I'm watching the Watchmen

Powerstreak · 2009-10-23, 5:28 PM

Right now. I've read the comic, didn't have the money or inclination to see the film in theatres and am catching up now on a borrowed DVD.

I'll be keeping you updated with my thoughts as I go through it.

15 Minutes in: The opening credits were an interesting way to introduce the history but too long given that some of it wasn't that informative.

Initial impression is that the film is suffering from the same thing all Zack Snyder's have so far, too much time on the visuals and too little spent on the acting. Lines already feel flat and oddly placed at times.

BRAVE OR GRAVE! · 2009-10-23, 5:29 PM

What cut?

Jimmy McForum · 2009-10-23, 5:29 PM

Who is?

**ColinZeal** · 2009-10-23, 5:29 PM

Welp, if you didn't like the opening credits, you're in trouble.

Jimmy McForum · 2009-10-23, 5:30 PM

srsly: it's an okay movie based on a classic of the original medium.

InkTank · 2009-10-23, 5:31 PM

Hopefully it's the Director's cut.

A Jaunty Romp · 2009-10-23, 5:32 PM

The lasting impression I got from the film was that every scene was Zack Snyder saying "HEY GUYS THIS BIT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE IT DID IN THE COMICS PRETTY COOL HUH??"

Athos · 2009-10-23, 5:37 PM

The only scene in the whole movie that I enjoyed was the original Night Owls last stand , and thats only in the directors cut anyhow.

I Choose Shorts · 2009-10-23, 5:38 PM

It's nice to see some of the best scenes on the big screen but not much else than that.

Powerstreak · 2009-10-23, 5:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRAVE OR GRAVE!

What cut?

Looks like an extended one but not with the Black Freighter.

28:50 - Rorschach is good, the voice isn't what I personally imagined but it's working in it's own way and doesn't dilute the character for me. Dan, seems passable right now, the others I'll leave for a bit.

The music is pretty awfully integrated. I had to stop to write this one because I've just heard '99 Red Balloons' horribly forced into a scene that didn't need it. I understand the choices in music but they're just overpowering and in most cases so far have been detrimental to the scene.

I Choose Shorts · 2009-10-23, 5:40 PM

Oh yeah the music choices are god-fucking awful and I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more if all of that shit was taken out.

Sprint · 2009-10-23, 5:41 PM

That's an odd song to mention since they do mention it in the graphic novel IIRC. I found some of the other musical choices a lot more jarring.

Aureate · 2009-10-23, 5:42 PM

What? Most of that stuff was from the book

Powerstreak · 2009-10-23, 5:42 PM

29:45 - "I'm glad I ordered the four-legged chicken"

**ColinZeal** · 2009-10-23, 5:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powerstreak

The music is pretty awfully integrated. I had to stop to write this one because I've just heard '99 Red Balloons' horribly forced into a scene that didn't need it. I understand the choices in music but they're just overpowering and in most cases so far have been detrimental to the scene.

Hahaha, you ain't heard nothing yet. I won't give it away, but there's one musical choice that's so badly out of place that you'll know it when you get to it.

Powerstreak · 2009-10-23, 5:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aureate

What? Most of that stuff was from the book

Verbatim copying a book does not a good film make.

I Choose Shorts · 2009-10-23, 5:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColinZeal

Hahaha, you ain't heard nothing yet. I won't give it away, but there's one musical choice that's so badly out of place that you'll know it when you get to it.

He's got like another hour till he gets there.

Colossal · 2009-10-23, 5:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powerstreak

Looks like an extended one but not with the Black Freighter.

Yeah, the extended cut WITH Black Freighter spliced in doesn't come out until December, I think.

Powerstreak · 2009-10-23, 5:53 PM

37:42 - I assume that Snyder is trying to make the audience laugh with Ride of the Valkyries. If not DAMN.

Directing actors is not something Snyder does well at all. Silk Spectre (who is apparently 67, I ain't buying it) just blanded out a whole sequence and The Comedian just jumped emotional states in stupid ways that felt quite hammy.

I Choose Shorts · 2009-10-23, 5:57 PM

Oh man I just thought of another part where anyone who knows anything about the characters would beat their head against a wall after seeing.

Sprint · 2009-10-23, 6:03 PM

I like it whenthe totally powerless regular guy heroes punch holes in solid concrete

Aureate · 2009-10-23, 6:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powerstreak

Verbatim copying a book does not a good film make.

I'm talking about the music cues, most were referenced or in the background of scenes. But you're right and the film's major failing was that it did not bring to book to life but instead simply put the book on screen.

I Choose Shorts · 2009-10-23, 6:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprint

I like it whenthe totally powerless regular guy heroes punch holes in solid concrete

what about when nite owl and SS2 got attacked in the alleyway and KILLED A GUY AND LAUGHED AFTERWARDS

**Human** · 2009-10-23, 6:13 PM

Honestly, I never got the sense that any of them gave much of a fuck about killing when they were being attacked. I mean the book ended with Silk Spectre on her way to becoming Comedian II

Powerstreak · 2009-10-23, 6:14 PM

54:51 - Pacing is way off. It's too slow and too ponderous when combined with the flat direction, it's not particularly engaging whereas the comic was by this point.

The dialogue suffers from being taken from the comic so closely (well, a lot of the film does) because, as with many comics, the dialogue works better when written and imagined than when performed. In one odd way it's similar to the Mallrats dialogue which, if you watch the film again, is a lot funnier in theory than in practice, in that film ONLY Jason Lee hits the mark.

