Mojotronica
Expect Irony.
Or would you be worried that it would suck? Too complex to really capture it on the big screen...
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Would you see a movie based on Alan Moore's "Watchmen?"
- Thread starter Mojotronica
- Start date
Switch625
I don't care.
It's a pretty involved story. Twelve issues of story would be a lot to cram into a two hour movie. I think it could be done, but it would take a real effort to do it right.
Who would you cast?
My picks are:
The Comedian: George Clooney
Ozymandias: Owen Wilson
Rorschach: Kevin Spacey
Nite-Owl: Russel Crowe
Dr Manhattan: Ralph Fiennes
Silk Spectre: Jennifer Connelly
But I would see it like a shot! Can't you tell from my avatar?
My picks are:
The Comedian: George Clooney
Ozymandias: Owen Wilson
Rorschach: Kevin Spacey
Nite-Owl: Russel Crowe
Dr Manhattan: Ralph Fiennes
Silk Spectre: Jennifer Connelly
But I would see it like a shot! Can't you tell from my avatar?
Sadly it was years ago I read this comicbook, so I'm a bit of on who would fit(only did not feel for Owen as a good actor out of comedy). But I sure would like to see a movie made on it cuz it's on of the all time best. Hopefully they won't lose the consept of it, but when i comes to hollywodd that would not suprise me.
Perhasp you know a good netsource so I can refresh my memory?
Perhasp you know a good netsource so I can refresh my memory?
thestonesfan
A Client of Ron Kuby
I liked the story immensely, but I didn't really like the characters aside from Rorshach. I don't think it would make a very good movie.
The pirate side-story might be good though.
The pirate side-story might be good though.
FearlessLeader2
Fundamentalist Loon
Nah, too depressing.
onejayhawk
Afflicted with reason
The problem is that the whole thing is dated. Only the hard core, like polymath we can see (Rorshach was my fave), even remember the series. It could be done into a series for cable more easily than one movie.
J
PS What are your favorite moments. Mine is the discussion of the pretend villian who was masochistic. He'd frighten people so a hero would beat him up. Rorshach dropped him down an elevator shaft IIRC.
J
PS What are your favorite moments. Mine is the discussion of the pretend villian who was masochistic. He'd frighten people so a hero would beat him up. Rorshach dropped him down an elevator shaft IIRC.
Mojotronica
Expect Irony.
Best moments?
W/out giving anything (much) away:
Rorschach's most quotable line.
Laurie Juspeczk's (sp?) revelation.
The resolution of the NYC character's subplots. (the climax.)
Powerful stuff.
W/out giving anything (much) away:
Rorschach's most quotable line.
Laurie Juspeczk's (sp?) revelation.
The resolution of the NYC character's subplots. (the climax.)
Powerful stuff.
Mojotronica
Expect Irony.
The origin issues were usually the most interesting. Especially the Comedian's, Manhatten's, Rorschach's and Spectre's.
Appreciated the gimmick of issue 5. Read an issue of Heavy Metal a few years later that blatantly ripped it off...
Appreciated the gimmick of issue 5. Read an issue of Heavy Metal a few years later that blatantly ripped it off...
Never read the comics, I bought the 'graphic novel' which is still one of the best things I've ever read.
The following quotes are my Rorschach faves.
"None of you understand. I'm not locked up in here with you. You're locked up in here with me."
"That what they're saying about me now? That I'm paranoid?"
- Rorschach
The following quotes are my Rorschach faves.
"None of you understand. I'm not locked up in here with you. You're locked up in here with me."
"That what they're saying about me now? That I'm paranoid?"
- Rorschach
Mojotronica
Expect Irony.
The graphic novel was just a reprint of the comics. Substitute "chapters" for "issues," then...
Yes it's absolutely brilliant, rewarding repeating readings. Some characters who seem like window dressing are revisited later on, for example the Pyramid electric car recharger (who recharges the module that the comic-book reading kid sits against) turns out to be pivotal to Nite Owl and Rorschach's investigation...
