A part of me hopes Watchmen fails

[Norrin Radd]

And a part of me doesn't.

On one hand, this movie has been hyped up to the level of Episode I and it's driving me nuts, because I don't think it's worthy of the premature adulation. And the nasty side of me might enjoy hearing the loud, bitter laments of crushed fandom.

On the other hand, if it does end up sucking, it could possibly mean the end of serious comic book adaptations from non-mainstream superheroes. And if it fails on an artistic level, it could also end of tarnishing the original work itself, since it's apparently so faithful.

What I do know, is the thing that could make or break this flick are those incessantly gaudy costumes. The general audience might be laughing this flick out of the theatres.

So...maybe I'll end up seeing Race to Witch Mountain instead. Like I give a fuck what happens to that flick.

 

[the Dagman]

But, but... I really liked the original Witch Mountain movie when I saw it in the theater. Of course, I was nine then. But still...

 

[Norrin Radd]

I remember the Cat from Outer Space.

 

[Daneel]

I'll probably end up seeing Watchmen. It looks... interesting. Different, at the very least. I agree the costumes seem a bit over-the-top, probably even moreso to the average moviegoer. Will it affect business? I doubt it, but you never know.

Question: would any of you recommend the graphic novel on which the film is based? I usually wouldn't bother, but I've been hearing things like "It's the greatest graphic novel of all time!" Is this hyperbole? Should I read it? I don't often read comics, but I can certainly appreciate them as an art form.

What do you think?

 

[Pilot Ace]

I'll probably end up seeing Watchmen. It looks... interesting. Different, at the very least. I agree the costumes seem a bit over-the-top, probably even moreso to the average moviegoer. Will it affect business? I doubt it, but you never know.

Question: would any of you recommend the graphic novel on which the film is based? I usually wouldn't bother, but I've been hearing things like "It's the greatest graphic novel of all time!" Is this hyperbole? Should I read it? I don't often read comics, but I can certainly appreciate them as an art form.

What do you think?

Yes, go read it. It's worth it. Definitely try to do it before seeing the movie.

The costumes are supposed to be over-the-top, the original graphic novel was in itself a sort of commentary on superhero comics in the first place. Not being a huge comic book reader, I'm not the best one to speak to about that though.

In a lot of ways, it's looks like Snyder is making this movie a commentary about superhero movies... At least, the nods to the pre-Nolan modern Batman films are there.

 

[The Borg Queen]

It could be like the non-spoof version of Mystery Men.

That's what I'm worried about, at least.

 

[The Borg Queen]

I've been hearing things like "It's the greatest graphic novel of all time!" Is this hyperbole? Should I read it?

Yes, it is hyperbole. It's only "a fantastic graphic novel" instead. But still well worth reading.

 

[Bishbot]

What I do know, is the thing that could make or break this flick are those incessantly gaudy costumes. The general audience might be laughing this flick out of the theatres.

Why should Watchmen fans give a fuck what the "general audience" thinks?

 

[RJDiogenes]

Question: would any of you recommend the graphic novel on which the film is based? I usually wouldn't bother, but I've been hearing things like "It's the greatest graphic novel of all time!" Is this hyperbole? Should I read it? I don't often read comics, but I can certainly appreciate them as an art form.

Yes, I'd definitely recommend it. It's possible that it is the greatest graphic novel of all time.

 

[JoeZhang]

I'm in two minds about this - either the general population is now ready to accept something a little different from their superhero films and this will do great guns or... they'll come out and say "what the fuck?" and the drop-off will be terrible.


I'm looking forward to seeing it in IMAX anyway

 

[Kelso]

Thee costumes don't look over the top to me. In fact, they look better than the ridiculous costumes worn by Spiderman and Superman.

 

[Hermiod]

This was always going to be something I watched on DVD or more likely Blu-Ray anyway.

 

[Servo]

What I do know, is the thing that could make or break this flick are those incessantly gaudy costumes. The general audience might be laughing this flick out of the theatres.

Why should Watchmen fans give a fuck what the "general audience" thinks?

I don't think that was his point. This movie won't make money off existing Watchmen fans alone, so it needs to do well with the "general audiences" to make that money, and provide a return on the studio investment.
Talking purely from a business perspective, if Watchmen fails financially, then it could mean that studios will no longer risk big bucks on "lesser-known" comic adaptations, and only invest in "safe" comic book movies like Superman/Spider-Man/Batman. Which would be a shame.

Whether "Watchmen fans" care about that, or whether they care what the general public thinks of the film, is entirely up to the individual. However, I'd say that your statement above is a pretty short-sighted way of looking at things.

 

[JoeZhang]

Mark Millar went to see the preview and he said that it played well with people who'd read the books because they were able to mentally fill in the missing bits but other people were baffled and confused by what they saw...

