Meh, I don't care who liked it or didn't like it. I"M EXCITED and I'm gonna watch it for myself, even if it's crappy. I gotta watch it because I read it, the same way I have to watch every movie adaption of a book/GraphicNovel I read.

p.s.......its not about education...

For the person that wanted to see someone choke on their own hotdog.........SHORT BUS.......go get it..rent it..and let us who love the comics and movies talk in private....I suppose that you are voting no to prop 8 in cali...

Cool. I really trust Kevins views on movies - we seem to have shared tastes. Am going to put this on my blog later this week. cheers for giving us his opinions.

it gets more and more promising that it could be the greatest movie of all time!!!! i dont know if it will be the best ever movie for critics but for fanboys definately. i just hope they hide dr.manhattan's wang somehow.

I'm getting more excited for this all the time.

I have never been a big fan of the whole "they liked/hated this one movie I hated/liked, thus their opinion is moot." argument. Nothing is ever as black and white as that. Ultimately, in regards to Episode 1 and to a lesser extent "Revenge of the Sith", I am 100% sure Kevin was caught up in the same, admittedly apologetic, hoopla of the initial release. It was hard for us dyed-in-the-wool, Star Wars fanatics to come to terms with the true crapiness of the prequels when we first saw them, being that we were so, over the top, ecstatic that they were happening at all. We had to gradually deal with it. You ask him today, and he will have as much of a problem with it as you do, I bet. Ultimately, his taste seems to be, with some exceptions, relatively parallel to mine, so color me exited.

He said Episode 1 was awesome.

END.

OF.

STORY.

just because the general public doesn't know about it, it won't do well in theatres and be forgotten? That's fantastic logic. People STILL talk about 300, and I can guarantee less people have read or heard of that than Watchmen.

@Nick, I agree w/ you! Besides it's 1 thing 2 make a film about a novel or book. But a GRAPHIC NOVEL? why not just read the graphic novel it's already illustrated. Where's the artistry as a director when the art is already done 4 u? it's a form of plagarism (money making ploy)

Don't tell me it's about bringing it to a new audience because it's already the one of the greatest graphic novels EVER! It's before it's time, it's not corny or cliche' by 10 miles... and it says something about society, which is what all great art does.

The only reason 4 seeing watchmen is to see the different eras in american history on the big screen.THE 2nd reason (i guess) is to be able 2 hear the voices and see them moving/performing but if it's anything like 300 or sin city I have my doubts. My doubts are that the director won't build the suspense in important scenes and do them justice (like the comedian's intense scenes)

I hope they never make a movie of "kingdom come" which in my opinion can't possibly be made "wrong" even if it was directed by ROB ZOMBIE, but again the pacing, the acting and scene build-up could take the umph! away that they need.

@Captain Awesome and Krapajap

Man you guys are angry today. I dont have time to read every graphic novel so I was just hoping a few quick points about it and what it was all about. No offense intended.

Nick, there is a difference between a movie and a comic book, however there really isn't a difference between a screenplay written for the screen, and an adapted screenplay. They are both screenplays. A good adaptation will grow from the source material and should blossom into it's own film. That's the craft that a screenwriter brings to any adaptation. Some writers do it better than others. Although it may not always be their choice. They are hired guns too, and ultimately follow the direction of the producers, directors, and studios.

It seems like you're trying to bring up a different issue in that why don't they make more original stories rather constantly recycling old ideas, or adapting ideas that have already been proven in another medium. The truth for the most part is that since these properties have already been proven, many producers, etc, will see that as a build in market that they can springboard from and present it to a larger audience. It becomes a brand that they can promote and license. With production costs rising, filmmakers want to make something in this scale that will turn a profit. It's a proven quantity, and the financiers feel safer backing something with an established audience than taking a riskier approach with fresh material.

There will always be adaptations, but once in a while there will be new story ideas that make it, and even fresh voices and visionaries that will breath new life into these franchises. We're currently seeing that with Iron Man and Batman.

I'm just posing the question. I personally think the Dark Knight was probably the best example of movie making I've seen in years and that wasn't an adaptation. I did like There Will Be Blood (I haven't watched No Country For Old Men, yet). Of course, I haven't read Oil! yet, either. P.T. Anderson already made it clear he didn't do an adaptation, anyway.

