How did I miss the news that this was coming!? THE WATCHMEN is coming next year?! Holy shit! I don't know anything about it yet, but here's hoping it gets the SIN CITY treatment!
This could be really, really cool. But isn't the story way too long to be made into a 2 hour movie? I'm going to have to go back and re-read this. Alan Moore is going to be loving life - first V for Vendetta, now this!
A little info from Wizard magazine regarding the Watchmen movie:
It's in pre-production at Paramount. Paul Greengrass ("The Bourne Supremacy") will direct. David Hayter ("X-Men") wrote the screenplay. Looks possible for a 2006 release.
Between this and Singer's "Superman Returns" I'm already looking forward to NEXT year's comic movies!
Am I really the only one who thinks this movie will suck?
Even if it was possible to make Watchmen into a decent feature-length movie - which I'm not sure it is, the book is so long - Zach Snyder is about the last guy I'd choose to make it. Look at what he's done thus far - a zombie flick, a bunch of commercials, and 300, which while pretty good as a flashy, mindless action film, fell flat on its face every time it tried to get serious. And Watchmen is all about making the inherently ludicrous into something serious, dramatic, and thought-provoking. It's the antithesis of the flashy kind of comic book storytelling that Snyder is known for.
It doesn't matter how many big stars you get, here. Snyder is going to fuck this movie up so badly that it might actually precipitate critics and some fans to call for a moratorium on comic book films for a while. Just you watch... men.
Very true about the quality of the movie. I liked the book so much that I'm a little scared about what they'll do with the movie. I'll still see it, because I'm a mindless lemming that follows the will of Hollywood. But then I'll gripe semi-intelligently about it later.
I think I'm the last guy on Earth not to have read the Watchmen yet. I guess I'd better get to it before the movie comes out and permanently sours my opinions of it.
Bert - I guess I'm just the eternal optimist. Just because Zach Snyder's portfolio is small is no reason he couldn't go Peter Jackson on it and do it justice. He's a young, up-coming director, which is what I think Watchmen needs. His zombie movie was good (did you see it?) and I thought he did a terrific job with '300'. From what I've heard he's a big fan of Watchmen and has a passion to do it right. And after the success of 300, he also has the power to get it done right (like keeping it R rated). It could still turn out to be Bryan Singer's Superman Returns, but I hope not!
I don't doubt Snyder's passion at all - and I commend him for it. But based on his (admittedly limited) previous attempts, he has no ear for serious dramatic storytelling. I don't think something like keeping it R rated is nearly as important as getting the tone of the movie right, and like I said, when Snyder attempted a serious tone in 300, it was stank city. You just don't want a post-MTV-style commercial director doing this kind of movie.
And yes, I did see the zombie flick, and it was okay. But again, nothing in it leads me to believe he could pull off the narrative complexity of a Watchmen.
I hate to say it, but something as good as Bryan Singer's Superman Returns would be way too much to hope for when talking about something like Zach Snyder's Watchmen, and I'm saying that as someone who found SR to be decidedly "meh".
My two cents: Watchmen is just about impossible to adapt to the movies. Doesn't matter who's directing, it's gonna be motherfucking tough. It's an unwieldy story, really complicated (I've read it once, and feel like I really grasped a small percentage of it) and it'd make more sense to turn it into, say, a mini-series for HBO or something. I tend to agree with Bert that Zack Snyder isn't a great reason to light a fire under our enthusiasm... but, as I am with any movie great or small, I'm cautiously optimistic.
Tis true that the task of making Watchmen into a movie is damn near impossible: comics is the medium it was made for. A lot of what's cool about it is things particular to comics (remember the repeating panels -- palindrome like -- in the one issue?). But, that's not to say a cool movie couldn't be made. And when I said Zach Snyder would keep it R-rated, the tone is exactly what I meant. I'm sure the studio heads don't get too fired up for a somber, R-rated super-hero movie with heroes the public is unfamiliar with, where the main action happens off-screen, but... Snyder has the Hollywood clout to push it through anyways!
Fuck the Bone! I wanna see Rorschach realized on-screen!
