Who Will Watch the Watchmen?

[Man in the Funny Hat]

One more time - movies are different forms of art, different forms of entertainment than books, etc. They share some elements but ultimately MUST conform to their own limitations, must live up to their own potential - not match the potential of another art form.

Of course the movie will fail at being everything that the original comics are. If that's what they were really trying to achieve it would DESERVE to fail because it couldn't possibly succeed at being another art form entirely. But it can use that original material as elements to make an enormously effective, entertaining movie that stands as an artistic acheivement in its own right.

That's why I want to see it - not because it looks like it is a perfect replication of everything that Watchmen originally was, but because it looks like a great movie in its own right.

 

[rowport]

One more time - movies are different forms of art, different forms of entertainment than books, etc. They share some elements but ultimately MUST conform to their own limitations, must live up to their own potential - not match the potential of another art form.

Of course the movie will fail at being everything that the original comics are. If that's what they were really trying to achieve it would DESERVE to fail because it couldn't possibly succeed at being another art form entirely. But it can use that original material as elements to make an enormously effective, entertaining movie that stands as an artistic acheivement in its own right.

That's why I want to see it - not because it looks like it is a perfect replication of everything that Watchmen originally was, but because it looks like a great movie in its own right.

Seconded. And, for exactly that reason, I am very glad that the costumers for Watchmen adapted looks from other superhero movies (notably the Batman series, suit nipples and all) to deconstruct that genre just as the graphic novel did with print comics. Very smart. Let the media work with you, not against you.

 

[el-remmen]

Out of curiosity, what did you think of "Unbreakable"?

It is my favorite superhero movie.

 

[el-remmen]

Who are all of these people who are so fascinated with your moviegoing?

Friends, family, colleagues, people who know my love of comic books.

You sound a beleaguered celebrity.

Nice try.

 

[el-remmen]

One more time - movies are different forms of art, different forms of entertainment than books, etc. They share some elements but ultimately MUST conform to their own limitations, must live up to their own potential - not match the potential of another art form.

I guess what I am saying is Watchmen is its form.

Also, in the last, however-many-years I have come to increasingly realize that maybe I just don't like movies all that much.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Also, in the last, however-many-years I have come to increasingly realize that maybe I just don't like movies all that much.

At least you are aware of your bias against the cinema medium.

 

[Krug]

Great post el-remmen.
I'll watch it for sure, but I doubt if it'll ever come close to the cultural importance of the graphic novel, which has been in the top 3 best selling graphic novels EVERY year still.

I wonder, though, if folks unfamiliar with the movie will be as intrigued by the story, particularly the murder mystery that's at the heart of the piece, which gripped me. I'll definitely go and watch the film, but with wariness and modest hopes. The filmic medium just doesn't do flashbacks as well as comics, and can't do the multi-layered storytelling that the comic form uses.

 

[Mallus]

I've got plans to watch Watchmen the Saturday after it opens, and then smoothly transition into drinking with friends, one who I hardly see anymore since he started a family. It's going to be a good guy's day/night out!

And if the film is nothing more than some of the more cinematic scenes from the graphic novel brought to life on the silver screen (and stitched together awkwardly like a Frankenstein quilt) I'll be happy. I'm not expecting more.

 

[Pants]

I read it a few months ago for the first time. Kind of overrated in some ways, but still good.

I'm looking forward to the movie.

 

[Mercutio01]

As a huge fan of comic books AND films, I absolutely plan to watch Watchmen.

With director Zak Snyder at the helm, the comic book itself serves as storyboard and the film techniques are used to their utmost effect to take the single panels of comics and add just enough motion to the scene to make it into film. 300 may not have been the best movie (or comic, for that matter), but the utter faithfulness to the original medium is untouched by any other film made from another source, just about ever.

Will I love Watchmen? That remains to be seen, but I will definitely be there opening weekend, probably calling in sick to work and going to a Friday matinee.