The basic point is that there's a definite difference between a screenplay written for the screen and a movie adapted from a novel or a comic book. A screenwriter writes explicitly for the film he or she is writing for and there's an understanding about how much of the material is interpretive when given to a director. Comic books are written for the people reading them, by a writer who has an intention to express certain ideas and themes in that medium. The same goes for novelists. Taking those materials, adapting them into a screenplay format and then putting them on-screen, simply for the sake of doing so, doesn't seem to make any sense, since the original intent is so distanced from the artist at that point.

That's what I don't understand. What's the point of doing it? Is it so the fan base can be excited through some sort of sense of foreknowledge or elitism? Is it the idea that the comic book fan will now be connected to a greater social phenomenon that more people will relate to, like an expanded feeling of belonging? What's the allure?

Nick is trying too hard.

So I wonder what he thinks of No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, and Dark Knight..all based on books.

@ Nick: Then do yourself a favor and stop watching movies. They're all based on either story adaptations, stage plays or screenplays. No film is an entity unto itself.

@ drewgraham: learn how to spell words.

Your average joe has no idea about the watchman-This film will have hype and then disappear quickly

"Are we not able to enjoy a book or a comic book? Does it lack artistic merit unless someone “translates” it into a movie?"

I find it hilarious when people make comments like these. What about the thousands of other movies that are based on books? Why are you not up in arms about any of those?

Kevin Smith is a fucktard, the watchman sucked. i just want to see a movie with people choaking on there own toungs

I'm always a little wary of movies directly based off of a source material. What's the point? The story has already been told. I wasn't impressed with Sin City, I wasn't impressed with 300 and I have the sneaking suspicion that Watchmen will be no different. I suppose I'm stumped by the concept that a movie is somehow an elevation of an existing form of art. Someone has to help me understand that. Are we not able to enjoy a book or a comic book? Does it lack artistic merit unless someone "translates" it into a movie? That just doesn't make any sense to me. It strikes me as dangerously hacky to simply adapt someone else's artistic achievement to a new format. Instead of a Watchmen movie I'd like to see a filmmaker's own original enterprise. I'd be more curious to see what Zach Snyder can come up with on his own, instead of strictly doing remakes and adaptations.

I too cant wait to see this film the trailer looked awesome and I loved the book!

I have to say that I was one of those people that had always heard of Wathchmen, but had never read it. Then I saw the trailer and I immediately ordered the book from Amazon.com. I would highly recommend anyone who frequents this site who has not read it, go buy/rent/borrow this and read it. Trust me it's well worth it, and I am now absolutely stoked for March.

OMG I just cannot wait. I know its going to like totalyl ROCK!

JT
www.FireMe.To/udi

I simply cannot wait to see the darn thing. Kevin Smith should better be right about quality (I;ve been disapointed sooooo many times). Cheers, Zoltan

Join the Minutemen and campaign for a 3 hour Watchmen movie:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Watchmen3hrM...

FuelHokie,

Why the fuck are you asking people here to convince you of a movie of which you've read nothing about? It's easier to just buy the graphic novel.

VERY good to hear.

I wanna see the pregnant chick getting shot and all that...NOTHING held back from the Novel. Sounds like I got my wish. :-)

@ FuelHokie
Exercise your brain a bit and read the comic. That's about the only answer you'll get. Not exactly sure what you're expecting.

I've never read the comic. Saw the trailer, was way less than impressed. Why should I see it? Seriously, I'm asking cause I honestly don't know anything about Watchmen. I leave it to you /filmers to convince me.

Gahwhwh.......Frustration....

Kevin Smith is a comic book fan so I'm confident he's right about it. He pulls no punches, if he says it's great he's right

@ J.D. - Just so you know, Watchmen currently holds the #10 spot on Amazon.com's bestsellers list. Over 20 years after it's initial run, and 7 months before the film's release. No fanbase? Really?
Also worth noting, The Dark Knight Returns is #65, and those are the only two graphic novels in the top 100...

I trust Kevin's enthusiasm, and was convinced when Dave Gibbons showered praise on the efforts earlier in the video diaries. I cannot wait for this one. Those of you who 'haven't read Watchmen but hear it's good'...what are you waiting for?!

Let me know when Sin City 2 is coming out.

I've never liked the art or visual design of the Watchmen book. It's kept me from ever thinking too much of it. The trailer had far too much CGI FX for my taste, so again, visually, I'm just not too excited for this.

I'm sure the visual style will be on par with Snyder's previous two offerings, but the Sin City reference is worrisome. It just proved that graphic novels and film are two independent mediums that have unique properties that make them what they are. I'm sorry, but Sin City was nothing but style way over substance. 300 did a much better job crafting a story to somewhat support the visuals, but it was still flimsy. Granted Watchmen provides a stronger foundation based on the source material, I just hope they didn't try to go shot for shot in a lot of instances. Even Alan Moore would agree. What works in comics doesn't work in film, and vice versa. That's what makes the art of adaptation so skillful.

