sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
winstontlchow will be pleased to hear that last night I finally started on the long-awaited Watchmen by Alan Moore. I have resolved that I absolutely have to finish the graphic novel by March 2009 (i.e. before the film comes out)-having made the mistake with V For Vendetta (where when I was reading, I keep hearing V talk in Hugo Weaving's voice) and LotR (which I haven't read, but already know very clearly what Aragorn, Legolas, et al look like). In any case, I certainly would like to take less than 5 months to read this warhorse of a novel.
Watchmen, inside its protective sarcophagus
It only comes out to be read, then goes straight back in to be sealed
Oh, before starting on Watchmen, I took the opportunity between the 2 thick graphic novels to read Neil Gaiman's The Last Temptation, which I was quite surprised to find was written in collaboration with Alice Cooper, and indeed was intended to accompany one of Cooper's concept albums.
The Last Temptation is a rather short graphic novel, even if not compared between Watchmen and V For Vendetta. It was rather well-written for a story meant to accompany an album-which I listened to, out of curiosity, and which was very, very forgettable. While the storyline of the novel offered no surprises, it did give me the feeling that there was more to it that I just wasn't really getting somehow....
Anyway, back to Watchmen, I was eager to see if it lived up to its hype of being the seminal graphic novel-even more so than Sandman-and so far it hasn't disappointed. I only managed to read one chapter while waiting for the girls (jo_ee and Becky) to be done with their shopping, and it had already managed to deconstruct the typical superhero stereotype. For those not acquainted with the novel, Watchmen is a story about superheroes who (except one) aren't 'super' in the conventional sense and lack any abilities recognisable as super powers. Furthermore, the superheroes are depicted as real people who face ethical questions, neurotic struggles, and moral failings (e.g. one of the superheroes actually attempts to rape another). Needless to say, it's not your typical superhero film, so those who love superhero films with a distinct Good vs Evil, like Superman or Spiderman, might end up sorely disappointed or even disturbed by it.
However, it remains to be seen if the film adaptation will be faithful to this; V For Vendetta the film pitted 'superhero good guy' V against the 'evil bad guys' of Norsefire, whereas in the novel, it's not so apparent that V, pursuing his own vendetta ruthlessly, is really the good guy after all."Who are we protecting society from?"
"From themselves."
Perhaps what I love most about Watchmen is the whole concept of the title. The superheroes believe they are protecting society, but who will ensure that what they are protecting society from really needs protecting from? Sound a little close to home? This is why, like V For Vendetta, Watchmen is perfect reading during a GE.
"...and so little time."
sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
But who then will watch the Watchmen?
Oh, I spotted this book at Borders yesterday and I would have bought it on the spot if not for how thick it is! It weighs a ton lor! Not like I don't already have a problem with carrying stuff home!
Speaking of shopping, after the girls were done with theirs, we went over to David Jones to try on the Zegna shoes that I spotted the last time and I am completely smitten with them! Heh, I love Ermenegildo Zegna, currently my favourite men's design house (though for a very silly reason!)
blogwithbaby, here are the photos that you've been fearing to see!
I like the shape of the shoe very much! Held up quite a few Florsheim shoes to compare and they just don't match up!
jo_ee said they look quite smart and I do agree!
This is the only catch: they cost $699. :( And that's AUD some more lor! :((
Speaking of AUD, the other day I realised that the SGD-AUD exchange rate had dropped till 1:1.15! Wah biang, if I had exchanged my money now instead of just a month ago, I would have saved a whopping $230 just on the exchange rate alone lor!! DAMN TULAN CAN!!!
§ Technorati tags:
arts & design;
reading
Watchmen, inside its protective sarcophagus
It only comes out to be read, then goes straight back in to be sealed
Oh, before starting on Watchmen, I took the opportunity between the 2 thick graphic novels to read Neil Gaiman's The Last Temptation, which I was quite surprised to find was written in collaboration with Alice Cooper, and indeed was intended to accompany one of Cooper's concept albums.
The Last Temptation is a rather short graphic novel, even if not compared between Watchmen and V For Vendetta. It was rather well-written for a story meant to accompany an album-which I listened to, out of curiosity, and which was very, very forgettable. While the storyline of the novel offered no surprises, it did give me the feeling that there was more to it that I just wasn't really getting somehow....
Anyway, back to Watchmen, I was eager to see if it lived up to its hype of being the seminal graphic novel-even more so than Sandman-and so far it hasn't disappointed. I only managed to read one chapter while waiting for the girls (jo_ee and Becky) to be done with their shopping, and it had already managed to deconstruct the typical superhero stereotype. For those not acquainted with the novel, Watchmen is a story about superheroes who (except one) aren't 'super' in the conventional sense and lack any abilities recognisable as super powers. Furthermore, the superheroes are depicted as real people who face ethical questions, neurotic struggles, and moral failings (e.g. one of the superheroes actually attempts to rape another). Needless to say, it's not your typical superhero film, so those who love superhero films with a distinct Good vs Evil, like Superman or Spiderman, might end up sorely disappointed or even disturbed by it.
However, it remains to be seen if the film adaptation will be faithful to this; V For Vendetta the film pitted 'superhero good guy' V against the 'evil bad guys' of Norsefire, whereas in the novel, it's not so apparent that V, pursuing his own vendetta ruthlessly, is really the good guy after all."Who are we protecting society from?"
"From themselves."
Perhaps what I love most about Watchmen is the whole concept of the title. The superheroes believe they are protecting society, but who will ensure that what they are protecting society from really needs protecting from? Sound a little close to home? This is why, like V For Vendetta, Watchmen is perfect reading during a GE.
"...and so little time."
sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
But who then will watch the Watchmen?
Oh, I spotted this book at Borders yesterday and I would have bought it on the spot if not for how thick it is! It weighs a ton lor! Not like I don't already have a problem with carrying stuff home!
Speaking of shopping, after the girls were done with theirs, we went over to David Jones to try on the Zegna shoes that I spotted the last time and I am completely smitten with them! Heh, I love Ermenegildo Zegna, currently my favourite men's design house (though for a very silly reason!)
blogwithbaby, here are the photos that you've been fearing to see!
I like the shape of the shoe very much! Held up quite a few Florsheim shoes to compare and they just don't match up!
jo_ee said they look quite smart and I do agree!
This is the only catch: they cost $699. :( And that's AUD some more lor! :((
Speaking of AUD, the other day I realised that the SGD-AUD exchange rate had dropped till 1:1.15! Wah biang, if I had exchanged my money now instead of just a month ago, I would have saved a whopping $230 just on the exchange rate alone lor!! DAMN TULAN CAN!!!
§ Technorati tags:
arts & design;
reading