[...] translate into real customer money, as well as a sign that (combined with Watchmen’s performance, poorer than expected) R-rated superhero movies are not a good idea. It will be very interesting to [...]

Of course, the real measure of success is one outsiders will never be able to judge — what kind of money did Warner expect out of it (which is how they determine how much to spend on production and marketing). With a reported $150 million production budget (probably based on the $210 million 300 took in domestically), however, I think this will go down as a disappointment at the least… and that might not mean more movies “like Watchmen” but that any movie perceived as having a similar appeal would have to be made with a smaller budget.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2562&p=.htm

I honestly wonder a little why they would make a movie like this. I guess I just don’t know if there is that large a general audience for an adult themed super hero movie.

indeed, it does say something about his work if you can get more out of it the second tiem around. i’ve already reviewed the movie on my blog: http://inkdestroyedmybrush.blogspot.com/2009/03/watchmen-movie-review.html
and would stand by my observations for a first viewing. I also, like i think many others, will be interested in seeing a directors cut on dvd of it as well, given the ability to put more detail in without the commercial restrictions of running time.

Peter, that seems rather idealistic. I haven’t heard that perspective before.

Jer, yes! More Iron Man! But seriously, I went to see Sin City just out of curiosity, and now I never have to see it again. 300 I skipped, because it was more Miller. The Spirit tanked… I think those are all of the excessively faithful adaptations I’m aware of.

Are we all becoming old fogies?

Or is it that we have lived with the book for 20 years, thus making us more set in out perceptions of the book?

I liked the movie–FOR WHAT IT WAS–, but the book is so much better that the movie pales in comparison.

Plenty in my group of acquaintances.

And really, I saw it once, it’s an okay adaptation of a great book. But I don’t NEED to see it again, no matter what Hayter says. I’ve read the book close to 30 times in the last 20+ years, and I didn’t see very much that Snyder brought to the material that wasn’t already present in the book. Right now I actually feel the need to re-read the book, not see the movie again (damn me for loaning it out without realizing that the movie would make me want to pour over it for another time).

And what does Hayter mean when he says “films like this”? Films based on Alan Moore’s writing? If I can prevent another Alan Moore book from being adapted to film by not seeing this movie again this weekend, I will avoid the theater like the plague. He doesn’t want them, and in general they don’t do a good job with them.

Does he mean “direct adaptations of graphic novels”? Again – good. This panel-to-screen adaptation method should be ranked as a failed experiment and never done again. The movie would have been much stronger if they’d treated the book as inspiration and not as a storyboard.

Does he mean “dark and gritty superhero movies with adult themes”? Ha! They may go on a downswing for a short time, but when the next Batman movie hits the screen the studios will start nosing around again.

Really, the only way I can take Hayter’s comment is “If you want to see superhero movies fall into the death spiral of creativity that comic books did after Watchmen was published back in the 80′s, go out and drive up the receipts for this movie so Hollywood will churn out mindless copies of it instead of doing something original.” Frankly, I’d prefer to see more superhero movies like “Iron Man” than a grim and gritty clone of Watchmen.

On the other hand, my twenty-year old son–who adores the original graphic novel–will have nothing to do with the film. That was his stand all through production of “Watchmen”, so it’s not the mixed reviews that are affecting his decision.

I wonder how many more like him that are out there?

Then again, I was that way with 300, too, so I’m sure they’ll find a way.