Post by CMF Newsman on Mar 18, 2009 14:13:46 GMT -5
Written by Damien Power
Every so often, a groundbreaking movie comes along, is horribly marketed, and is forced to live the life of a cult classic or critical darling. Terry Gilliam’s Twelve Monkeys, David Fincher’s Fight Club, and now Zack Snyder’s Watchmen, all make the short list of movies doomed to fail—despite being fantastic films.
The main problem with these movies is that their marketing people are gambling on their audiences seeking them out. When you have a movie as complex as Watchmen, it is nearly impossible to convey its premise in a 30-second TV commercial. So marketers rely on a montage of beautiful women, shocking visuals, and a rocking soundtrack. Sometimes they give away the ending in the previews just to try to get you in the door.
Watchmen also delves into deep philosophical, emotional and political themes; obliterating the viewer’s preconceived notions of a traditional superhero movie. The movie does feature masked heroes, who fight crime in costumes, but they are just regular men and women trying to make a difference. Only one character has what could be considered superpowers, but his body (and perhaps soul) was destroyed in the process of gaining them. Unlike most superhero movies, Watchmen is not a showcase of special effects and fight scenes (although the movie has plenty of both). Instead, it is a character study focused on the boundaries of love, sanity, righteousness and the value of life.
The movie set in an alternative 1985 America run by a fifth-term Richard Nixon (yes, they address the repeal of term limits) that is teetering on at the brink of nuclear holocaust. Our heroes have been forced into retirement by an anti-vigilantism law, and have grown apart over the years. When one of them dies, an investigation begins that leads down many paths, unearthing old hurts, and forcing long-coming confrontations.
www.chattanoogapulse.com/film/film-reviews/13-film-reviews/673-who-watches-the-watchmen
Every so often, a groundbreaking movie comes along, is horribly marketed, and is forced to live the life of a cult classic or critical darling. Terry Gilliam’s Twelve Monkeys, David Fincher’s Fight Club, and now Zack Snyder’s Watchmen, all make the short list of movies doomed to fail—despite being fantastic films.
The main problem with these movies is that their marketing people are gambling on their audiences seeking them out. When you have a movie as complex as Watchmen, it is nearly impossible to convey its premise in a 30-second TV commercial. So marketers rely on a montage of beautiful women, shocking visuals, and a rocking soundtrack. Sometimes they give away the ending in the previews just to try to get you in the door.
Watchmen also delves into deep philosophical, emotional and political themes; obliterating the viewer’s preconceived notions of a traditional superhero movie. The movie does feature masked heroes, who fight crime in costumes, but they are just regular men and women trying to make a difference. Only one character has what could be considered superpowers, but his body (and perhaps soul) was destroyed in the process of gaining them. Unlike most superhero movies, Watchmen is not a showcase of special effects and fight scenes (although the movie has plenty of both). Instead, it is a character study focused on the boundaries of love, sanity, righteousness and the value of life.
The movie set in an alternative 1985 America run by a fifth-term Richard Nixon (yes, they address the repeal of term limits) that is teetering on at the brink of nuclear holocaust. Our heroes have been forced into retirement by an anti-vigilantism law, and have grown apart over the years. When one of them dies, an investigation begins that leads down many paths, unearthing old hurts, and forcing long-coming confrontations.
www.chattanoogapulse.com/film/film-reviews/13-film-reviews/673-who-watches-the-watchmen