Pyat reviews a super-people movie
Mar. 9th, 2009 12:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pyatThere are some mild spoilers.
The acting in a few scenes seemed a little flat, particularly in the scenes between Silk Specter II and her mother. Akerman’s portrayal Silk Specter II seemed a little subdued in general, and it gave a few of her scenes an odd tone. I got used to it, though, and her readings weren’t bad, just slightly restrained. I’ve heard criticism that the actress was too young, though I believe she was supposed to be six or seven years younger than Nite Owl II and Rorschach in the comic. So, that’s okay then.
I agree with the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
thebitterguy’s dislike of the sudden bone-breaking fight scene with Nite Owl II and Silk Specter II. We were introduced to them as ordinary people, though well-trained, and suddenly they were throwing people around in a sort of brutal, cartoonish way. I realize that this is how fight scenes look in the movies these days. However, it meant that Ozymandias, to be better than Nite Owl II and Rorschach, was pretty clearly operating on a super-human level.
A lot of people thought Ozymandias was miscast. I agree that I was expecting something closer to Doc Savage than David Bowie, but Matthew Goode did a fair job with the role. He was a lot more sinister than the Ozymandias of the comic, I fear, which makes the ending less of a surprise. Also, he appears to have gay porn on his computer. At least, one of the folders on his desktop was labeled “BOYS.” While the character in the comic was at least sexually ambiguous, I think that (and the scene where he's hobnobbing with Bowie at CBGB's) sort of changes the characterization a bit. Also, it may explain the lavender sport coat. Though that can also be explained by "It was the 80s."
Haley’s Rorschach was quite uncanny. Judge for yourself whether that is bad or good. I was very impressed, though I fear it means we’ll get a lot of really depressing people validating unpleasant worldviews by identifying with the character. I mean… even more so.
FUN FACT: Haley played the son on "Wait Till Your Father Gets Home."
The death of Hollis Mason is not shown in the film. It would have been useful to see that loss driving Nite Owl II, though he did not seem to lack for motivation.
I quite liked the interaction between Rorschach and Nite Owl II. It rang very true, and for some reason I’d not read a certain undertone of Rorschach trying to keep Nite Owl as a friend. It simply didn’t occur to me when I read the comic, which admittedly was 20 years ago now. Rorschach realizes he has no friends. His hero died alone and hated. The one person whom he used to regard as a friend has drifted away, and, worse he shows signs of going back into “the business.”
Rorschach was okay with Nite Owl II being a failure and a has-been. But he fears Nite Owl II returning to the adventuring life, and hooking up with Silk Specter II. His reaction reminded me of a bitter Libertarian comic book collector realizing that his old high school buddy is getting married and moving to Alaska.
I quite liked the scene wherein Rorschach and Nite Owl II arrive in Antarctica. It was quite possibly my favorite scene in the film. I don’t know why, but the image of two men walking alone toward a fortress rather resonated with me on some level. It’s all tied up with glorious last stands and The Man Who Would be King, and RPG games, and J.R.R. Tolkien, I think. Sort of, “All right, we’re here, and all we’ve got left is our brains and our fists, and we’re coming to shake the pillars of heaven.”
I give it an 8/10. I would see it again.
The acting in a few scenes seemed a little flat, particularly in the scenes between Silk Specter II and her mother. Akerman’s portrayal Silk Specter II seemed a little subdued in general, and it gave a few of her scenes an odd tone. I got used to it, though, and her readings weren’t bad, just slightly restrained. I’ve heard criticism that the actress was too young, though I believe she was supposed to be six or seven years younger than Nite Owl II and Rorschach in the comic. So, that’s okay then.
I agree with the
thebitterguy’s dislike of the sudden bone-breaking fight scene with Nite Owl II and Silk Specter II. We were introduced to them as ordinary people, though well-trained, and suddenly they were throwing people around in a sort of brutal, cartoonish way. I realize that this is how fight scenes look in the movies these days. However, it meant that Ozymandias, to be better than Nite Owl II and Rorschach, was pretty clearly operating on a super-human level.A lot of people thought Ozymandias was miscast. I agree that I was expecting something closer to Doc Savage than David Bowie, but Matthew Goode did a fair job with the role. He was a lot more sinister than the Ozymandias of the comic, I fear, which makes the ending less of a surprise. Also, he appears to have gay porn on his computer. At least, one of the folders on his desktop was labeled “BOYS.” While the character in the comic was at least sexually ambiguous, I think that (and the scene where he's hobnobbing with Bowie at CBGB's) sort of changes the characterization a bit. Also, it may explain the lavender sport coat. Though that can also be explained by "It was the 80s."
Haley’s Rorschach was quite uncanny. Judge for yourself whether that is bad or good. I was very impressed, though I fear it means we’ll get a lot of really depressing people validating unpleasant worldviews by identifying with the character. I mean… even more so.
FUN FACT: Haley played the son on "Wait Till Your Father Gets Home."
The death of Hollis Mason is not shown in the film. It would have been useful to see that loss driving Nite Owl II, though he did not seem to lack for motivation.
I quite liked the interaction between Rorschach and Nite Owl II. It rang very true, and for some reason I’d not read a certain undertone of Rorschach trying to keep Nite Owl as a friend. It simply didn’t occur to me when I read the comic, which admittedly was 20 years ago now. Rorschach realizes he has no friends. His hero died alone and hated. The one person whom he used to regard as a friend has drifted away, and, worse he shows signs of going back into “the business.”
Rorschach was okay with Nite Owl II being a failure and a has-been. But he fears Nite Owl II returning to the adventuring life, and hooking up with Silk Specter II. His reaction reminded me of a bitter Libertarian comic book collector realizing that his old high school buddy is getting married and moving to Alaska.
I quite liked the scene wherein Rorschach and Nite Owl II arrive in Antarctica. It was quite possibly my favorite scene in the film. I don’t know why, but the image of two men walking alone toward a fortress rather resonated with me on some level. It’s all tied up with glorious last stands and The Man Who Would be King, and RPG games, and J.R.R. Tolkien, I think. Sort of, “All right, we’re here, and all we’ve got left is our brains and our fists, and we’re coming to shake the pillars of heaven.”
I give it an 8/10. I would see it again.
