The Watchmen Movie Thread

[Cioran]

If nothing else I think the fact that everyone seems to love him despite his completely repulsive nature will spur some conversation.

It's possible that Rorschach is a magnetic character because he embodies something many feel to be missing in their lives: dedication to a moral ideal. He will stop at nothing to fix the world. Many feel pulled down by the undertow of relativism and superficiality but know instinctively that this cannot be all. When one rises above, they look to him and feel a thrill of possibility.

Veidt also has this dedication but he had it too easy, he's too rich, too goodlooking, too confident. He's not from Circumstances. Rorschach, like Beef, came up from the shit and struggles for the good, however badly distorted his vision is. The Batman in Dark Knight Returns had a similar appeal.

I recommend the film "Mindscapes of Alan Moore". Moore discusses the magic potency of ideas and creative art and his comments may help illuminate your thinking on Rorschach and Watchmen.

[lprkn]

He is admirable in the way Fëanor in the Silmarillion is admirable. His dedication to his ideal/code/oath will brook no interference, even as his world crumbles around him. You can respect him, but you are not meant to admire him.

He is inflexible in his application of his version of justice. The tree that does not bend in the storm will break.

As for Rorschach and Veidt, they are similar to a degree, but I would not attribute their differences to Circumstances or a lack thereof. One simply has more resources and a grander vision, and perhaps even less humanity, despite his refined exterior. At least Rorschach cares about some of his former friends colleagues.

15 Balrogs, that's all I'm sayin'.

[dejavroom]

Meanwhile, man kills self during screening.

[theinevitable]

He is admirable in the way Fëanor in the Silmarillion is admirable. His dedication to his ideal/code/oath will brook no interference, even as his world crumbles around him. You can respect him, but you are not meant to admire him.

He is inflexible in his application of his version of justice. The tree that does not bend in the storm will break.

I have realized that what makes the guy across the hall from me insane is that he admires people like this above all. Maybe I'm exaggerating. But he idealizes these people/characters with unbending moral Rules, and wants to live his life in that way.

My theory is that he wants Rules, because he is not capable for some reason of just trying the main rule of life, something along the lines of "don't be a dick all the damn time, seriously dude, lighten up and try not to constantly be an asshole."
"Treat others like you want to be treated."

The other day we spent probably an hour where he was trying to come up with a moral principle whereby it was MORALLY RIGHT that he refused to watch "Midnight Cowboy" with us.
He is one of few people I've met where... a lot of the time, I think he is acting the way he is as some kind of show for all of us.

I have still not seen this movie, also. He went on a rant about how it was stupid and irrelevant, but could not really give well-formed reasons.

[smick]

I have still not seen this movie, also. He went on a rant about how it was stupid and irrelevant, but could not really give well-formed reasons.

Did you suggest that maybe he didn't want to?

[Asherdan]

Just let him know that appreciating the male bonding and watching the sex acts in that movie won't make him gay.

[lprkn]

Just let him know that appreciating the male bonding and watching the sex acts in that movie won't make him watching it made him officially gay.

[Asherdan]

The dude says what I really meant.

[theinevitable]

that guy is just... he is a hard guy to handle.

I try really really hard to chalk what he does up to good intentions with an insane mind, but he is actually kind of a jerk.

originally he was going to live with us next year, and somehow that has morphed into "actually, I'm going to live in the horrible cesspit-like basement next door to you guys."


We tried arguing things along the lines of "different people like different things in movies," but he would not have it.

Also: Midnight Cowboy, that movie is FUCKED UP. How did that win best picture? I can't imagine an america where that happened.

[pmcd9]

Re:  Midnight Cowboy, that movie is FUCKED UP. How did that win best picture? I can't imagine an America where that happened.

I'm sure you meant to say "Midnight Cowboy is one of the greatest movies ever made."  I am certain of this.

[miles]

Also: Midnight Cowboy, that movie is FUCKED UP. How did that win best picture? I can't imagine an america where that happened.

I'm certainly intrigued. But netflix doesn't have it. Is it even on DVD?

[theinevitable]

I'm sure you meant to say "Midnight Cowboy is one of the greatest movies ever made."  I am certain of this.

oh, yeah. I'm not saying that it wasn't really good. I saw that it was about NYC in the late 60s, read the description, and thought it would be... freakily gritty.
You know, gritty like Taxi Driver.
Not like... flashbacks to anal gang-rape.

[Toaster]

I... I thought it was about a cowboy. Now I'm just scared.

[Doc]

Oh, wow. I've heard of this movie before but never understood why it was so revered because it sounded like Dan said, Taxi Driver with Dustin Hoffman and rinestones. Might have to check it out now.
On a related note did anyone see Mysterious Skin a few years ago? That was so great and not at all what I expected it to be.

[littlefallsmets]

At the deli/pizza-shop/convenience-store/video-store in Little Falls, Midnight Cowboy was filed under Westerns.

I can't explain where I grew up much more than that.