The movie adaptation of The Watchmen opens today. I loved the book so I’m excited to see the movie — even if it could ultimately disappoint. I remember reading it my freshman year in college – spring of 1990. I possibly had not studied adequately for a world history test. Or, in any case, The Watchmen was on my mind as I was writing an essay answer on a world history question. The question had something to do with the unlikely rise of Europe circa 1500, particularly when one looked at how comparatively strong the Islamic states to the east and south were.
In any event, I can’t remember how I weaved it in, but there is a scene in the Watchmen concerning the character Ozymandias referencing Shelley’s poem of the same name with a crumbling statue in the desert bearing the inscription, “Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair.” So, I threw in a reference to the poem and got a paragraph or two riffing on it. I got an “A” on the test, as I recall. Just one more reason for me to like the graphic novel.
People Magazine didn’t like it. The New Yorker (anthony Lane) says to only stay for the opening credits.
I don’t go to the movies, I just read the reviews… I am a lame creature.
Not “The Watchmen”. Just “Watchmen”.
Yes, I am a massive nerd, why do you ask?
Anyhow, I’ll likely be seeing a movie this weekend, and Watchmen won’t be it. Nothing against it, mind you, as I do want to see it, but there’s one person who will be going who wouldn’t want to see it, and it’s been ruined for me by fat, pimply, basement-dwelling whiners on certain forums dealing with comics who have been complaining since day one.
Thanks for the correction. I think that had been pointed out to me at some point, then I forgot. I’m in a good place with respect to this movie — I love the story, but I’m not such a die hard that anything will be ruined for me if it’s not perfect. And, I really just love going to the movie theater almost regardless of what’s playing.