Wilder's Picks - The Best of '09

Hey internet,

Seeing that 2009 is coming to a close, and I write for a movie blog, there seemed only one thing appropriate to do.

Here are, in my opinion, the top ten best films of 2009. Keep in mind that I HAVE NOT SEEN Inglourious Basterds, Moon, or The Hurt Locker. I imagine all of those belong somewhere on this list in place of some, but I simply have not seen them.

Ehem.


10) Avatar

Read Jose's review here.

Concerning Anthony Lane's 'Review' of Watchmen

Sorry readers for all the Watchmen postings lately, but I really feel this is necessary.

This guy, Anthony Lane, is so full of conceited, self promoted brilliance it makes me want to puke. Go read his article about Watchmen and then read my piece. I have no issues with the dude if he doesn't like the movie. I have issues with the way his article is written and a lot of things he says.


Mr. Lane,

Really dude, I understand you don't like Watchmen – that’s OK. But just maybe you shouldn't try so hard to distance yourself from all of us bourgeois, low life youngsters? I don't know how old you are, yet I can't imagine that your life has presented itself in such a way that you have a good reason to totally condemn your youth, a period when your mind was still open and your body wasn't failing. Your lack of enthusiasm for the inheriting generation is quite interesting. Forgive me if I, as an ignorant, conspiracy harboring, school boy 19 year old, forgo the trap that you've obviously fallen into in your mid-life crisis, where the only acceptable view of the young is one of distaste and barely concealed laughter. Do you enjoy having that ‘intelligent’ conversation with your much more merited cadre of elder women?

Trying so hard to be an elitist bastard is even more embarrassing than actually being one. And if you can find it within to listen to someone other than yourself, then know that your sophisticated vocabulary and writing style (while impressive) do not justify your degradation of this movie, Zack Snyder, or its audience. If truth be told, you don’t actually say much in the whole range of it. Babbling about ‘great hairy English lords’ (how classy) and trying to comes across witty by making sweeping generalizations and insidious remarks with clever word choices, gives no value to your opinion. In the entire length of your review you criticize and undermine the caliber of several million people, call Alan Moore, one of the most prolific and celebrated writers of our time, a baboon, and vaguely hint that anyone who enjoys this film is a ‘slavvish’ and apparently disturbed individual. Unfortunately in the whole piece I can see maybe six good points you make that pertain to the movie at all.

1. You thought that the Snyder went overboard with the violence, specifically in the attempted rape of the Silk Spectre and with Rorshach in the pedophile scene. You are correct in saying it’s a departure from the graphic novel (but the leg being chewed on is not).
2. You felt that the dialogue was cheesy and amateur.
3. You didn’t like Malin Akerman’s performance citing her lack of emotion and line delivery as limp.
4. You didn’t like Matthew Goode at all.
5. You don’t like Bob Dylan’s music in the opening credits because it didn’t fit the tone of the movie and was almost shamefully cliché.
6. You thought that the opening sequence was well done.

Apart from that, the rest of your review is fluff that doesn’t actually have anything to do with the film and is more of a social critique. I find that just a touch ironic, since Watchmen is all about social criticism and specifically challenges society’s tendency for violence and disrespect. Hmmm…that sounds a lot like what you were getting at with all your mystical commentary and metaphoric allusions.

I have to say that I find it amazing that someone like you can’t see the point behind this movie. Try looking beyond the first layer of the film if you don’t like its aesthetic, and immerse yourself in the message. Do you really think this movie would be as violent and dark as it is if there was no purpose to it? Watchmen isn’t supposed to make you comfortable and it isn’t supposed to be clean. It’s supposed to make you think and feel the black aspects of our culture.

If anything, your tone alienates readers who are not so into themselves or who enjoyed thinking about the ideas and concepts behind Watchmen (by the way, that would be several hundred million). Why should we listen to such a pompous high-horsed fellow such as you, when anyone who prefers to read friendly, engaging material can find it elsewhere? Learn how to review a film as a film, instead of turning it into an editorial. And maybe try to peel back the layers around you instead of allowing yourself to be caught in the shallows.

