I Watch the Watchmen!

So I finally saw Watchmen with M, who needed some prodding to spend over 2 hours at any movie, ever. I loooved it. He thought it was so-so. But I had read the comic, and he hadn't. Maybe that's why? Before I get to my review, though, even the previews were awesome. They know their demographic, that's for sure. Here's the rundown of the most notable previews, and my comments, wherein you all realize I am actually a 12 year old boy:

Wolverine This was awesome, and I'm sure that goes without saying. I love Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and I love Liev Schreiber as, well, anything really. Adding to X-Men movie lore is cool with me. It looks like a real sausage fest, too. All male mutants. I think the preview showcased Jackman sans shirt more often than Jackman avec shirt. OK with me! And the scene where he jumps onto the helicopter as it's flying? Can't wait to see it in context.

Star Trek This one got some grumbles from the audience, but I'm excited about it. I wasn't at first, but after seeing the trailer, I'm on board. JJ Abrams is somewhat trustworthy as a director, too. What am I going to do? Toss out years of watching every series and movie? Zachary Quinto (above) makes a great Spock, at least from the trailer. And I like the idea of going back to the beginning to revise some of the kitschyness of the original series. I'm more of a Next Generation fan. The trailer seems to show a less hammy version of Kirk, no offense to Shatner, who is a genius for working his one role well into his 70s. His verson of Pulp's "Common People"? No words.

Public Enemies A gangster film about John Dillinger with Johnny Depp and Christian Bale? Just the description has me pre-ordering the DVD. The preview, M and I agree, rules. Johnny Depp can really do no wrong. And if either he or Christian Bale have scenes in which they are without their shirts, I might download this illegally before it's out.

Terminator: Salvation Remember how I have a big hard on for Christian Bale? Yeah, well he's John Connor in the new Terminator movie. Now, I know I have a big rule about time travel, and how it ruins stories, be they in literature, film, or television. And part of why I am not a super Terminator fan is because of that rule. I don't watch the TV show with Summer Blau, because she seems super lame (as an actress). But Christian Bale is a-freaking-mazing. I will watch him read the phone book. Apparently he's agreed to two or three more Terminator films. Even though it's helmed by McG, who is pretentious enough to go by "McG," I'm there on opening weekend.

Wait, I'm not done being a fangirl yet. I still have to review Watchmen!

Have you read the comic? It's worth it. It is really good and has deep and conflicting characters. I suppose I could have bought the "graphic novel" but I just downloaded it from a torrent site. All 12 PDFs. I get why people think it's the best graphic novel of all time. But, really, you can't build it up like that and expect me to agree at the end. It's a great comic. I loved it. But Silk Spectre (both 1 and 2) could have had better closure/resolutions. But what kind of female character do you think this guy could write well?
Oh yes, those are rings on EVERY finger. Alan Moore, here apparently auditioning for the role of Edward Gorey, is the genius behind the comic. He has a non-relationship with the film, in that he thinks it couldn't possibly bring to life his characters, but he's wrong, because the film is absolutely breathtaking in its ability to remain true to the comic's vision and artistic quality.
Things that were great about it (somewhat spoilery ahead)? The explanation of how masked crime-fighters came to be: criminals figured out they could avoid getting picked out of a lineup by wearing masks by the 1930s, so cops got annoyed and started masking themselves. Then other people joined up. Including Silhouette, at left in the pic above and below: She's part of the first generation, who called themselves Minutemen. She lasts like 5 minutes in the film and doesn't have a big role (I don't even think she speaks). She's a lesbian superhero. With my hair! I heart her. Especially because they recreate this moment:

Only instead of the sailor, it's Silhouette, in costume, with the nurse in the embrace. Rewriting history is just the most fun. Damn them all to hell for not expanding her. She rules in thousands of ways.

At least I had Silk Spectre. The gal who plays the new Silk Spectre reminds me so much of Xena/Lucy Lawless that I couldn't take my eyes off her. And Carla Gugino plays the first Silk Spectre. She's super dreamy. The movie doesn't highlight the fact that Silk Spectre the first chose to change her last name from Juspeczyk to Jupiter to avoid being associated with her Polish heritage. She receives a bit of teasing about being Polish in the comic, which explains her fear of publicizing her name. Her daughter, Laurie, takes the name back. I dug that.
Interestingly, the character with whom identified most is Rorschach, which is frightening. But I think that's intended. He's a character that believes there are no shades of gray, which is so not like me at all. I'm a big "shades of gray" type of person. I'm the liberal he rants against in both the comic and the movie. But I loved two specific moments in his story:

1) He feels that scumbags who molest and kill little girls deserve swift justice.

2) He is so hardcore that in prison when someone attempts to shank him, he pours hot oil on the guy's FACE, and then screams loudly to the other prisoners that he isn't locked up with them, they are locked up with him. Thankfully that moment was pristine, from the comic straight to the film with no changes. I am a sicko for liking that it came to life, but so be it.

Anyway, go see the movie. And if you've read the comic, don't hold your breath about the big squid. Thank god they left that bullshit out of the movie.