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Kevin Smith and the /Filmcast Review Watchmen (/Filmcast: Ep. 41)

Posted on Thursday, March 12th, 2009 by David Chen


In this very special episode of the /Filmcast, David Chen, Peter Sciretta, Devindra Hardawar and Adam Quigley are joined by writer/actor/director Kevin Smith to discuss Zack Snyder’s Watchmen. In this epic, 1 hour and 45-minute long discussion, the five of them delve into the faithfulness of the film adaptation, the effectiveness of the film’s soundtrack, the controversy surrounding the film’s ending, the sexuality of Rorschach, and the resemblance between Zack Snyder and Jesus.

Have any questions/comments/complaints/suggestions? Want to sponsor or advertise with the /Filmcast? You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. Join us next Tuesday night at 9 PM EST / 6 PM PST on Slashfilm’s live page as we review The Last House on the Left.

To hear the entire episode, you can download it here, or play it now in your browser:

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To hear just the segment where Kevin Smith reviews Watchmen with us, you can download it here or play it now in your browser:

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Update - Welcome Digg users! If you liked this episode of the /Filmcast, you might also enjoy the following:

Dan Trachtenberg from the Totally Rad Show talks soundtracks with David Chen

The /Filmcast Interviews Dave Gibbons (the original Watchmen illustrator)

Shownotes

Introduction

Featured Review - WATCHMEN

  • (04:00) A faithful adaptation
  • (14:50) Zack Snyder as a messianic, Jesus-like figure?
  • (18:58) Different versions of Watchmen throughout the years
  • (22:38) Violence in Watchmen
  • (38:33) Watchmen’s soundtrack
  • (49:15) Rorschach’s sexuality
  • (56:00) What the hell happened at the end of Watchmen anyway?
  • (1:06:00) Watchmen’s box office performance and Zack Snyder’s juice
  • (1:13:20) The last great, graphic novel adaptation
  • (1:19:24) Watchmen’s casting
  • (1:32:00) The destruction of New York in films
  • (1:35:55) Closing thoughts

News Discussion

What Have We Watched

  • David Chen (2:29:40): Dawn of the Dead, Point Break
  • Devindra Hardawar (2:37:00): Synecdoche, New York
  • Adam Quigley (2:39:20): Summer Heights High

Credits

  • Support our sponsor: For some great T-shirts, check out Bonaroo.co.uk. Use coupon code “filmcast” for free shipping on all U.S. orders!
  • Our music comes from Point 22 courtesy of the Podsafe Network, and Brad Sucks
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  • Contact us at our new voicemail number: 781-583-1993
  • You can donate and support the /Filmcast by going to www.slashfilmcast.com and clicking on the right-hand side “Donate” links

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  • I can't wait to hear what Smith has to say about Watchmen.
  • coldbeans
    Always fun to hear Kevin, nice to hear his extended take on WATCHMEN
  • ShamrockNRoll
    I've heard Kevin's review when he saw the rough cut, without many of the effects shots, so it'll be interesting to see if all that changes his opinion
  • Can't wait to hear this. The Dark Knight was another great Filmcast with Kevin, since then I've grown to love this podcast and Kevin's Smodcat.
  • Totally agree, recently i watched the Threevening with Kevin and it was frakking awesome :) especially the Die Hard story and his story about his asshole problems were, altho a bit sad for the latter, frakking hilarious :)
    Just received /Filmcast ep 41 so gonna listen to it very soon.
  • John Crocker
    "cut to the chase!" kevin interrupted my thoughts of thinking that with him saying that. haha
  • kevin smith spits truth.

    no matter what Snyder did, people would hate it. it really was a no-win scenario.
  • "Right off the bat, I wanna say I loved the movie. And it offered everything I was hoping for from a watchmen movie, and it also didn't deliver on everything I knew it couldn't. And that's I think part of the reason some people didn't like it, because they were expecting things from it- that it would never be able to deliver. Um, because when you get down to it- the Watchmen novel just doesn't translate well to film.

