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PhillyArena Community => NBA Discussion => Topic started by: Reality on March 02, 2009, 01:46:41 PM

Title: Movies
Post by: Reality on March 02, 2009, 01:46:41 PM
Street Fighter.  Some of the young whipersnappers are trying to get me to see this.  With that part Asian part Dutch chick who used to play the hot looking alien in that Area 51 type show.
Has Street Fighter got some plot to it or is it just a bunch of SFX crap for geeks?

Chinatown.  I know, old as the hills.  I've never seen it.  Saw the 1st 20 minutes the other day and it looks pretty interesting.  Wrinkleson gives an okay performance?
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: SPURSX3 on March 02, 2009, 03:42:06 PM
I cannot imagine street fighter being good, I guess if you have some time to waste you should go.  I will wait til it is on dvd.

Watchmen somes out this weekend doesn't it?  go watch that instead reality. 
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: WayOutWest on March 02, 2009, 07:10:23 PM
I saw Coroline and it was a terrific movie.  There was a preview for a movie called "9", I can't wait to see it, to coin a whippersnapper line: "looks totally awesome".
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: westkoast on March 03, 2009, 11:01:12 AM
I cannot imagine street fighter being good, I guess if you have some time to waste you should go.  I will wait til it is on dvd.

Watchmen somes out this weekend doesn't it?  go watch that instead reality. 

Talked to someone who saw it early and they said that it was poorly done.  Not a movie critic either just someone I know who happened to get to see it early.
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: Reality on March 03, 2009, 11:06:28 AM
Slumdog Millionaire?
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: SPURSX3 on March 03, 2009, 11:44:35 AM
Slumdog Millionaire?

Slumdog was great Reality.  WK, what movie did they see early?  street fighter? or watchmen?
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: westkoast on March 03, 2009, 11:45:04 AM
Slumdog Millionaire?

Slumdog was great Reality.  WK, what movie did they see early?  street fighter? or watchmen?

Watchmen....
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: jn on March 03, 2009, 01:46:40 PM
Big thumbs up for Coraline.  I saw it in 3D and loved it.  It's based on book by Neil Gaiman, who's an excellent writer, and it was directed by a guy named Henry Selleck who directed The Nightmare Before Christmas.  First 3D movie I've seen so that really added a lot.
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: Skandery on March 03, 2009, 03:51:03 PM
Slumdog Millionaire was amazing!  How often can you say the Acadamey got it exactly right.  That was the best movie of the year.

The movie I am and have been looking forward to with barely contained fanboy glee is "Watchmen".  Please o please be a well-done movie!  This project could complete the change in the comic-movie paradigm that "The Dark Knight" began.
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: WayOutWest on March 03, 2009, 09:31:14 PM
The movie I am and have been looking forward to with barely contained fanboy glee is "Watchmen".  Please o please be a well-done movie!  This project could complete the change in the comic-movie paradigm that "The Dark Knight" began.

Prepare yourself to get bummed out.  :'(
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: SPURSX3 on March 03, 2009, 10:05:53 PM
The movie I am and have been looking forward to with barely contained fanboy glee is "Watchmen".  Please o please be a well-done movie!  This project could complete the change in the comic-movie paradigm that "The Dark Knight" began.

Prepare yourself to get bummed out.  :'(

say it ain't so
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: westkoast on March 03, 2009, 10:34:17 PM
March, April, May are like dead months to me when it comes to movies.
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: WayOutWest on March 03, 2009, 10:36:50 PM
March, April, May are like dead months to me when it comes to movies.

9-9-09  BOOK IT 4 "9"!
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: WayOutWest on March 03, 2009, 10:40:00 PM
FYI:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/9/large.html
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: SPURSX3 on March 03, 2009, 10:55:03 PM
March, April, May are like dead months to me when it comes to movies.

9-9-09  BOOK IT 4 "9"!

9 seems interesting, supposedly 9 started as a short film on youtube or something like that.
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: WayOutWest on March 03, 2009, 10:58:45 PM
March, April, May are like dead months to me when it comes to movies.

9-9-09  BOOK IT 4 "9"!