Well, an R-rated tone might be what you meant, but I contend that that's not the most important tone to strike to get this movie right, and that Snyder is most likely not the man for the job. Let's revisit after it gets made (if it gets made) and see if we both feel the same way we do now. :)
I saw Patrick Wilson, the guy who plays Dan Dreiberg for the first time last night in a super duper fucked up movie called Hard Candy. Anyone see this? Godamn I'm still traumatized by it. It's a decent flick but the story is rough business. The dude deserved what he got but fuckity fuck, it was harsh treatment.
Hard Candy was a crazy movie. I had no idea what I was in for when I started watching it but I left feeling very disturbed. I think I watched it six months ago and it I still think of it once in a while. Ellen Page was awesome in her role though.
Hard Candy was an ... "interesting" movie. Ang & I both felt a bit uneasy watching it. The guy certainly gets the full treatment. And not in a good way.
And yes, the Watchmen cast is a bit disappointing. A bunch of young and pretty actors... go figure.
Oh well. The beautiful thing is they can F up the movie good, but we'll still have the comic! And who knows, it could still be an interesting movie, even if not very faithful to the original comic.
Raws - Have you read The Walking Dead? This series is sweet, just ask Bells. You need to read through some trades. It would make an excellent HBO series.
I can vouch for Walking Dead - I have the first collection, and it's pretty sweet.
As for Watchmen... I'm not as concerned as the blogger in the post was about age... Patrick Wilson and Jackie Earle Haley were both terrific in Little Children (which y'all HAVE to see - one of my fave movies of 2006) and Matthew Goode and Billly Crudup are actually pretty solid actors. Now, I'm not saying it's going to be sweet, but this really isn't any reason to go leaping off a bridge and declaring it's going to suck. My feelings are pretty much the same as they were before the cast was announced. And my two cents: That blogger is kind of a turd... I think having (somewhat) lesser-known actors isn't always a detriment, and will actually cut down on the distracting elements more famous faces tend to bring. Besides, who knew anybody in 300, and that was a pretty badass movie, no? Perhaps not as character-driven as Watchmen, but still...
Swerb, you're right that many of the choices aren't necessarily bad, but the casting for Sally Jupiter is downright retarded. I'm not arguing against choosing unknowns, but the criticism that they're too young is a valid one.
I did see Little Children, BTW, and I agree, it's sweet.
Well, this is interesting: Apparently Carla Gugino will be playing Sally Jupiter. Dunno where the other intel came from, but as the previously named actress was my biggest reason for hating the overall casting choices, this makes things seem a lot better, IMO.
And by the way: I re-watched 300 last night, and it only reconfirms my reservations about Snyder. he's all flash and no substance, mark my words fellas.
Sounds promising. Still not sure how it will translate. The watchmen faithful are almost cultlike, so they're going to have approach this movie and forgot about trying to please the cult and focus on the masses.
I watched the trailer before reading his comments, and I pretty much
agree with his comments. I've always thought that having Zack Snyder
making Watchmen into a movie was a bad idea, but I can't argue with the
fact that visually it looks amazing. But it focuses on all the wrong
elements that made Watchmen great. Watchmen is the antithesis of a
action-packed superhero beat-em up, but that's pretty much all this
trailer shows.
I think, in order to get people outside of the Watchmen Graphic Novel influence, they needed to hollywoodize the movie a bit more. I just hope they're true to the characters. I'm going to assume that the whole story within a story of the pirate ship that the boy was reading will not be in the movie.
Terry Gilliam originally passed on Watchmen in the late '80s, saying
it was unfilmable unless it was a TV miniseries... some corners have to be cut.
But
the trailer at least looks pretty cool, and of course they're going to
load it with action, lest Joe Moviegoer be discouraged. Then again, how
often is a trailer - especially just a teaser - an accurate
representation of the film as a whole?
Sandman needs to be a traditional hand-drawn animated series for HBO...
All I'm saying is that it didn't even hint at anything deeper, and it most certainly could have, and should have. All the people I saw Batman with were assuming this was just another X-Men or Justice League type movie after watching the trailer.
All I'm saying is that it didn't even hint at anything deeper, and it most certainly could have, and should have. All the people I saw Batman with were assuming this was just another X-Men or Justice League type movie after watching the trailer.
