Thursday: The End Is Nigh

8 days... so close! The cinematic release of the greatest Graphic Novel (and one of the best novels) ever written is almost here... It's fair to say I'm insanely excited. Even if the film is half as good as the book, it will be incredible. I am, of course, talking about WATCHMEN!

I'm so enthused for this movie, and anyone who I speak to on a regular basis will know that (basically because I don't shut up about it). Everything about the book is just perfect - the ingenious plot, the psychologically complex characters, Dave Gibbon's beatiful art combined with Alan Moore's awe-inspiring story-telling... The way in which the narrative unfolds before the reader is elegant and compelling, the mystery element drawing in the reader with every page, transporting them so effortlessly into another world, where vigilantes fight crime in costumes, and the Super-Man exists (and he's American). The symbolism is deep and meaningful, but not heavy-going, and the ideas behind what happens are disturbingly believable, and often echoed in modern society (for example 9/11). Of course, I'm speaking in riddles to the uninitiated, but if I spoiled anything for the unsuspecting, I would be devastated. All that I can say to you is - what are you waiting for?! Grab a copy of the book - steal it off a friend, or buy it (it's only £10 delivered on Amazon), and read it as soon as you get it - before the film comes out if possible. Don't go on Wikipedia and ruin it for yourself. You'll not regret it. Trust me.

My only concern with the film is that people won't "get it". This is not an average superhero movie. There are few notable big action sequences, there's a big emphasis on dialogue, and there are very few morally "clean" characters like Nite Owl II and Silk Spectre II... Rorschach? A psychopath. Doctor Manhattan? Inhuman, objective and emotionless. The Comedian? Well... I'll let you discover him for yourself. But sure, Rorschach is badass and Silk Spectre is sexy, but if people come out saying that Nite Owl is a shit Batman rip-off, or that Manhattan is just Superman with his cock out, it's clear that they won't have taken in the true meaning behind the story which is - if people like this did exist, what would happen? Would they become overly focused on the cause and forget to be 'human'? Would someone so different be able to co-exist and be accepted by the rest of society? Would they become obssessed with power and build an empire from their own image? And that is why Watchmen works; the flaws in each character are flaws that we can recognise in ourselves and others around us, forcing us to ask ourselves: what would happen to me if I had that power?

Needless to say though, it will still be awesome. Rorschach's opening journal entry gives me chills every time I read it. And it's just an indicator to me of how incredible the book is. The adaptation is supposed to be incredibly faithful, and seeing those images and those words on the big screen will likely mean that next Friday night, the world will be defeaned by the sounds of one million simultaneous nerdgasms. Every clip I have seen shows that Snyder really cares about this material, and that, like us, he's just a fanboy who can't believe he got the job.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is, this is going to be freaking awesome. And while there may be loads of 'mainstream folk', there will certainly be those who will go in, and come out with a changed view of the superhero genre, and a newly opened/blown mind. With the countdown shortening every second, all I can say is...

Get ready. And whatever you do, don't go on Wikipedia.