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Addie Counts
Addie Counts

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WATCHMEN - Full Length Reaction!

Here's the full length reaction to the Theatrical Release of Watchmen! I enjoyed this one a lot! Most of this movie felt like a drama/mystery to me (until maybe the last hour of the movie). The characters and this world are so interesting! Enjoy!

WATCHMEN - Full Length Reaction!

Comments

They just released a 2 part animated version that is more true to the comic, would recommend that and then the 2019 HBO sequel series.

djKENTO

Such a good movie. The Watchmen 2019 mini-series is also really good, though quite different.

Big Honking Cheese

If you're into it please read the graphic novel. it's amazing. A lot of this movie is shot for shot. Ending is changed but still a great adaptation.

Jonathan Barclay

Second this. Snyder's movie was a laudable attempt to directly adapt the graphic novel, but the TV series is a remix/reimagine/semi-sequel that does a far, far better job of translating the essence of the work to a different medium.

Jonah Jackson

Well said Thomas.

Michael Norman

The Rufus Wainwright cover is in the soundtrack to Shrek (2001) but the John Cale cover was in the actual movie. I used to cry during that part in that movie when I was young, but it's hard for me to tear up as an adult now.

Alex Tan

Billy Crudup's voice as Dr. Manhattan is so calm that I get HAL vibes from "2001: A Space Odyssey".

ButtercupsTrueLove

Woah! I had no idea that was the original oooops. The Rufus Wainwright cover is my jam!

Addie Counts

The way rorshach’s mask works i believe was a specific type of fabric that would move under specific temperatures, many fans have made fan made versions that move that can be bought online If you want to read the graphic novel DC has started a new line of comics called “Compact Comics” that take the full stories of their popular works and make them in compact sizes for only $10! Watchmen is one of the one’s you can purchase and i would highly recommend it as it’s nearly $30 cheaper than the normal versions

Variety

I guess we can say Addie watches the Watchmen. I do think the graphic novel and film capture the grey scale of humanity and consequently the superheroes really well. Unfortunately most characters in comics and even fiction for that matter, are either good or bad with no nuance to the characters.

MattTheHazard

So Addie prefers WW III instead of what Adrian did lol? I agree with what Adrian did, like he said he killed millions to save billions and that is why the heroes didn't say anything. That is what is great about this movie, the ending is not black and white. This was Zack at his best before his downfall in the DCEU. Based on this and 300 I understand why Warner gave him the keys to the DC kingdom. I love this movie and prefer the theatrical cut. I find for most movies scenes were cut for a reason and slow down the movie and are best viewed after the fact as deleted scenes. Of course there are exceptions [cough]LOTR[cough] At the start when Adrian attacks the Comedian we see a shot of the Comedian's door and it has the number 3001, the thrown coffee mug smashes off the one leaving only 300... Zack's prior movie! The war room where Nixon and his staff meet is based on the war room in a movie you need to watch: Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove. That war room was designed by Ken Adam best know as the legendary designer of many James Bond sets and lairs in the 1960s and 1970s. On repeat viewings you can see Rorschach many times including at least one face shot before he is demasked as the guy holding that "The End Is Near" sign.

Andrew Roach

BTW that version of Hallelujah is the original by Leonard Cohen.

Simone's Coconut Squire

I'm really glad you enjoyed the movie, especially since a number of the comments are explaining why you shouldn't. :) You can only do so much when adapting a work and concessions have to be allowed to make a good movie (that isn't 6 hours long.) In my opinion, this is definitely one of those cases where NOT knowing the source material before you see it is the best way to experience the movie, giving the viewer the chance to look at it without bias and decide for themselves whether they like it or not.

Thomas Yanez

Considering how much you seemed to enjoy this setting, Addie, I highly, HIGHLY recommend putting the 2019 HBO MAX spin-off series Watchmen on your short list of single-season shows to watch. It's one of my go-to examples of a TV show that is significantly better than the film it was originally based on (with a 96% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes). 🙂 And yes, it does delve quite a bit more into the actual backstories of the original Minutemen and other characters that the film and graphic novel don't dive into. P.S. Some other examples of TV shows better than the movies they spun off from are Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Stargate, and M*A*S*H. Also to some extent Andor is slightly better than Rogue One (though it's close), Peacemaker is maybe slightly better than The Suicide Squad, and I haven't seen it but I've heard that Cobra Kai is probably even better than The Karate Kid.

