Watchmen film creates unease
March 17, 2009 • written by Lawson Navarro
Remember a movie called V For Vendetta? A masked anarchist plans to blow up Parliament to bring down the corrupt, totalitarian government of Britain. In the film, the protagonist, V, embodies the revolutionary ideals he preaches and stresses the importance of government being run by, and for the people. Although some people believed the film’s message was too radical, the graphic novel the film is based on contains much more profound insights on fascism, anarchy, and intensive criticisms of governments.
It was for this reason that the writer of the novel, Alan Moore, protested the novel’s adaptation to the cinema. Moore’s most recent disapproval sparks from his renowned graphic novel, Watchmen, being turned into a film.
“Anytime you get a movement in popular culture that generates a lot of interest someone is going to find a way to expose that in a different medium to more people,” history teacher Robert Parker said. With a plot like that of Watchmen, it is predictable why Hollywood would plan it as its next blockbuster.
Watchmen tells the story of a variety of superheroes and vigilantes in an America at the height of the cold war and Richard Nixon in his fifth term as president. A vigilante known as Rorschach investigates the death of a former teammate, The Comedian. As the story continues cold war tensions intensify; a former member of Watchmen, Nite Owl, forms a relationship with his old teammate, the Silver Spectre; a superhuman named Dr. Manhattan’s apathetic views about the human race are challenged in an effort to have him save the world; and Rorschach uncovers a conspiracy to kill off “costumed heroes.”
“Watchmen is pretty different than anything I have ever read,” junior Ramon Tancioco, a fan of the book, said. “It seems more predominantly focused on philosophy rather than just straight up action.”
The lengthy synopsis of Watchmen includes a variety of interwoven relationships and storylines all of which cause question about the motives of the superheroes and vigilantes in the grim society of its time. The profound message and questions within the novel are part of why the film is receiving such harsh criticism from Moore as well as loyal fans.
“I think it will be kind of hard to get what the book was,” freshman Jonathan King said. “The book isn’t about action, its kind of a drama as well so I think the action part might overshadow the other elements.”
The film’s director, Zach Snyder, is well known for directing the Spartan war movie, 300 with stunning visual effects and graphic violence. For this reason some worry that the philosophical ideas behind the book might take a backseat to the production.
“With 300 I can’t say it was a good movie, but it was very entertaining so hopefully Watchmen will be both,” Tancioco said.
On the other side of the spectrum, some are skeptical about Snyder’s ability to create a movie similar to the promise of the book. “I don’t trust Snyder to do justice to dense and philosophical text,” senior Nikita Arsenyev said. “It already looks like a typical action flick.”
Arsenyev expresses similar sentiments as most people who are avid fans of the novel. Comic books being adapted to the big screen are no doubt becoming part of mainstream pop culture, but Watchmen is not meant to follow the simple concepts of those movies.
Bringing justice to the novel’s messages and questions about superheroes and society are what fans are looking for as opposed to those who haven’t read the book. Arsenyev refuses to see this movie unless he hears “a really credible review from someone who appreciates the novel.”
Without this, Snyder’s career and credibility as a director will have disappointed fans of the book and spell worse for his own career. Without approval from fans, he will be walking the road of shame just like the heroes in the book.
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