The basics of the Second Take are simple, sometimes I’ll watch a film and have a certain reaction to it which seems to be the polar opposite to a bunch of other people. I mean sure, people have different tastes etc, however more often than not the differences in opinion that I take notice of are from people I respect. So I figure there must be something there, and many times I’ve promised myself that I will go back and rewatch the movie in question with an open mind to try and work it out. As with all my Second Takes this will have spoilers.
I really love the Watchmen graphic novel, it is amazing, I still remember reading it the very first time and being blown away by such a complex story that really thought about comic book heroes. I’ve found more everytime I go back to that book and so it was natural for me to be excited over the idea of a Watchmen film. Excited but really cautious though, anyone care to remember League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?
No I didn’t think so.
Alan Moore properties have a notorious time at the cinema the viewer having to sever all connection to the generally better told stories in the printed form. Some stuff you just can’t recreate on screen (easily).
And so of course Watchmen was going to be scrutinised, especially given its title of most celebrated graphic novel ever and when I first saw it, I indeed scrutinised.
It took me weeks to decide that I didn’t like it, I didn’t like it because it didn’t feel like a complete film, if you didn’t read the book then the whole thing appeared as an unlikeable mess, especially with the multi-generational arcs. I think it made me angrier than anything because it was a slap to the face of the Watchmen book, it didn’t just flow on and show the genius of the source material.
So anyway going back to the film I had a different experience the second time round. I have actually reversed my original opinion on the film. I mean the film looks great, the attention to detail is extraordinary and the performances except for a couple are almost perfect.
I was struck by some of the smaller scenes and their power the second time around, especially the scene between Nite Owl and Rorschach when Rorschach apologises to Nite Owl saying how it couldn’t have been easy putting up with him. It is just a really nice character moment delivered perfectly.
There are of course still problems in the film, some of the bones cracking through people’s arms may not be required and the sex scene still makes me generally uncomfortable.
Watchmen is not a great film, it’s the best adaptation though that we could ask for and for that fact alone I have changed my mind.
It can’t be left unsaid though regarding the end of the film and its departure from the graphic novel. I’m still torn on this, the ending put forward by the film is of course a lot more filmable than that of giant mutated squid alien thing but I wonder if it did not change the tone of the ending, maybe I’ll just maintain happiness that the ending that they have does work and leaves the graphic novel as unique still.
Verdict: I have changed from hating the film to being a fan, I will buy it on DVD (when it becomes cheaper).
We didn’t really talk about the film when it came out so why not let us know what you thought!
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