nathanjunker.com » Movies

Watchmen Review

redcowboyhat — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:17:55 +0000

First off, I’m a fan of the graphic novel. I read it before I saw the movie and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was layered far deeper than what was able to be contained in the movie. The classic “the book was better” line applies. However, I did like Zach Snyder’s adaptation. His personal fandom kept him true to the graphic novel and I appreciated it. The “non-squid/fake alien” ending was alright with me. It worked and made sense bringing the world together out of fear that Dr. Manhattan would strike again.

I did not like the artistic license to make the movie more graphic in terms of sex and violence. The story contained enough already and the message was strong enough without that excessive display.

Obviously, on moral grounds, there was so much wrong in the story. It displayed “heroes” who allow the end to justify the means. This is becomes true for all vigilantes who don’t submit to the civilizations code of laws (flawed though it may be), but is really driven home in the Watchmen story. That is the message, “Who watches the watchmen?” These watchmen and our own law enforcement and armed forces are all flawed, sinful human beings. And as more power is given to them, those flaws are even more evident. Therefore the nobel cause of Justice is perverted because sinful man can’t truly dispense it. Even other superheroes who have their own personal code of crimefighting fall into this trap because the nobility of the cause of Justice is overwhelming in the face of the great need. Violence and death usually results and becomes the Comedian’s joke as he embodies cruelty with the license to end cruelty. Ironic humor. Yet, when he faces it on the scale of Ozymandias’ design, he is overwhelmed.

Where’s the redemption in a story like this. The nihilism and the corruption of man is hopeless without a Savior. Someone must redeem man from his own destruction. It is not found in the classic philosophers (ala Ozymandias) for that would lead to the murder of 15 million people–an unacceptable price for peace. It can only be found in God himself. The Just One. Yet his plan to bring peace involved self-sacrifice. And it is that display of Love that draws us back to God and allows us to be transformed from the earthly man with his corrupt desires and sinful ways to the godly man who loves his enemies; enemies who still bear the image of God despite how hidden it has become. It is only in this environment where people are transformed that hate turns to love, vengence turns to mercy, revenge turns to forgiveness, and war turns to peace.

Movies to see in 2009

redcowboyhat — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:27:45 +0000

I have been convicted lately of the amount of violent TV/Film I watch. Being a pacifist, it is a bit hypocritical of me to be against violence in any form, yet feed on it from an entertainment standpoint. So in an effort to cut out the adrenaline rush movies, I’ve put together a short list of movies I’d like to see in 2009.

Ghost Town
Slumdog Millionaire
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Synechdoche, NY
Juno
American Splendor
Trade
Amelie

Unfortunately, there are a few movies that coming to the theater that hold some nostalgic pull. I expect these will have some violence. I am trying to justify the violence against aliens, cyborgs, and mutant humans.

Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
G.I. Joe
Terminator Salvation
Watchmen
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Sherlock Holmes

And, a few other theater movies that interest me.

The Picture of Dorian Grey
Inkheart
Avatar

Quite a collection: 80s nostalgia, graphic novels, classic literature, and some quirky. Let me know if you’ve seen these or plan to see these. Any others I might like?

Sweep the Leg

redcowboyhat — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 14:07:24 +0000

If you love the Karate Kid, you’ll love this music video directed by William Zabka (aka Johnnie).

[thanks Mike]

Manipulation

redcowboyhat — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 01:11:00 +0000

How is it that Hollywood makes sin so attractive? Manipulation. Were they to be truly portray the effects of sin, we would see it for what it is and avoid it. There are cases where the consequences are true. “Requiem for a Dream” shows drug addiction destroying the lives of people as they go further down that dark hole. However, Hollywood with its sexual liberation uses all its tools of manipulation to make the audience accept, even applaud immorality. Since sexuality is closely linked with love for most people, it makes it easy to make sin seem like an act of love. Here’s how the manipulation happens: 1) Ugliness verses Beauty. To make sin look enticing, the life a character comes out of must be ugly. For example, the spouse is less attractive, serious, and boring, while the “lover” is beautiful, fun, spontaneous, lively, full of the “joie-de-vive”. The home environment is dull and colorless where the place of the affair is full of bright, vibrant colors. The audience is made to understand that leaving this confining, barren land to partake in a wild and free romantic affair is perfectly natural. 2) Tragedy. The characters embracing sin are tragic. They are are the sad victims of a dead-end job, a dead marriage, they have been oppressed in some way (culture, parents, boss). The tragedy has the audience believing that they deserve something good. 3) Reluctance. The characters are never allowed to rush into sin. They struggle to resist, but eventually get “caught up in the moment”. By combining these three techniques, an audience is movedâ€“manipulatedâ€“and feels a bond with the characters as they go about their sexual exploits.

[Other sins are so taken for granted that Hollywood doesn't even bother to make a case for them. Lying is standard, the norm even between people who are supposed to trust one another. Greed and covetousness are often motivating factors for plot lines.]