comment #1

George Prager says ...

He's a pumpkinhead who dresses like a `70s hairdresser.

comment #2

slutsky says ...

I think there are comic book readers over 40, too.

But as someone who DID grow up with the book, let me just say I have ZERO emotional investment in this movie's success. I don't think a movie adaptation is some sort of artistic apotheosis--and for this work in particular, it doesn't even really make much sense as a movie, being as it is so much about comic books. I want it to be good in the same way I want any movie I see to be good, so I don't waste three hours of my time.

Would you disqualify anyone who grew up reading novels from reviewing The Reader or Revolutionary Road?

comment #3

Geoff says ...

I've never read the comic book, I just know alot about it from friends.

The way they are marketing this thing plus all those fanboy reviews leads me to believe this film will suck for someone like me. And it shouldn't. If it's so damn good it should be able to stand on it's own as a film....or else Alan Moore really was right.

comment #4

Nick says ...

There's also the folks like me, who LOVE the comic, and think Zack Snyder should go back to car commercials.

I'm hoping it doesn't do well, so the studios don't think blood n' guts equals a "mature" comic book movie.

comment #5

Ray says ...

I have never read the comics. Here is my review:

http://sammyray.com/246/review-the-watchmen/

comment #6

televisiontears says ...

Your assumption that "pretty much anyone under 40" grew up reading comics is effing insane, Jeff. Utterly. Batshit. Insane. But in a charming, confused-by-these-youngsters-and-their-damn-comics sort of way. What in the world are you basing that on? Even five percent of people under 40 is really, really stretching it. You are entirely (and perhaps willfully) out of touch with anyone more than ten years younger than you. But I love you anyway.

I'll also have to second some on HE who think it's a bit strange that you haven't seen the movie yet. I think my mom's seen it already, and she doesn't run a blog where half the posts are about Watchmen. Are you still gonna be warning us about the unreliable opinions of the under-40's when the Blu-Ray director's cut comes out?

comment #7

George Prager says ...

Wells is Batshit. Insane. Assuming that anyone under 40 grew up reading comics is assuming that anyone under 40 grew up reading, which we all know is an utterly Batshit Insane assumption.

comment #8

winstonsmith says ...

"Never trust anyone under 40."
-Jeffrey Wells

comment #9

PopcornEyeglass says ...

First of all, Kyle Smith directly says that he "took care to maintain total ignorance going in", so he's clearly not a Watchmen apostle.

Furthermore, if your complaint is that his possible investment in comic books (a questionable enough assumption, as has been repeatedly pointed out) makes him completely unreliable, well then that's just silly. By that logic, your opinion on movies is fairly worthless, since you've clearly got quite a bit of emotional investment in cinema as a medium.

comment #10

lazarus says ...

Four stars from Ebert. I know he's been accused of rating inflation, but the words are the words.

He doesn't appear to have read the book, because he doesn't spend any time on comparisons.

comment #11

Kyle_D says ...

I'm finding it amusing that the film currently has a 63% fresh rating over at Rotten Tomatoes, but that drops to 27% when aggregating only the "top critics."

comment #12

loyal says ...

I loved it

Faithful to a fault to the source material. I don't agree with some of choices Snyder made (at least for general audiences) but the good/great/brill outweighs all that.

Birth of Dr. Manhattan, Credit Sequence
Any of the Minutemen footage, Rorschach
Prison sequence

Audiences will be GREATLY divided on it. Even in my group of 4, half loved it, one liked it, one had seemingly serious issues with it (especially the acting and casting).

Oh and there was booing at the end. Loud booing. Not sure the last time I heard booing at the end of a movie. But I started a clap and others joined in.

comment #13

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

That certainly seems interesting, Kyle...until you break it down and realize it only includes 12 reviews, and that's not even including a couple raves just published (like Ebert's). Just give it time, give it time...somehow I have a feeling both ratings (overall & cream of the crop) will end up around 50% on this puppy.

My guess: it'll end up being this year's Speed Racer.

comment #14

Chase Kahn says ...

Wells clearly skimmed over it, Kyle Smith clearly stated that he "attempted to remain ignorant" going in -- i.e. he hasn't read the graphic novel.

comment #15

DarthCorleone says ...

We are the blazing truth-tellers -- the ones who watch the Watchmen geeks.

Mr. Wells, at this point a little of this has to be tongue-in-cheek and is meant to entertain me, right? Because you're doing a great job of making me laugh.

Oh, and quit watching me!

comment #16

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

Most guys I know who say they "grew up" reading comics are all in the 50's or older.

Everyone my age or younger, didn't come to them until they were late into their teens or 20s.

I guess he couldn't say don't trust anyone under 30 or 25 because those guys' opinion can be trusted with ANY fantasy film so it would have been redundant to say so.

comment #17

messiahcomplexio says ...

