cardero
Citizen Mod
My history of the Watchmen begins in the late 80’s when I first met RF member Ralph C. Ralph C. was a mutual friend of the singer in my band Signal 7 and when I told Ralph that I used to collect comics we hit upon a friendship that has extended to this day. RalphC. was also the friend that steered and influenced me into my second incarnation of collecting comics. Since I was now an adult with a secure income, I was able to afford the hobby this time and Ralph C. was already knee-deep into comic buying and reading, he was able to turn me onto what was good and what the genre had to offer to the adult collector.
Watchmen was one of those recommendations.
As a new collector re-introduced to the world of comics, Watchmen floored me. It was mature, thought provoking, timeless and inspiring. For the next two decades I would also be recommending Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s Watchmen to the comic nay-sayers or to the people who thought that comics were just for kids or illiterates. I must have bought this graphic novel four times because I had given (or lent) my copy to new and interested readers. It was a complete story that touched on many levels of human morality and behavior and if read very carefully, had little to do with men and women running around in costumes fighting crime. There are many fiction lists that cite this work as a great piece of art and literature and rightfully so.
As a big fan of movies, I too (at that time), was hopeful that it would someday be turned into a major motion picture and when I heard that my favorite director, Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Time Bandits) would helm this project, I felt that the future of this film was in good hands.
But the film was never produced. Terry Gilliam would have been quoted to admit that the twelve issue graphic novel was “un-film-able,” a critique that could very well turn prophetic.
Now in this day and age where technology has caught up to film-making and we now live in a time where film artists and distributers do not have a problem with keeping audiences in their seats for three hours, many believe that the time was ripe for a Watchmen movie.
If at this point my dear friend you cannot tell that I am excited about this movie, I should just discontinue writing but the truth remains that it is very rare that I get excited over the release of a motion picture or look forward to actually seeing a new movie. Since I do not dwell in the realm of hope, I am not going to wonder if this film lives up to my expectations but that doesn’t mean that I am not courting concerns.
Zack Snyder (with only a few movie credits under his belt) is inexperienced and ill-equipped to take on such a project.
(Compared to Marvel) DC (lately) has had a rough batting average with its superhero movies and licensing properties.
Reading the Watchmen book again, I am noticing that the dialogue (which may work well for the graphic and written format) may not transfer well onto the screen.
That the movie, faithful to the graphic novel, may appease the fans and the readers but will segregate and confuse movie-goers not familiar with the source.
That the story is present on the screen but the spirit is lacking (a critique that reviewers are already impressing).
I still believe that the Watchmen would have worked better as a twelve-episode series on HBO rather than a theatrical release.
So who is going to watch the Watchmen?
Are you familiar with the original DC material written and depicted by Moore and Gibbons? What is your history with the Watchmen? How did you come across it?
Do you have high expectations?
If you saw the film, what are your gripes or critiques? What did you like about the film?
This is a thread to list your fears and concerns and to see if they match with your judgments when you actually view the film.
Watchmen was one of those recommendations.
As a new collector re-introduced to the world of comics, Watchmen floored me. It was mature, thought provoking, timeless and inspiring. For the next two decades I would also be recommending Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s Watchmen to the comic nay-sayers or to the people who thought that comics were just for kids or illiterates. I must have bought this graphic novel four times because I had given (or lent) my copy to new and interested readers. It was a complete story that touched on many levels of human morality and behavior and if read very carefully, had little to do with men and women running around in costumes fighting crime. There are many fiction lists that cite this work as a great piece of art and literature and rightfully so.
As a big fan of movies, I too (at that time), was hopeful that it would someday be turned into a major motion picture and when I heard that my favorite director, Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Time Bandits) would helm this project, I felt that the future of this film was in good hands.
But the film was never produced. Terry Gilliam would have been quoted to admit that the twelve issue graphic novel was “un-film-able,” a critique that could very well turn prophetic.
Now in this day and age where technology has caught up to film-making and we now live in a time where film artists and distributers do not have a problem with keeping audiences in their seats for three hours, many believe that the time was ripe for a Watchmen movie.
If at this point my dear friend you cannot tell that I am excited about this movie, I should just discontinue writing but the truth remains that it is very rare that I get excited over the release of a motion picture or look forward to actually seeing a new movie. Since I do not dwell in the realm of hope, I am not going to wonder if this film lives up to my expectations but that doesn’t mean that I am not courting concerns.
Zack Snyder (with only a few movie credits under his belt) is inexperienced and ill-equipped to take on such a project.
(Compared to Marvel) DC (lately) has had a rough batting average with its superhero movies and licensing properties.
Reading the Watchmen book again, I am noticing that the dialogue (which may work well for the graphic and written format) may not transfer well onto the screen.
That the movie, faithful to the graphic novel, may appease the fans and the readers but will segregate and confuse movie-goers not familiar with the source.
That the story is present on the screen but the spirit is lacking (a critique that reviewers are already impressing).
I still believe that the Watchmen would have worked better as a twelve-episode series on HBO rather than a theatrical release.
So who is going to watch the Watchmen?
Are you familiar with the original DC material written and depicted by Moore and Gibbons? What is your history with the Watchmen? How did you come across it?
Do you have high expectations?
If you saw the film, what are your gripes or critiques? What did you like about the film?
This is a thread to list your fears and concerns and to see if they match with your judgments when you actually view the film.
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