Post by MetalBlade on Mar 8, 2009 14:15:51 GMT -1
Well it's finally here and I went to see it last night.
I'll explain right off that I am writing this review as a comparison to the book.
If you've not read the book, there are
**spoilers below**
If you read the book, then you won't find spoilers in here, because it's almost EXACTLY like the book. Every frame appears to have been lifted straight from the pages.
I have a feeling this will be an extremely divisive film, with those who've read the book loving it, and those who haven't read it hating it.
I will start with the cast. It is perfect beyond all I could have imagined. Instead of going with big names who bear slight resemblances to the main characters, the producers have cast largely unknown actors who who look almost exactly like their characters in the book.
Especially Dreiberg, whose Nite Owl persona is spot-on. But it is as Daniel Dreiberg where the actor really comes alive. He is almost Clark Kent-like and really pulls off the part.
Then the unique Rorschach. While not quite as strikingly similar to his character as Dreiberg's, the guy playing Rorschach unmasked is still almost the perfect choice. He is ugly, emotionless and quite sadistic as the character requires. But it is as the masked avenger that he becomes the star of the film.
This could be the coolest movie character this year, coming across as a cross between Batman, Dirty Harry and Judge Dredd.
The scenes he is in are amongst the most darkly humourous the film offers.
Then we have the incredible blue entity Dr. Manhattan.
If you can get past the fact that he has his big blue cock out in the majority of his scenes, director Zack Snyder has given us an omnipotent hero to rival Superman.
But "hero" is perhaps not the right word here, as he is no more a saviour as he is a threat. The FX used in creating the character onscreen ensured it remained extremely faithful to the character.
Almost every other character is spot on, except initally the guy that plays Adrian Veidt seemed an odd choice, as he resembles more of a goofy William Fichtner (Mahone from Prison Break) than the character Ozymandias. But get past the looks and he plays the role expertly.
The story itself deviates very little from the original, with the first hour or so of the film being an almost 100% live action carbon copy of the book. The main part where the film loses touch slightly is after Dreiberg and Laurie spring Rorschach from prison.
The film leaps almost immediately to Rorschach and Dreiberg flying to Veidt's Antarctic lair.
The book had a fairly lengthy chapter (which accounts for about 20% of the book) whereby the duo launch an investigation into who is behind all the mask-killings.
And the ending also, while not being as explanatory as the book, seems to come across as more believable than a giant squid might have.
The action sequences in the film are fucking brilliant to be quite honest, and are as good as anything from The Dark Knight. The fight scenes are extremely well put together, and the gore and violence level is at a maximum without being too over the top.
But it's no Punisher, put it that way.
I think the stumbling block of the whole movie will be that those who did not read the book may find it confusing, long-winded and a bit boring.
Whereas those who did will have a greater understanding and respect for the characters within and their motivations, and will appreciate the faithful adaptaion Snyder has put together.
I think it pretty much perfect as a comic book adaptation, and have no complaints, but there will be surely people more fanboy-ish than me who will nitpick like they could have done a better fucking job.
I DON'T THINK SO.
I can't wait for the DVD in July, which apparently will feature the whole Tales Of The Black Freighter story as animation incorporated within the movie. Quality.
I'll explain right off that I am writing this review as a comparison to the book.
If you've not read the book, there are
**spoilers below**
If you read the book, then you won't find spoilers in here, because it's almost EXACTLY like the book. Every frame appears to have been lifted straight from the pages.
I have a feeling this will be an extremely divisive film, with those who've read the book loving it, and those who haven't read it hating it.
I will start with the cast. It is perfect beyond all I could have imagined. Instead of going with big names who bear slight resemblances to the main characters, the producers have cast largely unknown actors who who look almost exactly like their characters in the book.
Especially Dreiberg, whose Nite Owl persona is spot-on. But it is as Daniel Dreiberg where the actor really comes alive. He is almost Clark Kent-like and really pulls off the part.
Then the unique Rorschach. While not quite as strikingly similar to his character as Dreiberg's, the guy playing Rorschach unmasked is still almost the perfect choice. He is ugly, emotionless and quite sadistic as the character requires. But it is as the masked avenger that he becomes the star of the film.
This could be the coolest movie character this year, coming across as a cross between Batman, Dirty Harry and Judge Dredd.
The scenes he is in are amongst the most darkly humourous the film offers.
Then we have the incredible blue entity Dr. Manhattan.
If you can get past the fact that he has his big blue cock out in the majority of his scenes, director Zack Snyder has given us an omnipotent hero to rival Superman.
But "hero" is perhaps not the right word here, as he is no more a saviour as he is a threat. The FX used in creating the character onscreen ensured it remained extremely faithful to the character.
Almost every other character is spot on, except initally the guy that plays Adrian Veidt seemed an odd choice, as he resembles more of a goofy William Fichtner (Mahone from Prison Break) than the character Ozymandias. But get past the looks and he plays the role expertly.
The story itself deviates very little from the original, with the first hour or so of the film being an almost 100% live action carbon copy of the book. The main part where the film loses touch slightly is after Dreiberg and Laurie spring Rorschach from prison.
The film leaps almost immediately to Rorschach and Dreiberg flying to Veidt's Antarctic lair.
The book had a fairly lengthy chapter (which accounts for about 20% of the book) whereby the duo launch an investigation into who is behind all the mask-killings.
And the ending also, while not being as explanatory as the book, seems to come across as more believable than a giant squid might have.
The action sequences in the film are fucking brilliant to be quite honest, and are as good as anything from The Dark Knight. The fight scenes are extremely well put together, and the gore and violence level is at a maximum without being too over the top.
But it's no Punisher, put it that way.
I think the stumbling block of the whole movie will be that those who did not read the book may find it confusing, long-winded and a bit boring.
Whereas those who did will have a greater understanding and respect for the characters within and their motivations, and will appreciate the faithful adaptaion Snyder has put together.
I think it pretty much perfect as a comic book adaptation, and have no complaints, but there will be surely people more fanboy-ish than me who will nitpick like they could have done a better fucking job.
I DON'T THINK SO.
I can't wait for the DVD in July, which apparently will feature the whole Tales Of The Black Freighter story as animation incorporated within the movie. Quality.