That's what I tried to explain to Jeurge when she thought the trailer was cool. Watchmen is supposed to be the deconstruction of the superhero, not a mindless action movie. To be fair you can't tell how mindless the movie was from a short trailer but Bert is right, they could have hinted at something a bit deeper. The Dark Knight trailers were able to infer something deeper or at least I thought they did. Knowing the source material I'm incredulous as to whether this director is capable of translating it into a film worthy of the Watchmen mantra.
To be fair you can't tell how mindless the movie was from a short trailer but Bert is right, they could have hinted at something a bit deeper.
Agreed - but my point is, who trusts Hollywood marketing?
Any "teaser" is often like tasting the fish eyeball without even getting a whiff of the filet. Not that anyone here would just say, "Screw the filet" and skip it entirely simply because the eyeball tastes bad (because, as I've learned by proxy thanks to Bear Grylls, what eyeball doesn't?)... but... sorry, this metaphor is kind of tortured.
I guess I just like to be cautiously optimistic about such things... or in some cases, cautiously pessimistic, even if such concepts aren't really that far apart.
obviously I lean toward the pessimistic side. Also, as Bells pointed out, the Dark Knight trailers gave us a very accurate glimpse at the final product. It is very possible to do and nor without precedent. Mark my words (again): this movie will suck. Maybe joe moviegoer will enjoy it in lieu of X-Men 4, but Zack Snyder simply isn't capable of doing the Watchmen justice (maybe no one is), and this trailer only makes my position stronger.
And maybe I really am a cynic, because I can't believe I'm going to say this, but does anyone else think that Frank Miller's new Spirit movie looks turdy as well? The initial teaser looked like a shoddier version of Sin City part 2, which meant to me that Frank hadn't learned nearly enough to go out on his own as a director. The subsequent trailers have looked a bit (but only a bit) different, and thoroughly nonsensical. And dare I say, the Spirit himself looks rather retarded with that mask that disguises nothing.
I've never read the Watchmen but I saw the trailer the other day when I went to see Dark Knight. I had no idea what the trailer was for but my first impression was that it was some kind of X-men type movie with X-men that I didn't recognize. However, the deeper I got into the trailor, the more substance there seemed to be and I suddenly became interested. While it was visually spectacular, there still seemed to be an interesting story underneath. Then low and behold, the title was revealed. I'm going to have to get a copy of the Watchmen to read before hand.
Still, nothing is as sweet as the new James Bond flick is going to be.
As far as building interest in the graphic novel, WATCHMEN the movie is already a success. I've sold several copies since the trailer in front of THE DARK KNIGHT began showing.
Yeah, I'm going to crack Watchmen again before the movie opens, for sure... probably after I'm done re-reading the Sandman series for the jillionth time. I dunno if you guys have ever read it, but it's the best comics series EVER - don't argue with me...
And Bone: I'm not a huge Bond fan (Casino Royale was admittedly pretty sweet, even if the ending was a fiasco), but the new trailer is badass. My problem is, I hate the title. "Quantum of Solace"? Pure pseudo-intellectual gibberish.
Zillz - You may have to put aside a copy of Watchmen for me... shit maybe even ship it out to me since baggage is so expensive these days. How expensive is book rate to Yurope? With all the hype, I think I have to read this.
On another note.... what do you get when you cross Star Wars and Flashdance?? Well the following of course!
Yeah, I'm going to crack Watchmen again before the movie opens, for sure... probably after I'm done re-reading the Sandman series for the jillionth time. I dunno if you guys have ever read it, but it's the best comics series EVER - don't argue with me...
Swerb, Neil Gaiman's Sandman is most definitely the best read out there. All though, the one problem I had with it was the art wasn't consistant. They went through a few artists in that series and it seemed the art got sloppy at times.
But the story is so freaking good that you don't care. The showdown with the demon is perhaps one of my favorite scenes in comics. Bar none.
I'm definitely going to have to find a copy and read it again.
Bunky: Tropic Thunder is hilarious. Even Cruise haters will find his glorified cameo really funny, I reckon. And Downey is really funny. Heck, so are Stiller and Jack Black, despite their crummy recent output. I haven't laughed that hard at a movie since Hot Fuzz...
