Watchmen Review
From my perspective, Snyder’s Watchmen achieves two goals. It delivers a visually stimulating companion piece for dedicated fans. And it provides a portal for newcomers taking their first tour through Moore and Gibbons’ thought-provoking but pessimistic universe. Their next step should be toward the bookstore, where the definitive version of Watchmen still waits.
It’s somewhat appropriate for director Zack Snyder to accept the challenge of translating Watchmen to film. Like the proud but overmatched Spartans in Snyder’s breakthrough smash, 300, he’s waging a battle that can’t be won. Whatever version he delivers, it will be compared to Moore’s vision — which means it’s likely to disappoint the graphic novel’s uncompromising fan base. Even Moore refuses to endorse any cinematic renditions of his work, believing film, as a medium, can’t do his comic-book story justice…[WorstPreviews]
If you’ve never read WATCHMEN, I’m recommending you wait until after you’ve seen the film. Everyone I’ve spoken to who saw the film as WATCHMEN virgins loved it. And believe me, that was not at all what I was expecting to hear. For all of you first timers, here is a synopsis. Don’t read the spoilers below. WATCHMEN is set in an alternate 1980’s America. Remember the 80’s? Big hair, bad music (no one send me hate mail for that please) and constant fear of nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Well, in the version of the hairspray decade, the tension is still there. But we have a special weapon. Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup). In 1959, scientist Jon Osterman accidentally enters an “Intrinsic Field Subtractor” that disintegrates his body. He is able to rebuild himself with his mind, one cell at a time, as a giant blue (and often naked and well-hung) superman who has incredible abilities and keeps the Soviets at bay. But he’s becoming more and more alien. Nixon is running for a third term and tensions are growing despite Mr. Blue. The streets are getting violent as people wait for the end. The symbolic Doomsday Clock inches closer to midnight and things start to fall apart. But what about our superheroes?… [JOBLO]
No comic book has been the subject of more essays and serious literary discussion than Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen. It has been named one of the 100 greatest novels of the past century by Time Magazine. Released 20 years ago, the 12-issue maxi-series was a groundbreaking achievement for comics. Written “for adults,” Watchmen opened the doors for thought-provoking and intelligent comics in the mainstream. Two decades after its arrival, there is still no greater comic book.
In honor of the 20-year anniversary, DC Comics released a $75 oversized hardcover, Absolute Watchmen. For the first time, the series can be enjoyed at a considerably larger size and with completely re-mastered color. Few would argue the brilliance of Moore’s book, but get this — the Absolute Edition makes this epic tale even better. That’s right, the story lauded by critics and loved by fans is now more powerful than any version you have previously read…[IGN]
Watchmen (Les Gardiens) – Four Clips and International Poster
Four great clips and international poster from the upcoming “Watchmen” film have been released.
It all begins with the paranoid delusions of a half-insane hero called Rorschach. But is Rorschach really insane or has he in fact uncovered a plot to murder super-heroes and, even worse, millions of innocent civilians? On the run from the law, Rorschach reunites with his former teammates in a desperate attempt to save the world and their lives, but what they uncover will shock them to their very core and change the face of the planet! Following two generations of masked superheroes from the close of World War II to the icy shadow of the Cold War comes this groundbreaking comic story – the story of The Watchmen.
The highly anticipated flick is directed by Zack Snyder (of Dawn of the Dead and 300) and is written by David Hayter (The Scorpion King, X-Men, X-Men 2) and Alex Tse. Stars Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
New Watchmen TV Spot, Character Features and Photos
A new TV spot, series of 30-second character features about each of the principal characters and several photos for “Watchmen” hit the Internet
In addition, the “Watchmen” viral site TheNewFrontiersman is now filled with some content. The images there are the first of a series of content exclusives to be released through the site, including correspondence, military documents, newspaper and magazine articles, photographs and video reports.
Adapted from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons‘ comic book series of the same title, “Watchmen” follows superhero-turned-vigilante Rorschach as he investigates the murder of his former colleague and discovers much more than a simple homicide case. Directed by Zack Snyder using script written by David Hayter and Alex Tse, it features the likes of Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Malin Akerman and Patrick Wilson.
Watchmen hits conventional and IMAX theaters on March 6.
New Watchmen Video Journal – Girls Kick Ass
Take a look at a new, the 8th of 12, “Watchmen” featurette titled “Girls Kick Ass.” Today’s video journal focuses on the girls of Watchmen Laurie Juspeczyk – Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman) and her mother Sally Jupiter – the first Silk Spectre (Carla Gugino).
In this video you can see some of the mother – daughter sequences in Jupiter’s Florida home and Akerman’s fight scene in the jail.
Brand New Watchmen Poster!
Earlier today we posted the new “Watchmen” footage, and now we’ve got a new teaser poster via Yahoo! Movies.
A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the “Doomsday Clock” – which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union – is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion – a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers – Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity…but who is watching the watchmen?
The film is based on the 12-part DC Comics series written by Alan Moore and featuring art by Dave Gibbons. Continue Reading…
New “Watchmen” Footage From 2008 Scream Awards!
Zack Snyder, Malin Akerman, Carla Gugino, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan debuted a new 90 second clip from “Watchmen” during the 2008 Scream Awards on Spike last night. The clip features scenes from the previously released trailer with a few new shots mixed in.
Adapted from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons‘ comic book series of the same title, “Watchmen” follows superhero-turned-vigilante Rorschach as he investigates the murder of his former colleague and discovers much more than a simple homicide case. As he goes on with his investigation, he uncovers the plot to kill and discredit all other superheroes as well as a far more intricate conspiracy involving his colleagues’ past which could completely change the course of history.
The film is directed by Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead, 300) and written by David Hayter (The Scorpion King, X-Men, X-Men 2) and Alex Tse. Continue Reading…
“Watchmen” New Magazine Covers
The Brazilian movie publication SET Magazine has four separate images from “Watchmen” (Dr. Manhattan, Rorschach, Silk Spectre II, and The Comedian) gracing the cover of its September issue.
When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes.
As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion – a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers – Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity…but who is watching the watchmen? Continue Reading…
“Watchmen” Hi-Res Photos
We’ve got already seen but great Hi-Res photos from “Watchmen“.
“Watchmen” directed by Zack Snyder and written by David Hayter and Alex Tse, starring Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Malin Akerman will arrive in theaters on March 6th, 2009.
“Watchmen” Behind – The – Scenes Clip
The official “Watchmen” trailer of the Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons‘ comic books adaptation movie hasn’t been released yet.
But great new behind-the-scene clip is online.
The video comes from the film’s stunt coordinator and thus, it focuses the stunt works.
Director: Zack Snyder
Writers: David Hayter, Alex Tse
Starring: Malin Akerman, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Carla Gugino, Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Goode, Stephen McHattie, Matt Frewer, Carrie Genzel, Danny Woodburn, Niall Matter, Dan Payne, Brett Stimely
watch the clip after the jump
