1. The make-up effects were lazy and fake looking. Richard Nixon looked ridiculous with his cartoon face sitting next to normal, flesh faced humans, especially in a year when another actor in another movie got an Oscar nomination for playing Nixon without having to resort to a rubber-nosed Rich Little-esque impersonation. Also, Adrian Veidt's wig was crooked in an early scene.
2. The soundtrack was goofy and obvious. It's not that any of the music was bad ... but there are industry experts who make a career out of crafting smart, relevant soundtracks that enhance the film experience. This applies to the corny songs and the odd techno score.
3. While I kind of like the weird slow-mo, music video style sequences that have become Zach Snyder's signature, there were at least three such moments where the editing didn't synch with the action, so it just looked fake and staged, rather than stylish.
These things actually took me out of the movie, because at this level of filmaking, with the amount of dollars involved and the legions of fans with high hopes and quick judgments, these kinds of missteps really stand out. I also got annoyed the SEVENTH time we saw that disintigrating body special effect. Did someone in the FX department just discover a new program? Jeez.
But now the good:
The gripes above aside, I loved it and didn't want it to end.
I was skeptical about Dr. Manhattan and his amazing technicolor penis looking too fake and not having the suggested presence he has in the comic -- but I was completely sold within minutes. His perpetual blue balls and butt-crack close-ups weren't even jarring or distracting. I was also impressed with how well they replicated Dan Dreiberg's hair from the comic. Patrick Wilson did a great job looking and acting the part of Night Owl II. Jackie Earle Haley as Rorshach, however, stole the movie just like the character stole the comic. I love that he used Christian Bale's Batman voice the whole time and actually made it work.
Regarding the squidless ending: I was worried about how the changed ending would affect the fate of Rorshach's journal, but when they showed that the New Frontiersman building was still standing, it was all good.
I will definitely BUY this movie on DVD. I'm looking forward to seeing the Black Pearl animated. ****
2 comments:
It was what I expected and I had high hopes, very happy w/ it... No real complaints and the opening title sequesnce is amazing!
Bad before good:
1. The make-up effects were lazy and fake looking. Richard Nixon looked ridiculous with his cartoon face sitting next to normal, flesh faced humans, especially in a year when another actor in another movie got an Oscar nomination for playing Nixon without having to resort to a rubber-nosed Rich Little-esque impersonation. Also, Adrian Veidt's wig was crooked in an early scene.
2. The soundtrack was goofy and obvious. It's not that any of the music was bad ... but there are industry experts who make a career out of crafting smart, relevant soundtracks that enhance the film experience. This applies to the corny songs and the odd techno score.
3. While I kind of like the weird slow-mo, music video style sequences that have become Zach Snyder's signature, there were at least three such moments where the editing didn't synch with the action, so it just looked fake and staged, rather than stylish.
These things actually took me out of the movie, because at this level of filmaking, with the amount of dollars involved and the legions of fans with high hopes and quick judgments, these kinds of missteps really stand out. I also got annoyed the SEVENTH time we saw that disintigrating body special effect. Did someone in the FX department just discover a new program? Jeez.
But now the good:
The gripes above aside, I loved it and didn't want it to end.
I was skeptical about Dr. Manhattan and his amazing technicolor penis looking too fake and not having the suggested presence he has in the comic -- but I was completely sold within minutes. His perpetual blue balls and butt-crack close-ups weren't even jarring or distracting. I was also impressed with how well they replicated Dan Dreiberg's hair from the comic. Patrick Wilson did a great job looking and acting the part of Night Owl II. Jackie Earle Haley as Rorshach, however, stole the movie just like the character stole the comic. I love that he used Christian Bale's Batman voice the whole time and actually made it work.
Regarding the squidless ending: I was worried about how the changed ending would affect the fate of Rorshach's journal, but when they showed that the New Frontiersman building was still standing, it was all good.
I will definitely BUY this movie on DVD. I'm looking forward to seeing the Black Pearl animated. ****
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