Posts Tagged ‘Alan Moore’
Second Take: Watchmen
… 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 …
Tags: Alan Moore Nite Owl Rorschach Second Take Watchmen
Well I’ve done the ‘good’ list for movies this year so it seems only natural and fair to draw up the naughty list of movies before the year completely comes to an end.
This is potentially a much harder list as I generally don’t like to hate on too many films but there were at least a couple of films this year that deserve to get lumps of coal in their stockings or at the very least a good frowning. I’m sure there are some worse films too but I had to limit it to what I’ve actually seen and not just assumed!
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine – This is a really bad-ass character, everyone generally loves him, he’s on nearly every cover for Marvel, so why then did we get a weak ineffectual version of the character? I mean it’s not the actor who has already shown he can play the character? The writers just seem to soften the character so he was all bark and no brain popping claws through the jaw. And then the film degenerates into a who’s who of mutant appearances including a very young Cyclops who later on doesn’t recognise Wolverine because he had his eyes closed. So I guess no one liked Cyclops back then enough to describe the guy who saved them?? Oh yeah and if there was an Academy Award for worst way to handle the character Deadpool then this film would have it in the bag!
- Watchmen - Great comic book translation onto the big screen for Watchmen fans, horrible film for everyone else. I don’t mind Watchmen as a film, I’ve revisited it and grown to appreciate it as a literal translation onto screen. For anyone else though it is confusing, awkward and hard to get into. I completely get that. Maybe Alan Moore was right, it was never intended for any medium outside of comics.
- Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian – The first one was generally funny, not the greatest comedy in the world but certainly enjoyable. I have no idea why this one apart from financial concerns would ever even considered being made. It doesn’t add anything to the storyline and you know what Hank Azaria, you do voices, fine we get it, we got it, practise some restraint now.
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – The absolute best bit of the film: giant robot balls. The worst part? The fact that the best part was giant robot balls.
- Terminator Salvation – I feel bad putting this on the list now because I bought this today on Blu-ray, but only because I have the others including T3 and I think it’ll look pretty on the big telly. Other than that to me this film shows why Bill Murray might have head butted McG. There are a lot of dumb ideas in this film designed to look good only so that idiots will buy it on Blu-ray because it looks pretty… hang on… doh.
And there you have it. So any films that should be here that I’ve missed? Any films that shouldn’t be here? Let me know your biggest let downs when it came to film in 2009!
I’m reasonably certain that I have bought Star Trek 2 the Wrath of Khan five times now with a potential sixth time around the corner.
First of all I’ve bought it on VHS twice, the first time was a ex rental copy followed by a home video version, then when the first DVD versions came out I bought it again with no special features or anything good. Then the special edition came out and I bought that version which was cool because it was slightly recut and had cool menus etc. Then the Star Trek movie pack came out with all the special edition movies at a reduced individual cost and a neat smaller box so I got that and replaced the couple of movies I already had in special edition.
Now I’m considering buying it on Blu-ray.
I don’t care that I’ve had to upgrade it several times as I love the movie and want it in it’s best possible format. What I do object to is the absolutely ridiculous price of the Blu-ray considering a couple of points:
- The film cost $11.2 million to make.
- It made $78,912,963 at the domestic box office
- I’ve bought five versions of the film, I don’t believe that I’m alone I’m sure there are a lot of Star Trek fans who have purchased at least two copies.
- I read somewhere that it costs around 20 to 25 cents to physically produce a Blu-ray (happy to be corrected here).
- The cheapest I can find Star Trek: Wrath of Khan on Blu-ray is $39
- I can buy Terminator 2: Judgement Day – Skynet Edition for $19.95
Now around the Sargent household an ugly thing has raised its head. An ugly horrible thing that makes me want to hide in the cupboard clutching my rare Evil Dead figurines shaking in terror.
Budget.
ARRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!
I know it’s almost too horrible to even think about!!
Apparently if we want to go overseas, eat and remain clothed with a roof above our heads battle damaged Iron Man helmet replicas have to be cut back on as well as some other ‘luxuries’.
By luxuries I guess I’m talking about bloody price gouging Blu-rays.
But there is a way you can help!
After contacting my local Blu-ray price gouging… I mean store and offering to draw them pictures in exchange for over priced Blu-rays they advised me that it was against store policy and preceded to lecture me on the nature of commerce and the exchange of money for goods and or services.
So it got me thinking.
How about I draw pictures for you guys? I mean I do anyway but this way you can get some original art from me and I can get some sweet Blu-ray money without hurting the budget.
But I also know that a lot of you are in the same boat as me, the HMAS Budget (it’s a garbage scow) and I’m not about to start gouging you too so there are other ways to help too.
So in support of high definition KHAAAAAAAAAN!!!! I have drawn a five card set inspired by Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan which I’m selling for $25 AU including postage anywhere!
Buy the set of cards in the Quit Your Day Job shop.
These are the original cards not reproductions, each signed on the back by me so there is only one set available and so it’s a first in situation. Remember these are inspired by the film and I am not affiliated with Paramount Pictures so please don’t ask me to do reproductions or prints.
Now if you don’t want these cards or are stuck on board the stoopid HMAS Budget you can still get in on the action.
I’m giving away one Star Trek themed artist sketch card of any character or scene in the Star Trek universe of the winner’s choice.
All you have to do to go into the draw is to mention the Wrath of Khan card set on your blog or Twitter or Facebook or Forum etc. and leave a comment here telling me about it. Competition will run until the card set is sold and then I shall drop all names into a hat of some sort and select a winner at random then email them and ask what they want the card to look like.
You can enter as many times as you like, each mention gets you an entry (but you got to tell me about it to make sure!).
Of course it should be mentioned that you could have your cake and eat it too, buy the card set and mention that on your blog quickly and you’ll go into the hat as well (a very quick buyer could guarantee themselves a win *wink).
***UPDATE – The cards have already been sold!***
