Join me as I join Mike and Max of Commentary Track Stars to watch Watchmen. I’ve never read the comic book (apparently, they still made comic books for a while after 1984), but Max thinks it’s the greatest thing since sliced Shakespeare, so we discuss the relevancy and point of even having a film.
We deconstruct the story, themes, motifs, and symbolism. Max and I disagree over whether or not a human could catch a bullet, whether or not Superman could win the Vietnam War, and what Lee Iaccoca’s role in the world was. I try to figure out if Ozymandias is gay and if Jackie Earl Haley qualifies as a dwarf. Max and Mike try to figure out how Rorschach’s mask works. We all try to figure out what is meant to be satirical versus what is meant to be awesome and is actually kind of lame and also who is history’s finest nine-fingered actor.
Also, I quiz Mike and Max about other movies I am confusing with this one, but Mike nevertheless answers correctly. Max and I perform a play about gravity. Max angrily denounces Paul Verhoeven and Freepers as serial killers and sex offenders, respectively. Max reveals how he learned to tie a necktie. And Mike explains how two lines of the comic book fix the biggest thing that bothers me about the film.
We’re watching the Blu-ray director’s cut. Start the movie right after the DC logo has disappeared, on the countdown.
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You guys seem confused about Dr Manhattan. So, here it is:
He doesn’t make choices or wonder about the future because he never did; even as a child. That is the reason for all of the clocks. You know what a clock will do. No surprises. He has always done what was expected of him: he studied clocks because his father repaired clocks, he studied physics because his father told him too, he didn’t even ask out his first girlfriend. His story ark ends with his embracing making decisions and seeing things which are unexpected (even saying he might go make a universe and see what happens).
What’s more, he is comforted by following his future vision and not making decisions.
A similar character is Paul in Dune: he has a single vision of the future, accepts where it leads and follows his vision.
PS: Ozymandias bloodies his hands catching a bullet and admits he wasn’t sure he could do it.
PPS: Rorschach does kind of need a pity killing. That is why his story arc end in death. But, you’re wrong that he’s killing people all the time. In the course of his investigation, he is usually beating up people. He also doesn’t seem to have killed people at all while with the owl. He’s based on the Question, who also beats people for information.