...those damn kids under 40,
with their blood-stained smiley face buttons,
and their ink blot masks,
flaunting their giant glowing blue penis's for all to see...

Get off my lawn!!!

comment #18

MDOC says ...

lazarus,

Where did you catch Ebert's review? I have been stalking his page for the last few hours waiting to see if he posts it.

comment #19

KC says ...

Real comic book G's know that another Dark Knight - Watchmen one-two punch will most likely be as bad for fun and creativity in superhero movies as their analog equivalents were for mainstream comics in the 80s and 90s. Not worth it unless this movie is a real knockoff which I am skeptical of to say the least.

comment #20

KC says ...

Maybe that Rogen/Chow/Gondry Green Hornet will be the slightly corny good times Justice League International run among a sea of shallow, cookie-cutter, mindlessly dark superhero movies the year it comes out.

comment #21

KC says ...

Oh god I'm too young and sexually active to be posting about comic books on the internet in this way

comment #22

Arran says ...

Why do you assume every single person who reads this site is coming from the same paradigm as you and therefore should heed your warnings?

I mean, I'm generally sceptical of ANY rave reviews of films regardless of genre, but just because you don't trust anyone who grew up with comic books (which I didn't), doesn't mean we're all in the same boat.

comment #23

longrunner says ...

I am not interested in the reviews by folks who haven't read the source material because the film is of interest to me as an adaptation.

comment #24

soap+water says ...

I've seen watchmen twice already and it's a dazzling pop epic. period.
emmanuel levy deserves HUGE KUDOS for spotting this early, it took my two views to see what he saw on one.
No-one seems able to admit that they can not now (and never will, perhaps) 'get' what's going on with the film.
I'm fantasising about recording a commentary track, taking people by the hand and explaining to them that THE WORK IS THERE.
Watchmen takes the mindest of the book and very tastefully cooks a brew of moden history, blockbuster spectacle, sampling culture and comic book nonsense.
It's a POP EPIC and works as a POP EPIC.
if you can't spot this on the first viewing, GO AGAIN.
In 12 months this movie's reputation will set in stone.
THE WORK IS THERE.
It is A-grade pop. the referencing is mind-blowing... Dr manhattan's bedroom, the 2001/louis XIV decor. the man that sleeps here is THE NEXT STEP IN HUMAN EVOLUTION.
Vietnam combat scored to the valkyies. IN THE WATCHMEN WORLD THERE IS NO APOCALYPSE NOW... the US won, ya see.
These are exceedingly clever gags.
Nixon is happy to see the northeast nuked.
see, THE WORK IS THERE.

comment #25

MovieBob says ...

"We are the blazing truth-tellers -- the ones who watch the Watchmen geeks."

Heh.

You are the Neanderthal, smirking at those little Cro-Magnon fools two caves over and their silly "fire" and "tool" fads.

You are the Sarah Palin voter, leering angrily at those exuberant kids at the Obama rally and wondering HOW they can POSSIBLY think "this guy" is the future.

comment #26

Jeffrey Wells says ...

Even if I wind up admiring Watchmen, even if it gets me in a way I hadn't expected, even if it surprises and dazzles me and opens me up to something new and fierce and stunning (which could happen), I'm starting to think it might be worth my time to double-down and find some way to piss on it, if only to experience the joy of doing battle -- and by that I mean striking down with great vengeance and furious anger -- the Movie Bobs, George Pragers and televisiontears of the world. I've explained within the last day or two that I'm still on the Warner Bros. shit list and can't see it until Friday morning.

comment #27

MovieBob says ...

Tyler Perry just got ANOTHER two-picture deal, and you're fired-up to rassle comic geeks? C'mon man, pick an enemy who's defeat would be WORTH something.

comment #28

KC says ...

Man at least Tyler Perry makes movies about black people who aren't criminals, I got more room in my ideal world for his corny ass than a million Zack Snyders

comment #29

MovieBob says ...

"Man at least Tyler Perry makes movies about black people who aren't criminals,"

Um... so I'm just IMAGINING that the most-recent one is called "Madea Goes to Jail"? ;)

comment #30

KC says ...

HAHA shit, well played. But at least she probably goes to church afterwards

comment #31

Jonah says ...

"Even if I wind up admiring Watchmen, even if it gets me in a way I hadn't expected, even if it surprises and dazzles me and opens me up to something new and fierce and stunning (which could happen), I'm starting to think it might be worth my time to double-down and find some way to piss on it, if only to experience the joy of doing battle -- and by that I mean striking down with great vengeance and furious anger -- the Movie Bobs, George Pragers and televisiontears of the world."

Journalistic integrity out the window.

comment #32

moorish says ...

Jeff, you've been wanting to hate it all along. It is BLATANT. Give us a break.

comment #33

Jeffrey Wells says ...