Watchmen's Opening Titles

Still unsure about Watchmen after reading Pat's glowing review last night? Fair enough. Today the animation blog, Motionographer posted the complete opening credits to Watchmen. I'd recommend you check it out, it establishes the humor and rules of the Watchmen universe quite immediately and is rather stylish to boot. Even the snobby review that The New Yorker wrote for Watchmen mentioned how good this sequence was if you don't take our word for it.

Review: WATCHMEN

30 seconds into this movie I was sold.

I literally don't know where to start with this review, there just so much to say. If you can find me a film that starts off more flawlessly than Watchmen I'll eat my ticket stub. As soon as The Comedian's signature smiley face flashes across the screen and the opening credits sequence begins, you will be engaged with this film. The inundation into the story happens so quick and smooth that you don't even notice. And pay attention, because in that 5 minute period, director Zack Snyder (300, Dawn of the Dead) magnificently manifests a solid 40 pages worth of backstory art and detail in a beautiful and near flawless adaptation. There are an amazing amount of shots that are EXACT interpretations of the graphic novel frames. Fans will be furiously tapping their buddies in excitement as Dave Gibbons' art quite fantastically comes to life on screen. I know I was.

YouTube Pick of the Week: Watchmen as a Saturday Morning Cartoon

Later tonight Pat will deliver the full review of Watchmen but in the meantime, check out the Watchmen gang as a Saturday Morning Cartoon. I don't think Alan Moore would approve.

Watch For Watchmen

Graphic novel fans everywhere, rejoice! For today, is a happy day.

Watchmen is back on board for a March 6th, 2009 release. After months (well, years really) of controversy that has left nerds across the world depressed and miserable, the endless sea of confusion regarding the release is finally (hopefully!) over. The settlement was quietly reached on January 15th and the news has been slowly spreading throughout the blogosphere since. It has however come to my attention that most people are actually unaware of this development, so I am happy to further enlighten fans.

Before December of 2008, Watchmen may have been the most anticipated film of 2009. Then, as usual, Fox found a way to screw it up. This time they opted to sue Warner Brothers over the release rights, claiming that Warner Bros violated ownership. Depending on who you believe, either Warner Bros screwed Fox over or Fox punted on the film and Warner Bros picked it up. In the end however, all that matters is that the film's release was delayed pending a settlement.

It turns out though, that Fox actually had passed on the current project and Warner Bros therefore picked it up. Fox executives even went so far as to say that the script was "one of the most unintelligible pieces of shit" they had ever seen. High five Twentieth Century, remind me to review your next film accordingly.

I would like to call shenanigans in regards to Fox and Warner Bros "acknowledging that each acted in good faith in their respective claims." In this situation it feels that Fox is almost entirely at fault for any confusion or controversy, and to give them stake in the gross is, well, gross. Fox has a history of bullying and sneaking around the industry and playing dirty when they screw something up. This certainly feels like one of those times.

Still Watching...

Hey folks. I don't have much to say today, so I thought I'd give an update on the ever elusive Watchmen release date.

The March 6 release is not cancelled - just not determined. It seems that recently, and I'm summing up, Fox claimed they had the right to make this movie "first". They had bought the rights way back in 1986, but they didn't do anything. Now that Warner Bros. has stepped up to the plate to make the film, it seems Fox wants a chunk of the action. Though Fox was also offered a chance to make the film in 2005, they passed it up, saying the script was, and I quote, "one of the most unintelligible pieces of $hit" they had seen in years.

However, Fox is in the process of suing WB for the rights to the film. A judge will determine the release of the film.

I don't want to rant too much, but my bitterness towards Fox is growing more and more everyday. Maybe it's because they took, in my opinion, two of the greatest television shows of all time, Arrested Development and Firefly off the air. Maybe it's because I had a bad experience with some employees. Maybe it's because their news is fake. And now this.

Well that's all I have for you today. See ya.

