One of the predictions about the Watchmen is that much of the movie going audience will not know about this meaty graphic novel. Unlike other great graphic novel adaptations (that no one knew about – 300, Sin City) is that Watchmen might come off as a little too spandex super hero to really be appreaciated for what it really is. It has that look of the costumed crusader hero team, so no doubt it is a superhero book. But it is a healthy read, and revolutionary in its time.
So for those who just want to get a foot in the door with the original source material, but have the attention span of …. oh.. shiny!… er… oh right.. Dave Gibbons (illustrator of the Watchmen) has made available a video book, and reads an abridged version to you with his own illustrations right from the original pages of the book.
Gibbons takes credit for the illustrations as they are straight from the book, but Moore won’t even allow his name to be attached to an adaptation of his work being read word for word as Tom Stechschulte plays audio book with the novel reading both the male and female roles, a move that already has iTunes commentors and fanboy sites up in arms. Primarily because they must have had nothing else to complain about at the time.
So if you want to get caught up, or even just to preview it, you can hit up the iTunes store and download it for free (for a limited time).
The audio reading is done by a guy, so one of the complaints is that even the female characters are read with a male voice, and frankly the whole thing might take about as long as actually READING the whole thing yourself.
I recommend picking up the collected miniseries in graphic novel form. Its well worth the read.
It’s a sad situation when we have to resort to keyboards as a means of making relations – lol :)
GCH coming at ya right there…
I’ll be picking up the graphic novel it seems…it really seems interesting and what i’m into..
Movie looks interesting enough. If all else fails, It’s Zack Snyder and he’ll make it look pretty. xD
i watched chapter 1 with the sound turned off and read. i enjoyed it. i already read the novel. it seemed word for word. this article said abridged.
Fuck those ITunes assholes for not making this available outside ouf the US!
I still want to get the book and read it before the movie next year. There is pleanty of time. The Watchmen graphic novel is only around 416 pages. But I guess cliff notes will be cool to look at as well. Lets hope after I read the book I will not be disapointed with the movie.
Lets wait and see.
i agree about the politics….i shouldve just said the ending…even while reading the ending left me thinking wtf….audience members who arent fans already will prolly be turned off by it
and the trailer though it looked cool….now that i understand every what each scene in the trailer meant…it was lip service to the fans….im interested to see if the marketing of the film will keep catering to the fans or try to hit casual move goers
and if its a recording you cant concentrate on the story because the reader always has a liberachi voice
those books are usually inmensly thicker then the actuall book, if you want to know about it simply read the book…makes no sense..its like wiping your ass with sandpaper
Amen Kevin!
Some neandrathals can’t handle all the words.. but seriously… PICTURES PEOPLE!!
In colour no less!
I’m currently reading the absolute works of this now, and it’s such a fascinating read. Making my through it slowly though as it’s a big book to lug around with me during the day.
Still intrigued as to how this is going to come across on the big screen.
This is Hollywood Chris, they will likely gloss over the politically incorrect portions and leave them on the cutting room floor.
That and the context that might have seemed racy at the time are now commonplace and over analyzed. Morality within Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement would be too heady to discuss in a superhero film.
Likely, the film will focus around its core message. Who watches the Watchmen. The struggle of hero worship with flawed heroes.
Its a sorry state of affairs in this country when we have to resort to comic books on tape/video!
just read the whole graphic novel….not bad, a lil overrated but still a decent enough read….but i dont think this film will do good at all….some of the themes and the plot will prolly turn casual viewers off…..this should be interesting…
The animated version is kinda lame.
The Graphic Novel is only $10 at Amazon. It’s a must read, so pick it up if you haven’t.