9 seems interesting, supposedly 9 started as a short film on youtube or something like that.

Speaking of internet films, one of my favs was "The Killer Bean II".
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: SPURSX3 on March 03, 2009, 11:01:14 PM
this one has been a fave of mine for years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuOvqeABHvQ
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: Wolverine on March 03, 2009, 11:33:16 PM
I plan on seeing Watchmen at midnight Thursday night, but I've been really sick the past couple of days, so we'll see what happens ...
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: WayOutWest on March 03, 2009, 11:35:24 PM
this one has been a fave of mine for years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuOvqeABHvQ

Jesus called, you're going to hell.  :'(
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: SPURSX3 on March 03, 2009, 11:37:55 PM
this one has been a fave of mine for years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuOvqeABHvQ

Jesus called, you're going to hell.  :'(

"My Spoon is too big"
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: WayOutWest on March 03, 2009, 11:38:07 PM
I plan on seeing Watchmen at midnight Thursday night, but I've been really sick the past couple of days, so we'll see what happens ...

Jesus called, he said to set your money on fire instead.
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: Ted on March 04, 2009, 01:21:10 AM
this one has been a fave of mine for years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuOvqeABHvQ

I'll never get that 9 minutes and 23 seconds of my life back. Never. You bastard.
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: SPURSX3 on March 04, 2009, 09:50:47 AM
this one has been a fave of mine for years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuOvqeABHvQ

I'll never get that 9 minutes and 23 seconds of my life back. Never. You bastard.

LMAO!  I saw this cartoon back in college during at one of those short film festivals, stuck with me since.  LOL
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: westkoast on March 04, 2009, 10:35:26 AM
Anything Tim Burton does I watch so I want to check that out.  I can't really name a movie he did I didn't like.  Sad to say but I even like Edward Scissorhands.
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: Reality on March 05, 2009, 09:26:07 AM
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a can't miss for the married boardies wanting to take wife to a play she'll like. 
westkoast and WoW can also attend and will love it. 
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: JoMal on March 05, 2009, 12:40:56 PM
I saw "Wanted" and now can't get clean.
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: Skandery on March 05, 2009, 01:15:21 PM
Wanted was a really bad movie!
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: Skandery on March 05, 2009, 01:32:35 PM
Quote
this one has been a fave of mine for years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuOvqeABHvQ



Why do listen to you people? <sigh>
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: JoMal on March 05, 2009, 03:10:36 PM
I also did not care for "The Dark Knight". If I wanted to see relentless death and violence without the satisfaction of revenge, for what revenge can there be for the killing of thousands, I would just watch the Twin Towers collapse again. Loud and pointless, not even Ledger could salvage it. Plus, I don't know about the rest of you, but movies that glorify the mass slaughter of policemen over and over again is sending out a black messages. One, that policemen are all incompetent, so two, watching them die in huge numbers serves them right.

Also, "Body of Lies". These movies about the Middle East have a common theme to them - Hollywood, at least, has given up all hope of the U.S. succeeding against these people. We should all get out now. Apparently, the lucky ones are already dead.

"Get Smart". Whoever wrote this movie had no clue as to what made the TV series popular. They drained all aspects of Buck Henry and Mel Brooks out of it and even when using the patented lines from the show, could never duplicate Don Adams' delivery, and did not even try. Pathetic. Also, 99 was funny on the TV show. Apparently a comedy was not what the makers intended. They succeeded.

"The Changling". Terrific from top to bottom. One of the best movies I have seen that came out in the last couple of years. Eastwood has figured out how to make movies bigtime.

Back to "Wanted". I 'wanted' to kill the frustrated ninth grader who wrote this garbage after suffering through this crap. So you got bullied on the playground by others who think you suck. Deal with it like the rest of us do. And forget about Angelina Jolie suddenly popping up in your life to make it all better. But you are the little punk jerking off at you wrote this junk.
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: SPURSX3 on March 06, 2009, 01:25:13 AM
Quote
this one has been a fave of mine for years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuOvqeABHvQ



Why do listen to you people? <sigh>


classic.   :P


Title: Re: Movies
Post by: WayOutWest on March 07, 2009, 01:57:26 AM
I plan on seeing Watchmen at midnight Thursday night, but I've been really sick the past couple of days, so we'll see what happens ...