Doug

There's a Cold War theme in the backdrop of the movie. There are two films that were released in 1964 that showcased the Cold War fear of nuclear attack. "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" and "Fail Safe". They are bookends of a sort being that one is a very dark (and very funny) comedy, while the latter is the nightmare scenario of the sort that made some families of that era decide to build bomb shelters under their homes.

ButtercupsTrueLove

Funny enough this is more connected to DC that it was when the movie came out. Dr. Manhattan birthed the current comic continuity.

aarswft

Agreed. Even I was trying to get Addie to watch the extended cut of Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) as well. But I think she should stick to whatever everyone has access to. I'll often post links to details about the additional scenes that were added into the extended cuts of movies. However, if she watches Troy (2004) & Kingdom of Heaven (2005), then Director's Cuts for the win. #MoreDirectorsCutsForAddieCounts

Alex Tan

The ultimate cut isn't good for a first time watch in my opinion. It suffers from major pacing issues due to the animated sections. Directors Cut or Theatrical are best for a first time viewer. Ultimate Cut is more for Watchmen enthusiasts.

SavageDiplomat

Hey Addie. I really enjoyed your reaction to Watchmen. Now for a totally random movie suggestion. I’m only suggesting this one at this time because it’s currently on HBO Max but it’s leaving the platform soon and I believe you’d enjoy it. “The Edge” starring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin. It’s an adventure/survival movie from 1997 and I absolutely love this film. I guess I’m assuming you have HBO Max. Anyways, I’m rambling. Just something totally random but awesome with two brilliant actors.

Cameron Kerby

If the majority of patrons who are interested in a certain film request a specific version of that film isn't that the version that the majority of people have access to?

SavageDiplomat

I have the "Watchmen Ultimate Cut" on 4K disc and I see that it's also available on Prime Video. That said, it's been a while since I've watched the longer version and was fine streaming the movie on Max. I see subscribers asking for the extended cuts of "The Abyss" and "Aliens: Special Edition" on every Patreon creator channel where the movies are requested. Sometimes I have a preference but I'll watch whatever watchalong content is provided. Would Addie consider polling subscribers to choose between film versions *if* they are both readily available to stream on popular platforms? I think it's a little too much to ask if a Blu-ray title must be purchased in order for a watchalong.

ButtercupsTrueLove

Alan Moore really regrets writing Watchmen. He was really depressed one wet afternoon in 1983, thinking about superheroes and nuclear war, and basically wrote an angry story about it. It spawned a new trend in comics, but the problem was the imitators took the style but forgot the substance. Comics henceforth had to be "grim and gritty'", superheroes had to be broken people with messed up psychosexual motives, and everything was grey. Then they killed off Superman and we got the Dark Age Of Comics. So yeah old Alan is really sorry that happened. This movie fails as an adaption because again, it's got the style but not the substance. It knows what the comic looks like, but misses the whole point of the story. The characters are based on heroes from Charlton Comics, which was later merged into DC. Nite Owl = Blue Beetle, Rorschach = The Question, Comedian = Peacemaker, Dr Manhattan = Captain Atom, Silk Spectre = Nightshade, Ozymandias = Thunderbolt.

Andre Agog

Thata undersrandable however, I think we would prefer you watch the better versions of films to get the best expirence, because for this film esepcially, most people who actually enjoy this movie have the extended cuts anyway. Same with The Abyss too for example. Most of would of rather have you watch the better rated versions

Thats MR. Baldamort

I have always liked this movie. It was a bit weird at first, but I was hooked from the start, and Jackie Earl Haley did an amazing job as Rorschach.

Vwlss Nvwls

Zack Snyder not understanding a DC character? Surely not!

LittleGalaxyBoy

Because it's available to stream on Max. When doing watchalongs, I have to consider what the majority of people will have access to.

