Watchmen

[Matt]

Is anyone a fan of the graphic novel?  Have you seen the movie yet?  I thought the movie was done very well and while it did miss some things in the plot and the ending changed it was probably the best film representation that book would get.  I actually liked the new ending better as well as the novel version seemed tacked on and easily refuted.  The only way it could have been better is if it was a mini-series on HBO or something.  Then the complete story could have been fleshed out entirely and not crammed into a two and a half hour movie.  Also, the intro credits were nothing short of badass.

[Andyzipp]

I agree that a, let's say, 12 episode series would have been perhaps, a better way to go, because you'd have more time to flesh out the characters, especially Adrian Veidt and Walter Kovacs.

Still don't miss the pirates.

I think the movie was incredibly well done, very true to the source material.  And I agree that the ending in the movie was actually better than the book, because it was more "plausible".

[Gizzmonic]

I saw it on IMAX...I echo pretty much everything you and Zipp said.  As close to the source material as possible within the time limit, and the ending being different didn't really bother me.  I have a couple of comic book nerd friends who hated it, but I still can't understand why.  I was never a huge fan of Watchmen in the first place, but it's a good story and the movie is good as well.  My only complaint is the music selection is kinda hack.

Patton Oswalt has a pretty succinct reply to the chronically complaining nerds here.

[Matt]

Every complaint I've heard about why the nerds hated the movie has to do with the stupid giant squid.  My problem with that ending is that the squid is just a genetically altered squid so when the inevitable scientists go to study this "alien" creature they'll find it's just a squid that's been changed.  Rorschach was done amazingly in this movie.  Dead fucking on.  The Black Freighter stuff is apparently coming to dvd in animated form with some Under the Hood stuff about the Minutemen.

[Ron Brand]

I thought the problem wasn't the squid per se, but the change in the ultimate villain and how that wouldn't work because he's American.

[Andyzipp]

I thought the problem wasn't the squid per se, but the change in the ultimate villain and how that wouldn't work because he's American.

Can we assume since, as far as the world knew, the ultimate villain turned his back on the earth and then attacked several of the planet's major cities, it would work?

In the book, the squid just shows up in Manhattan, and it never made a whole lot of sense why the world population would care about that for more than a couple of months.

[Matt]

The fact that the USA lost people and most of a major city doesn't correlate to the Soviet Union suddenly being friendly.  In that universe it would probably mean the Soviets would attack at the moment of weakness and shock.  The fact that multiple cities around the world including Moscow suffered devastation makes more sense in the path to peace.

[Andyzipp]

The fact that the USA lost people and most of a major city doesn't correlate to the Soviet Union suddenly being friendly.  In that universe it would probably mean the Soviets would attack at the moment of weakness and shock.  The fact that multiple cities around the world including Moscow suffered devastation makes more sense in the path to peace.

is what I was trying to say.

[Gizzmonic]

Speaking of Watchmen, did anyone see the "Saturday morning Watchmen" on youtube?  Pretty hilarious.

[Matt]

hahaha Yes that video is hilarious and well done. I especially like the part with Rorschach and the german shepherds.

[Gizzmonic]

Here's another Watchmen parody, with Hostess fruit pies!

[Matt]

Someone made a Rorschach mask that changes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-ZlKhDI0wQ&feature=related  Looks like heat activated paint.

[TheWizard]

I thought the movie was amazing also.  I'm a comic nerd, but I didn't mind the ending change so much either.  I thought it was well done.

Another thing with the squid, the whole giant squid thing appearing in NYC was supposed to bring the world together.  I admit, its been a while since I read Watchmen, but didn't the psychic also play a part in not only transporting it, but when the squid landed wasn't it was supposed to broadcast some sort of imagery that would haunt people also?  And that would create a more lasting effect?  I could be wrong about that.