That movie sucked big time, we almost walked out twice.  Don't waste your time people, you're better off renting "Mystery Men".
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: westkoast on March 07, 2009, 10:22:40 AM
I also did not care for "The Dark Knight". If I wanted to see relentless death and violence without the satisfaction of revenge, for what revenge can there be for the killing of thousands, I would just watch the Twin Towers collapse again. Loud and pointless, not even Ledger could salvage it. Plus, I don't know about the rest of you, but movies that glorify the mass slaughter of policemen over and over again is sending out a black messages. One, that policemen are all incompetent, so two, watching them die in huge numbers serves them right.

Also, "Body of Lies". These movies about the Middle East have a common theme to them - Hollywood, at least, has given up all hope of the U.S. succeeding against these people. We should all get out now. Apparently, the lucky ones are already dead.

"Get Smart". Whoever wrote this movie had no clue as to what made the TV series popular. They drained all aspects of Buck Henry and Mel Brooks out of it and even when using the patented lines from the show, could never duplicate Don Adams' delivery, and did not even try. Pathetic. Also, 99 was funny on the TV show. Apparently a comedy was not what the makers intended. They succeeded.

"The Changling". Terrific from top to bottom. One of the best movies I have seen that came out in the last couple of years. Eastwood has figured out how to make movies bigtime.

Back to "Wanted". I 'wanted' to kill the frustrated ninth grader who wrote this garbage after suffering through this crap. So you got bullied on the playground by others who think you suck. Deal with it like the rest of us do. And forget about Angelina Jolie suddenly popping up in your life to make it all better. But you are the little punk jerking off at you wrote this junk.

Get Smart was my step dads favorite show so I use to watch it with him all the time.  When the movie came out I just knew it wasn't going to work.  They thought because Steve Carell was popular at the time, coming of some really funny movies, anything they put him in would be good (Ditto for Anne Hathaway).  Like you said you can't just put any funny person to play Don Adams' role.  Just the voice itself cannot be duplicated.  Plus how are you going to spoof the opening scene when it's one of the best openings to a show of all time?  They should have left everything about the show intact and not tried to modernize it to fit this decade.

Wanted sucked more than Jenna Jameson but this is what I read when I saw the paragraph. "Damn kids and their damn skateboards. Always near my lawn with their hippity hop and their damn Angelina Jolie. Back in my day...." 
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: WayOutWest on March 07, 2009, 04:23:09 PM
I plan on seeing Watchmen at midnight Thursday night, but I've been really sick the past couple of days, so we'll see what happens ...

That movie sucked big time, we almost walked out twice.  Don't waste your time people, you're better off renting "Mystery Men".

The more I think about it the worse it gets.  IMO the premise of this movie is the best superhero premise/plot of any movie I've ever seen.  Makes "The Dark Knight" looks like "Romper Room" but the execution of the movie was HORRID!  When I saw the ending it really made me mad that they made us sit through 2 hours of crap just to get to the good part which was only 15 minutes long. 
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: Wolverine on March 08, 2009, 01:47:56 AM
I plan on seeing Watchmen at midnight Thursday night, but I've been really sick the past couple of days, so we'll see what happens ...

That movie sucked big time, we almost walked out twice.  Don't waste your time people, you're better off renting "Mystery Men".

The more I think about it the worse it gets.  IMO the premise of this movie is the best superhero premise/plot of any movie I've ever seen.  Makes "The Dark Knight" looks like "Romper Room" but the execution of the movie was HORRID!  When I saw the ending it really made me mad that they made us sit through 2 hours of crap just to get to the good part which was only 15 minutes long. 

Funny, because I feel almost the complete opposite, Miggy.

The first few minutes of the movie were the best part, IMO (the title sequence was a nod to those of us who've read the book).  Really, the first hour so was great, especially the Manhattan stuff on Mars and the Comedian's funeral.  Anything involving Manhattan, the Comedian or Rorschach was terrific, and it's not a total coincidence that I feel those were the three stand-out performances among the cast.

