10 Things I Love About Zack Snyder's "Watchmen"

**(Note: You should see the film before you read this!)**

**Note #2: I thought this was obvious but evidently not - these things are credited to Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and Zack Snyder. Despite Moore not being directly involved, the movie still uses concepts, dialogue, and images directly from the book. This list is referring to my love of all those things in the movie. I am not, repeat, NOT implying this is all Snyder's doing**

In honor of Watchmen coming to DVD this week - and since I never wrote an actual review on here - I decided to post these ten things I love about the film. Some are minor, most are major, but all had an impact upon me personally. Comment below and tell me your thoughts :)

1) The opening credits montage

I think everyone can agree, the opening credits are amazing. The montage, created by Yu+Co, is comprised of a series of living tableaus summarizing the 1940s through early 1980s in this alternate world where superheroes live among us. It shows recognizable events, people, and places (ie, the assassination of JFK, Andy Warhol, Studio 54), each with a twist - a new version of history thanks to the presence of superheroes. We also see how these heroes have changed with the times, from being clean do-gooders to dark, troubled vigilantes. The montage is set to Bob Dylan's "The Times, They Are A-Changin" which is an absolutely perfect song choice for obvious reasons.

2) Rorschach in prison

Just when you think masked viligante Rorschach can't get any cooler, he gets his mask taken off and thrown in prison. And he is a total badass! "None of you seem to understand..." After that scene, the theatre audience cheered and applauded. Jackie Earle Haley does a fantastic job throughout the film. As good as he is acting behind a mask - which is damn hard - my favorite scenes take place without his "face" in the prison. The psychiatrist meeting, the cafeteria, in the jail cell throwing puns at the angry dwarf...I love it all. "Tall order." Rorschach is the man.

3) The soundtrack

A lot of people cite the film's soundtrack as a downfall and I just don't get that. I immediately loved the quirky song choices. Not only are they right from the book and fitting with the time periods portrayed on-screen, but they are all aptly suited to their corresponding scene, if not deeply ironic. I already mentioned the expertly-chosen Bob Dylan song during the opening montage. There are fantastic 60s tunes like "All Along the Watchtower" (Jimi Hendrix) and "Sound of Silence" (Simon and Garfunkel). If you listen carefully when Ozymandias is talking with the oil tycoons, the radio is playing Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." Dontcha just love the irony?

Most people probably dislike choices such as "I'm Your Boogeyman" (KC and the Sunshine Band) and "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen) but I especially like these two! I'll discuss the former a little later on (see #6 below)."Hallelujah" was perfect for the sex scene because A) it's Leonard fucking Cohen, he rules; B) it's a sexy song, and he is singing about a strong woman like Laurie; C) it's a joke on Dan's impotence. I don't think any of these songs distract from the movie or cheapen it. The music is a big part of why I loved this movie.

4) The origin of Dr. Manhattan

John's whole backstory is pretty fascinating, and deeply tragic. Not only did he lose the love of his life, but he lost his ability to care, in general. His "accident" made him the living Übermensch, and ultimately disconnected him from humanity. I love Crupud's performance when he becomes trapped inside the instrinsic field subtractor. He has a look of complete helplessness and terror. And then his girlfriend runs away and his friend can only look on in horror. The scene is absolutely gripping. "I felt fear...for the last time." Amazing. But my absolute favorite part of Manhattan's backstory is when his body begins to re-appear. "A circulatory system was spotted near the perimeter fance". Wow. Just wow. Visually, it looks amazing, and the sheer concept of this ghostly, floathing circulatory system is fucking CREEPY AWESOME. Then the half-muscled skeleton screaming in the hallway. It's so damn scary and awe-inspiring at the same time.

5) Dr. Manhattan's voice

Speaking of Dr. Manhattan and the brilliance of Billy Crupud, I have to mention the voice. He has such a soft, calming voice that completely belies his towering image. Fans of the graphic novel often say they never imagined John sounding that way, but it fits so well. I concur. It fits because he is devoid of caring and so invincible that he has no reason to worry or stress. His calm voice reflects that complacency. Notice he didn't talk that way before the accident. I could not be more impressed with Mr. Crudup if he cured cancer right now.

