The watchmen movie!

[Klaus]

err, can someone explain who the Watchmen are? I've never read the comic. Whats it about, etc etc.

Spoiler

In Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons take a bunch of DC-owned Charlton Comics characters (Captain Atom, Blue Beetle, Question, some dude, Lady Phantom, Peacemaker) and turn them into new characters in a realistic world where superheroing has been outlawed for several years.

The Watchmen (Dr. Manhattan - the only superpowered being on Earth -, Nite Owl, Rorschach, Ozymandias, Silk Spectre, the Comedian and Captain Metropolis - deceased) are the scions of the Minutemen, a group of costumed vigilantes that fought saboteurs and spies during WWII. After superheroing is outlawed, they disband. But when someone kills one of their own, this puts Rorschach in an investigation that may spell doom for the entire world. Is there a traitor among the former heroes?

The 12-issue series paints a very human picture of the Watchmen - even the godlike Dr. Manhattan - and is considered the very best superhero story ever written.

 

[Filby]

...a bunch of DC-owned Charlton Comics characters (Captain Atom, Blue Beetle, Question, some dude, Lady Phantom, Peacemaker)...

That dude would be Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt. Who hasn't really been seen much at all since the Crisis merged Earth-4 with the other remaining earths.

Also, Nightshade (who's also dropped out of sight...) was the basis for Silk Spectre.

I've never had a chance to read Watchmen... I know the plot (and the ending, which unfortunately someone spoiled for me ), but never read the book.

 

[Frostmarrow]

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen anyone? :\

Strangely enough, I love LXG! This might have to do do with the fact my expectations were lower than low. True, it has nothing to do with Moore's splendid graphic novel but the movie is really, really good. (If you can see past Moore's work, that is.)

From Hell wasn't bad either. Johnny can't do lousy.

I'm going to follow the progress of Watchmen closely but I sincerely believe it's going to suck.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Strangely enough, I love LXG! This might have to do do with the fact my expectations were lower than low. True, it has nothing to do with Moore's splendid graphic novel but the movie is really, really good. (If you can see past Moore's work, that is.)

I haven't actually seen LXG, I've only heard of it, so perhaps it doesn't deserve the implication in my comment. But I haven't been able to bring myself to see it, simply because of the way they treated Mina Harker, particularly, among the others. I do think that if I hadn't ever read LXG before the movie came out, I could have enjoyed it greatly as a movie, then afterward enjoyed the comic in a different way. It's simply much harder for me to go the other direction, from comic to movie. It's a matter of loss, whereas movie-->comic is nothing but gain.

From Hell wasn't bad either. Johnny can't do lousy.

I agree wholeheartedly. Loved that movie.

I'm going to follow the progress of Watchmen closely but I sincerely believe it's going to suck.

Sadly, I also agree with this. I only hope I can be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Waylander]

I know this might go down like a lead balloon but how about Brad Pitt as Adrian Veit - think about the intensity of his performance in Fight Club . . .

 

[Frostmarrow]

I know this might go down like a lead balloon but how about Brad Pitt as Adrian Veit - think about the intensity of his performance in Fight Club . . .

I can't see why not. Brad Pitt is more than just a pretty face.

 

[ddvmor]

Speaking of Fight Club - how about Edward Norton as Rorschach? He's got the intensity and he can do creepy. Rorschach isn't a particularly well built character, so that also fits. He does a particularly good job of looking rough when he wants to (see fight club) and he does a good voice over (again - see fight club).

I don't see Dr Manhattan's general nudeness as a problem - they can either give him a pair of sensible shorts or, shoot him from the waist up and/or use cgi or prosthetics to remove his... thingy. It's not an important enough detail to get hung up over.

 

[Shallown]

I actually think Dr Manhattan should be all CGI. I think it would lend to his sense of alieness (if that is a word).

later

 

[qstor]

I actually think Dr Manhattan should be all CGI. I think it would lend to his sense of alieness (if that is a word).

later

I'm a huge Watchman fan. I got all the individual issues when they came out.

I heard that John Cusack was intersted in the Owl.

My partial dream cast:
Gary Oldman as Rorschach.
Clint Eastwood (ok a bit old) as Comedian. I keep thinking of the cigar smoking marine in Heartbreak Ridge.

I agree that Dr Manhattan should be all CGI. what about David Hyde Pierce as his voice?
As much as a LOVE Samuel L Jackson I couldn't see what role he'd be good for.

Mike

 

[CockyWriter]

Meh, I found LXG pretty damn entertaining. The fight scenes were different then most movies and the characters were great.

I don't read many comics, so I haven't seen Watchmen or LXG in comic form. I heard too many good things about Watchmen though.