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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20 Responses to “Second Take: Watchmen”
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I have not read the graphic novel. So I have to judge the movie just as how it is as a movie. I watched it on IMAX and although, all the visual grandeur was there, I still felt being left a bit uncomfortable by the way the plot was being revealed.
Rorschach was the saving grace I believe. His mania, his voice and his persona all synced perfectly. Cnt say the same about Niteowl or for that matter Dr.Manhattan.
And lastly, in a story where twists are being revealed, I hardly cared about who killed the Comedian.
So, should I go to the graphic novel before watching the movie? And is it fair to expect that from an audience? I guess not. Whachya say?
Sujoy´s last blog ..Movie Review: Kaminey
Sujoy you bring up my biggest complaint with this film is that as an outsider coming in to watch Watchmen you are going to be completely let down. It fails on almost every level as a movie for anyone to just go and watch.
I admit that however that’s not me, I know the characters and so I love seeing them in motion even though as I said I can’t use the movie to show others the wonder of the Watchmen.
I think to really enjoy the movie you must have read the novel first, my only worry now is that the movie has ruined the book for you which it may very have done.
Hi Lee,
Having watched the film for the first time Friday night and not read the graphic novels I agree with the sex scenes being uncomfortable and the ending being weak. We rented it from the local library and the dvd was rated an 18. I wish they had gone for a 15 rating, which would of smoothed a couple of my concerns.
Perhaps we will see a sequel to this movie in the future, the ending left the door open and even though I found it disappointing at times, I would watch a sequel.
There were many aspects I did enjoy and the strong story line aspects they did have, were very well acted and portrayed. i.e. Nite Owl and Rorschach as you mentioned. I also thought they handled the ‘flash backs’ quite well when merging them into the ‘present’.
It would of been good to have seen a flash back scene of Nite Owl & Rorschach working together as well as during the ‘present’ ending. This could be a ‘franchise’ were I would watch a presequel also and explore the many characters briefly mentioned and alternate history moments.
p.s. did you notice one of the U.S. military chaps was the actor who plays the main Russian military chap in SG1?
Regards
Andrew
Andrew´s last blog ..Compression made easy
LOL no I didn’t notice the military guy from Stargate!
Unfortunately you just said the absolutely worst word you could have when discussing Watchmen, “sequel”. I think if they even tried to do such a thing Alan Moore would bring down bloody vengeance the like no one has ever seen before in the comic book world and he would have an army of Watchman fans behind him.
It’s just not something that can even vaguely be considered to be honest. Although I’m sure that DC has circled it.
I guess with the excessive violence and the sex they were trying to capture that which made the comic book so revolutionary in the first place, frank depictions of both and of course on the big screen what haven’t we seen before? So they up it slightly to shock and awe us into getting the intention.
I know a lot of people had trouble with the different generations especially because the Comedian crossed over all of them.
Hi Lee,
According to a wikipedia entry Watchmen worldwide has made $182,735,282 USD so far. Probably making it a movie contender for another installment, but I understand and appreciate people (be it the creator or original fan base) not wanting a sequel, even if I don’t share that view.
For me the word ‘sequel’ isn’t the absolute worse and I apologise if offended. I approach watchmen from a different avenue, I would only assess further down the line based on a storyline, director and other factors at time of etc.
“So they up it slightly to shock and awe us into getting the intention.” your absolutely right and it is undeeded, especially with a good storyline and potrayal.
Keep the second take reviews coming, they are good reads.
Andrew
Andrew´s last blog ..Compression made easy
Hi Andrew, it’s not so much a question of whether or not the movie was successful or not, you have to understand the politics behind actually getting Watchmen on screen in the first place.
Alan Moore wrote Watchmen as a comic book, solely to be in that medium, the story itself is a commentary on comic books and superheroes using itself, so to take that out of context is difficult and is shown through the flaws in the Watchmen film. It was never meant to be anything but a graphic novel. In fact it was designed that way on purpose.
It’s also stand alone, it’s not like Batman or Superman where it is an ongoing storyline, Watchmen was always meant to stand alone. Fortunately I think Zack Snyder is in agreement.
Hi Lee,
Great to see such passion and thank you for the background info behind the adaption and intentions. I realise now I shouldn’t of left any feedback or thoughts without knowing some background, especially an adaption and will refrain from posting in the future.
As always a huge fan of your artwork and appreciate you bringing excellent content to my notice.
Best Regards
Andrew
Andrew´s last blog ..Compression made easy
Oh no Andrew I hope you haven’t been chased off!
