aretoo
First of all, I liked it. I thought it was an incredibly faithful
cinematic adaptation of the graphic novel, all things considered.
I did miss a few aspects of the movie, such as a few more touchstones
on the Watchmen's 60s and 70s activities, and the continuing
adaptations of Dr. Manhattan's wardrobe. (I suspect that *maybe* a few
people less would have groused about his nudity in their online
ranting if they did have the progression.) I missed a bit more of the
street corner interaction with the Gunga Diner - news stand - cab
company - concert hall, and the cabby's drama with her girlfriend. I
think it's an interesting omission to wipe all smoking out of the
novel-to-movie transition; the scene where Laurie is looking for a way
to light her cigarette while she's in Archie, for example, is her
randomly pushing buttons instead. (Hey, this button has flames on it!
Wonder what it'll do?)
I could have lived quite nicely without the hyperviolence. I know it's
a brutal world, and that some will be maimed and die, but do we
physically need to see the compound fracture dealt by our
protagonists? Or the arms sawn off? Or the cleaver repeatedly thrust
into the skull? There ways and there are ways to do this... sometimes
everything is too much.
While I have seen a few reviews decrying the use of "Hallelujah" in a
movie once again, I didn't mind it *too* awfully much. I do, however,
think they played the soundtrack overly loudly throughout the movie,
almost as if they were saying, "We've paid the rights for these songs,
darn it, and you ARE going to pay attention to them."
And the ending. Yes, the ending has been changed. Be it for good or
ill, I can understand why it was done. Besides, all the back story
leading up to the novel's ending have, for the most part, been excised
part and parcel from the movie, and it really would have come from
nowhere. The ending now in place is a neat substitution... neat as in
tidy and well-wrapped.
So: I'd probably give it a B+, and do plan to see it at least once
more in the theater. It's a nicely realized world, and, violence
aside, I'd like to revisit it.
And a final note: I don't know much of Dr. Manhattan is Billy Crudup,
but let's just say the cinematic Dr. Manhattan is far more, er,
graphic that the graphic novel version.
cinematic adaptation of the graphic novel, all things considered.
I did miss a few aspects of the movie, such as a few more touchstones
on the Watchmen's 60s and 70s activities, and the continuing
adaptations of Dr. Manhattan's wardrobe. (I suspect that *maybe* a few
people less would have groused about his nudity in their online
ranting if they did have the progression.) I missed a bit more of the
street corner interaction with the Gunga Diner - news stand - cab
company - concert hall, and the cabby's drama with her girlfriend. I
think it's an interesting omission to wipe all smoking out of the
novel-to-movie transition; the scene where Laurie is looking for a way
to light her cigarette while she's in Archie, for example, is her
randomly pushing buttons instead. (Hey, this button has flames on it!
Wonder what it'll do?)
I could have lived quite nicely without the hyperviolence. I know it's
a brutal world, and that some will be maimed and die, but do we
physically need to see the compound fracture dealt by our
protagonists? Or the arms sawn off? Or the cleaver repeatedly thrust
into the skull? There ways and there are ways to do this... sometimes
everything is too much.
While I have seen a few reviews decrying the use of "Hallelujah" in a
movie once again, I didn't mind it *too* awfully much. I do, however,
think they played the soundtrack overly loudly throughout the movie,
almost as if they were saying, "We've paid the rights for these songs,
darn it, and you ARE going to pay attention to them."
And the ending. Yes, the ending has been changed. Be it for good or
ill, I can understand why it was done. Besides, all the back story
leading up to the novel's ending have, for the most part, been excised
part and parcel from the movie, and it really would have come from
nowhere. The ending now in place is a neat substitution... neat as in
tidy and well-wrapped.
So: I'd probably give it a B+, and do plan to see it at least once
more in the theater. It's a nicely realized world, and, violence
aside, I'd like to revisit it.
And a final note: I don't know much of Dr. Manhattan is Billy Crudup,
but let's just say the cinematic Dr. Manhattan is far more, er,
graphic that the graphic novel version.
