Comic Book Resources

I think this comic sums up not only why I still haven’t seen Watchmen, but also why I haven’t seen most of the comic book movies that have come out in recent years.

I love the sentiment, great strip, but it seems so mature an attitude that it seems pretty out of character for Josh.

But…but…but…

It’s FUN to deride Malin Ackerman’s acting abilities!

Take that, maturity!

Josh has totally read my mind about why I haven’t gone to see G.I. Joe.

What Magical Mimi said.

Also — great strip.

Excellent strip!

And it could be adapted to so many contexts, too.

I admire Josh’s stance…

But…

I’ve just started watching the Director’s Cut…

With my wife, who hasn’t read the book, to get an unbiased take on it…

Josh’s view is how I think of Harry Potter…. I saw the first movie and have felt no need to see the rest or read the books.

Each to their own…

Ah, if only we could apply this sentiment to the comic books that are released this week.

Haha, I’ve been having this same conversation with my girlfriend (who saw it and has been trying to get me to see it even though she didn’t really care for it). I suppose I’ll see it eventually, but it does seem like theres an awful lot of people out there who say “you have to see it… because… uh… well, you just have to”.

Yeah, people give me this look like I’m an alien when I say it just looked lame to me, so I probably won’t ever see it.

“You really should!”

I’ve just started watching the Director’s Cut…

With my wife, who hasn’t read the book, to get an unbiased take on it…

So what did she think?

My take on it is “I already read so many comics about Iron Man, Batman, and other superheroes. Why as a COMIC fan do I NEED to see this movies?”

lol, i still haven’t seen watchmen either

This comic has really been on a streak of quality lately. I was gone all summer and just read the last several weeks’ worth together and I’m really impressed at how much and how quickly it has improved. Nice work.

That’s how I approached the movie too.

I liked Watchmen the movie, sure there was some missteps of course, but c’mon when people actually think the first transformers was a good movie the standard is set pretty low, and Watchmen clearly exceeds that level. We aren’t talking about GI Joe the UN hero and exoskeleton level of garbage, we are talking about a movie that adheres too much to it’s source material.

Yeah, people never get that I don’t really want to see it.
I only saw V For Vendetta when a housemate basically forced me kicking and screaming to watch it.

That said, I guy at work saw it and thought it was great.
We were able to discuss it because his favourite scenes were the cool scenes from the comic.

Funny that a comic from almost twenty five years ago was that far ahead of Hollywood that a shot for panel reproduction can blow people’s minds.

Watching that film is like reading a novelisation – what’s the point?

Josh has totally read my mind about why I haven’t gone to see G.I. Joe.

GI JOE looks great… for kids.
Action, laughs, good guys beating bad guys…
If I was ten or under, I’d be all about that film.
That incidentally, was the age I played with GI JOE’s – as such, I don’t get why people are so upset about that movie.
This isn’t making new Star Wars films too light, or making Transformers movies too dark, this is making it for the age group the original was designed for.
Sorry you’ve outgrown what you used to play with, but don’t hold that against it – you’re the one that changed!

(The only mistake they’ve made that I can see is that poster – it looks really dark and like it’s for adults. I think yet another marketing department has messed up…. and will of course blame everyone but themselves).

We aren’t talking about GI Joe the UN hero and exoskeleton level of garbage, we are talking about a movie that adheres too much to it’s source material.

Adheres too much to?
Or copies outright?
The writers themselves bragged about how exactly the same as the comic it is?
Why would I want to watch a film that is just hitting note for note – but not as well – as a comic I’ve already read?
What would be the point?
My mind wouldn’t be enriched, I’d be two hours closer to death, and I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as re-reading it…

Watchmen is a decent film. It could never live up to the book, but it’s still a decent film.

Of course, transplant this logic to LeEG and you’ve got the reason I haven’t seen LXG or Catwoman or Fantastic Four or Batman Forever or Batman and Robin

T: She actually really enjoyed it. Grossed-out by only one scene – the angle-grinder bit…

The biggest fault (from her point of view) was Ozymandius – He didn’t have enough of a “presence” – I suggested she might have prefered a “known” actor in that role – like Jude Law for example, and she was like “EXACTLY! Yes”

I started watching it just to see how the Director’s cut differed, while she was eBaying stuff. 10-15mins later her Laptop went into standby mode…

Let’s get something straight, right off the bat. It was NEVER EVER going to be as good as the written material. It is a completely different medium. As such, I think it works as an adaptation.

It’s a thinking movie, not a popcorn movie, despite appearances. As such, I’m also ecstatic that it didn’t do very well at the Box Office – no sequel!!! Yay!

My wife picked up a lot of the subtext, which my mate Stu sadly missed (but his favourite Batman movie is “Batman & Robin” – ‘Nuff Said…)

I deserves to be put in the same success category as Iron Man, Batman Begins, et al, rather than LXG, Catwoman or the Schumacher Batmen…

The hardest thing for a comics fan is seeing his comics adapted for a wider audience who are likely never to read those comics. Watchmen tried admirably to present a good compromise. It’ll be interesting to watch the “Ultimate Edition” with Black Freighter blended in as well…

Sure, there’s no “squid”. But that in itself helps pare off half the content of the book… all the back-stories and side-stories that build up to the “Squid” are no longer necessary.

This also means that there is still a huge treasure trove awaiting any new converts who DO decide to pick the book up…

So, yeah, I understand Josh’s viewpoint and commentary. I just wouldn’t *personally* apply it to Watchmen.

Catwoman, sure.

And somewhere out there is someone who believes that Catwoman was a masterpiece…

I worked with someone whose favourite movie (OF ALL TIME!) was Battlefield Earth…

It is a completely different medium. As such, I think it works as an adaptation.

Not having seen it I don’t really know, but in the hype, they were saying it was shot for panel… how is that an adaptation?
That sounds like just sticking a square peg in a round hole.

It’s a thinking movie, not a popcorn movie, despite appearances.

Really?

I wouldn’t have even said Watchmen the comic was a thinking comic.
It had a lot of thought put into it, but I didn’t need to do much thinking when reading it.

Or do you just mean it’s not flat out stupid like most films labeled ‘popcorn’ films?

I would not have seen it but it opened on my birthday and some friends took me to see it as part of the b-day celebration. They read comics some but neither of them had ever read Watchmen before so it was an interesting experience to see and discuss their reaction to it since they were still sort of like ‘regular’ people in that they didn’t know what to expect.

But other than that, it was just killing time.

i actually liked the movie more than the comic….maybe its just my age…and became a fan of rorsack( i dont know if im spelling his name right) because of the crazy shit he does in the movie …the guy playing him did an excellent job..to me comic movies usually dont do good because of the acting..alot of actors dont take the time to really get into character or take it seriously because they see all the fans and how sum are just insane over comics and they think its weird..either you like comics or you dont..theres no in between and if they say they are there lying…and thats why the dark knight is an awesome movie because of the acting..and i liked the second hulk movie better than iron man because of the acting…the wolverine movie stinks and all the x men movies suck because its just bad acting among other things..and now im just rambling on..ha

because of the crazy shit he does in the movie

But it’s the same crazy shit he did in the comic…

Funky,

There are a quite a few areas that it was adapted from the original. And yes, I mean, not “flat-out stupid”…

I actually like the Watchmen movie..looks like i’m in the minority here, though.
Like 300, it’s one of the most faithful comic book adaption ever made (considering it’s directed by the same guy, i’m not surprised).
I’m actually thinking of getting the DVD..but a year later when it’s on the cheap. Heh.