Everybody’s thoughts and opinions are very welcome here!!
There are some universal truths though
It’s more than interesting hearing from someone who hasn’t been exposed to any of the politics surrounding the Watchmen adaptation and surprising to hear that someone fresh to the film actually enjoyed it and would want to see more!
So please don’t keep your opinions to yourself, when they make an awesome Watchmen sequel in a couple of years you’ll want it on record that you thought it was a good idea! (even though it’s not a good idea
)
I’ll be very very surprised if there is a sequel. and I’ll refuse to go. Some things are just beyond the pale.
I think my original one word review sums up my attitude towards the film:
“meh”
Dan´s last blog ..Check it out now it’s the Antiques Roadshow
Doing a sequel would be so artistically corrupt… oh hang on we’re talking about Hollywood here
Yeah, like I said in my original review, it was the best, most faithful adaptation you could hope for, and that’s what killed it. I might, upon second viewing, be willing to cut it a little more slack – and I’ve considered watching the director’s cut – but honestly I think I’d have the same problems the second time around. It was very cool to see some scenes from the book come to life. And I’m not so much of a purist that the new ending bothered me – I actually liked it better. But it violated the characters and just didn’t hold together well as a well-integrated movie.
Jeff´s last blog ..Drinking games for geeky music majors – Tuesday TubeWatch
Hi Jeff, I was surprised at the amount of slack I gave the film the second time around and I think you’ve summed up why I’d consider buying it on DVD now “It was very cool to see some scenes from the book come to life.”
I should point out too that I watched the theatrical version and not the Director’s Cut which I know some people have raved about.
I first watched the movie and then read the book and because there were a couple of months in between I was left wondering..how did the movie end again..I couldn’t remember the squid. It’s always a bit strange if such a big thing is changed. I think a giant squid shouldn’t be too difficult, of course it takes ages of computer animation etc..but technically it shouldn’t have been a problem.
While watching the movie I thought the sex scene in the flying machine looked a bit corny with the blastgasm, but that was taken from the book so you can’t blame the movie for that.
All in all I think it was really hard to make the movie, to make it acceptable for the fans and slightly understandable for the big audience, I’m agreeing with your 2nd opinion of the best we could’ve hoped for.
Arjan´s last blog ..Tsunami vs 9-11
I think the movie is a good companion piece to the book – it must have been odd reading the book second especially with the Black Freighter stuff in the comic that doesn’t appear in the movie.
that black freighter stuff was weird indeed! It was completely left out of the movie, but I think they made the right choice.
Arjan´s last blog ..Tsunami vs 9-11
I wasn’t too fussed about changing the squid ending. The concept of having an “external threat” that the world rallies again was still there except of course it’s Manhattan rather than the squid.
Several scenes in the movie really didn’t work.
As much as I’d like the source material kept . . sometimes it has to be changed to make it filmable. The graphic novel had “book excerpts”, the pirate storyline etc. to build the world up but there just wasn’t enough time to include all those details.
SK´s last blog ..Bayonetta by Jamie Tyndall
That’s the biggest problem with these kind of films, obviously you need to change some stuff to make it a decent film but you are going to be nailed to a cross no matter what decisions you make – probably best to leave well enough alone sometimes
When watchmen was still being made, people said the graphic novel was “unfilmable” because of it’s complicated plot and the artistic style. When I watched watchmen, I honestly liked it, although there are still some that they should have improved. Of course the graphic novel is still the best. I think the movie was somewhat faithful to the graphic novel, maybe except for the climax and ending.
Hey, there were so many comments that I couldn’t be bothered reading so I apologise if anyone’s said the same thing as me already.
I’m okay with the film ending, I remember reading afterwards that the producers didn’t want to film it like the book, cause if you remember right it’s like 6 pages of solid gore, dead bodies everywhere. And yeah, the producers didn’t think Americans were ready to see that (post 9/11 and all), so I’m completely on board with that. I think whatever squid they came up with would have just disappointed me anyway.
As for the rest of the movie, I enjoyed the hell out of it, you can tell the director is an absolute obsessive compulsive about every detail and shot. It was so beautiful.
I did read the novel first and I definitely agree that if you haven’t read it you’d have no idea what was going on… but I don’t think it would ruin the book for you if you read it afterwards.
And…just….WATCHMEN. IT’S AWESOME. I’m going to go watch it right now.
Zomb1etron´s last blog ..Why Everything You Love Is Wrong
I think you’re right there is no way that an acceptable squid could have been produced and I think with the squid, if you hadn’t read the book the ending would have been REALLY hard to swallow!