 

[Bishbot]

I don't think that was his point. This movie won't make money off existing Watchmen fans alone, so it needs to do well with the "general audiences" to make that money, and provide a return on the studio investment.
Talking purely from a business perspective, if Watchmen fails financially, then it could mean that studios will no longer risk big bucks on "lesser-known" comic adaptations, and only invest in "safe" comic book movies like Superman/Spider-Man/Batman. Which would be a shame.

Whether "Watchmen fans" care about that, or whether they care what the general public thinks of the film, is entirely up to the individual. However, I'd say that your statement above is a pretty short-sighted way of looking at things.

I strongly disagree. I don't care how much money the film makes, because there can't possibly be a sequel. I would like critics to praise it, because they generally have some idea of what makes a good film, but I have no interest in the opinions of the general public. I guess I'd like my friends to like it, but if they don't, I'm sure I can cope.

The most important thing is that its a good adaption of the comic. If it is, then its probably going to be a good film, because the comic is excellent. Even if its not an especially accessible film, as fans of the comic, we should enjoy the film. I don't really see any problems with this.

As for adapting other comic books. We get comic book films every summer. The studios aren't going to stop making them, and, with Watchmen done, I can't really see many less mainstream comics that would have been a good fit for a blockbuster. Frankly, much as I love comic books, and many of the films based upon them, I'm getting kind of sick of every film I go to see being an adaption of a property from another medium.

That said, I want to enjoy Watchmen, and, as I say, I would quite like the critical response to back up that feeling, but other than that, if it only makes £2.50, I don't really care - it'll just be proof that people in general don't know what's good for them.

 

[Icemizer]

This movie is being promoted horribly wrong. They are giving the impression to the non comic audience that it is all action and explosions. Perhaps that is what the movie has turning into and if so will really be disapointing for fans of the novel. If it does follow the GN very closely then I believe the general audience will walk out of the theater going.. huh??? Yes I know about the ending and thats already put me on guard about the rest of the movie.

 

[Servo]

As for adapting other comic books. We get comic book films every summer.

Yes. But they're mostly safe properties, like Batman, Spider-Man, and Superman.

The studios aren't going to stop making them...

I didn't say they'd stop making them entirely. No-one did.

...with Watchmen done, I can't really see many less mainstream comics that would have been a good fit for a blockbuster. Frankly, much as I love comic books, and many of the films based upon them, I'm getting kind of sick of every film I go to see being an adaption of a property from another medium.

No offense, but just bacause you can't, or don't, see what else would make a good movie, blockbuster or otherwise, doesn't mean they aren't there, or that other people don't want to see them. The success (or failure) of a film like Watchmen is a good indicator for the studios, and a success at the box office will encourage them to invest in other properties that aren't as well know as the mainstream superheroes.

but other than that, if it only makes £2.50, I don't really care - it'll just be proof that people in general don't know what's good for them.

Fair enough, if that's your opinion. I still maintain that it's a short-sighted way of looking at things.

 

[Stevil2001]

http://io9.com/5158211/star-wars-episode-i-i-have-a-good-feeling-about-this

 

[Bishbot]

Fair enough, if that's your opinion. I still maintain that it's a short-sighted way of looking at things.

Yeah, you've probably got a point. You're definitely right that I'm no expert one what comics would and wouldn't make for good movies. I'm just a little sick of tracking the box office take for films as though it somehow validates one's enjoyment. Or, even more bizarrely, like the OP wanting a film to fail because other people want it to succeed.

 

[Gojirob]

I remember the Cat from Outer Space.

That little classic features both M*A*S*H CO's and a great innuendo line.

Its funny you bring up Witch Mountain, NR. Its original novel was the first I ever read of a film's basis, and at times, I was shocked at how different it was. It was my initiation into the idea that films based on books can vary so wildly from the source material.

So I offer up an idea from two different mediums : Music and anime. We all know about the infamous 'white covers' of the late 50's. Pat Boone's version of 'Blue Suede Shoes' being the worst, prolly Elvis's 'One Night With You' being the best. The sometimes over-cleansed lyrics aside, the original artists often waited years to see a penny from them, if they saw anything at all. As to anime, just pick an Americanization and count the cuts, edits and goofy dialogue fill-ins. Growing up on Voltron, and even knowing that GoLion was darker, my recent viewing of Volume 1 was still a shock.
Then there's my own avatar, for whom volumes can and have been written about the trans-Pacific changes.

In the end, though, these sometimes-bastardized versions provoke interest in the original sources. When V for Vendetta came out, two younger friends asked to borrow the TPB, and the first thing they asked me was : Why wasn't all this stuff in the movie? Someday, I firmly believe, someone will do proper V and Watchmen mini-series each totaling about 24 hours. Til then, we have to occasionally suffer pieces where seemingly the only vision that didn't get taken seriously was that of one Alan Moore.