The (perhaps overdue) Watchmen Critique

The opening credits and the Comedian's death were amazing; for me the first hour of the movie was solid. Also, Zack Snyder's attention to every last detail of the GN was quite impressive. Let it be said that I dislike Zach Snyder (I hated the 300). Constant slow motion shots took me out of the film (which is really my dislike of Snyder's style). Random acts of violence that were added into the film were gratuitous and confusing in light of the fact that Snyder tried so hard to recreate the GN. I felt that the prison fight scene in particular was Zach Snyder acting out his need for gratuitous violence. I really thought most of that sequence was unnecessary. Ultimately, I was thankful that he toned down his "style" so much for Watchmen. I guess I shouldn't count "toning it down" as a success, but I sort of did.

The sex scene between Nite Owl and Jupiter unnecessarily slowed down the pace of the movie - the song choice was horrible and the whole thing just went on for a painfully long time. Did it really need to be that long? (Speaking of music: I loved "The Times They are A-Changin" for the opening montage - that was my favorite song choice. I either loved the music choices or hated them - but none were as bad as that Hallelujah-love sequence song choice. PLUS, it needs to be said that the sound mixing was incredible).

Most of the actors were v. convincing - Sally Jupiter wasn't my favorite, but she didn't ruin it for me, like she did for some people. In my opinion, she could have flicked her hair around less, but some of the guys I saw Watchmen with apparently really dug her hair swishing.

But I think the characterization of Veidt was my least favorite part of the movie. I think they missed the point. He was supposed to be a Captain America-type and instead he came off kind of small and sniveling. *SPOILER ALERT* I really wish that Snyder emphasized Veidt's moral reasoning for his mass murder. The film seemed to overlook his obsession with Alex the Great. Also, a friend of a friend noted that the film suggested that Veidt seemed to gain from the mass murder financially, which was not his motivation at all. I think they missed the fact that he really believed in his cause. He really believed that the ends justified the means and that killing millions to save billions was the right thing to do. That's part of why he kills his lynx, because he is willing to sacrifice everything for this (they included that moment but I don't think they captured the reasoning behind why he did that). They made him out to be the villain, when really, he's just another hero with an arguably f'ed up way of looking at the world and morality.

Altogether, I still enjoyed the movie. I was sold after the first hour. But my friend Philip summed it up best when he said "the Watchmen film worked as a strict recreation on celluloid, but didn't quite hit the necessary notes to make it a good film." It doesn't stand on its own. But as a compliment to the novel, it's worth seeing.

the velveteen rabbit

The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away, and he knew that they were only toys, and would never turn into anything else. For nursery magic is very strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it.

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

"I suppose you are real?" said the Rabbit. And then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive.

But the Skin Horse only smiled.

and one more thing

Doubt hits theatres today! Because of intense wedding planning it may be another couple weeks until I see it, however the performances in this film have universally been lauded and I hope it has a great opening weekend. Doubt is tied with Frost/Nixon and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (two other movies whose release I am excitedly anticipating) for the most Golden Globe nominations.

All this in an effort to think about something else besides the wedding, which - as it is only 9 days away - dominates almost every waking moment.

Harry, the bunny, now joins the ranks of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and the Olsen twins - he is featured in a blog! Melissa is the mother of Madeleine and Emily whom I babysit. Here blog is adorable and hilarious.

Things I have learned about rabbits in the month that we have had Harry: Bunnies have similar personalities to cats - they love attention, but otherwise just like to be left alone in "their" house (well, in our case, apartment). It's funny how Harry clearly thinks that this is his apartment now and he just allows us to hang out here. Don't get me wrong, he's really sweet. Pets are just a trip. Bunnies also have the curiosity and the friskiness that kittens have. We keep the bedroom door closed (Jay is v. allergic to cats and we were initially afraid that he might be allergic to rabbits, so we wanted to keep the bedroom bunny-free until we were sure) and so Harry understands that he isn't allowed in there. But if we ever leave the door in there he hops right in and starts exploring. BUT when we go in there after him he immediately hops out with this attitude of "it wasn't me. I didn't do it."

For anyone who plans on getting married, adopting a bunny a month before the wedding is great for stress relief. It's hard not to be in a good mood with a sweet bunny hopping around the apartment.

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”

Today I watched the Lifetime biopic on Coco Chanel. I have always had an enormous amount of respect for Chanel. She changed the fundamental concept of fashion, she encouraged woman to dress for comfort and for themselves, she sat at the head of a fashion empire, and she had incredible vision and gumption. While I found the biopic interesting and well made (not your typical Lifetime movie), I was upset by how much the movie focused on her love affair with "Boy" Capel. Yes, the story goes that he was the great love of her life and that his death was the most upsetting event of her life. However, this was not a woman to be ruled by anyone, particularly not a man. She lived by her own terms and encouraged other woman to do the same. It seems to me sometimes that movies have trouble representing a female character without needing a love story to dominate her life. I think her true love was her work and she was not only good, but successful at it. Isn't that enough?

I has a bunny

On Thursday, Jay and I adopted a bunny from the Virginia Beach SPCA. His name was Harry Potter. We call him Harry. He is not only the cutest thing on 4 legs, but also very sweet. He's 6 years old, so he's a full grown adult. Jay and I are learning a lot about bunnies - what their habits, their diets, their likes and dislikes.

Moments after we brought him home, he sat beneath the leaves of our peace lily and would not budge. He still likes to sit there and nap.

President-Elect Obama appoints advisers

Since our nation made history a little over a week ago, electing Senator Barack Obama the first African American President in US history, I have been diligently watching as he and Vice President-Elect Joe Biden appoint their staff.

My favorite appointment so far: "Klain was also chief of staff to Vice President Al Gore, but he's no stranger to Vice President-elect Joe Biden, having served as chief counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee when Biden was the committee chairman.

Klain also served as general counsel of Gore's 2000 Florida recount effort and was portrayed by actor Kevin Spacey in an HBO movie about the event."

I spent all of Recount rooting for his character and am so pleased that he has a position at the head of Biden's staff.