I just got back from seeing "Watchmen" the movie............

[Joe the Liberal]

The trailer looked awesome, so I thought I'd go and see it. I didn't know what to expect because I never read the comic book series on which the movie is based off of so it was all new too me. Because I never read the comics I didn't really follow the movie too well or knew anything about who the characters were.

I won't spoil anything but to me the movie seemed like a right wingers wet dream. There is lots of violence, a republican (Nixon) has been elected for 4 consecutive terms, America might go to war with the communists (cold war type setting), America has won Vietnam, There's a scene where some soldiers gun down hippie type protesters, and a lot of the characters were right wingish as well.


I didn't really enjoy the movie too much mostly because I had no idea what was going on but I wasn't the only one. In the middle of the film some guy stood up, walked out and on his way out said "Boooo, this sucks" which I thought was pretty funny. I'm guessing he was some disgruntled comic book nerd who was upset because the film didn't quite meet up to how it is in the comic. Anyways has anyone here seen it, what did you think?

[WCGreen]

1. The comic was written during te cold war when Ronnie was safely

ensconced in office and the right wing was taking over.

The movie is about what would happen if the Right Ing actually succeeds in a full take over and how that would effect Superheroes.

[RoyGBiv]

2. Who watches the watchmen?

It is anything but a right winger's wet dream.

The base concept of the story is a critical commentary on what rises to the level of a superstitious faith in "heroes," e.g. Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, who were perfectly willing to save the world by destroying it.

I haven't seen the movie, so I can't comment on how it portrayed things. The comics were violent and edgy and difficult to follow for those not accustomed to the comic book way of doing things. I'm having trouble imagining how they translated it to the movie, but to my surprise, many fans of the comic actually like the movie, so I may see it.

[NYC Liberal]

3. Not right-wing at all:

Bradford Wright described Watchmen as "Moore's obituary for the concept of heroes in general and superheroes in particular."<17> Putting the story in a contemporary sociological context, Wright wrote that the characters of Watchmen were Moore's "admonition to those who trusted in 'heroes' and leaders to guard the world's fate." He added that to place faith in such icons was to give up personal responsibility to "the Reagans, Thatchers, and other 'Watchmen' of the world who supposed to 'rescue' us and perhaps lay waste to the planet in the process".<38> Moore specifically stated in 1986 that he was writing Watchmen to be "not anti-Americanism, anti-Reaganism," specifically believing that "at the moment a certain part of Reagan's America isn't scared. They think they're invulnerable."<3>

[Starry Messenger]

4. I saw it today and am still in nerdgasm.

:)

The other posters explain the context here pretty well. It pleased me mightily.

[dysfunctional press]

5. i never read the comic..er...Graphic Novel...but i did enjoy the movie.

i even went to a midnite showing on thursday, which was actually fairly packed.

btw- i'm guessing that the guy who left with a "boo" saying that it sucked was no fan of the novel, because from what i understand- it's a pretty faithful production.

[camera obscura]

6. It's not intended that way. The comic's author Alan Moore described it as anti-Reaganism.

From Wikipedia:

Moore specifically stated in 1986 that he was writing Watchmen to be "not anti-Americanism, anti-Reaganism," specifically believing that "at the moment a certain part of Reagan's America isn't scared. They think they're invulnerable."<3> While Moore wanted to write about "power politics" and the "worrying" times he lived in, he stated the reason that the story was set in an alternate reality was because he was worried that readers would "switch off" if he attacked a leader they admired.

And the right wing characters are supposed to be bad examples.

Rorschach is a sociopath with severe issues.

The Comedian embodies the dark side of America, just as Captain America embodied its nobler side.

Richard Nixon is hopeless in the face of crisis - in the book JFK is portrayed as much more honorable, since he doesn't ask Manhattan to intervene in his crises, and Manhattan seems to have some respect for him.

Okay, I may be a little defensive because I do love the comic. But while I know some people will take it as a conservative movie, it's anything but.

[RoyGBiv]

7. The Nixon bit ...

Perhaps this is clearer in the comic (as mentioned, I haven't seen the movie), but the fact he's been President for so long always struck me as a commentary that could be summarized as a "OH MY GOD, NIXON HAS BEEN PRESIDENT FOR WAY TOO FRIGGIN' LONG!!!" sort of thing.

Or, just look at this shit world that developed with this kind of totalitarian-esque ideology in charge.

[sudopod]

8. Did you watch the same movie as we did?

Alan Moore is made of anti-rightwing fascisim and win.

[davepc]

9. It's always a risk in movies that you wind up glorifying what you're trying to discredit

A lot of anti-war war movies fall into this trap.

Perhaps the Watchmen did as well. The book was pretty anti-Regan/Thatcher.

[Joe the Liberal]

10. Wow I had no idea the movie was supposed to be everything but right wing............

by reading everyone's comments that much is clear too me now, thanks for clarifying.

[RandySF]

11. I have not yet seen the movie

But the comic never gave me that impression. As much as I loved the story, I wound up disliking all of the "heroes" by the end because they were all so screwed up in the head. I felt like Dr. Manhattan was the worst.

[Joe the Liberal]

13. The characters were interesting, **** Spoiler Warning***

and speaking of Dr. Manhattan he really needs to put on some clothes throughout the film he is naked most of the time.

[high density]

12. I can't get past the corporate circle jerk that is promoting it...

The same crass thing happened to The Dark Night last year. That was an alright film but from the media one would think it was a new Citizen Kane or something. This one seems to be going down the same over-hyped path.

[DainBramaged]

14. Two and a half hours and a generation too late to matter

The kids in the audience could not In any way shape or form have been "fans" of the novel, it is simply the quarterly 'happening' to be attended to prove you are somewhat alert and awake. And when millions claim to be 'fans' of the novel, I claim to be Nixon reincarnated, and the son of Manhattan.


It reminded me immediately of the buzz surrounding 'Mars Attacks' way back. Sometimes the buzz is louder than the substance which follows.

[Uzybone]

16. Actually the Watchmen novel has been in the top 10 bestseller

graphic novel lists for many years. As well as amazon.com's list. There are new fans of the novel every year. I didn't read it until 2006.

[DainBramaged]

17. Like I said, a generation too late to matter

top 10 bestseller
graphic novel lists for many years

that is a list that is not part of the mainstream.




I left twice for snacks and didn't feel like I missed anything. In retrospect, I could have gone to watch Gran Torino instead and been entertained.

[AllentownJake]

15. They tried to say the Dark Night was Batman being Bush

They always talk about Truman and ignore Truman fired McCarther for going to far and was calling for Universal Healthcare in the 1948 campaign.

Look what they did with Christianity. They stripped out all calls from Jesus of compassion and care for the least amongst us and focused on the Old Testament, where they could find justification based on archaic rules meant to keep a culture where the wheel barrow was innovative technology in order and again ignoring all the Old Testament prophets and anything that doesn't fit exactly into their idealogy.

So how can you be surprised if they take a movie based on a book that was written against their hero Ronald Reagn and try to spin it as a justification for their twisted world view. This is what they fucking do.