    It's not structured like a movie at all. Um first half of it is almost entirely flashbacks. That alone just doesn't work for film. So when people review the film, and say the pacing is all over the place- I'm thiiiinking, 'Of course it is, that's what you get when you take the graphic novel, and translate it basically scene for scene to an almost 3 hour film.'

    And then obviously with that, you start getting into like the limitations of an absolutely faithful adaptation of the source material. We can get more into that later- but basically as a fan of the graphic novel, who is also completely aware of the problems that would come with making a film adaptation, and was also willing to forgive those problems, I absolutely loved the movie. For me it was just an awesome experience to see the graphic novel presented in this whole new way-"

    Mr. Quigley spits truth too. And they SHOULD make this a poster
    Adam Quigley spits truth too. :D
  • "Right off the bat, I wanna say I loved the movie. And it offered everything I was hoping for from a watchmen movie, and it also didn't deliver on everything I knew it couldn't. And that's I think part of the reason some people didn't like it, because they were expecting things from it- that it would never be able to deliver. Um, because when you get down to it- the Watchmen novel just doesn't translate well to film.

    It's not structured like a movie at all. Um first half of it is almost entirely flashbacks. That alone just doesn't work for film. So when people review the film, and say the pacing is all over the place- I'm thiiiinking, 'Of course it is, that's what you get when you take the graphic novel, and translate it basically scene for scene to an almost 3 hour film.'

    And then obviously with that, you start getting into like the limitations of an absolutely faithful adaptation of the source material. We can get more into that later- but basically as a fan of the graphic novel, who is also completely aware of the problems that would come with making a film adaptation, and was also willing to forgive those problems, I absolutely loved the movie. For me it was just an awesome experience to see the graphic novel presented in this whole new way-"

    Mr. Quigley spits truth too. And they SHOULD make this a poster. :D
  • KRUNK'S OTHER PUPPET
    Here's an example of a pathetic P.O.S. that uses sock-puppetry to boost is ratings, while lowering others. Just check out his posts and you can see the pattern.
  • it actually took some effort to transcribe his shpeel.

    you're welcome.
  • Krunk_Puppet
    854 posts and still a loser with 84p. you still haven't addressed the fact that you use sock-puppetry to pad you score and vote other people down. I've been tracking you for some time.
  • soooo i post a lot because i read the articles?

    it seems the only person who cares about the 84p is you.

    sock-puppetry? tracking? get a life bro. i come here to read up on the news, see what peple are thinking, and leave my 2 cents.
  • Egyptian decor? coloring logic.
  • Egyptian decor, coloring logic.
  • Krunk_voting_U_down
    Let's see, this guy post's a billion times a day, then signs in under his sock-puppet names and votes himself up and everyone down. What a douche!
  • Jeff L.
    Sweet! I've been wanting to hear this review of the Watchmen ADAPTION.
  • ctuck
    Wow I just listened to a bunch of smodcasts today and now this... totally sweet!

    You guys really have top notch podcast going.
  • Tercotta
    So is Smith the go to guy now for the big geek event movie reviews now. Because that's a pretty awesome pick.
  • On the ending: "The same matter occupies the same space?" That's from Timecop.
  • I pretty much agreed with everything you guys said. Yes, no matter what Zack Snyder did with Watchmen, at least SOMEONE would be displeased. Kevin Smith put it so well. Thanks /film!

    Could Kevin Smith be a recurring guest on the Slashfilmcast? =O
  • theß
    great review guys. Nice to hear a review of the film that isn't a piece of shit.
  • My chemical romance is not metal Mr Chen.
  • Nice touch holding the podcast to get Kevin Smith, kudos David Chen and rest of the team!
  • qwest1mark
    been waiting for this. thanks /film!
  • Shutterbun
    A few thoughts: 1. the "smiley face on Mars" actually exists in reality, so Alan Moore need not feel ashamed, as the commentators think.