The ending was - how shall I put this? - not good.  It's different from the book, but believe it or not I'm not entirerly opposed to that idea.  If you have a different direction you want to go, fine.  But stay true to the *SPIRIT* of the book, and while they did okay in that respect, the whole ending felt incredibly RUSHED (in the book, Ozy goes on for a good ten pages - nothing but exposition, so I knew the filmmakers were in trouble.  It's a tough assignment to tackle.)  And on top of that, there were a few scenes that I felt were ABSOLUTELY necessary - and they were left out and/or changed (granted, there were a lot of changes/ommissions from the comic).

Overall, I liked the movie.  Felt it was good.  What they got right, they REALLY got right.  But to me, it feels INCOMPLETE.  It's a 12-issue limited series that's been turned into a two-and-a-half hour movie.  There had to be stuff left out, or otherwise we would have been in the theatre for eight hours.  So I'm okay with leaving some stuff out, but that makes the movie "good."

The book is SO MUCH BETTER.

Out of this world, really.  Easily among my top five favorite stories told in comics.  Right there with Batman: Year One, Batman: The Long Halloween, X-Men's "Days of Future Past" and Fables' "Legends in Exile."
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: Derek Bodner on March 08, 2009, 09:27:30 AM
Quote
I also did not care for "The Dark Knight". If I wanted to see relentless death and violence without the satisfaction of revenge

So movies have to end happily to be any good?

As for the rest, fake terrorism on movies doesn't exactly get to me, especially when you have the news showing Nick Berg videos (i.e. THE REAL THING) over and over and over again to get better ratings.
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: Skandery on March 08, 2009, 01:04:17 PM
I can't help but wonder, Miguel, did you happen to make the mistake of taking your kids to the movie?

I was watching a History channel or AMC special on comic books a couple of years ago.  They were talking the mythology of comics, the history, the niche in culture, etc.  The editor-in-chief of DC said something quite simple to observe, yet for some reason I had never personally thought of.  He said not only have comics been shaped to draw in adult readers, the majority of comics today are not for children.  Well if you can point to an event in comic history that was the start of that shift, it was 1986 and publication of Watchmen. 

The movie was dark, subversive, sexual, smart, gluttonous, and engaged in socio-political themes that reflect the worst of society and the director had no choice in the matter.  For if Snyder had any hope of translating the iconic Watchmen graphic novel to the screen, he had to remain faithful.  Otherwise why take on this particular material if your intention is to make a generic, broad-appeal, superhero blockbuster.

I thought the style and characterization were excellent.  The exposition was overlong at times but reflected Moore's writing style.  Pacing was an issue with the movie but they crammed a 12 issue story into 2 hours and 42 minutes.  Had the filmakers had the patience and the studio had the guts, they probably should have made a two movies, maybe a trilogy.  The strongest performances were Jackie Earl Haley (Rorschach), Billy Crudup (Dr. Manhattan), and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Comedian).  Malin Ackerman (Silk Spectre) and Patrick Wilson (Nite Owl) gave measured performances.  Matthew Goode was overwhelmed by Ozymandias although admittedly had the toughest role.  The Art direction was supreme!  Much like there was a concious effort for Dave Gibbons/John Higgins (the original artists on the comics) to use secondary colors (Purple, orange, green) instead of the general primary colors (Red, Yellow, Blue), you could tell the directors stayed faithful to that scheme.

You could say that with such well-known source material, the weight of the pressure to stay true may have crushed the filmmakers in the end.  Personally I admire and applaud the effort and had quite an enjoyable movie experience.  This is one DVD that is definitely going to be in the collection.     

A-
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: WayOutWest on March 08, 2009, 04:12:58 PM
I can't help but wonder, Miguel, did you happen to make the mistake of taking your kids to the movie?

I did take them and the two that are smarter than me, and by the "transitive axiom of inequality" are smarter than any of you, found the movie to be awesomely bad.  You touch on why we felt that way below.