Addie Counts

For context, the Watchmen graphic novel is set on a different Earth from the mainline DC Universe. In this reality, superheroes exist, Richard Nixon secured a third term as president, and Doctor Manhattan is the only individual with actual "superpowers." Like V for Vendetta it's very much it's own isolated universe. However, during Doomsday Clock (2017–2019), the sequel to the Watchmen graphic novel, a few key Watchmen characters crossover into the DC Universe, searching for Doctor Manhatten. It’s revealed that Doctor Manhattan has been manipulating events behind the scenes, reshaping the DC Universe. After the events of Watchmen, Doctor Manhattan leaves his world to explore the multiverse, eventually arriving in the DC Universe. Fascinated by Superman, whose very existence challenges Manhattan’s deterministic view of time, he begins experimenting with the DC timeline. Manhattan is revealed to be the force behind the creation of the New 52 (2011–2016), a controversial reboot that drastically altered characters’ origins and personalities while stripping away significant aspects of the lore. For instance, Manhattan erases the 1940s Justice Society of America (JSA), removing DC’s legacy and the foundation of its Golden Age characters. In this altered timeline, with no prior superheroes, the Kents urge Clark to hide his powers rather than embrace them, fearing that the government might take him away or that humanity would be terrified of him. Tragically, Jonathan and Martha Kent die in a car crash during Clark’s high school prom, leaving Clark more isolated and without their guidance during his transition from teenager to adult. These changes result in a more withdrawn and uncertain Superman. Manhattan observes the ripple effects of his actions, fascinated by how they shape Superman and the universe, which now exists in a darker, edgier reality, ultimately giving rise to the New 52. As Doomsday Clock unfolds, Superman's hope and humanity challenge Manhattan’s detached perspective. Realizing that Superman is the universe's anchor of hope, Manhattan undoes his manipulations, restoring the JSA and other key elements of DC history. Not before fighting the whole Justice League and Superman himself. In this restored timeline, a young Clark Kent becomes Superboy during his early teens, inspired by stories of the JSA shared by his parents. This shift allows Clark to save Jonathan and Martha, bringing back crucial elements of DC history that had been omitted in the New 52, a reboot that was widely divisive due to these changes. Superman: Secret Origin (2009) is reinstated as Superman’s official origin story. The older Justice Society returns, standing alongside the Justice League, and the universe as a whole aligns more closely with the legacy and continuity fans had long cherished. Naturally, the people of the DC Universe remain unaware of these changes; to them, this history has always been their reality. Doctor Manhattan then makes the ultimate sacrifice by transferring his powers and essence into a new life: a child named Jon Kent. This child, inspired by Clark Kent and Superman, symbolizes hope for the future within the Watchmen universe. The storyline, summed up as concisely as possible. Prior to Doomsday Clock, the Watchmen universe had no connection to the DC Universe beyond DC being the publisher of the graphic novel.

LittleGalaxyBoy

I forgot the theatrical version existed. Why did addie watch this version when most people requested the extended?

Thats MR. Baldamort

Unfortunately--at least for me--this ranks up there with some of my least favorite comic book adaptations. The cast is (almost) phenomenal; but, the movie just completely misses the point of the story. These aren't cool, bad-ass super heroes. These people suck. A god-like entity does nothing but have an existential crisis; a vigilante detective is a racist, fascist piece of shit; the world's smartest man 'saves' the world by manipulating it into the ultimate fear; and the worst of the worst, the Comedian, is a nihilistic, murderer and rapist. This is a story about how all systems fail, since eventually you reach a point where no one has real accountability. No one watches the watchmen. But Zack Snyder is so busy making everyone and everything look so cool--and he does achieve this--that he distracts from the actual themes (I'm assuming because he doesn't understand them), adds a couple unnecessary fight scenes, and is clearly in love with Rorschach (who sucks as a human being). Sorry...done with my rant now. Glad you enjoyed it in any case. If anything else, I would highly suggest the HBO series the Watchmen--it's a sequel to the original comic book, which this movie deviates from here and there. But it's so goddamn good (in my opinion...yes, all of this is just my big fat stupid opinion).

Steve Mercier

I have the Ultimate Cut on 4K. This is going to be a challenge, I'll see what I can do about the sync up on my own watch along. Anyways, I'm glad that Addie enjoyed it, and 'Watchmen' is a pretty faithful adaptation of the graphic novel, many scenes are ripped straight out of the panels and pages. The Director's Cut is superior. If Addie gets the chance to in the future, I highly recommend it.. Can't wait for '2001: A Space Odyssey'.

Kyle Brandon Sanger

Hmm, I don't think I've ever seen the theatrical version. Should be interesting.

Thomas Yanez

Happy Monday, Addie! I hope that you had a great weekend. 😊 I've never seen this one. So it'll be a first time watch for me as well. Looking forward to watching this reaction later this evening. Have a great day today. 😊

Randee Carreno

Happy Monday, Addie. I'm so glad that you enjoyed the theatrical cut of Watchmen (2009). I plan on watching the Director's Cut of the movie, eventually.

Alex Tan


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