3.06.2009
Watchmen review: Squidless but with superb integrity
Zack Snyder, less popular faces and Leonard Cohen do a great comic book movie make. Watchmen, which has been on the radar since the peso could buy something, proves that fanboy leanings can be wisely channeled to make an excellent acclaimed-book-to-film adaptation memorable to even non-fans. Producers take note: Not all directors who worship the original material are predestined to make overblown geekgasm movies.
If you've seen director Snyder's breakout 300, you already know he can tickle both comicbook geeks and the mainstream audience in quite explosive ways. But oh what a challenge it's been for him and his crew who faced dissent of mythological proportions along the way, thanks to the internet and The-Big-Studio-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named. From casting to film rights to censorship, Watchmen just couldn't please everyone and always seemed to be on the verge of becoming a dud. Thankfully, the end result is as good as it can possibly get.
If you've read the book, you may have apprehensions about its big-screen version becoming a tedious experience (I know I did). The much-vaunted graphic novel presents a lot of highlights that may be difficult to compress outside the pages. It tells the story of mortals and their morals, yet it is a superhero story. It is a socio-political commentary, yet hopeful. It has romance, but it is also realistic. It is both intimate and grand. And the number of characters, many back stories and supplementary stories... The book said many, many things that even the smartest helmers may find hard to condense in one or several film devices.
It's a daunting enough proposition to make a movie version of the widely acknowledged "best graphic novel of all time", but as netizens say: "In Zack Snyder we trust." His vision of Watchmen was one that paid tribute to its source almost painfully. Remember how it felt to see the first photos of the cast in costume? Yep, that one. The chosen illustrated panels were lifted onto the screen with reverence, with each actor holding his own in every lovingly crafted and interestingly scored scene. Most importantly, Snyder didn't use a light hand in dealing with the themes that made the book so impactful. He gave the important issues enough time and even where he had to make adjustments, the message remains. Sure, it's a little long and they decided to forego the giant alien squid spectacle (which a friend rightly pointed out might seem corny for audiences nowadays) but if after seeing the movie, you don't recall your thoughts and questions upon reading the book for the first, second, third (and so forth) time, you can sic Bubastis on me.
Casting was genius, particularly in the cases of Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Billy Crudup and Malin Ackerman. Haley did justice to Rorshach's aggrieved dignity. Morgan as The Comedian was gleefully amoral yet someone you can understand. Crudup, always reliable, and Ackerman, who proved to be a surprise.
At first, I was bothered by the music. I thought the songs were predictably Americana, like Bob Dylan's The Times They are a-Changin' during the establishing sequence. Eventually, I enjoyed how it helped make the film's historical perspective more accessible. It was also pleasing to hear not one, but two Leonard Cohen songs. Snyder's got taste!
Maybe because it's an amazing piece of fiction to begin with, or maybe it was my fierce intent to dispose of expectations. Whatever the reason, Watchmen the movie tackled the epic-yet-personal nature of the literature with quite a lot of class.
If you've seen director Snyder's breakout 300, you already know he can tickle both comicbook geeks and the mainstream audience in quite explosive ways. But oh what a challenge it's been for him and his crew who faced dissent of mythological proportions along the way, thanks to the internet and The-Big-Studio-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named. From casting to film rights to censorship, Watchmen just couldn't please everyone and always seemed to be on the verge of becoming a dud. Thankfully, the end result is as good as it can possibly get.
If you've read the book, you may have apprehensions about its big-screen version becoming a tedious experience (I know I did). The much-vaunted graphic novel presents a lot of highlights that may be difficult to compress outside the pages. It tells the story of mortals and their morals, yet it is a superhero story. It is a socio-political commentary, yet hopeful. It has romance, but it is also realistic. It is both intimate and grand. And the number of characters, many back stories and supplementary stories... The book said many, many things that even the smartest helmers may find hard to condense in one or several film devices.
It's a daunting enough proposition to make a movie version of the widely acknowledged "best graphic novel of all time", but as netizens say: "In Zack Snyder we trust." His vision of Watchmen was one that paid tribute to its source almost painfully. Remember how it felt to see the first photos of the cast in costume? Yep, that one. The chosen illustrated panels were lifted onto the screen with reverence, with each actor holding his own in every lovingly crafted and interestingly scored scene. Most importantly, Snyder didn't use a light hand in dealing with the themes that made the book so impactful. He gave the important issues enough time and even where he had to make adjustments, the message remains. Sure, it's a little long and they decided to forego the giant alien squid spectacle (which a friend rightly pointed out might seem corny for audiences nowadays) but if after seeing the movie, you don't recall your thoughts and questions upon reading the book for the first, second, third (and so forth) time, you can sic Bubastis on me.
Casting was genius, particularly in the cases of Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Billy Crudup and Malin Ackerman. Haley did justice to Rorshach's aggrieved dignity. Morgan as The Comedian was gleefully amoral yet someone you can understand. Crudup, always reliable, and Ackerman, who proved to be a surprise.
At first, I was bothered by the music. I thought the songs were predictably Americana, like Bob Dylan's The Times They are a-Changin' during the establishing sequence. Eventually, I enjoyed how it helped make the film's historical perspective more accessible. It was also pleasing to hear not one, but two Leonard Cohen songs. Snyder's got taste!
Maybe because it's an amazing piece of fiction to begin with, or maybe it was my fierce intent to dispose of expectations. Whatever the reason, Watchmen the movie tackled the epic-yet-personal nature of the literature with quite a lot of class.
Labels: comics, film, geek, movies, music, reviews
