Revisiting the Watchmen TPB: The Watchmen Trailer Sparks Interest
I remember picking up the Watchmen trade paperback a while back after years of meaning to do exactly that. Of course I had heard that it was the best example of graphic storytelling available and decided to check out what Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons had created back in 1986.
Typically, when a list of “greatest comics ever” is stated, either in print or in a discussion, The Watchmen is inevitably near the top of that list, if not occupying the coveted number one spot. Just do a Google search for “greatest comics” and you’ll see what I’m talking about. People love this book.
So my question is this; why can’t I get into it? I read it and could not stay interested. It was as simple as that. My interest just was not held. Who knows, maybe the reason I didn’t enjoy the story had to do with the mood I was in the day I read it. Or maybe Watchmen just simply isn’t for me. For instance, I don’t like turnips and that has nothing to do with if I’m feeling blue that day…
Continue on for more including the option to Watch the Watchmen trailer.
Truth be told, I ended up being so disinterested that it got to the point when I even skipped the text pieces at the end of each comic so that I could finish more quickly and move onto something else. I can already hear people yelling at me that I’m an “idiot” and that “those text pieces added to the over aching story” and “of course you wouldn’t get into the story if you didn’t read it as a whole” and that “you’re a super smelly, stupid chowder head…” Well, they may be right (except for the smelly part). Perhaps I didn’t give the Watchmen their fair shake.
This brings me to the choice I am trying to make; should I go back and re-read the Watchmen BEFORE watching the movie and see if I missed anything? OR should I view the movie as a separate piece of work?
As mentioned above, Watchmen, along with a handful of other landmark creations like Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns and Art Spiegelman’s Maus seem to consistently jockey for top honours along with a few other comic book mainstays. Top spot can definitely be argued and usually is, but it can at least be agreed that Watchmen is one of those comics that is generally seen as an important work that still resonates with fans over 20 years since it was originally published.
Now with the release of multiple movie stills, trailers and TV spots over the past weeks and months, the majority of reception and buzz for the Watchmen film has been extremely positive and fans are getting primed to see this graphic novel come to life, myself included. I must admit that I get more and more excited to see the movie every time I see anything Watchmen related on TV or on the internet. The second official trailer released still gives me chills when I see key scenes (I have embedded the trailer below for those interested on seeking similar chills).
This speaks incredible volumes for director Zack Snyder and all involved with this project as they took something I had little to no interest in and created something that I am anticipating greatly. It’s like a countdown for a Christmas I didn’t know existed until they showed me pieces of it to me on YouTube and during a commercial break of my favourite show.
I will definitely be seeing this movie upon its release in March (03.06.09 to be exact). It just remains to be decided whether I will pick up a copy of the TPB prior to opening night or not. Maybe the mood will strike me one day to revisit this classic and give it the time it demands and quite possibly deserves. I suppose I could always give turnips another shot as well…
Watchmen Trailer:
Tags: alan moore, comedian, dave gibbons, dr. manhatten, night owl, Ozymandias, Rorschach, Silk Spectre, trailer, watchmen
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