Watchmen: Hot or Not?

I'm inclined to agree, word for word, with the NY Times' take on the Watchmen movie that came out on Friday.  Such a slavishly faithful adaptation of the celebrated graphic novel makes for some pretty shoddy storytelling when translated to film.  They could have shaved at least an hour off the movie.

Not to mention the outstandingly graphic violence, the super awkward and kinky sex scenes, the lack of any sympathetic characters including one-dimensional female heroines, and Dr. Manhattan's undeniably blue schlong (I didn't even notice it at first, but apparently every guy in the theater couldn't take his eyes off it).  

A quote from the review: "The only action that makes sense in this world — the only sure basis for ethics or politics, the only expression of love or loyalty or conviction — is killing...Perhaps there is some pleasure to be found in regressing into this belligerent, adolescent state of mind. But maybe it’s better to grow up."

I liked 300 a lot better. Though the Watchmen visuals were pretty awesome.

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7 responses
have you read the book? I am reading the book first before going to the movie. some of my friends told me that reading the book first will help me understand the movie better (which is the case for me all the time. I don't think I'd have enjoyed any of the Harry Potter movies had I not read any of the books beforehand).
— Reggie Soang
Nope have not read the book.  I'm beginning to think maybe I should.  Sigh, if only there were more hours in the day.
— Stephanie Lim
@Reggie - that's what I heard too, which sucks for people like me who don't care to read the book, but are somewhat interested in seeing the movie. why would they make a movie where you can't understand it fully without reading it beforehand? :(
— Maggie Cheung
I'm with Maggie on this one - I used to get all miffed whenever a movie wasn't faithful to the book, but after working in film development, it became very clear to me that as media they are so different, and there are a lot of things that cannot effectively be translated from page to screen without taking some major liberties.
So now, I think I prefer that a movie stand on its own and "take inspiration" from the book, rather than slavishly replicate it.  Cases in point: The Godfather changed a lot from the book, but is one of the greatest films of all time.  The Human Stain is a great example of something that is best realized in book form because it's the language that makes it- trying to make it a movie was a total disaster.

— Stephanie Lim
I agree -- movies need to be their their own. Harry potter movies suck because they stick too close to the books (i.e. recreating EVERYTHING in them). LOTR movies were better than the books because they ditched a bunch of stuff that was boring even in text. I haven't read the Watchmen GN -- but I thought the movie was curiously awesome. I loved the awkwardness of it all -- how seeing them decked out in their costumes in public made you almost cringe in embarrassment; this is what it'd be like if super heroes really existed and chose to caper around in costumes.
— Mark Rampton
as someone who read the book - the scenes they included where indeed "slavishly replicated" - however, the addition of a boomy 80's soundtrack, and the removal of the deeper, darker elements left it a blockbuster wanting for more. it sure was pretty, but ultimately fluff. in fact, it was exactly the kind of fluff that the book is critical of. the movie added the musical layer. while i was glad for it (re: translating a book into a movie, creating something that is made for the screen), i didn't like the way it was done. too glossy.

read the book - hands down, one of the best of a generation.

the first time i read it, i was in college, taking a shakespeare class. i couldn't help but compare the way characters were rendered, themes and microcosms of themes were developed and spun together (the rhizome comes to mind), and the methods for plot advancement.

— Stephanie Pereira
Interesting - I've heard the graphic novel called "shakespearian" before.
— Stephanie Lim
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