No, I haven't been "wanting" to hate it all along. I have hated it all along. But what exactly do I mean when I say "it"? Not the Alan Moore-Dave Gibbons-John Higgins graphic novel, which is actually a fairly deep (or rich or...you know, full of inner realms) bath with flavor and weirdness -- a story about alienation and aloneness and singularity of mind, well told with rich noir flavoring and a nice use of time-shuffling imagination. "It" means the vast multitudes of superhero movie fans going into this thing...anticipating this thing, I should say...fluttering in their dreams and practically levitating off the ground about it with eager-beaver fanboy erections. Yes, I read Watchmen wanting to hate it because of my deep loathing of the superhero conceit -- the idea of the much-bolder-of-spirit and more powerful "other" who lives within and is unleashed under another identity or in another psychological realm, in the guise of a masked and musclebound gay-nippled spandex-wearing vigilante-outsider-crimefighter. It saves itself, yes, because of the imaginative ways it gets around or builds upon and/or goes the other way regarding the superhero bullshit, but I have a very strong aversion to the wimpy overweight dweeby-loser belief system that fortifies (in a commercial sense) the superhero mythology. Real men don't need outfits or superpowers. Nor, more importantly, do they have time for that shit. If I needed the fortification and was feeling badly about myself (which I'm not), I could make myself feel pretty damn good every day by saying, "Hey, man, at least you don't nurse pathetic fantasies about your secret hidden self that's much cooler than the one that gets around every day and rides subways and buys stuff in Walmart and tries to take care of things in the real world...at least you're not living in that sad little realm." But that said, I do respect the Watchmen graphic novel as much as I'm able to respect it, which is...you know, fairly genuinely, as far as it goes. For being a seminal deconstructivist superhero deal as it were.

comment #34

KC says ...

EPIC

comment #35

KC says ...

Man, finding out that Wells has Andy Rooney rubbing shoulders with Mark Twain was like unearthing the Rosetta Stone

comment #36

chicagodad says ...

Jeff, how is a review coming from a perspective that is clearly invested in hatred of the culture that produced the work any less skewed and more reliable than one that comes from a perspective that loves that culture? Both will probably fail to separate the film experience from their feelings about the larger culture that spawned it.

That said, I will look forward to reading your review. I like reading reviews coming from different perspectives. Reviews are not "hard" journalism. You want a totally neutral, factual review of a film? Read its IMDB page. Everything else is going to be filtered through the reviewer's experiences, foibles, preferences, etc. That's a reviewer's job. To relate their experience of the film.

Do I think Jeffrey's bile towards this film and the fanboys is a little over the top? Yeah. Just like I think there are plenty of fanboy raves that are over the top. Take them as what they are.

comment #37

JChasse says ...

I just read Jeff's 5:47 post. Comic book geek that I am (and others like me back me up), what hit me was... doesn't he sound like Lex Luthor?

comment #38

DavidF says ...

Kudos to Jeff for owning up but, as Chicagodad points out, his bias is no more (or less) valid than "fanboys."
the assertions that:
a) People under 40 are comic book readers
b) Comic book readers are unreliable

...are both riddiculous and totally illogical. We're well past straw man territory.
It's fine and good to put your cards on the table before doing a review but if you can't separate yourself when it comes time to do the work, if you can't evaluate THE FILM, then who cares what you have to say?

The reason people respect Ebert is because (as a general rule) he looks at a film and evaluates it in terms of what it was trying to achieve.
You seem to look at what other people like them, determine what relationship you bear to them to socially (n this case, you're a film expert and they are loser fanboys) and then to from there. It doesn't do you a service.

The proof is ample but the fact that you have no mention of a 4-star review from the world's most prominent critic (Ebert) while posting David Poland's rant as a "killshot" goes a long way.

comment #39

Jeffrey Wells says ...

I am what I am. Nobody is impartial and reasoned about anything. Impartiallity, trust me, is an act. I am an advocate for a certain way of living and absorbing and perceiving life (i.e., my own). At least you know where I'm coming from. That's a kind of fairness, I think -- the fairness of being upfront and not pretending to be some guru-like evaluator. Take that for what it's worth or discard it. It's okay with me either way.

comment #40

televisiontears says ...

Jeff, I didn't know you were on the shit list. My apologies. For the record, I don't care if you like it or not or want to like it or want to hate it, I only thought it was strange that you write about it so much, but still haven't seen it when advance screenings are around every corner.

comment #41

Gordon27 says ...

""It" means the vast multitudes of superhero movie fans going into this thing...anticipating this thing, I should say...fluttering in their dreams and practically levitating off the ground about it with eager-beaver fanboy erections."

Remind me to repost this the next time Michael Mann or David Fincher release films, Jeff.

comment #42

jamesD says ...

I strongly suggest you guys a H - O T site for tall chix and guys-- ____Tall kiss C om ____ Im sure it will work for-- you. End your loney life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!