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Who watches the ‘Watchmen’ trailer?
Hello, everyone. I thought I’d drop in for a moment to fill in while Ross Chandler is outside working in the yard. Movie web sites are buzzing about the new “Watchmen” trailer that will premiere in front of “The Dark Knight” this Friday.
The movie, which is set to come out next year, is based on a graphic novel more than 20 years old that helped inspire the current generation of comic books and movies that look at the darker sides of superheroes and the lives they choose. One of the graphic novels it inspired is “The Long Halloween”, a story set early in Batman’s career as he, District Attorney Harvey Dent, and Lt. James Gordon all agree to work together to clean up Gotham City and take down the mob bosses who rule it.
Sound familiar? It should since “The Long Halloween” is one of the inspirations that writer/director Christopher Nolan used to come up with of “The Dark Knight.”
In 2005, Time magazine placed “Watchmen” on its list of the 100 Greatest English Language Novels from 1923 to the Present, stating that it was “told with ruthless psychological realism, in fugal, overlapping plotlines and gorgeous, cinematic panels rich with repeating motifs … a heart-pounding, heartbreaking read and a watershed in the evolution of a young medium.”
Why does “Watchmen” receive such praise? Well, it was written by Alan Moore, for one. Moore is a titan in the comic book industry, the subject of documentaries and even guest starred on an episode of “The Simpsons.”
He also made another contribution to the Batman universe, a one-shot comic called “The Killing Joke” that turned the Joker from a comic villain into a brutal sadistic killer who leaves Jim Gordan’s daughter a cripple as part of a scheme to drive the longtime police officer insane.
That story also was part of what inspired “The Dark Knight.” So it’s fitting that Moore’s masterpiece be promoted in front of the new Batman movie. Illustrated by Dave Gibbons, “Watchmen” is the tale of what America would be like if costumed crimefighters really tried to clean up the country.
It’s a realistic look at what putting on a costume and trying to change the world does to people. If graphic novels are the new inspiration in Hollywood, it’s because Alan Moore inspired a generation of comic book writers. It’s about time movie audiences benefited.
UPDATE: It seems the trailer isn’t in front of the Rocky Mount copies of “The Dark Knight” since it wasn’t in front of the midnight showing. News outlets still claim the trailer is in front of some copies of the film. If you miss out, check out the link below in the comments section to see it for yourself.
What do you think about “The Dark Knight” and the “Watchmen” trailer? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at rwatters@coxnc.com.
Comments
By Ray Watters
July 17, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
In case you don’t get a chance to see it, here’s a link to the trailer from Apple.com.
Here’s the link