So. I went to the movies tonight

Mar 14, 2009 00:24

I think the thing I love the most after going to the movies -- especially one like this -- is how I feel like I'm moving one shutter click at a time. The keys sliding into the door. Slipping them back into the pocket when the door closes. My hand reaching out and snapping the lock behind me. My shoes on the floor. Me hanging my coat back on the rack. I feel like I'm living in graphics, and I gotta admit it's pretty awesome. I love it when movies influence me like this. I feel more interesting, at the same time as I write the review out in my head.

Oh, yes. I went and I saw Watchmen. And let me tell you... phwoar.

First thing's first, I've never read the graphic novel. I don't know if that would have made the experience better or worse, but that being said, I could still see the panels in the camera movements. It was one of the things I loved the best about this behemoth, aside from, well. Everything else. I love how Snyder uses the camera. I loved what he did with 300, and I fucking adored how he did this one.

But I think what got me the most was the tone of the whole thing. I think people who went into this expecting a straight up superhero movie about an angsty dickhead in a tight suit were sorely disappointed. I love how it's an action movie, yeah, but it's also a film noir and a period drama and how it has a whiff of something approaching cyberpunk as well. The execution is actually kind of late 70's, early 80's in the way Snyder shot especially the sex scenes -- there was a sense of that sort of, I dunno, maybe innocence that I always get from movies of that era, before they started censoring every single bit of flesh showing. And I'm not just talking about Dr. Manhattan, he of the swinging wedding tackle. I thought that was pretty appropriate.

The outfits -- and not just the superhero stuff, but every single bit of clothing, especially what Laurie and Sally were wearing -- were so incredibly perfect and set the tone right away. I was reminded of a costume designer on Doctor Who who said that just because the 80's only happened 25 years ago doesn't mean it isn't a period piece, and they got that one just right for this thing. Even Laurie's massive amount of slap was perfect in a very 80's sort of way.

Sorry, I'm still a bit blown away. That was just. Wow. I mean, I'll probably hate it when it comes out on DVD, but this is the kind of shit that just sticks with you until you wish it didn't. The ending... I mean, I had spoiled myself, I knew about Ozymandias, I knew about the destruction, but it still took my breath away.

So help me god, though, I fucking loved Eddie Blake. I mean, I kind of had a feeling I would love the Comedian to death before I even went in, but when I went in I only had the barest of hunches of what a massive dick he would turn out to be. But I think that's what I like about him -- he won't pull his punches just because you happen to be a woman. There's no chivalry in him what so ever, and I fucking love it. He shot a pregnant woman -- pregnant with his own goddamn baby, nonetheless -- and by the time he had delivered the verbal smackdown on Dr. Manhattan I loved him again. He almost raped Sally, and I still loved him when noose boy went and kicked the crap out of him. Holy crap, JDM, you can really make the assholes into something else, can't you? (Also, I totally ship Silk Spectre/Comedian now. Dammit.)

That being said... was the fact that the Comedian was Laurie's father supposed to be some kind of a shock? Because I kind of saw that coming a mile away. I mean, Christ, the man had plastered his entire apartment in Silk Spectre memorabilia, not to mention the picture he had of Laurie in a frame in his wardrobe of all places, it was glaringly obvious. Actually, I'm fairly confident I had that one figured out even before I saw the movie -- that picture of Sally preggers was a dead give away. Narrative imperative, I suppose. Someone is bound to be a secret daddy.

Now, everybody's been talking about Rorschach and Jackie Earle Haley, and while the Comedian remains my favorite, followed by Ozymandias for sheer fascinating portrayal, Rorschach kicked so much ass I was tempted to make hearthands at the screen. The prison! Everything about it! Man, "I'm not locked in here with you, you're locked in here with me!" Shivers all over. And his VOICE, and his last scene, and, dude, he's completely fucking nuts, but in an awesome kind of way.

Patrick Wilson, on the other hand, did nothing for me at first. Every smile was a pained grimace... and then he woke up from a fairly awesome looking dream and was all naked in the basement, and from that point onwards... From that point onwards, the man was a human bulldozer. And adorable, come on. I wanted to pinch his little cheeks! Sally Jupiter had the right idea, slapping him on the ass. The sex scene between him and Laurie was amazing and cheesy and a lot more graphic than the tasteful fade-to-black I had expected.

All in all, I'm blown away, and if it didn't cost a fucking fortune, I would go again tomorrow. In conclusion, &WATCHMEN;

ETA: Also, there needs to be Watchmen fic, like, yesterday. Who's with me?

movies, geekery, reviews, !!!!!!

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