Who's watching the Watchmen?

BY MARGARET AGNEW
Last updated 12:13 06/03/2009

WatchIt's all about Watchmen this week as the super serious superheroes from the not-so-distant alternative past invade our multiplexes.

It's bound to make oodles of cash for the film studio but comic-book creator Alan Moore wants nothing to do with the film version of his graphic novel, as per usual.

Author John le Carre once complained that having a book made into a movie was ``like seeing your oxen turned into bouillon cubes'' which I guess is similar to how Moore feels although he phrased it slightly differently.

Moore has said of the Watchmen movie (rather less eloquently than le Carre), and I quote: ``I'm never going to watch this f------ thing.''

So how about you - are you planning to watch this f------ thing? Why/why not? Have you seen it already? What's your verdict? (My opinion, for what it's worth is published in the Weekend Press and here.)

20 comments
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Paul   #1   12:20 pm Mar 06 2009

Yes I'm going to see it (probably next week) The trailers seem to have captured the imagery of the graphic novel perfectly - the story is complex and that may not translate well. But like Oxen to Boulion cubes it will taste good enough to be finished in one sitting.

Peter Metcalfe   #2   02:00 pm Mar 06 2009

Saw it last night. Someone needs to tell Zack Snyder that voiceovers are no substitute for sex and violence.

Mumbler   #3   02:55 pm Mar 06 2009

I will see it, I have read mixed reviews but it is worth the look.

At 2 hrs 43 mins, it will be no small undertaking, so may wait a week or so.

Beki   #4   06:13 pm Mar 06 2009

Hell yes I will see it. But it's pretty much a no-brainer that it will not live up the novel, what book to movie translation ever has. Apart from The Princess Bride of course!

Bear   #5   10:52 am Mar 08 2009

Seen it loved it, now to read the book

Rogz   #6   11:20 am Mar 08 2009

Seen it, and will def see it again...in terms of an adaptation it's pretty faithful, a bit slow/talky in places but that's how the comic is too...I can understand why some people might not like it, but I reckon it's been done really, really well.

Joanna   #7   02:51 pm Mar 08 2009

One of the worst films I have ever seen. I haven't read the comic but from what I've heard it's better than the film. i liked the beggining but felt it should have shown more of the lives of the originators of the watchmen, as their lives seemed more interesting than the newer recruits. The end became very complicated and after already sitting there for over 2 hours i started to loose concentration and therefore the plot. Would like to read the comic though to see how it compares.

yeti   #8   09:03 pm Mar 08 2009

Loved it: dark moody mostly faithful to the comic slightly different end more open ended but considering the source material & the "unfilmable" nature of the property. A fair stab & if I have the chance I will see it again on the big screen. Waaaaaaaaaaay better than that abomination the Spirit, closet I have ever been to walking out of a movie in 25 years. Will some one please tell Frank Miller we dont need him destroying someone elses idea we want him to do Sin City 2.

LemurKat   #9   11:12 pm Mar 08 2009

Seen it, having read the graphic novel many years ago. I was not impressed. That's nearly 3 hours of my life I won't be getting back.

Glyn   #10   09:51 am Mar 09 2009

I couldn't agree with your review more. There were bits of it I thought "Well, yes, this is cool" but for the most part I found it unwieldy and mired in its convoluted back-story. I'll be using your review to explain to people how I felt in words much better than my own!


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