NickNick: I've read the Sandman Companion (a must-read if you're a big fan), and Gaiman wanted a different artist for every story arc so the look and feel of the book didn't become old and tired. That's one of the reasons I like the series so much - it's not the same thing over and over. But you're absolutely right: the writing is amazing. That's what lends the series consistency. The Dream of a Thousand Cats... I love the Brief Lives storyline... and yes, the dual with the demon is great. They're reissuing the whole series in four big, oversized hardcovers (Absolute Sandman), and I'm jonesing to buy them just to see the art in a larger format... but they're really fracking expensive...
Well I've finally read Watchmen after years of being ridiculed for not having done so. I've decided "the children were right to laugh at me" (Simpsons/Ralfie reference) as it is indeed a full sweet comic. It's impressive how in a 12 issue miniseries there can be so much backstory that one can feel as attatched to the characters as something you've read for years. The background stories are told in a way that doesn't make you feel like you're missing out on the current story, and keeps some characters a complete mystery until the proper time. I am definitely looking forward to seeing this movie now and after re-watching the trailers on youtube several times it was cool being able to point out scenes that were almost identical to panels in the comic.
Also I finally got arround to seeing Hellboy 2 last night. I liked it a lot. You could definitely tell it was from the Pan's Labyrinth guy, but that movie was good too so it didn't bother me. It seemed like there was a much bigger budget than the first one, which led to a lot more fantastical creatures. I have only a passing knowledge of the comic version of Hellboy, so I can't speak of the accuracy of the movies. But that probably just allows me to enjoy them all the better. Ron Perlman is full sweet as Hellboy.
Swerb, I saw Tropic Thunder today. I was laughing my ass off. (Deep sigh) Tom Cruise had me cracking up and made me forget for 2 hours that I think he is a complete douche bag.
Downey was full sweet and Jack Black was funny rather than annoying. I also noticed that he was sporting the t-shirt from my website in a scene!
I won't say anymore about the movie for fear of getting a spoiler smackdown laid upon me by Ross!
Well, Bells & I saw Tropic Thunder yesterday. Pretty funny in parts, little boring in other parts. Tom Cruise is full sweet though! I'd give it 2.5 stars (3.5 Swerb?). The fake promos in the front and Tom Cruise over the ending credits are the funniest bits, I thought.
We really wanted to see HELLBOY 2 but there was only one showing in the whole area: Holland at 8:10 PM. WTF!?
New Spirit trailer here. Again, I just can't work up any excitement for this, even though I strongly feel like I ought to. It's got train wreck written all over it.
I'm becoming slightly more optimistic about Watchmen (no, not because of the indigo instrument) but that Zack Snyder seems slightly less douchey in interviews about Watchmen than he seemed in 300. That's not much to go on, quite honestly, and I'm still in the camp that this will be "meh" at best, flashy and low on substance.
Jack - Start me a Rookies box. Put in there some must haves.... The Watchmen... the perfect Captain A T-shirt.. and whatever is needed. No, don't try to pawn off old Pokemon or high priced hardcovers!
Jack - Start me a Rookies box. Put in there some must haves.... The Watchmen... the perfect Captain A T-shirt.. and whatever is needed. No, don't try to pawn off old Pokemon or high priced hardcovers!
I'M ON IT!
WATCHMEN? CHECK!
SWEET CAPTAIN A SYMBOL T-SHIRT? CHECK!
THE WALKING DEAD! CHECK!
Finally... Bells is going to recommend CAPTAIN AMERICA, ED BRUBAKER OMNIBUS HARDCOVER (sorry, it's high-priced but oh-so-worth it!) CHECK?
Tell Roche to start me a box as well based on our last phone conversation. I believe it will include the Brubaker Captain A's as well. I told him to do this but I don't know if he took me seriously or not.
Dude - I should get a comission. At least throw their wooden nickels over to me. Those should net me a tootsie roll. I hope you are ordering me up a Captain A shirt as I asked for years ago. Make it X-tra Large for my furture massive muscles. It is the sweet one of just the shield.
Start a box for NickNick anyway. He can come in and visit the stuff he could be buying if he was rich.