Mark's Top 5 For 2009

If everyone else is doing lists, I will too! 2009 is going to be a HUUUUUUGE year for film. It seems that when the films were going in a downward spiral, the studios actually listened and started upping the ante on their work. It was hard, but I've narrowed it down to five that I absolutely cannot wait for. (Watchmen isn't on the list because it may not come out in 2009)

5. Dragonball Evolution
So if you have been following The Movie Watch for a while, you'd know that I am quite intrigued by the idea of a live action movie based on the Dragonball series. Being a big fan, it doesn't look bad. I don't think it will be one of the greatest cinematic achievements of all time, but it has appeal for both the fans and the mainstream media. If anything, it'll just be a good "B" martial arts movie.


4. Monsters Vs Aliens
This film has been on my radar for quite some time. Before I saw any renders or heard any dialogue, I saw that Stephen Colbert was going to play the president and that Hugh Laurie was going to play a mad scientist named Dr. Cockroach M.D.. Those two comedic talents are enough for a great flick *coughdependingonthescriptcough*, but they are joined by Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Keifer Sutherland, Paul Rudd and more. This looks to be another great Dreamworks venture.



3.Up
Pixar looks to wow us all again with the story of Carl Fredricksen. He sets out on a journey with a boyscout trying to get his "help the elderly badge" in order to fulfill his late wife's dream of exploring the mountains. Ed Asner is the voice of Carl and because of my love of Freakazoid!, I think this will be one of his best roles yet. It's a Pixar movie, you know you're going to see it. Also, what sort of teaser for Toy Story 3 do you think we'll get?


2. Star Trek XI
I was raised on Star Trek. I had seen all of the Next Generation movies in the theatre (except the last one, but who did see that in theatres?). I don't know as much about the original series except for what was in the films they made, so being able to see an origin story makes me a little excited. Also, they shot the academy scenes at Cal State University Northridge, where I am currently enrolled. It'll be funny to see the certain scenes and be like "Kirk went to Sky High!" It's gonna be great, so grab your phaser and set it to FUN! I couldn't help myself with the hokey line. Leave your complaints with Ezra.


1.Fanboys
What did you expect? Bride Wars? No sir! This film has been in hell for quite some time with fans just waiting to get any glimpse they can. I saw about ten to twenty minutes of the flick last year at Comic-Con and couldn't wait for it's release in 2008! It seems like this film is to us like what Phantom Menace is to the guys (and girl) in the flick. I know it won't disappoint. There is going to be more Star Wars jokes than Kevin Smith could ever dream of and more Star Trek knocking than ever. I can't wait to see what is in store and what they think of Phantom. Who's got two thumbs and already bought his tickets? THIS GUY!


HAVE A GOOD 2009! I know I will!

Who Watches The Watchmen?

When I turned the final page of "Watchmen", I had two thoughts.

First, I thought that I might have finished one of the most fantastic pieces of fiction ever written.

Second, I thought that I would end up trying desperately to justify Hollywood's right to make it into a movie.

Since 1986, Hollywood has been trying to bring this incredible story to life. The movie has been repeatedly dropped, and left in the dark. Finally, 300 director Zack Snyder has decided to undertake the task of accurately depicting what might be the greatest graphic novel ever written.

And it's no easy task. The characters of this story are so complex that in order to do them justice, the movie must match the book. Often times in Hollywood productions of comic books and graphic novels, events tend to change. I don't know what Snyder has in mind for this, but I do know this: if he stays as close to the book as he Robert Rodriguez did with Sin City, Watchmen just might be one of the best movies of all time.

I liked 300 a lot. While I have not read it, I have been told by readers that Snyder did a great job with it. Apparently, the whole movie is just a shot-for-shot reproduction of the graphic novel. Again, if he does the same thing here, the film is sure to be fantastic. I have faith in him. He also directed the 2004 version Dawn of the Dead, which was great.

Superhero movies are ascending to a new place. In the last few years, a line has been drawn between films like The Dark Knight and Iron Man and other films like Fantastic Four, and Fantastic Four - Rise of the Silver Surfer. We are moving to a new place where it is not the explosions, or the cool gadgets that make a superhero movie good, but the characters.

It's as simple as this: if Watchmen is executed as well as creators Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons intended, then we just might have the best superhero movie ever made.



Watch The Watchmen March 6.