Phil Watches the Watchmen
I can honestly say that I haven’t been so excited about a movie since Star Wars - The Phantom Menace, back in 1999. And, whilst George Lucas’ re-boot went a long way towards ending my faith in humanity for all time, I can honestly say that I loved The Watchmen. I’ll put a break in so if anyone wants to avoid spoilers they can!
Of course, being as I am something of a purist for the original source material (I must have read the graphic novel four or five times in the last ten years) I had a difficult time just sitting back and enjoying the film without constantly searching for digressions from the original plot, for better or worse. The big change, of course, was the ending which, on reflection, was probably not a bad thing. A big squid turning up out of the blue and killing half of New York with a psychic scream seems unnecessary when Zack Snyder’s substitution makes so much more sense within the context of the film. Of course, I still prefer Alan Moore’s original plot, but trying to add that whole conspiracy into an already near-three hour film would have been a step too far.
Overall, I was delighted with the characterisations of the main players - Rorschach was perfect and I even liked the updated costumes for Nite Owl II and Silk Spectre II. A few minor issues with Snyder shoe-horning in graphic violence (jail cell scene and Rorschach origin flashback, I’m looking at you) where there was none before, not to mention one of the more cringe-worthy sex scenes I’ve ever witnessed, non-withstanding… I’m eagerly anticipating the Director’s Cut (with Tales of the Black Freighter interspersed) in July.
Of course, all of this is written from the point of view of an unashamed Watchmen fanboy, and part of my exuberance is due to pure relief: I was convinced it would be a let-down on a par with the detestable adaptation of From Hell. Reviews from neutrals, it is fair to say, have been mixed, and I whilst I disagree with many of the criticisms raised, I can see why they were bought up.
Overall, I suspect that the film is destined for cult status amongst ‘the overweight, obsessive demographic’, but eventual obscurity in the eyes of the mainstream. Which, y’know, is the way I always wanted it and, frankly, precisely what the film-makers seemed to have been aiming for…
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:56 pm
We went to see Watchmen last week… as a so called ‘neutral’ I did enjoy the film but had a couple of issues with it. Firstly, I think a two minute introduction to what exactly the watchmen are about would have been great for the benefit of those that haven’t read the graphic novel.
They spent a long time showing how they had developed and changed but it took us a while to figure out what their purpose was, which detracted from a simpleton like me concentrating on the plot.
I also completely agree about the gratuitous violence. Violence is fine in my opinion when its contextual and appropriate but I agree that those two particular scenes did feel a bit forced in. I also have a few qualms against watching a pregnant woman being killed for no apparent reason…violence between men and women that are capable of giving as good as they get is fine, but I felt that some of the violence was too near the knuckle for me.
Not a criticism of the film, but of a character; Silk Spectre II is a whore! Women in films who can’t make up their minds and mess people around in the process make me angry.
On a side note, the scenes and character development of Doctor Manhattan were awesome, although I’m sure a lot of the male audience didn’t want *that* in their face for three hours.
March 31st, 2009 at 2:41 pm
All valid criticisms, although the pacing was probably due to time constraints. I’m hoping that the director’s cut (complete with the ‘Tales of the Black Freighter’ comic within a comic interspersed) will solve a lot of these problems.
The violence worked better in the comic book as it was often just hinted at, rather than the visceral torture-porn that we were occasionally subjected to. I would encourage anyone who even remotely enjoyed the film to check out the original for a far more rounded Watchmen experience!