It's really a shame that the more commercial crap is made of Alan Moore's work, the more people dislike the man. Hollywood folks paint this horrible picture of the guy... the disgruntled author who refuses to take part in any film ventures made of his work (even going so far as rejecting massive royalties). He's supposedly this bitter recluse who hates people and disapproves of any expansion of his ideas. He gets crap slung at him from all directions these days.
Yeah, well... I believe in Alan Moore. His work just isn't cut out for the movies. For proof of this, just look at the theatrical track record. I'm not listing those crap movies out here, hit up an IMDB search and knock yourself out.
I'll always side with the guy when it comes to Hollywood snatching up his work. I can't understand who wouldn't side with my opinion when I say this, but if I had worked for years and years on projects that defined me as a 20th Century icon... only to have some company and dumbass director (yeah, YOU Norrington) take my work, butcher it to pieces, change it all around, disrespect it, compact it into a quarter of its running time and show it to triple its original audience in a completely different medium... I'd be mad as almighty hell too. It's like taking a damn Roy Liechtenstein painting and turning it into a wacky madcap Saturday morning cartoon.
The further and further I get away from that Watchmen movie, the more I hate the fact it was even made. I believe it was Terry Gilliam who once said (after merely thinking of directing a Watchmen film) that Alan Moore's work was truly made for no other medium than comic books. A true Watchmen film could never work (and a true Watchmen fan would agree with me!!). The structure, the storytelling, everything... it's made as an original art form.
I guess that Snyder guy wanted to prove him wrong by making a carbon-copy of the original book... but does that movie even really work as a movie?? I guess a lot of people love it, but to me it just feels like some Bizarro World version of the real story. Poor-man's Watchmen in my opinion. Don't like it, and I'm kinda mad at myself for buying the damn thing on DVD. I would send Moore my refund money, but he probably wouldn't take it either.
Since fighting his way through the shitstorm of having his own babies' arms ripped off and maliciously thrown at him, the guy just keeps on getting more and more fascinating through the years. Like him or not, the guy's ideas have always been 10 miles ahead of the curve. Sure, they're mostly weird as hell, but you can't argue with me that they've been original.
Now the guy's got this new project brewing in his creepy Northampton kettle, and it's an extremely interesting independent magazine. Read all about it here.
WIRED does a wonderful job, as usual, of covering this new milestone through a fantastic interview with the man. I just wanted to share the link and sling a little Tirade opinion in the mix.
Also I'd urge you to enjoy this clip... definitely one of the most in-sane things I've ever seen in my entire life on this planet:
I might just go back and read my copy of Saga of the Swamp Thing #21: "The Anatomy Lesson" tonight. With that piece, Moore came on board the title and took a busted, hilariously bad comic and turned it into a freight train of incredible literature.
He's done it again and again and again... so how's his newest project going to fare?
YOU, the reader, decide.
-Alec Holland
3 Comments:
I guess I'm the guy sitting on both sides of the fence. I like the movies and I like the comic books. Are the movies a bit different than the books? They kinda have to be. They are movies after all.
But I think that as the ideas in books are so amazingly great, that the ideas translate well into the films.
Okay I'm being perhaps premature. The fact that is I only consider V for Vendetta & The Watchmen to be amazing adaptations (as you can see by their rankings in my best of the 00s) and I have not seen several of the flicks (From Hell & The Swamp Thing stuff). And lets face it, while League of Gentlemen & Constantine are enjoyable & forgettable flicks they don't come up any where near greatness or goodness.
And as for the man himself, I say more power to him. Being discontented with the adaptations is his right. I love the fact that he has a specific point of view on how his work is best enjoyed, and believe me the comic versions are better. And the fact that he refuses substantial financial payoff, is nothing short of saintly in my book.
I love the comics. I love the movies. I love Alan Moore. Even if I disagree with his opinion on some films based on his work....
As a big fan of Moore's work, I have created a Swamp Thing Annotations site, providing detailed analysis of Moore's and Veitch's run on the book. Please check it out. I trust it will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the series.
http://tinyurl.com/2jc79
Wow, a comment from Greg, the SWAMP THING annotations guy! Been a fan for a long time, Greg.
Seems as if you're moving up in the world, Matt, and keeping good company.
Anyway, just thought I'd jump on here to say that I look forward to DODGEM LOGIC whenever I get a moment to read it. Sounds like a lot of fun.
Also, I've currently been on a huge SWAMP THING kick. Been reading issues of the original series as well as the Moore issues. As a reviewer on CBR recently said, the Moore SWAMP THING is always better than you remember. And such amazing artwork!
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