2009-10-23, 5:28 PM	#1
Powerstreak Webcomic Vandal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nottingham AKA: Power Streak	I'm watching the Watchmen Right now. I've read the comic, didn't have the money or inclination to see the film in theatres and am catching up now on a borrowed DVD. I'll be keeping you updated with my thoughts as I go through it. 15 Minutes in: The opening credits were an interesting way to introduce the history but too long given that some of it wasn't that informative. Initial impression is that the film is suffering from the same thing all Zack Snyder's have so far, too much time on the visuals and too little spent on the acting. Lines already feel flat and oddly placed at times. __________________ Updating as and when I make them.

2009-10-23, 5:29 PM	#2
BRAVE OR GRAVE! It's okay, I deserve it. Join Date: Aug 2005 AKA: Ill	What cut? __________________ Jamster, Streak Mor, Illy; Jamster, Streak Mor, Illy; Jamster, Streak Mor, Illy; Boko ain't clownin' silly.

2009-10-23, 5:29 PM	#3
Jimmy McForum your fear makes him real Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Fortress Of Arrogance AKA: Thews McGee	Who is? __________________ weaponizer *ectoplasmosis*

2009-10-23, 5:29 PM	#4
ColinZeal Kicking a nonce Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: High Wycombe, UK	Welp, if you didn't like the opening credits, you're in trouble. __________________

2009-10-23, 5:30 PM	#5
Jimmy McForum your fear makes him real Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Fortress Of Arrogance AKA: Thews McGee	srsly: it's an okay movie based on a classic of the original medium. __________________ weaponizer *ectoplasmosis*

2009-10-23, 5:31 PM	#6
InkTank CAULK! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sunnyvale, CA	Hopefully it's the Director's cut. __________________ Lt. Commander Hunter, of the U.S.S. Endeavor Formerly stationed on the U.S.S. Endurance --- Comics at www.inktank.com ---

2009-10-23, 5:32 PM	#7
A Jaunty Romp radic-Al Join Date: Dec 2007 AKA: Kwazyman	The lasting impression I got from the film was that every scene was Zack Snyder saying "HEY GUYS THIS BIT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE IT DID IN THE COMICS PRETTY COOL HUH??" __________________

2009-10-23, 5:37 PM	#8
Athos ... Join Date: Aug 2006 AKA: Lumax	The only scene in the whole movie that I enjoyed was the original Night Owls last stand , and thats only in the directors cut anyhow.

2009-10-23, 5:38 PM	#9
I Choose Shorts harumph Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Austin Wooperplex AKA: Shadow the Rat, Catalina Wine Mixer, Wooper	It's nice to see some of the best scenes on the big screen but not much else than that. __________________ WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP

2009-10-23, 5:40 PM	#11
I Choose Shorts harumph Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Austin Wooperplex AKA: Shadow the Rat, Catalina Wine Mixer, Wooper	Oh yeah the music choices are god-fucking awful and I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more if all of that shit was taken out. __________________ WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP

2009-10-23, 5:41 PM	#12
Sprint Chugalug, Donna Join Date: Aug 2005	That's an odd song to mention since they do mention it in the graphic novel IIRC. I found some of the other musical choices a lot more jarring.

2009-10-23, 5:42 PM	#13
Aureate Back to Business Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Elmhurst	What? Most of that stuff was from the book __________________ It may help to understand human affairs to be clear that most great triumphs and tragedies of history are caused, not by people being fundamentally good or fundamentally bad, but by people being fundamentally people.

2009-10-23, 5:53 PM	#19
Powerstreak Webcomic Vandal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nottingham AKA: Power Streak	37:42 - I assume that Snyder is trying to make the audience laugh with Ride of the Valkyries. If not DAMN. Directing actors is not something Snyder does well at all. Silk Spectre (who is apparently 67, I ain't buying it) just blanded out a whole sequence and The Comedian just jumped emotional states in stupid ways that felt quite hammy. __________________ Updating as and when I make them.

2009-10-23, 5:57 PM	#20
I Choose Shorts harumph Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Austin Wooperplex AKA: Shadow the Rat, Catalina Wine Mixer, Wooper	Oh man I just thought of another part where anyone who knows anything about the characters would beat their head against a wall after seeing. __________________ WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP

2009-10-23, 6:03 PM	#21
Sprint Chugalug, Donna Join Date: Aug 2005	I like it whenthe totally powerless regular guy heroes punch holes in solid concrete

2009-10-23, 6:13 PM	#24
Human Your Sneaky Gay Friend Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Probably your bed!	Honestly, I never got the sense that any of them gave much of a fuck about killing when they were being attacked. I mean the book ended with Silk Spectre on her way to becoming Comedian II __________________

2009-10-23, 6:14 PM	#25
Powerstreak Webcomic Vandal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nottingham AKA: Power Streak	54:51 - Pacing is way off. It's too slow and too ponderous when combined with the flat direction, it's not particularly engaging whereas the comic was by this point. The dialogue suffers from being taken from the comic so closely (well, a lot of the film does) because, as with many comics, the dialogue works better when written and imagined than when performed. In one odd way it's similar to the Mallrats dialogue which, if you watch the film again, is a lot funnier in theory than in practice, in that film ONLY Jason Lee hits the mark. __________________ Updating as and when I make them.