6) The Comedian's "Boogieman" scene

This scene is the ultimate reflection of The Comedian's attitude toward society and life in general. Firstly, I can't help but love seeing a woman get punched square in the face. Maybe I hate my own gender, but that's pretty freakin funny. Secondly, it's so disturbing the way he starts blowing civilians away. Especially that guy spraypainting the wall. Ouch. But one aspect that makes this scene awesome for me is the song - "I'm Your Boogieman." Maybe it's the bias of having heard Rob Zombie's cover, but I find this song to be kinda dark and sexy. Weird, I know. But I just love that slow-motion shot of Comedian coming toward the fleeing teenagers with a shotgun in hand, while "Boogieman" plays. It's the perfect song for a comedic monster.

7) Dan's reaction to Rorschach's death

I know this is a very specific, short scene but I felt the need to mention it. It is no easy task to act as if your old friend was just violently killed in front of you, especially when he died for a reason you have not come to agree with. And it is even harder to convincingly scream "NO!" - just ask Mark Hamill. Patrick Wilson (aka Dan, aka Nite Owl) pulled it off stunningly. So much so that I got chills that lasted the entire length of the scream (a good 5 seconds at least). And the shot itself is beautifully framed and looks fantastic. Kudos, Wilson, and kudos, Snyder.

8) Rorschach's love of incomplete sentences

"Dead dog in alley this morning, tire tread on burst stomach." "Fine like this." A silly little detail, but his incomplete sentences are one of many things I love about Rorschach. Why does he talk this way? Most likely, he prefers to get the point and not waste breath on words like "a" and "the". Whatever the reason, it is an amusing quirk and I can't help but talk like him sometimes.

9) The classic heroes

I love Stephen McHattie as Hollis Mason, the retired cape who has written a tell-all book about the superhero lifestyle. Also, the film's flashbacks of the Minutemen and other classic heroes, along with the various villains, is too cool. It is fascinating to see how the hero image evolves with time and becomes corrupted for some. It is not hard to imagine these people really existing. Oh, and the costumes are fantastic!

10) Homage to Dr. Strangelove

The scenes in Nixon's war room are an obvious homage to Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Not only the set design, but the shots themselves - especially of the officials sitting around the table - are right out of Kubrick's film. It is an appropriate homage, considering the impending doomsday theme in both films. This brings me back to the music - remember the final scene of Strangelove, with an apocolyptic blast set to Vera Lynn's "We'll Meet Again"? Obviously, the music choices in Watchmen cannot compare to Kubrick's, but the intentions are similar. It's that same sense of darkly comic irony that I love in these song choices.

Agree? Disagree? Think I'm insane? Let me know in the comments!

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Moon

Film: Moon (2009)
Dir: Duncan Jones
Rating: ****1/2 out of 5 stars

You will remember Duncan Jones' name after seeing this film. The former "Zowie Bowie" has officially escaped his father's shadow and firmly established himself as a filmmaker to be recognized. His feature debut Moon is a simple but effective sci-fi thriller. While it may evoke comparisons to genre classics like Solaris and 2001: A Space Odyssey, it truly stands alone, with stellar writing, chilling music, and an unforgettable performance by Sam Rockwell.

Sam Bell (Rockwell) is coming to the end of his three-year contract with Lunar Industries. He was contracted to single-handedly man a space station that harnesses energy from the Earth's moon. His only companion is a computer called GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey). After three years alone in space, Sam is literally counting the days until he can return to his wife and daughter on Earth. But when his rover accidently collides with a harvesting machine, Sam awakens in the infirmary with limited memory. Strange things begin to occur, but what Sam finds when he leaves the space station makes him question his job, GERTY, and his own identity.

While the trailer gives away far more plot than I just did, I think it's best to see Moon without knowing much about it. The script is penned by Nathan Parker and based on a story by Duncan Jones. At its most basic level, the film is about the loneliness and isolation of outer space, and the madness it creates. It has all the sci-fi elements we expect - an eerie, almost asylum-like spaceship; a computer that is too helpful for comfort; and a shady corporation pulling the strings. But Moon also packs a powerful message about the value of human life, and what differentiates us from machines.

Rockwell gives the performance of his lifetime as the lonely space contrator, Sam. I've always loved the guy, but he truly deserves some award recognition here. For starters, he has very emotional conversations with actors who aren't actually there, since Rockwell is his only co-star for much of the film. Furthermore, he plays vastly different character types, each with complete conviction. If this man gets overlooked come award season, it will be nothing short of a crime.

Lastly, I need to mention the beautiful, haunting score by Clint Mansell, who has rapidly become a favorite composer of mine. You have probably heard similar music of his in Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain. His music in Moon is perfect for the film's tone and content.

This is not a film to be missed. Go see it. Now. And on your drive home, stop and pick up the official soundtrack, too. Thank me later.