I was watching a History channel or AMC special on comic books a couple of years ago.  They were talking the mythology of comics, the history, the niche in culture, etc.  The editor-in-chief of DC said something quite simple to observe, yet for some reason I had never personally thought of.  He said not only have comics been shaped to draw in adult readers, the majority of comics today are not for children.  Well if you can point to an event in comic history that was the start of that shift, it was 1986 and publication of Watchmen. 

Again that is what really made me mad the more I thought about it.  IMO the premise of "Watchmen" is terrific, it's what made "The Dark Knight" and "BSG" so enjoyable for me.  No more of that fake violence where nobody really gets hurt or the beloved mortal humans being spared any true hardship or death.  The X-Men did that a bit where soldiers died fighting, same with Transformers but typically only the bad guys die.  I'm glad superhero and sci-fi movie makers are leaving that "never never land" world behind and making movies/series for thinking adults.

The movie was dark, subversive, sexual, smart, gluttonous, and engaged in socio-political themes that reflect the worst of society and the director had no choice in the matter.  For if Snyder had any hope of translating the iconic Watchmen graphic novel to the screen, he had to remain faithful.  Otherwise why take on this particular material if your intention is to make a generic, broad-appeal, superhero blockbuster.

That is the part we had the most questions about, why did the film not explore what made these characters so interesting, they only went there with "Rorschach" to a small extent.  They touched on it very little with Dr. Manhattan (imo Manhatten means GAY in superhero-speak) and the Comedian, they had such a great opportunity with the Vietnam arc but spend all of 5 minutes on it.  Instead they spent (aka WASTED) a large portion with queer owl boy and spandex-ho's stupid relationship.  They wasted SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much friggin time on PG-13 BS and nearly ignored the R rated story behind these guys and what made them really interesting.  This movie was borderline GAY because you knew there was a truely DARK and TWISTED side to the whole story and they barely scratched the surface.

I thought the style and characterization were excellent.  The exposition was overlong at times but reflected Moore's writing style.  Pacing was an issue with the movie but they crammed a 12 issue story into 2 hours and 42 minutes.  Had the filmakers had the patience and the studio had the guts, they probably should have made a two movies, maybe a trilogy.  The strongest performances were Jackie Earl Haley (Rorschach), Billy Crudup (Dr. Manhattan), and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Comedian).  Malin Ackerman (Silk Spectre) and Patrick Wilson (Nite Owl) gave measured performances.  Matthew Goode was overwhelmed by Ozymandias although admittedly had the toughest role.  The Art direction was supreme!  Much like there was a concious effort for Dave Gibbons/John Higgins (the original artists on the comics) to use secondary colors (Purple, orange, green) instead of the general primary colors (Red, Yellow, Blue), you could tell the directors stayed faithful to that scheme.

IMO too little Rorschack and too much queer-eye for the strait guy time spent on owl boy and his ho.  I did enjoy the opening scenes that told the history to present day story of the super heros, too bad the movie didn't stick to interesting stuff instead of forcing some BS relationships on the audience.  Anything with Rorschach was great but the movie wanted to shove some stupid love story down our throats.

You could say that with such well-known source material, the weight of the pressure to stay true may have crushed the filmmakers in the end.  Personally I admire and applaud the effort and had quite an enjoyable movie experience.  This is one DVD that is definitely going to be in the collection.     

I have a feeling that if I read the comics I will get even more pissed.  The directory, or whoever, focused completely on the wrong stuff.  I wish I had followed my gut instinct and passed on this movie after seeing the previews.

A-

C-
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: WayOutWest on March 08, 2009, 04:29:25 PM
Funny, because I feel almost the complete opposite, Miggy.

The first few minutes of the movie were the best part, IMO (the title sequence was a nod to those of us who've read the book).  Really, the first hour so was great, especially the Manhattan stuff on Mars and the Comedian's funeral.  Anything involving Manhattan, the Comedian or Rorschach was terrific, and it's not a total coincidence that I feel those were the three stand-out performances among the cast.

You're right, the movie started off great with the "history" of the Watchmen.  Great music as well IMO.

