03.08.09

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It took me a few days. I had to let it all marinate…
So, I’m not doing a review like you would find here or here. And it definitely will not resemble the review here (I could go on and say how my review will be neither this nor this, but I thought that might be overkill).
I will say this: Watchmen exceeded all my expectations. Let me quantify that statement; I say, “exceeded all my expectations” for the simple fact that I have only seen one preview (the preview before Dark Knight). Since, I have intentionally stayed away from any and every Watchmen preview. I dislike the concept of giving away the best parts of the movie. I am all for whetting the whistle and tickling the fancy and kindling an interest, but when a sprinkle here and there becomes an oversaturated douse then there is a problem.
I am not a little kid anymore, nonetheless, I still want to be surprised, I still want to be amazed and I still want go to the movies with anticipation waiting to be awed. Watchmen did just that only because I kept my end of the bargain. The minute I closed the back cover the weekend of the 20th, I redoubled my efforts avoiding anything Watchmen related to sustain the excitement I was feeling for the movie.
I was doing a great job until 03.05.09 almost spoiled it.
That night, there was a 3-minute – no, for real. It took up six 30-second commercial spots – preview in the ABDC Season 3 Finale.
Digressing…
*I thought nothing could top the Jabbawokeez “serving” the Season 1 crews a B-boy beat-down. But this Season, from what I saw with just six crews left (big ups to Strikers All-Stars reppin’ FAMU), was B-A-N-A-N-A-S!! The finale with Quest Crew (Congrats!) and Beat Freaks (keep Freaking the Dream) was a classic b-boy/b-girls battle. I do not think viewers understood that what they were witnessing real Hiphop.*
In the midst of all the hype, the great marketing campaign machine that is Warner Brothers decided the best way to get those last minute 18-34 year old movie-goers was to air Trailer 3 in the middle of ABDC. Acting like the kid I saw at the IMAX on Sunday morning during the inappropriate scenes, I quickly covered my eyes and asked my mom to tell me when it was over. I had avoided the last wave of Watchmen attacks.
Review:
For my students – “How was it?” were the first words out of their mouths Tuesday morning – I simply told them, “Comparing the graphic novel and the movie is like comparing apples to oranges. There is no comparison.”
“Well, did you like the movie?” They ask.
“It was a good movie, based just on a movie.”
“Would you recommend it?” They inquire.
“Read the novel first.” I conclude.
Reading – the words, the way they are placed and the structure – leaves a lasting impression and adds wrinkles (knowledge) to the brain.
I will tell them like I would tell anyone: There are some intricacies words on paper have that no amount takes or frames can make up for. Things get Lost in Translation.

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