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Bronson

Film: Bronson (2009)
Dir: Nicolas Winding Refn
Rating: ****1/2 out of 5 stars

If you don't recognize the name Nicolas Winding Refn, you better sign into Netflix right now and add some of his movies to your queue. Especially the Pusher trilogy. Go ahead, I'll wait.....

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Okay? Good. Refn's latest film Bronson is based on real-life criminal Charles Bronson (born Michael Gordon Peterson), who became known as the "most violent prisoner in Britain." The film is a slightly fictionalized account of his life in and out of the slammer. It is narrated by the titular character, whose sanity is questionable. The result is a brutal but darkly funny prison drama.

Peterson was raised by a respectable family with a pretty normal childhood. He decided at a young age that he needed to make a name for himself, and since he couldn't act or sing, he turned to crime. He became notorious for attacking prison guards and taking hostages, and consequently spending most of his days in solitary confinement. He is passed from prison to asylum to prison again, making him also one of Britain's most expensive inmates - a title he relishes. Even when he is released and takes up a career in bare-knuckle boxing (where he gets the nickname Charles Bronson), he still is drawn back to prison and his violent reputation.

Tom Hardy is a freaking BEAST in this movie. I still can't believe I'm watching the same guy who played Handsome Bob in Rocknrolla. It blows my mind. His transformation is easily as impressive as Eric Bana's in Chopper. And both characters are delightfully crazy, violent, and hysterical. Hardy is perfect in this film, and nobody could have played the role better.

Refn's filmmaking style is engaging as always, with bits of self-referentialism that provide the film with humor and intrigue. The script is great too, broaching the subject of violence being inherent - think A Clockwork Orange. In fact, Bronson has a lot of Kubrick influence, including unique depictions of violence, eccentric characters, and prevalent use of classical music. Charles is as much Alex DeLarge as he is Mark Read.

This is a brilliant little movie that should not be missed. Refn is killing me making me wait for his next entry, Valhalla Rising. If you don't share that sentiment, you are missing out.

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Session 9

Film: Session 9 (2001)
Dir: Brad Anderson
Rating: ***** out of 5 stars

It pains me that there are so few horror movies like Session 9. I guess modern movie audiences don't have the patience for slow-boiling tension. This movie is one of the scariest I have ever seen, and yet it draws upon atmosphere and suggestion rather than jump scares or gore.

The film takes place in a run-down asylum with a violent past. An asbestos abatement crew are brought in to clean the place up. Their foreman Gordon (Peter Mullan) is a working-class guy with a new baby and a lot on his mind. His best friend Phil (David Caruso) is along to help, but constantly fighting with Hank (Josh Lucas), who is dating his ex-wife. As the days drag on, tensions rise among the men and mysterious occurances in the asylum become more frequent. Unbeknownst to the others, Mike (Stephen Gevedon) has been sneaking into the hospital at night to listen to old recordings of a schizophrenic patient's therapy sessions. As the tapes approach the ninth and final session, dark truths begin to reveal themselves.

Spooky old buildings - especially those once inhabited by the violently insane - really creep me out. You just know they are full of crazy, pissed-off ghosts! But Session 9 isn't really a ghost movie - it's as much a ghost movie as Kubrick's The Shining. In other words, there are creepy apparitions, but they derive from the damaged psyche. Or do they? Everything in the film has a clinical/psychological basis, and yet it does hint at supernatural influence. I love that the movie approaches the subject from both angles and leaves the viewer to decide what is really going on.

Session 9 achieves tension and terror with hardly any effort. For starters, the title alone builds incredible suspense. As Mike plays sessions 1, 2, 3, you just know something CRAZY is going to occur at 9. Each new tape reveals something increasingly more dark than the last, and I was constantly on edge wondering what was coming. Furthermore, the setting is spooky, as is Brad Anderson's unnervingly calm cinematography. There are no ghostly children here - just dark hallways, isolation, and implications of shocking violence. There is also spooky voice-over thanks to multiple personalities on the session tapes - very, VERY creepy. Try to get "Simon"'s voice out of your head after watching this movie.

Finally, I want to mention the actors, who are all great. Especially Scottish thesp Peter Mullan, whose performace as Gordon is sympathetic and haunting. And Caruso keeps his hamminess to a minimum (minus one hilarious shot you have probably seen as a .gif file online). I think Session 9's only fault would be a few superfluous details and points left unexplained. But overall, this is an amazing, unique horror film that haunts you long after it's over.

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