Superheroes are a fundamentally stupid idea.
Dressing up in costumes, playing silly games. What possible difference could a group of people with varying degrees of personality disorders choosing to wear masks make to the world? That, in a nutshell, is the premise of Watchmen, both the original graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Gibbons and the film adaptation by Zack Snyder. It has been described as 'superheroes in the real world', although that is not really true as the world of the Watchmen is fundamentally different to our own, not least because in their world a nuclear accident can turn a man into a superman rather than killing him.
The graphic novel is famously complex and detailed, with a plot heavily reliant on flash backs and a convoluted conspiracy, but the director Snyder has managed to extract the essence of the story to good effect. The cinematography is stunning in places, adapting the iconic images of the printed page. There are several standout performances from the actors, particularly Jackie Earle Haley who is mesmerising as Rorschach and Billy Crudup as Dr Manhatten. The ending is somewhat different to the novel, but wisely so, given the lack of the minor background characters whose fate is so moving in the final chapter.
So, should you go and see it? Absolutely - if you are undecided, go and watch the opening title sequence which is a very good example of the tone and style of the movie, and the density of the source material. Is it as good as the graphic novel? Of course not, but then it is an unfair comparison. There are things that you can do in a nine panel page that you can't do on the silver screen, and vice versa. I think the two media are complementary, rather than being a case of either/or.
See the film, read the novel, and enjoy both.
No comments:
Post a Comment