The ending was - how shall I put this? - not good.  It's different from the book, but believe it or not I'm not entirerly opposed to that idea.  If you have a different direction you want to go, fine.  But stay true to the *SPIRIT* of the book, and while they did okay in that respect, the whole ending felt incredibly RUSHED (in the book, Ozy goes on for a good ten pages - nothing but exposition, so I knew the filmmakers were in trouble.  It's a tough assignment to tackle.)  And on top of that, there were a few scenes that I felt were ABSOLUTELY necessary - and they were left out and/or changed (granted, there were a lot of changes/ommissions from the comic).

I loved the ending, or the revealing of the true "Master Plan".  It tied everything back together very well after the movie unraveled everything.  The director did a HORRIBLE job of it, in fact the director made the movie nearly unwatchable to the point that you didn't care about the underlying plot.  One of the STUPIDIEST things about the movie was Dr. Fagtastic realizing the "miracle" that was Spandex-Ho herritage and having a change of heart in regards to Earth.  Dear Allah that was STUPID!!!!

Overall, I liked the movie.  Felt it was good.  What they got right, they REALLY got right.  But to me, it feels INCOMPLETE.  It's a 12-issue limited series that's been turned into a two-and-a-half hour movie.  There had to be stuff left out, or otherwise we would have been in the theatre for eight hours.  So I'm okay with leaving some stuff out, but that makes the movie "good."

The book is SO MUCH BETTER.

Out of this world, really.  Easily among my top five favorite stories told in comics.  Right there with Batman: Year One, Batman: The Long Halloween, X-Men's "Days of Future Past" and Fables' "Legends in Exile."

As I stated to Skandypants, if I read the comics I might have to sit down and write and angry letter to the director of the movie.  IMO this movie is on the same horrid level as "Batman and Robin".
Title: Re: Movies
Post by: JoMal on March 09, 2009, 11:07:10 AM
Quote
I also did not care for "The Dark Knight". If I wanted to see relentless death and violence without the satisfaction of revenge

So movies have to end happily to be any good?

You are kidding, right? Because I am pretty sure that was not what I was saying at all.

But a movie about relentless violence with no foreseeable and satisfactory outcome is not what Hollywood is about nor what people tend to want to see very often. You would expect a movie of this genre to make some sense of it, but it never did. So by the end, when the inevitable finally happened, so what?

Quote
As for the rest, fake terrorism on movies doesn't exactly get to me, especially when you have the news showing Nick Berg videos (i.e. THE REAL THING) over and over and over again to get better ratings
.

What is clear is that the conscious effort to entertain the populance by a relentless and clear adherance to violence has permeated our culture from our video games and movies straight to weekly news bites coming from all corners of the viewing world. It has become "okay" to kill in "fun", and look, we have the latest incident on YouTube.

Westkoast may joke about my close resemblence to Clint Eastwood, but I would hope this is not just an age thing, because if it is, I may be one of the only ones left on this board as this culture catches up to the rest of you "violence" junkies. The first mistake is to accept the culture shift with open arms.

Title: Re: Movies
Post by: Wolverine on March 10, 2009, 10:28:16 PM
I just returned from seeing "Watchmen" a second time, and my feelings overall remain the same, sans one aspect of the movie: the performance of Billy Crudup.

To me, it isn't just that it's the best acting work in the film; it also elevates Manhattan to the single most vital character.

In the novel, Rorschach (the primary protagonist) and Ozymandias (the central "villain") are the two most important characters, but the film's plot - and especially Crudup's performance - bring Manahattan to life in a way the book never could.  Here's a character who's a "God," but at one point was human.  You'd expect to hear a booming, powerful voice (as I did when reading the graphic novel), but instead a subtle, unemotional, "soft" voice provides the viewer with clear evidence of his withdrawal - something the book, by its very nature, could never do - and therefore, makes him an even more interesting character.  One, in fact, that is so compelling on screen, I often forgot what else was going on around him.

Don't get me wrong.  Roschach is still my favorite character (BY FAR), but Crudup's work in the film will forever change the way I read the novel.  And as an actor, that's something of a noteworthy performance ... to say the least.