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Tokyo Fist
Preview: Dissecting 22 Minutes of the WATCHMEN
Posted by Rodney Perkins at 9:03am.
Posted in Film News , Thriller, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, USA & Canada.
Footage from Zack Snyder’s film Watchmen has slowly been dribbling out in the form of trailers. These trailers have given a small impression of what the film will offer but little indication of how the film might work in completed form. Jackie Earle Hayley, who plays the character Rorschach in the film, introduced the first 22 minutes of the Watchmen film at the 10th annual Butt-Numb-a-Thon in Austin, TX on December 14th, 2008. The footage consisted of: 1) the pre-title sequence, 2) the title sequence, and 3) scenes roughly corresponding to pages 1 through 13 of the first issue of the Watchmen comic. Perhaps it is premature to come to any conclusions but if the rest of the film plays like these scenes, Snyder has nailed it. Mild spoilers are appropriate.
Its obvious that a pain staking amount of effort has been expended to translate the alternative Manhattan portrayed in the comic into a rich movie environment. What is also obvious is that unlike 300, much of this film is occurring on CGI-enhanced sets. The complex mix of effects and sets featured in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner immediately come to mind. This approach always grounds the action and performances, thus enhancing the believability of the narrative. It works here as well. However, detailed visual environment means little without engaging characterizations and dialogue. Snyder seems to have made the best possible use of the source material.
Both the pre-title sequence and the titles provide a gripping entry point into the Watchmen world by using various details from the comic’s narrative. Observant viewers will note the clever use of a long-running U.S. public television show to frame the geopolitics of the Watchmen universe. The title sequence is an amazing montage that places numerous Watchmen characters within the context of familiar historical events and places. Like the rest of the footage, there is little to say about the scenes that kick off the narrative without significant spoilers. It can be said that they represent a full visual realization of the events portrayed in the comics. Rorschach’s internal monologue comes to life in Hayley’s rough voice over. The material featuring the Comedian is perfect. Watching Rorschach and the Night Owl interact in live action is unreal. Once again, if the entire film locks together like these sequences, Watchmen will be worth every ounce of hype that precedes it. Keep the faith.
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Reader Comments
Floyd B 12/15/2008 @ 9:42am
If Snyder manages to create a faithful adaptation of the comic (which, to all appearances seems likely), it will be interesting to see how the general, non-comic-reading audience reacts to the film.
*Keeping my fingers crossed*
MikeEverleth 12/15/2008 @ 12:22pm
Thanks for the report. Looking forward to this.
Afro Samurai 12/15/2008 @ 12:33pm
i’ve been saying this thing was going to blow every other comic book movie out of the water since I saw the trailer. Yes, including TDK (and I loved, as well as actually worked on TDK) but Watchmen takes the best of both comic book worlds and puts them together. Meaning it takes a great adult story/plot (i.e TDK), and mixes it with great comic book visuals, CG and VFX (i.e Spider-Man 2/ X-Men 2/ Sin City). Its both serious in nature like TDK, but still allows for a more comic book world than TDK. Its this mix that makes it stand out in the comic book movie realm.
The Visitor 12/15/2008 @ 6:58pm
you’re telling us what we already know.
yeah, it’s an accurate visual adaptation, attention to detail, yada yada yada, which everyone has repeated ad nauseum.
anyone can do an accurate and “stunning” visual adaptation of anything.
it’s the Watchmen STORY we’re concerned with.
and that, i don’t think Zack Bloody Snyder will ever get right.
i continue to lose faith.
Rodney Perkins 12/15/2008 @ 7:50pm
Visitor,
First, how much do you actually know and upon what experience is your knowledge based? Second, did you actually read what I wrote? Your comments suggest that you did but the comments also ignored my discussion of the narrative in favor of your own “knowledge.”
The Visitor 12/15/2008 @ 8:54pm
“The complex mix of effects and sets featured in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner immediately come to mind. This approach always grounds the action and performances, thus enhancing the believability of the narrative. It works here as well. However, detailed visual environment means little without engaging characterizations and dialogue. Snyder seems to have made the best possible use of the source material.”
i did read all of it. but i’m saying 20 minutes isn’t enough to fully gauge the effectiveness of the narrative. we’d have to see the entire film.
BUT, seeing as what a “sublimely stupid” film 300 was (in Alan Moore’s words, not mine), i have no faith in Snyder ever doing anything intelligent.
The Visitor 12/15/2008 @ 8:59pm
sorry if i sound upset or over-emotional, but being a huge Alan Moore fan, i’ve hated how Hollywood has treated his works. and to have, of all people, Zack Bloody Snyder to helm the adaptation of a major work of his ... well.
GAPS 12/15/2008 @ 10:08pm
So apart from it looking brilliant and sounding brilliant and probably being brilliant, what is this I’ve heard about the subtle mutilation of the ending?
Rodney Perkins 12/15/2008 @ 11:05pm
Re: Visitor’s clarification:
The paragraph after the one you quote goes onto describe how its exactly like the comic book, which by implication, includes the _story_. I go onto state that _if_ the rest of the film locks together like these scenes, Snyder has done his job. I even went back and matched what I saw to the comic, hence the page numbers. Whether you believe any of it is up to you.
Re: the ending:
Word out of the test screening(s) is that the ending is different than the comic. Whether or not the theatrical release maintains this ending is unknown.
Aleph 12/16/2008 @ 4:04am
Visual faithfulness means jack shit in the long run.
And I doubt it’s that faithful visually to begin with, for one I don’t remember much macho posturing (ugh, I hate how everyone looks like they’re posing for the camera in the trailer) bullshit in the book. It’s like Snyder read Frank Miller’s version of Watchmen or something.
I agree with The Visitor, the fact that Zack Snyder (I will never understand why fanboys have so much faith in this douchebag) is directing this alone means it’s gonna suck on some level.