and honest...

Graymalkin wrote:As to which review I'm waiting for* - Dr Kermode's. I may well not agree with it, and it's not really his thing, but at least it'll be intelligent and honest...

*Apart from Francis'...

Agreed. He's that rare beast a critic I actually respect, even when I don't agree with him.

Sid Seadevil wrote:

This is definitely a project when you have to experience it yourself and draw your own conclusions. Although I do agree with Frank's sharp observation that we could be looking at another potential "Blade Runner" here.

But then again, I actually rate Frank's critical prowess over and above JR's.

Your £50 is in the post, Sidney. My review will be up on the blog Friday night.

As an aside, I'm not a huge fan of the graphic novel. It's good and for its day was incredibly ground-breaking but I do think the 'squid' ending is rather left field and doesn't work for me. So I'm going into the film knowing who is who, what the subtext is, what the story is but I'm not going in wanting to string Snyder up for all the changes he's instigated. He's made the film he wants to make and I will be looking at it from that perspective.

Best review I've read is on the CHUD site. It's somewhat gushing but it at least acknowledges that Snyder makes changes based on perspective. What worked back in the 1980s won't necessarily translate to a film in 2009.

Sid Seadevil wrote:

Graymalkin wrote:As to which review I'm waiting for* - Dr Kermode's. I may well not agree with it, and it's not really his thing, but at least it'll be intelligent and honest...

*Apart from Francis'...

Agreed. He's that rare beast a critic I actually respect, even when I don't agree with him.

I absolutely was with him in his disparaging of Quantum Of Solace! He was rather unkind towards Benjamin Button I thought as it isn't that bad a film but still he had some salient points.

Frank wrote:

Sid Seadevil wrote:

This is definitely a project when you have to experience it yourself and draw your own conclusions. Although I do agree with Frank's sharp observation that we could be looking at another potential "Blade Runner" here.

But then again, I actually rate Frank's critical prowess over and above JR's.

Your £50 is in the post, Sidney. My review will be up on the blog Friday night.

As an aside, I'm not a huge fan of the graphic novel. It's good and for its day was incredibly ground-breaking but I do think the 'squid' ending is rather left field and doesn't work for me. So I'm going into the film knowing who is who, what the subtext is, what the story is but I'm not going in wanting to string Snyder up for all the changes he's instigated. He's made the film he wants to make and I will be looking at it from that perspective.

Best review I've read is on the CHUD site. It's somewhat gushing but it at least acknowledges that Snyder makes changes based on perspective. What worked back in the 1980s won't necessarily translate to a film in 2009.

frank- that's ""visionary director" zack snyder" to you/

Frank wrote:
Your £50 is in the post, Sidney. My review will be up on the blog Friday night.

As an aside, I'm not a huge fan of the graphic novel. It's good and for its day was incredibly ground-breaking but I do think the 'squid' ending is rather left field and doesn't work for me. So I'm going into the film knowing who is who, what the subtext is, what the story is but I'm not going in wanting to string Snyder up for all the changes he's instigated. He's made the film he wants to make and I will be looking at it from that perspective.

Best review I've read is on the CHUD site. It's somewhat gushing but it at least acknowledges that Snyder makes changes based on perspective. What worked back in the 1980s won't necessarily translate to a film in 2009.

*pockets Frank's 50 quid*

Once again, I agree. The graphic novel ending never really convinced - and I always found it a work to be admired for its technical brilliance, rather than for any inherently deep emotional resonance. I'm certain Snyder's changes will work if the changes in social context wrought by the passing of the years since the original are kept in mind.

I remain quietly optimistic. Above all else I want this to work as a film in its own right, rather than as a slavish translation of the GN.

Sid Seadevil wrote:

Frank wrote:
Your £50 is in the post, Sidney. My review will be up on the blog Friday night.

As an aside, I'm not a huge fan of the graphic novel. It's good and for its day was incredibly ground-breaking but I do think the 'squid' ending is rather left field and doesn't work for me. So I'm going into the film knowing who is who, what the subtext is, what the story is but I'm not going in wanting to string Snyder up for all the changes he's instigated. He's made the film he wants to make and I will be looking at it from that perspective.

Best review I've read is on the CHUD site. It's somewhat gushing but it at least acknowledges that Snyder makes changes based on perspective. What worked back in the 1980s won't necessarily translate to a film in 2009.

*pockets Frank's 50 quid*

Once again, I agree. The graphic novel ending never really convinced - and I always found it a work to be admired for its technical brilliance, rather than for any inherently deep emotional resonance. I'm certain Snyder's changes will work if the changes in social context wrought by the passing of the years since the original are kept in mind.

I remain quietly optimistic. Above all else I want this to work as a film in its own right, rather than as a slavish translation of the GN.

that's "VISIONARY DIRECTOR ZACK SNYDER"!

barnaby salton wrote:
that's "VISIONARY DIRECTOR ZACK SNYDER"!

Oi, Snyder...shut it!

Frank wrote:

barnaby salton wrote:
that's "VISIONARY DIRECTOR ZACK SNYDER"!

Oi, Snyder...shut it!

That's Oi, "Visionary Director" Snyder...shut it, to you.

I like the squid...

Not that I don't see why Snyder changed the ending, but I can't join in the sudden cry of "Oh, well, the squid was rubbish anyway". It works fine for me.

Doc Filth wrote:I like the squid...

Well, that's OK then. There, there.

Doc Filth wrote:Not that I don't see why Snyder changed the ending, but I can't join in the sudden cry of "Oh, well, the squid was rubbish anyway". It works fine for me.

I don't why he shouldn't either. Personally, I wasn't fond of the squid ending anyway back in the day so I'd like to distinguish myself from the recent bandwagon of 'it was rubbish anyway' because I was sort of that opinion 23 years ago.

Doc Filth wrote:I like the squid...

Not that I don't see why "Visionary Director" Zack Snyder changed the ending, but I can't join in the sudden cry of "Oh, well, the squid was rubbish anyway". It works fine for me.

fixed that for you

SPOILERS, SPOILERS, SPOILERS. You *might* have ruined the movie for me chaps...........