Issue (Chapter) 5 was distinctive (some would say gimmicky) because it was symmetrical. Every panel corresponds to it's opposite (e.g. pg 1 and pg 32, pg 7 and pg 25) -- all the locations are the same, all the characters are the same, w/ Veidt's two-page fight at the center.
And Moore called that chapter "Fearful Symmetry."
Yes it's absolutely brilliant, rewarding repeating readings. Some characters who seem like window dressing are revisited later on, for example the Pyramid electric car recharger (who recharges the module that the comic-book reading kid sits against) turns out to be pivotal to Nite Owl and Rorschach's investigation...
Issue (Chapter) 5 was distinctive (some would say gimmicky) because it was symmetrical. Every panel corresponds to it's opposite (e.g. pg 1 and pg 32, pg 7 and pg 25) -- all the locations are the same, all the characters are the same, w/ Veidt's two-page fight at the center.
And Moore called that chapter "Fearful Symmetry."
Mojotronica
Expect Irony.
Moore did a lot of funky things w/ time -- flashbacks, "simultaneous" storylines that turn out to be non-simultaneous, Dr Manhatten's weird perception of time as existing all at once, yet relative to the exact moment that he is pondering past and future events, and soundbite montages...
He really captured the way that a particular soundbite can remain powerfully intact in your sub-conscious.
He really captured the way that a particular soundbite can remain powerfully intact in your sub-conscious.
thestonesfan
A Client of Ron Kuby
I'm not a "hardcore" fan of it, but I remember the series. (Actually, I was 5 or 6 when it came out, but I have the paperback).
It seems a little dated because of the cold-war politics. It might not work in the present day setting.
It seems a little dated because of the cold-war politics. It might not work in the present day setting.
Mojotronica
Expect Irony.
Polymath's picks:
The Comedian: George Clooney
Ozymandias: Owen Wilson
Rorschach: Kevin Spacey
Nite-Owl: Russel Crowe
Dr Manhattan: Ralph Fiennes
Silk Spectre: Jennifer Connelly
Mojo's notes/picks:
I don't think George Clooney could pull off Comedian's inherent brutality. I actually think Russell Crowe would do a better job as that character -- he can pull off brutal, and still be sympathetic. (One of the reasons I think Crowe would make a good James Bond...) In the book the Comedian represents the Perfect Man of the 1940s and Cold War: big, strong, aggressive, amoral, hard-working, pragmatic.
Another switch -- I'd put Ralph Fiennes in the Ozymandias role instead of Owen Wilson. Wilson has never played a serious role. He's always a goofball. When Fiennes walks on the screen we instantly like him and we think of him as intelligent and likeable. It was those qualities that were part of the reason he was cast in -- and so effective in "Quiz Show." He has also demonstrated an abililty to turn all that on it's head, and portray someone truly menacing. He's capable of mastering the complexity of the character. Ozy represents the Perfect Man of the Millenium: intellectual, precise, measured, Politically Correct, understated, ambitious.
Kevin Spacey is a good pick for Rorschach. He's done dead-pan narrative before. He can handle Rorschach's dark sense of humor. Menace and humor are the keys to the character -- it's why he's so well-liked by fans, despite the fact that his zealotry renders him completely incompatible w/ the overwhelming majority's sense of reason. If you met Rorschach you would WANT him to be taken of the streets, yet you root for him in the pages of the book. That's what makes him challenging to portray. Another possibility -- Don Cheadle. He's just as brilliant as Spacey at portraying complex likeable/hateable characters. Or perhaps Mel Gibson -- no one does crazy quite like Mel... (One downside -- Gibson might be too charming.) Watching Rorschach should be like watching a car accident -- you don't want to look at him but you can't help yourself.
The other characters are less complex, even the unworldly Dr Manhatten. He could be portrayed with regal serenity by almost anyone. Well, anyone who is tall, around age 30 w/ an absolutely flawless body who can act. It's important to the character that he be inhumanly perfect, physically, and that would be hard to find! The other characters could be played by actors who look quite different from the characters in the comic, but not Manhatten. Manhatten should come off as detached, most of the time, like he's just barely managing to pay attn.
