Tag: DC

You watch the Watchmen. I’ll watch The Wire.

“I’ve not seen any recent comic book films, but I didn’t particularly like the book 300. I had a lot of problems with it, and everything I heard or saw about the film tended to increase [those problems] rather than reduce them: [that] it was racist, it was homophobic, and above all it was sublimely stupid.” As a companion to their Watchmen story, EW has a wide-ranging sit-down with Alan Moore, wherein he discusses Zack Snyder, 300, magic, the afterlife, DC Comics, and his favorite television show: “The absolute pinnacle of anything I’ve seen recently has got to be The Wire. It’s the most stunning piece of television that has ever come out of America, possibly the most stunning piece of television full-stop…So yeah, everything else looks pretty lame next to The Wire.”

Speaking of Moore’s critique of Snyder, I felt a similar unease after reading Snyder’s EW Q&A. Says Snyder of Watchmen: “Everyone says that about [Christopher Nolan’s] Batman Begins. ‘Batman’s dark.’ I’m like, okay, ‘No, Batman’s cool.’ He gets to go to a Tibetan monastery and be trained by ninjas. Okay? I want to do that. But he doesn’t, like, get raped in prison. That could happen in my movie. If you want to talk about dark, that’s how that would go.” Hrm. Ok. I’d have more faith in Snyder’s Watchmen if he didn’t persist in sounding like one of those “Totally Extreme!!” meathead whiteboys from Harold & Kumar.

AnD hEre wE…gO!

“Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. — H.L. Mencken.

It‘s been awhile since I’ve been looking forward to a movie quite like this, and then some... In any case, herrrrre we go!

Yes, tonight should be good fun…provided you don’t live in Gotham.

Update: Now that’s the Joker! Great stuff, and a whole lot of movie. More later.

Manhattan Lands Early.

“The world will look up and shout, ‘Save Us!,’ and I will whisper, ‘No.’” Forget midnight — the teaser for Zack Snyder’s Watchmen has leaked. I must say, Dr. Manhattan looks better than I had anticipated (I like the money shot of him, the American Superpower, in ‘Nam), Rorschach looks great, and the Comedian seems ok, but I have quibbles with Ozymandias (too young), Nite-Owl (too buff) and Silk Spectre (too vamp). Still, I’ll reserve full judgment until I’ve watched it a few dozen more times. In the meantime, how weird is it that there’s actually a trailer for Watchmen out? We seem to be living in the Golden Age of comic book movies. Update: Like most things in this world, it looks much better in HD.

Update 2: “Based on footage Snyder screened for EW, at least, the work seems to have been worth it. Multiple scenes — the Comedian’s murder, Rorschach’s introduction, Dr. Manhattan’s origin, and a hypnotic title sequence that shutter-flies through the history of Watchmen America, set to Bob Dylan’s ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’ — suggest a film that may capture more of Watchmen than anyone thought possible.” Hrm. Watchmen makes the EW Comicon cover — see below — and their story includes the first pic of Carla Gugino as Sally Jupiter. Sadly, Ozy’s still not looking so hot…maybe they should’ve gone with Jude Law of the Rorschach tattoo, since he was practically begging for the part. (And is it just me or does Crudup-Manhattan look eerily like Kevin Spacey?)

Update 3: Speaking of Sally Jupiter, AICN scores a pinup of the heroine, in the style of Alberto Vargas and in keeping with the WWII-era aesthetic of The Minutemen.

Don’t You Think the Joker Laughs at You?

“I’ve been thinking lately. About you and me. About what’s going to happen to us, in the end. We’re going to kill each other, aren’t we?” The WP‘s Hank Steuver offers a brief history of the Joker, from Conrad Veidt in The Man Who Laughs to Heath Ledger tomorrow night. If you’re headed to TDK absolutely spoiler-free, I’d skip this one — quite a few plot details herein.

At Midnight All the Agents…

“This trailer speaks to the fanbase in a huge way. Your friends and neighbors will be damn impressed by what they’re seeing, but they’ll also be slightly baffled. They’ll want to know more – who is that blue guy? Who is flying that ship coming out of the water? Are they on Mars? Why is that guy getting thrown through a window? – so get ready to start lending out your book.” One of the CHUD guys takes a spin with the Watchmen trailer, due before The Dark Knight tomorrow night. Sounds great, and while Snyder’s 300 turned out to be more than a little ridiculous, it’s still boasts a helluva trailer.

Update: The Watchmen trailer officially drops over at Empire Online tomorrow, at — of course — the stroke of midnight (EST).

The White Knight Speaks | The Clown Takes a Bow.

In its most recent installment, Gotham Tonight‘s Mike Engel (Anthony Michael Hall) scores an exclusive interview with new Gotham DA Harvey Dent, one that seems to be occurring right at the start of The Dark Knight (which, you may have heard, opens this Thursday at midnight.) In related news, the Joker — after defacing all the online viral sites — kindly handed out free IMAX preview passes to (some of) those playing along.

However the movie ends up turning out (and with a 94 on Metafilter and 100 on Rotten Tomatoes at the moment, I’m optimistic), kudos to the viral marketing gurus…it’s been a fun ride.

The Ballad of Hollis Mason.

In the fourth installment of their making-of video series, original Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons sings the praises of Zack Snyder’s art direction, and shows brief glimpses of Hollis Mason‘s apartment and Rorschach on patrol. All well and good, but as I said before, obsessive art direction will be the easy part.

Clowns love Dominos.

“Does it depress you…how alone you really are? You had plans…look where that got ya!” Yes, even more news on the Dark Knight front: Domino’s has a fun site up with an exclusive variant trailer…and be sure to play 3-Card Monte with the Joker before you go. (If that site’s bogged down, low-quality versions have popped up on Youtube here and here.)

Update: Another exemplary new poster, and — just in case the deal isn’t closed yet — it looks like the teaser for Zack Snyder’s Watchmen will open the show. It’s safe to say I’m reaching LotR-levels of anticipation at this point.

Update 2: Gotham Tonight Episode 3 (crime in the city) and Episode 4 (Jim Gordon profile) are now up. Looks like Bal’more’s New Day Co-Op and MCU have both made it to Batman’s town.

V, meet Mr. J.

“Introduce a little anarchy, upset the established order, and eVEryoNe lOseS thEir mIndS!” If, like me, you’re devouring all things Dark Knight-related between now and July 18, three more TV spots hit the tubes, and Gotham Tonight is on its second episode. (Careful out there, tho’. The film seems to have now screened, and spoilers are flyin’.) Says Peter Travers: “The haunting and visionary Dark Knight soars on the wings of untamed imagination. It’s full of surprises you don’t see coming. And just try to get it out of your dreams.“

Update: “It’s not about money…it’s about sending a message.” Ugh, temptation everywhere…12 brief clips from the film pop up on the grid. And, don’t forget, tix for those 7/17 midnight shows are now on sale.