Watch Out For ‘Watchmen’

[Ictoanius]

Link

Moore intended the book to be at least in part a biting indictment of Reagan and Thatcher and the Cold War in general. He saw the book as explicitly anti-Reagan, if not necessarily anti-American (Reagan doesn’t actually appear in Watchmen).

In Moore’s alternative universe Richard Nixon, a stand-in for Reagan, is serving out his fifth term as president. The title “Watchmen” is an allusion to a real JFK speech – “We are the watchmen of freedom” – that was never delivered because of the assassination, which in Moore’s alternate reality was probably masterminded by Nixon. It’s never said outright, but it’s strongly suggested that everything went wrong geopolitically after that.

A couple of excerpts from this article that I think really caught my attention.

Also... the website Big Hollywood is worth taking a good look at.

[harveywallbanger]

From what I hear on G4 they have the same opinion that it is going to make a terrible translation to the screen.

[Ictoanius]

Originally Posted by harveywallbanger

From what I hear on G4 they have the same opinion that it is going to make a terrible translation to the screen.

So does a terrible translation mean that it WON'T be biting political commentary about the Reagan era and cold war?

lol

[NewC]

Originally Posted by Ictoanius

So does a terrible translation mean that it WON'T be biting political commentary about the Reagan era and cold war?

lol

Couple of things - no. It's not some Liberal propaganda piece. One of the main characters is a super social conservative who constantly rags on how society has broken down due to Liberalism, which is also one of his main motivations. It's a very good read and I'd recomend it to everyone.

Also if this movie is ever released (there are legal troubles which could postpone it) I am hoping for the best. The comic is pretty great but we all know how these things turn out when they're made into movies.

[peapod]

I have never, and will never see or read any Moore propaganda.

[Maylar]

Originally Posted by NewC

Couple of things - no. It's not some Liberal propaganda piece. One of the main characters is a super social conservative who constantly rags on how society has broken down due to Liberalism, which is also one of his main motivations. It's a very good read and I'd recomend it to everyone.

Also if this movie is ever released (there are legal troubles which could postpone it) I am hoping for the best. The comic is pretty great but we all know how these things turn out when they're made into movies.

I was just thinking this. Those that profess that Watchmen is liberal propaganda really don't know much about it. I won't spoil it for those that are interested, but the bad guy felt like he was a leftest with an evil bent, and I am sure most here would be able to connect with Rorschach. That guy more or less believes liberalism is the downfall of society. Watchmen has TONS of complex character development and political ideas, and I sincerely thought it was very fair in how it took stabs at politics.

[NewC]

Heh yes I can see a lot of people identifying with Rorschach.

I think some get the idea it's Liberal propaganda because there is no Reagan Presidency. But that's just part of the story. There's a reason for that.

[Ab Initio]

I'm actually reading it right now, after being damn near beat to death by a friend after he learned that I've yet to. I did read Frank Miller's 300 prior to the film version, and was disappointed how it translated to the big screen. Zack Snyder directed 300 as well as Watchmen, so it might be bleh.

[Ictoanius]

Originally Posted by Maylar

I was just thinking this. Those that profess that Watchmen is liberal propaganda really don't know much about it. I won't spoil it for those that are interested, but the bad guy felt like he was a leftest with an evil bent, and I am sure most here would be able to connect with Rorschach. That guy more or less believes liberalism is the downfall of society. Watchmen has TONS of complex character development and political ideas, and I sincerely thought it was very fair in how it took stabs at politics.

You (and apparently NewC from the quote) are inserting "liberal propaganda" into this where it has not been stated. What was said - based on what the author himself has said - was the following.

Moore intended the book to be at least in part a biting indictment of Reagan and Thatcher and the Cold War in general. He saw the book as explicitly anti-Reagan, if not necessarily anti-American (Reagan doesn’t actually appear in Watchmen).

I think it's very clear where the original author intended for this to go. What the movie itself ends up as through Big Hollywood I don't know yet but based on the recent track record of liberal bias and what Moore has said that too seems pretty clear.

We shall see.

[NewC]

It still doesn't connect. You have to actually read it to know.