    My interpretation of the ending in the book: Ozymandius teleports a giant "alien" squid, knowing that it will basically "explode upon arrival" has been embedded with the psychic's powers, so that anyone not in the immediate vicinity of the blast (note that most of the book's action takes place at a single intersection in New York, where the alien was manifested) nevertheless dies as a result of basically "going crazy."

    Zack Snyder obviously had to update the ending for a post 9/11 world (where nobody would buy the idea of New York's devastation as a basis for world peace) And yes, Bubastis had to be included because the fanboys would have missed him if he weren't there.
  • This was actually better than Smith's last appearance. Thanks for this.
  • LOL
    Missing Line: "Possibly Homosexual, Must Remember To Investigate Further"
  • The end of the movie is bogus. It makes Dr. Manhattan look like a moron.
  • You should tell us why you think that.
  • good review guys.. Maybe Smith will start doing more with /FILM
  • Epically epic epicness. Does that make sense grammatically?
  • lol "The Passion of Zack Snyder"
    ...still listening
  • psbp
    Loved the podcast. Although I was one of many who hated Watchmen the movie, all the points you made were original and I can now respect why you would like that pointless piece of crap.
  • love the schmitty
  • pete
    kevin had it right in the beginning. if you all agree about the movie, there's no point in talking about it.

    i would have enjoyed the podcast more if kevin had someone to debate with.
  • Delia
    Zack Synder should direct Enders Game!
  • That's a tough call. I'd want Ridley Scott to do it. But hes planning to do End War.
  • Jeff L.
    Veidt. Possible Homersexual.
  • Kevin Smith could talk for days and we would all still be entertained. I knew this was going to be a very long filmcast but glad I listened to it. Anyway, it's nice to know that there are people out there that enjoyed the Watchmen film.
  • i totally told dave on xbox to let kevin smith on this episode. he asked for my advice. your all fucking welcome :)
  • Awesome podcast guys, but just as a side note the Dead Rising lawsuit was by George A. Romero's people over the ORIGINAL Dawn of the Dead, not the remake.

    Also this podcast kind of made me feel tons better about being a fan of both the Watchmen graphic novel and the Watchmen movie. Most fans of the novel I know completely hated the movie in every way possible, so I was starting to think I was the only one! :D
  • Dave Chen has the hardest job asking the unpopular questions and Kevin Smith tends to dominate the discussion, but great episode guys. I totally agree with Adam that the comedian as father reveal really lacked impact. I keep thinking about that versus the scene where Luke learns that Vader is his father. Really makes this pale. I only disagree with you guys that the ending lacks impact. I think it works better than the book and I think it is funny that you guys were defending the original ending so much when none of you really even remembered what happened. The guys I watched it with had never read the book, loved the movie and loved the ending. It was difficult and challenging, but thoughtful filmgoers will appreciate that. The only thing that ruined the ending is that they just kept asking, "What's with the fucking liger?" Maybe should have just left it out.
  • Great stuff. Agree on all the points that Kevin made about WATCHMEN. Kevin is also hilarious and so entertaining to listen to (the /film crew also). Keep up the good work fellas.
  • I agree with Kevin Smith that Warner Bros is probably the best mainstream studio out there.
  • The Ending: No one remembers the ending because its really bad, its not good WTF and even if he (moore) intend to mock villains and comics/movie endings i think is really bad, and I gues is what e1 thinks thats whye1 eares it from their mind or make thei own ending.
  • Bull
    Are you typing in tongues?
  • Sorry English is not my native tongue, I'd love to see you writing a post in Spanish. Anyway I think I made my point pretty clear.
  • I actually just came back from seeing Watchmen a second time. I agree that it's a great achievement just for trying and does a good enough job as an adaptation. Some things such as The Comedian as Silk Specter's dad wasn't handled well, but a lot of sequences were just amazing to have put on screen. A good effort all in all.

    Rorschach gay though? That just puts him in a whole different light. It kind of makes sense in a warped kind of way. He would be someone to repress himself.
  • kevin has a sexy voice. he should work sex operator
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