Watchmen Review...
Okay, so first off, Vague Spoiler Alert! There's nothing too definitive, just stuff like: I can't believe how they handled (event) in the movie. But I won't actually detail any events except for one, which just....grrr. So. If you want to see it with a fresh mind, you might want to not read the rest.
Also, I'd like to point out that I am a MASSIVE fan of the graphic novel, and have been for a good three years, so I've spent hours trying to uncover all the extra pieces hidden in both the text and graphics, so while I can recognise that it's a great movie on its own, it's not that surprising that I have a few issues with it. More than I had with Twilight (though then again, that would have been a much easier text to convert).
So if you want to hear my issues... ;) ->
SO. By itself as a movie, like as a standalone, I thought it was amazing. Zack Snyder did a great job. For such a convoluted plot line he squeezed a hell of a lot in. Also, the soundtrack was amazing, completely enhancing the film. My only bitch about that is why is My Chem always the credit song??? lolz.
BUT: Fucking...Rorschach killing the kidnapper/murderer with a cleaver as opposed to the whole let him burn or he can choose to cut his arm off. That really fucking bugged me. I get that with film you have to change things round a little, after all, it is a different genre. But this was unnecessary. Sometimes less is more, and I think that in this case, the proposal Rorschach gave in the comic is far more disturbing than just chopping into a guys head. (The graphics of the dog's head split open were great though, as was the bit with the dogs chewing the bones...made me almost want to puke.) But yeah. I don't see the point of changing this particular scene: it adds nothing to the movie so why couldn't they leave it as in the book?
Also, While I understand why they framed the last piece of the movie as they did (which was different again to the book), and while I see that in today's world, this script is more powerfu and effective with still the same end; again it pissed me off. When I first realised how the thing with Veidt Industries was gonna play out, I almost left the cinema. I'm glad I didn't. And again, I get that it cut a whole extra side plot-line (which would have added a good 20 mins to half hour onto the running time), simplified it, and made it easier for the audience to grasp...I still wish that Veidt could have been original enough to go with what was in the comic. This ending also struck me as a little too convenient: "hmmm, let's try shifting this about so it can all be wrapped up neatly in the end"; whereas the comic leaves it open to a lot more interpretation, more messy ands and more like reality.
Aaaand, there was too big a focus on personal lives that is not so highly important in the comic.'
However, up till the point where Rorschach killed that dude the wrong way, I don't think it could have been done any better. It was amazing. The second half was amazing too, it just didn't follow the book so tightly, so i had to get my head round some of the changes made. But yeah...overall it pretty much fucking rocked.
The movie does also present new ways of looking at some of the ideas in the text. I do love the movie, and I will see it again - it's amazing and totally worth it. But I wish that I could hear what Moore (the author of The Watchmen) thinks of the script, or that I could know that it's a script he's read and approved as being true enough to his original, because then I could reconcile myself to some of the-same-but-not ideologies that the film carries. Unfortunately, Moore has his head too far up his arse to say anything other than "I'll never fucking watch it." (That's a direct quote.) So I guess I'll just be happy comparing differences, enjoying the movie for what it is; and loving the fact that I can see it all play out on the screen in front of me (even if it is a little different).
So, overall. I loved it, go and see it. If you're like me, find someone to bitch about/discuss the changes with, and then let yourself enjoy the rest of it. And if you've never read the comic, go enjoy a really sweet movie :)
Anyways...I shall go remove my laundry from the dryer now so that it isn't stolen by tomorrow today morning ;D
Lots of love darlings.
xx
Also, I'd like to point out that I am a MASSIVE fan of the graphic novel, and have been for a good three years, so I've spent hours trying to uncover all the extra pieces hidden in both the text and graphics, so while I can recognise that it's a great movie on its own, it's not that surprising that I have a few issues with it. More than I had with Twilight (though then again, that would have been a much easier text to convert).
So if you want to hear my issues... ;) ->
SO. By itself as a movie, like as a standalone, I thought it was amazing. Zack Snyder did a great job. For such a convoluted plot line he squeezed a hell of a lot in. Also, the soundtrack was amazing, completely enhancing the film. My only bitch about that is why is My Chem always the credit song??? lolz.
BUT: Fucking...Rorschach killing the kidnapper/murderer with a cleaver as opposed to the whole let him burn or he can choose to cut his arm off. That really fucking bugged me. I get that with film you have to change things round a little, after all, it is a different genre. But this was unnecessary. Sometimes less is more, and I think that in this case, the proposal Rorschach gave in the comic is far more disturbing than just chopping into a guys head. (The graphics of the dog's head split open were great though, as was the bit with the dogs chewing the bones...made me almost want to puke.) But yeah. I don't see the point of changing this particular scene: it adds nothing to the movie so why couldn't they leave it as in the book?
Also, While I understand why they framed the last piece of the movie as they did (which was different again to the book), and while I see that in today's world, this script is more powerfu and effective with still the same end; again it pissed me off. When I first realised how the thing with Veidt Industries was gonna play out, I almost left the cinema. I'm glad I didn't. And again, I get that it cut a whole extra side plot-line (which would have added a good 20 mins to half hour onto the running time), simplified it, and made it easier for the audience to grasp...I still wish that Veidt could have been original enough to go with what was in the comic. This ending also struck me as a little too convenient: "hmmm, let's try shifting this about so it can all be wrapped up neatly in the end"; whereas the comic leaves it open to a lot more interpretation, more messy ands and more like reality.
Aaaand, there was too big a focus on personal lives that is not so highly important in the comic.'
However, up till the point where Rorschach killed that dude the wrong way, I don't think it could have been done any better. It was amazing. The second half was amazing too, it just didn't follow the book so tightly, so i had to get my head round some of the changes made. But yeah...overall it pretty much fucking rocked.
The movie does also present new ways of looking at some of the ideas in the text. I do love the movie, and I will see it again - it's amazing and totally worth it. But I wish that I could hear what Moore (the author of The Watchmen) thinks of the script, or that I could know that it's a script he's read and approved as being true enough to his original, because then I could reconcile myself to some of the-same-but-not ideologies that the film carries. Unfortunately, Moore has his head too far up his arse to say anything other than "I'll never fucking watch it." (That's a direct quote.) So I guess I'll just be happy comparing differences, enjoying the movie for what it is; and loving the fact that I can see it all play out on the screen in front of me (even if it is a little different).
So, overall. I loved it, go and see it. If you're like me, find someone to bitch about/discuss the changes with, and then let yourself enjoy the rest of it. And if you've never read the comic, go enjoy a really sweet movie :)
Anyways...I shall go remove my laundry from the dryer now so that it isn't stolen by tomorrow today morning ;D
Lots of love darlings.
xx