D.J. Coffman – Sequential Artist, Thinker

Neck hurts. Must have slept funny on it. Hate that. WiiFit also told me I’ve gained 2lbs, which isnt MUCH and it’s probably muscle since I’ve been doing strength exercises more than aerobics, but still, it makes me want to go take a walk or hike.

Robins are outside in the yard for the first time today. Always a good sign of spring weather. I’m sick of the cold. Great timing as I had to pay almost 600 bucks on heating oil because we were low. Go figure that the day after the delivery the area warms up. At least we’ll be prepared for the harsh economic fall that’s coming.

Saw Watchmen yesterday, I loved it. I think I loved it because I was so worried that it would basterdize the books, but it did not, it stayed very true to the book visually and narratively up until the end. And you know what? The “no squid” thing at the end didn’t bother me at all. In fact, the ending made a bit more sense to me now. Although I really would have loved a big WTF moment with the squids all over the major cities of the world. The movie audience of America would not be able to wrap their minds around such a thing, we’ve only NOW got them believing in Super Hero Movie genre, which with the help of Batman Begins franchise and now this, will make it harder for another “super hero” movie to be taken seriously. Much like the Watchmen comic came along and sort of raised the bar or tone for comics, I think you’re going to see many attempted failures at bringing “adult” superheroes to the screen. Weird how the movie industry is 20 years behind what the comic industry has been through.

I enjoyed the “uncomfortable” feeling around me in the theater as there on the screen was Dr. Manhatten’s blue penis for all to see. I had old ladies behind me and I could feel their “stick up their assesedness” – especially during the Nite Owl / Silk Spectre sex scene and the flame shooting out of Archie as a climax. NICE! There was also probably a 9 year old girl down in front with her parents, she probably should have been in school. WTF parents?!! It’s rated R for a reason.

Rated R for “Rorschach” — Rorschach was perfect, and true to the comic pages. I recalled the feeling I had when I first read his “origin” story in the books, and the film captured it well. Well enough for that feeling to be recalled. Powerful stuff. Again, something that mainstream movie audiences probably aren’t REALLY ready for. “I’m not locked in here with you, you’re locked in here with me!” – YES.

There seem to be a lot of LAMERS out there faking the fact that they’ve totally read Watchmen and know all about it. But they have not. When I mention the “pirate” story they stare at me blankly. The squid…same. That is a telltale sign these idiots have picked up a copy at Barnes and Noble and thumbed through it and say they’ve “read it”. Human nature? Band wagons?

My friend asked me… who do you think was right? Or who do you think was the most right in the end? To which I pontificated the characters in an email, and the message I’ve been thinking about since I first read the collected edition years ago. There is only one real answer if you’re left with that question in the end. Who was right?

Alan Moore was right.

I know there’s been a lot of “hype” about Moore not wanting to be a part of it, or any movies since DC screwed him around. But I think Moore might actually be delighted with what Zach Snyder has done, or at LEAST putting the “uncomfortable” into some movie seats. I think Snyder did his best to channel what Moore would have liked to have seen.