Eric Melin and guest host Aaron Weber from Transbuddha review the new Zack Snyder movie “Watchmen,” an adaptation of the graphic novel masterpiece by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. They aren’t afraid to tackle such heady topics as fetishized violence and superhuman strength from costumed adventurers who are supposed to be portrayed as having no superpowers (save Dr. Manhattan of course!), a gross simplification of the comic’s complicated themes, a shocking lack of subtlety, whether the heavily stylized look was the right choice for the material, whether one viewing is enough to balance the spectacle vs. the storytelling, and Eric’s failed strategy of trying really hard to resist reading the book again right before seeing the movie. This is an emotional, honest look at a film that both reviewers had been anticipating for years and years, and one still refuses to give up on, even when all his instincts tell him he should do just that. Here’s his overly long print review.
Eric is the Editor-in-Chief of Scene-Stealers.com, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and contributor for The Pitch. He’s former President of the KCFCC, and drummer for The Dead Girls, Ultimate Fakebook, and Truck Stop Love . He is also the 2013 Air Guitar World Champion Mean Melin, ranked 4th best of all-time. Eric goes to 11. Follow him at:
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It seems pretty clear from the review that even biggest fans of “Watchmen” didn’t really know what they wanted from a film adaptation except to rip on Zack Snyder from the beginning. Zack Snyder initially turned down the offer to direct the film but after much thought decided to take it on because he didn’t want someone else ruining it. You know damn well that Hollywood wouldn’t have gone to Christopher Nolan or Darren Aronofsky to direct it, they would have went to someone who would have tainted the graphic novel forever such as Michael Bay.
Zack Snyder doesn’t exactly breathe new life into the film adaptation but he doesn’t discredit or ruin the novel either. Is the film a little too long? Yes, but the cherished book drags on in certain chapters also. Zack stayed pretty true to the book except for certain scenes, and yes I know he changed the beloved ending *spoiler alert* but that fucking squid was not the greatest ending either.
There are a lot of visually great scenes in this movie and I think a rock fist down is entirely too harsh especially with all the crap that is at the box office right now. I have a feeling when the “Lord of the Rings” length fan boy edition of this film is released we will see some of our favorite characters from the novel more fleshed out.
On a lighter note, no matter how many fan boys wet dreams were crushed from the film (or even this review) I think Zack Snyder knows how to direct a damn hot sex scene especially after the broken hero can’t get it up unless he’s wearing his owl costume!
It seems pretty clear from the review that even biggest fans of “Watchmen” didn’t really know what they wanted from a film adaptation except to rip on Zack Snyder from the beginning. Zack Snyder initially turned down the offer to direct the film but after much thought decided to take it on because he didn’t want someone else ruining it. You know damn well that Hollywood wouldn’t have gone to Christopher Nolan or Darren Aronofsky to direct it, they would have went to someone who would have tainted the graphic novel forever such as Michael Bay.
Zack Snyder doesn’t exactly breathe new life into the film adaptation but he doesn’t discredit or ruin the novel either. Is the film a little too long? Yes, but the cherished book drags on in certain chapters also. Zack stayed pretty true to the book except for certain scenes, and yes I know he changed the beloved ending *spoiler alert* but that fucking squid was not the greatest ending either.
There are a lot of visually great scenes in this movie and I think a rock fist down is entirely too harsh especially with all the crap that is at the box office right now. I have a feeling when the “Lord of the Rings” length fan boy edition of this film is released we will see some of our favorite characters from the novel more fleshed out.
On a lighter note, no matter how many fan boys wet dreams were crushed from the film (or even this review) I think Zack Snyder knows how to direct a damn hot sex scene especially after the broken hero can’t get it up unless he’s wearing his owl costume!
Dana- Great comments! Thanks! I’ll take them paragraph by paragraph:
Hollywood did go to Aronofsky. he was slated to direct at one point, and it fell apart. I can only speak for myself about wanting to hate Snyder, not Aaron. I was wary, yes. But I wanted to like it so much it hurts.
The length for me wouldn’t have been an issue if the film had maintained some sort of semblance of consistency. I was constantly yanked out of the movie by bad acting and over-the-top action. I didn’t mention a thing about the squid in either this review or my print review.
I hope that when I see the long version on DVD some of my issues are smoothed out and the story becomes a solid thing rather than a gooey mess, which is what I see it as now.
I thought the sex scene was hilarious. I loved it, and it totally goes along with the characters’ longing to “fight crime” again. Equating that desire with sex is perfect in the book and in the movie, Snyder does a bang-up job of making it funny too.
Dana- Great comments! Thanks! I’ll take them paragraph by paragraph:
Hollywood did go to Aronofsky. he was slated to direct at one point, and it fell apart. I can only speak for myself about wanting to hate Snyder, not Aaron. I was wary, yes. But I wanted to like it so much it hurts.
The length for me wouldn’t have been an issue if the film had maintained some sort of semblance of consistency. I was constantly yanked out of the movie by bad acting and over-the-top action. I didn’t mention a thing about the squid in either this review or my print review.
I hope that when I see the long version on DVD some of my issues are smoothed out and the story becomes a solid thing rather than a gooey mess, which is what I see it as now.
I thought the sex scene was hilarious. I loved it, and it totally goes along with the characters’ longing to “fight crime” again. Equating that desire with sex is perfect in the book and in the movie, Snyder does a bang-up job of making it funny too.
Hilarious and informative review, guys. Great work.
I don’t think I’m gonna drag the girlfriend to this’n.
Hilarious and informative review, guys. Great work.
I don’t think I’m gonna drag the girlfriend to this’n.
i haven’t read the Watchmen comic series, but i can’t imagine them packing any more into one movie even if they wanted to, which is good for me, makes me feel like i got my money’s worth
i haven’t read the Watchmen comic series, but i can’t imagine them packing any more into one movie even if they wanted to, which is good for me, makes me feel like i got my money’s worth
JD how can you give this Fist Down and Wolverine Fist Up. LOL that’s insane.
JD how can you give this Fist Down and Wolverine Fist Up. LOL that’s insane.
Technically, it’s not JD. That was Aaron in both reviews. The grphic is leftover from when my co-host always used to be JD!
Technically, it’s not JD. That was Aaron in both reviews. The grphic is leftover from when my co-host always used to be JD!
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