Watchmen Review
Hell, all the cool kids are doing it. I might as well.
Okay. I haven’t read the comic/graphic novel. Not yet. I was going to but for some reason The One Armed Man’s copy has vanished. So I went in having no basis for comparison. Which is, I think, the best way to watch any movie adaptation of a written work. I haven’t read the Harry Potter books past the last movie either. I read them after I see the movie. That way I don’t spend the entire movie like I spent Narnia – picking it apart and being disappointed in how things were portrayed, what was left out, etc.
First things first – big blue cock. On screen a lot. I get that Dr. Manhattan is removed from humanity and so sees nothing wrong with being naked all the time. I’m far from a prude; I just wasn’t expecting it. There was more male full frontal nudity in this than I have seen in a decade or so since I moved out of the college town where porn movies were $1 each to rent.
Now, as far as the movie goes – I liked it. I thought it was an enjoyable movie. Was it art? No. Was it deep and affecting? No. The dialog wasn’t great. The costumes were dated looking – though they did keep it set in 1980s, so that is likely part of it. I’m glad in a way that they didn’t update and make it all about global warming or something current. Nuclear holocaust is good and world threatening and it makes for pretty explosions and a sense of urgency. Setting a nuclear holocaust with Russia in modern day would seem a bit far fetched. For now.
I’ll steal from Treacher and say about Rorschach:
Jackie Earle Haley was amazing. He really was born for this role. And he got the benefit of the few added scenes that actually improved on the comic. Like Rorschach’s post-defenestration fight with the cops, and pulling on his “face” in front of the shrink: “Your turn, doc. WHAT DO YOU SEE?” Chills, man, chills. Thanks, Jackie. Don’t stay away so long this time, huh?
A long way from the Bad News Bears, baby.
Everyone else was pretty vanilla really, compared to Rorschach. So while not a great movie in any sense, it was entertaining. Oh, and the opening sequences to set the place, history, mood, etc. were absolutely great.
I know there is probably something wrong with me, and don’t get me wrong, in real life, if I had an abusive psycho for a partner, I’d drop him like a bad habit. But in the presence of perfectly formed male butt for 90% of the movie, the one who interested me the most? The mentally damaged, psychotic who drops people down elevator shafts like most people drop trash in wastebaskets. Sigh. I really need help. Good thing I grabbed a non abusive mostly closeted sociopath and took myself out of the game before I could do damage to myself.
Tags: watchmen
Aside from the continual cameo of the blue cock, I really like the movie. And yeah, Rorschach was the main reason. But…Christ, how do I talk about this without spoiling the ending…
I’m /still/ thinking about the morality of what all transpires. I’m still torn over who the “villain” was. I end up being mostly on Rorschach and Nite Owl’s side of the debate (Though the Owl was no where near as emphatic as he should have been. He may have been the least “fucked up” character, but he was also the most callow, or dare I say impotent?). But…There’s that small, cold, calculating voice deep in the recesses of my mind that says “Fair enough, but when you think about it…”
But as much as I liked the movie, I’m just not jonesin’ for another hit. The second the credits rolled on Dark Knight, I was seriously contemplating the purchase of a ticket to the next show. I’ll snag “Watchmen” on DVD (and pray for a “Pants Required” director’s cut) and avidly watch Rorschach scenes, but I’ll probably fade out during the rest of it.