FS #249: Watchmen / Angry Young Men Marathon Awards / Top 5 Deconstructors
This week, Filmspotting gets to review the very movie inspired by their superhero antics: "Watchmen" from director Zack Snyder and starring Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley and Carla Gugino. Plus, the lads find time to award their distinguished Kitchen Sink Awards in recognition of the very best of their recently-wrapped Angry Young Men Marathon. Then, in honor of "Watchmen's" deconstruction of the "comic book movie," Filmspotting hands out their Top 5 Deconstructors, films that successfully flipped their respective genres on their respective ears.
Also on the show: Massacre Theatre -- presented by In Review Online -- Listener Feedback and music by The Gaslight Anthem ...Download from iTunes here
Filmspotting #249
:35-19:37 - Review: "Watchmen"
Music: The Gaslight Anthem, "The '59 Sound"
20:41-24:10 - Voicemail, Poll Questions
24:11-34:29 - Feedback (Gomorrah, Love Triangles)
Music: The Gaslight Anthem, "Film Noir"
35:15-39:54 - Mass. Theatre (Winner: S. Bramble)
39:55-56:47 - Kitchen Sink Awards
Music: The Gaslight Anthem, "Miles Davis & the Cool"
58:35-1:04:00 - New DVDs, Donations
1:04:01-1:18:00 - Top 5: Deconstructors
1:18:01-1:20:59 - Close/Next Show/Outtake
NOTES
- Any and all CORRECTIONS can be tracked on Filmspotting's Twitter page... plus Top 5 Honorable Mentions.
- Make some time in your schedule... this show is about as long as "Watchmen."
- Jeff Goldsmith's Creative Screenwriting Podcast interview with the "Watchmen" screenwriters can be accessed through iTunes here.
Labels: Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Genre Subversion, Watchmen, Zack Snyder
posted by Candace @ 8:11 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
Some mistakes I'm noticing listening to the top 5:
-Joss Whedon had nothing to do with LOST
-Following is Chris Nolan's first film, not Memento
Guys, the over-the-top sex and violence was something that was in the movie that wasn't in the comic to the extent it is in the movie. For example, the scene in which Dan & Laurie fought off muggers was one page of trading punches in the comic, not bones snapping through skin and knives into the neck. That was Zach Snyder, not Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons. And the fighting isn't quite as super kung fu in the comic as it is in the movie. And the Skinemax sex scene is more discreet in the comic.
I liked the movie, btw, though I didn't love it. A little restraint would have gone a long, long way.
But using and twisting Superhero conventions was groundbreaking for its time. It's now been done to death.
Here is an excerpt from an interview with Watchmen director Zack Snyder where he discusses the choices he made in regard to the soundtrack. "To me it is incredibly ironic...I didn’t care what version of “Hallelujah” was on that scene, it was ridiculous but in a great way. Now with Leonard Cohen, you can’t miss it now can you? I’m sure some people will but that’s fine." Perhaps you misunderstood what Snyder was attempting to achieve with Watchmen because you are not steeped in comic book lore or maybe you’re just not as smart as you think you are.
Good luck with the class.
How dare the infallible Zack Snyder be questioned, huh?
Besides... Snyder said the scene was ridiculous; Matty said the scene was ridiculous. I'd say he got it.
I enjoyed Watchmen the book and I agree with you guys on so much.
Ozymandias was actually doing a lot of genetic work that "explains" his powers. Snyder also cut out (but left in the Director's Cut?) a lot of the man-on-the-street perspective that makes the novel so effective in favor of hours of slow mo and over-the-top violence.
I like this characters, and I still felt myself thinking "Who Cares?"
I agree that the opening credits may be the best things ever. Can I get a whole movie of that?
My confusion with the Watchmen review was based in the fact that you guys at one point stated that you didn't need the Dr. Manhatten backstory, but then express confusion as to why the smartest man on the planet is also the fastest.
What kept you from accepting the lack of back story for Ozy when you wished there hadn't been one for another hero?
Small final point: Of course Night Owl and Spectre are going to be good at fighting, had they simply retained their combat abilities as average people, I'm certain they never would have lasted doing the things they did for years. With time comes experience, and it's a no-brainer that a 'superhero' would eventually learn how to fight.
[What kept you from accepting the lack of back story for Ozy when you wished there hadn't been one for another hero?]
The fact that one is a big, blue being who clearly is no longer "human" while the other is supposedly an otherwise "normal" man... like all the other Watchmen.
The point being -- for me, the filmmakers just didn't have a satisfactory way of showing/explaining what each Watch-person was capable of... and I don't necessarily buy that you would need more origin stories or screen time to do it better.
The origin scenes were critical for moving the story forward and helping the viewer understand the decisions they make later on in the film, they are absolutely essential.
Yes, but "crucial" and "well done" are two separate issues.
The songs used in the movie were used in the book, including the sex scene. Ironic or not, he was just attempting to be as true to the source material as possible... to the movies determent at times.
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