Monday, March 9, 2009

How Do you Make an Unmake-able Movie?


This will be my last blog about WATCHMEN. Cross my heart.

It seems as though a lot of people went into Watchmen expecting another superhero movie, polished and triumphant, those people came out disappointed.

Aside from a few moments, Snyder avoided dumbing down Moore’s masterpiece to win over the public. Watchmen was made for fans.

This isn’t another comic book movie. It exposes the paradox of the superhero genre. In this reality Superman doesn’t care for humanity, Batman’s a nut, everybody else’s damaged, paranoid, narcissistic, sadistic, sexually deviant. Got goosebumps when Dr. Manhattan says if there is a God, I’m nothing like him.

Watchmen imagines a reality universe. It’s the possibility of what could have been if we had superheroes. We wouldn’t let superman just rescue cats from trees or fight crime in Metropolis. He would help us change history! If Superman existed and he was American, we surely would have won the Vietnam War and what would that have meant?

Watchmen was less plot driven and more character based. Generally, the movie medium doesn’t need to worry about character development and they don’t really have time to. The book is addicting and emotional because you get attached to characters, especially Rorschach whose character is heartbreaking.

I think just as the graphic novel redefined the comic book genre, the movie redefined the comic book movie genre. Comic book movies aren’t just for kids anymore. Watchmen hit theatres at a time when superhero movies are growing tiresome. How about something new, refreshing and serious?

I loved the movie from the very beginning when Bob Dylan’s “Times they are A’Changing” played through. It got me feeling all “Watchmen-y” (which is a word, Zach Snyder used it).

1 comment:

Stephanie said...

I really need to get my hands on a copy of this comic book! You've made me so interested in it!