Watchmen movie

[amanuensis1]

Watchmen is, in my opinion, a fan's dream of a film: slavishly faithful to the original, coupled with a talented director's vision of what works onscreen and what fits into a two-hour-plus timeslot. I'm a fan, and yesterday I watched my dream. Am very, very happy. Patrick Wilson (Dan Dreiberg/Nite Owl) and Jackie Haley (Rorschach) in particular carried the film beautifully.

Spoilers will be indulged in the comments.

Comments

[iibnf.livejournal.com]

Glowing blue peen!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad they didn't shy away from Jon's nudity! I would have bet it would all have been disguised in artful cutaways and such.

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

I swear, the only reason I even *noticed* the Glowing Blue Peen most of the time was because half my flist was yelling "Glowing Blue Peen!" It was pretty unobtrusive most of the time, except for two or three times when it was right in the middle of the screen and even I couldn't ignore it.

I did keep thinking "Glowing blue peen!" when I noticed it, then getting irked at myself.

[louistomlinson.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm already pretty excited (Going to watch the movie at end of next week). You guys make my excitement skyrocket!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Share your thoughts when you do, please!

[pervert-bitch.livejournal.com]

Yes, I already squee'd over it on my journal XD
Totally awesome. Sadly there are few fans in Peru and I dread that it would end well here. :/

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

*goes to look* Hee, you're right, I'd call that squee! Snyder did a remarkable job.

[lotrwariorgodss.livejournal.com]

Patrick Wilson (Dan Dreiberg/Nite Owl) and Jackie Haley (Rorschach) in particular carried the film beautifully. - Agreed. They pulled their characters off better than the others, I think, though I was very happy with the portrayal of Ozymandius as well, even if he was a little changed from the book. But yes, love for the new movie!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I liked everyone, including Ozymandias, though the wandering accent confused/bothered me a bit. Malin Ackerman's portrayal of Laurie did not quite measure up to the other actors, but she managed, I thought.

[lyricalnights.livejournal.com]

OMG, Jackie Haley was a-freakin'-mazing. I was like "short dude, pwned ALL of y'all!"

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

He really was. Maskless, he was especially fantastic.

[melonaise.livejournal.com]

I actually haven't read the book, but I still absolutely loved the movie. It's rare to find a movie that's so strongly character-driven. I had no idea how long the movie was going into it, and there wasn't a single moment when I thought to myself, "When is this thing going to end?" or even, "Yes, yes, requisite action/emoting scene. Please move along." I was *in* their world every step of the way, and every nuance tasted fully flavored, no skimping on any of the sauce-- sweet or sour.

There were also wonderfully few moments when I knew (or even thought I knew) what would happen next-- I've watched enough action, sci-fi, fantasy, and comic-based movies that even when they aren't obviously following a formula, there's still a certain level of predictability. Not here. Of course, that could be because I was so enthralled that I didn't *want* to think ahead and guess what was happening next. I was happy to go along with the ride.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I've been so keen to see what non-fans think of this film! It's great to hear that you couldn't predict what was going to happen next, or didn't want to, or whatever. Unpredictability is one of the great joys of narrative. 'S why I avoid spoilers so much.

[persephone-blue.livejournal.com]

Jackie Haley was fantastic. Patrick Wilson looked like Dan Deiberg, but Haley just owned everything.

Billy Crudup's Dr. Manhattan was also wonderful. During his flashback sequence, I wanted the director to have made a mini-series instead so an entire episode would be devoted to Manhattan's past. That was gorgeous.

Am I the only one who was iffy with the music selections? I like Bob Dylan and Nat King Cole, and everything, but Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" during the love scene between Laurie and Dan was...weird. I started laughing to myself inappropriately.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I did love Haley but I might have loved Wilson even more. He had that vulnerable, just-slightly-floundering air of Dreiberg's down so perfectly.

During his flashback sequence, I wanted the director to have made a mini-series instead so an entire episode would be devoted to Manhattan's past. Yes, yes, and yes. When they were getting to Jon's past I was making toddlerfists of glee.

I agree that the Hallelujah felt awkward--most of the other music choices seemed spot-on, or spot-on in their inappropriateness, but that one didn't work for me either.

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

The "Hallelujah" choice seemed very...how can I say this? Male fantasy. "Hallelujah! I got it up and I'm making it with a hot chick!" Which is probably pretty close to what's supposed to be in Dan's head, but I found it distancing.

All the rest of the music was spot on, except for that ghastly cover version of "Desolation Row" at the start of the credits.

watchmen

[tsuj.livejournal.com]

What a relief!
Someone told me it had been panned.
Regardless if that is true or not, the Amanuensis seal of approval is rec enough for me to want to see this.

Re: watchmen

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I'm quite sure there are people who are hating this film. It's very, very violent. It does not portray humanity in the kindest of lights. It won't strike any blows for feminism. Nevertheless, it's wonderfully faithful to a damn good story, and I really liked it.

[simmysim.livejournal.com]

This pleased me ridiculous amounts

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

That was a glorious moment--when I realized where they were going with that, on so many levels--Silhouette's background, that famous moment in history, and that sailor just wandering happy and clueless as to what he missed--god, I loved it. I have a serious girlcrush on the film version of Silhouette right now.

[dbassassin.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've seen such a wide variety of responses to a movie, ranging from complete squee to compete hatred. I don't do graphic novels, so I have no investment in the canon-ness of it. But considering how much I truly, deeply loathed 300, I do wonder about this one. *shrugs*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I was entertained by 300, but I didn't think it was the most incredible film since Citizen Kane or anything. Neither is this. (Of note, I hadn't read 300 before I saw it.)

[rickey-a.livejournal.com]

never read it, didn't know much going in (since you said you were curious about what non fans thought)...
Hubby and I saw it last night and really enjoyed it. It was worth the price of admission. I do think at 2 hr 45 mins it was abut 30 mins too long. The first half was much better than the second. I'd give an A- to the first half and a B to the second. I thought Rorschach and Doc Manhatten were the most interesting characters. I liked that the story was framed by Rorshach's narration. Rorshach unwaivering POV and unyielding personality made the movie. I thought Dan was a bit of a pussy. I thought the women were rather weak points in the film. The action sequences and fighting were awesome and about the only time I liked the Xena looking chick was when she was fighting. The "sex" scene struck me as completely overdone and gratuitous. I thought Ozymandias was the weakest character of the main men. He was sort of all over the place. But I did love the use of lee iococa as a human shield LOL! I liked the style of camera work and could tell/see that they were capturing the essence of the frames of the original graphic novel. I thought the ending was fairly weak as well w/ the exception of the end for Rorschach which was so in character. Hmmm. I guess that's mostly it. /rambling

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I did love the first half the best, yes--all that backstory is the meat of Watchmen. Dan's definitely a bit of a pussy, and I love how Wilson hit the character dead-on. So faithful to the original, that portrayal. I've got to agree about liking Laurie best when she was fighting; Malin Ackerman's performance was less spectacular than those of the other principles.

[melusinahp.livejournal.com]

I saw it last night, and I loved it. I felt all high and energetic afterwards.

Totally loved Dan, including his pussiness, love Rorschach and, weirdly, The Comedian. That bit near the beginning where they went back through time to the Dylan son was worth the price of the ticket on its own.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Weren't the opening credits gorgeous? You're right, once we were through those credits I knew I could sit back and enjoy the entire thing. And yay for the Dan love! I feel like I need a WE HEART PUSSIES icon right now. :D