Nite Owl is a straightforward likeable good guy. The biggest challenge w/ his character is that his lack of confidence w/ women must be charming, rather than annoying. Points to Hugh Grant... if he could pull off the US accent. But he's not my choice for the role. Just someone who can pull off awkward charm like he does.
***SPOILER ALERT***Silk Spectre must beautiful and passionate. Impetuous -- quick to anger but also the type who would get swept away in a seduction. Lots of actresses could play her. The only limitation is that she must believably resemble the Comedian...
The Comedian: George Clooney
Ozymandias: Owen Wilson
Rorschach: Kevin Spacey
Nite-Owl: Russel Crowe
Dr Manhattan: Ralph Fiennes
Silk Spectre: Jennifer Connelly
Mojo's notes/picks:
I don't think George Clooney could pull off Comedian's inherent brutality. I actually think Russell Crowe would do a better job as that character -- he can pull off brutal, and still be sympathetic. (One of the reasons I think Crowe would make a good James Bond...) In the book the Comedian represents the Perfect Man of the 1940s and Cold War: big, strong, aggressive, amoral, hard-working, pragmatic.
Another switch -- I'd put Ralph Fiennes in the Ozymandias role instead of Owen Wilson. Wilson has never played a serious role. He's always a goofball. When Fiennes walks on the screen we instantly like him and we think of him as intelligent and likeable. It was those qualities that were part of the reason he was cast in -- and so effective in "Quiz Show." He has also demonstrated an abililty to turn all that on it's head, and portray someone truly menacing. He's capable of mastering the complexity of the character. Ozy represents the Perfect Man of the Millenium: intellectual, precise, measured, Politically Correct, understated, ambitious.
Kevin Spacey is a good pick for Rorschach. He's done dead-pan narrative before. He can handle Rorschach's dark sense of humor. Menace and humor are the keys to the character -- it's why he's so well-liked by fans, despite the fact that his zealotry renders him completely incompatible w/ the overwhelming majority's sense of reason. If you met Rorschach you would WANT him to be taken of the streets, yet you root for him in the pages of the book. That's what makes him challenging to portray. Another possibility -- Don Cheadle. He's just as brilliant as Spacey at portraying complex likeable/hateable characters. Or perhaps Mel Gibson -- no one does crazy quite like Mel... (One downside -- Gibson might be too charming.) Watching Rorschach should be like watching a car accident -- you don't want to look at him but you can't help yourself.
The other characters are less complex, even the unworldly Dr Manhatten. He could be portrayed with regal serenity by almost anyone. Well, anyone who is tall, around age 30 w/ an absolutely flawless body who can act. It's important to the character that he be inhumanly perfect, physically, and that would be hard to find! The other characters could be played by actors who look quite different from the characters in the comic, but not Manhatten. Manhatten should come off as detached, most of the time, like he's just barely managing to pay attn.
Nite Owl is a straightforward likeable good guy. The biggest challenge w/ his character is that his lack of confidence w/ women must be charming, rather than annoying. Points to Hugh Grant... if he could pull off the US accent. But he's not my choice for the role. Just someone who can pull off awkward charm like he does.
***SPOILER ALERT***Silk Spectre must beautiful and passionate. Impetuous -- quick to anger but also the type who would get swept away in a seduction. Lots of actresses could play her. The only limitation is that she must believably resemble the Comedian...
thestonesfan
A Client of Ron Kuby
I'm inclined to agree with mojo's casting here.
I like Gibson as Rorshach. The only problem with that is that Gibson would undoubtedly turn it into the lead role, but I wouldn't mind that.
As for Doc Manhattan, how about the bad guy from "The Mummy" movies?
EDIT: No...I changed my mind. Bruce Willis IS Rorshach. He'd be perfect.
I like Gibson as Rorshach. The only problem with that is that Gibson would undoubtedly turn it into the lead role, but I wouldn't mind that.
As for Doc Manhattan, how about the bad guy from "The Mummy" movies?
EDIT: No...I changed my mind. Bruce Willis IS Rorshach. He'd be perfect.
FearlessLeader2
Fundamentalist Loon
Why cast a movie that will be that depressing? Did any of you read it to the end?
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