On a side note, please keep in mind that this is the same guy that said "Revenge of the Sith is, quite simply, f------- awesome". He even went so far as to say it was so satisfyingly tragic, you'll think you're watching "Othello" or "Hamlet".

Check it out for yourselves: http://www.viewaskew.com/news/sith/

I never read Watchmen, and by just seeing the trailer i cant wait to see it, im sure the ads with the 300 director will help some.

wow. i hope smith didnt have to give snyder a handy to get to see it early. just kidding. i love them both. that being said, WOW, this is fucking awesome. i trust smith, and love that he loves it. i just dont want to get into the hype too much. which is quite impossible. just got my watchmen comic con shirt today. thank the gods for what is happening. mahalo

@ orange cinema
Critical is an understatement. I got the impression that he flat out hated LOTR. It was pretty funny that he wrote his monologue about LOTR into Clerks 2 although it was much funnier when Kevin Smith did it.

Damn it

This gives me even more hope that this will indeed be well done. Also, I never understood when someone says if someone's "heard" of the material or not before the film. Most people don't know about the original material before it's turned into a film. It isn't until after the film is out when people go out and read the written source.

The fortunate thing about Watchmen is that it has both it's old fanbase and it's new one from the trailers. This comic was a "one-shot" series. Not an ongoing affair. So it speaks volumes that till this day it's still remembered and recognized.

Smith was right about TDK, so this only makes me despise the wait for March all the more.

Considering his over the top praise of Dark Knight, I'll take it with a grain of salt. However, I'm definitely looking forward to it. But I'm wondering... how finished could Watchmen be at this point? Considering the vast amount of post production work this flick no doubt requires, I seems hard to judge it's level of awesomeness at this point in the game - 7 months is a long way off.

Lucky god damn bastard!!!

I've never read the graphic novel. It's always something i've been interested in, since I know people that love it. At this point, I might as well just wait till the movie since it's going to be so closely adapted,which to me, personally, isn't an extremely encouraging thing. I have heard Sin City and 300 were both very faithful adaptations...I liked Sin City, hated 300.

Anyway, if it's the classic people say it is...and the adaptation is as faithful, I should like it.

Having never read or known about the watchmen before the movie trailers, I am not overly interested in this. But I am interested to see the reaction the general public has with the film. Either way, I will see it, but can't say I will see it in the theater rather than on dvd.

smith is very critical of star wars 1-3, and also of the LOTR trilogy (just to name a couple things). both are cornerstones of the fanboy world. i dunno if you guys have seen the 'evening with kevin smith' films, but he's not the pushover ya'll are making him out to be.

who is this FINZ character? i guess you must have thought that v for vendetta, batman begins, and the dark knight sucked too. idiot.

I just finished reading the book, and it was fantastic. If done faithfully (and apparently it is) it will rock the comic book world.

Whether it will beat TDK is still to be seen, and I'd actually like to ask Smith which he perferred.

In all honesty though, I don't think the style or the ending (especially the ending) will translate to general non-fan audiences.

@ mike z
yer right, 'TDKR' is a terrible follow up title. that title belongs to the miller novel if they ever adapt in (hopefully not for another 15 years though) as for 'batman triumphant', dude i hope you're kidding cuz that reeks of the same 'batman forever' cheese. my vote is for 'shadow of the bat', and the theme to be the wayne/batman identity crisis...which the riddler would play well into IF they choose to use him.

@ JD
sorry man, you couldn't be more wrong about the fanbase or the revenue that watchmen will do. you'll be eating those words in march.

kevin smith thinks everything is f**king astounding these days, after all i remember him saying that about the dark knight.

since he was right about the dark knight, i will take his word about watchmen and he better be right because i do not want to be disappointed

@ J. D.

LOL!!!!!

seriously, man?

Watchmen alreayd had a pretty big fanbase before people even found out that snyder was gonna do the movie, and ever since the trailer was released with TDK, Watchm has sold over 300,000 (THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND) copies.

just from the trailer.

and DC has already had to print 900,00 copies since the trailer came out to keep up with demand.

imagine what more trailers, more hype, and more advertising are gonana do?

do we know what day this comes out yet?

is that blood or ketchup?

Reminder: Kevin Smith is a fanboy of everything.