Tuesday, July 22, 2008

by Ari

Not to focus too much on this issue, but on the topic of Watchmen, I noticed author Alan Moore had a few more things to say about Hollywood adaptations. At this point it's not exactly surprising when Moore blasts the people involved with re-creating his work for another medium. I had a conversation with a friend the other day who expressed serious disappointment and frustration with Moore's recent interview. His point, and a valid one, was that we get the picture already: Moore despises Hollywood for abusing his work, and while he's had the opportunity to influence the filmmakers that adapt his books, he chooses not to. He refuses to help.

I can see how this can be irritating, especially if you really want Watchmen to be a good movie. But after giving this some more thought, I think we also have to accept his rights as the author to rebel against the system. Whether Watchmen is a great film or a disaster, Moore has the right to voice his concern and disdain for the whole process. It's his work. It's his story. Moore's intention was to create a comic book, not a film. As he says in the interview:

"I talked to [director] Terry Gilliam in the '80s, and he asked me how I would make Watchmen into a film. I said, ''Well actually, Terry, if anybody asked me, I would have said, 'I wouldn't.'''

Even if the film is a faithful adaptation of Moore's story, he still has the right to damn everyone involved, doesn't he? Why should he have to remain quiet if it was never his intention to have Watchmen projected on a screen? Imagine Shakespeare's reaction to the Orson Welles Falstaff (Chimes at Midnight) had he been alive to see it. It's a masterwork by Welles, maybe my favorite of his movies, but I doubt the Bard would've enjoyed watching his plays mashed together like that. It would be admirable if he liked the movie, but also completely understandable if he wanted everyone to know he detested it. I think the same applies to Moore and the movies.

Sidenote: I found this interview with Moore on youtube. He discusses Watchmen and reads a passage as Rorschach. (Spoilers)