Alan Moore on "Watchmen" Movie" - "I will be spitting venom all over it"

[semillama]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2008/09/alan-moore-on-w.html

"For the record, Alan Moore has not softened his view on Hollywood nor its plan to bring his classic graphic novel "Watchmen" to the screen next March.

"I find film in its modern form to be quite bullying," Moore told me during an hour-long phone call from his home in England. "It spoon-feeds us, which has the effect of watering down our collective cultural imagination. It is as if we are freshly hatched birds looking up with our mouths open waiting for Hollywood to feed us more regurgitated worms. The 'Watchmen' film sounds like more regurgitated worms. I for one am sick of worms. Can't we get something else? Perhaps some takeout? Even Chinese worms would be a nice change."

Moore is often described as a recluse but, really, I think it's more precise to say he is simply too busy at his writing desk. "Yes, perhaps I should get out more," he said with a chuckle. In conversation, the 54-year-old iconoclast is everything his longtime readers would expect -- articulate, witty, obstinate and selectively enigmatic. Far from grouchy, he only gets an edge in his voice when he talks about the effect of Hollywood on the comics medium that he so memorably energized in the 1980s with "Saga of the Swamp Thing," "V for Vendetta," "Marvelman" and, of course, "Watchmen," his 1986 masterpiece. The Warner Bros. film version of "Watchmen" is due in theaters in March although the project has encountered some turbulence with a lawsuit filed by 20th Century Fox over who has the rights to the property. Moore has no intention of seeing the film and, in fact, he hints that he has put a magical curse on the entire endeavor."

[Orrex]

1. Alan Moore has been pissed off at everything for decades

Well boo hoo hoo.

Look, Al. I'm sorry that the petition to have you recognized as the #1 transcendent genius for all time failed to go through, but them's the breaks.

No kidding that Hollywood spoon-feeds its audience; it's not as though it claims otherwise, and it's not as though Al's the first person to point this out.

I suspect that Al's problem is less with Hollywood's vapidity and more with the fact that he doesn't like the way his works are adapted to the screen. Well, that's his prerogative, of course, but there's no need to be such a primadonna about it. Such wispy source material as Shakespeare, Tolkien, and The Bible have made it to film more or less effectively; I think that the medium can handle Watchmen.

[Mojambo]

2. He's just got this "too cool for school" vibe that's kind of exhausting.

Great writer, but loosen the fuck up.

[Broken_Hero]

3. hmm, well its a free country, he can stay at home

if its his choice...btw, I just read The Watchmen for the first time last night, VERY good graphic...I was really impressed with Dr. Manhattan and Rorshach(sp)....

I'll probably read it again in a few days.

[But....]

10. Lucky!

I remember waiting a month between issues(yes I'm old). Personal favorite-NiteOwl, I really should dig up the old comics before the movie:bounce:

[The Doctor.]

13. Been reading them with the kiddo.

He's not all into it just now (Zepplin phase), but he enjoys them.

I'm just hoping the director got his way.

[Forkboy]

4. Jesus, Alan, switch to decaf.

Great writer, but damn, does he take himself seriously.

[nxylas]

12. The two are not unconnected

He's a great writer because he takes himself seriously. And I don't blame him for being pissed off at Hollywood, given their track record with his "babies".

[The Doctor.]

14. I really believe they did an excellent job with 'V for Vendetta', even though it could never

encompass all the texture and depth of the novel.

I just hope they come as close with Watchmen.

[edhopper]

5. First I really think that

Moore is one of the true geniuses of the Comic Book field.
But for a guy who has spent the last decade writing about a team of characters taken from classic fiction (LOEG), he probably shouldn't get into criticizing other people's interpretation of his own work.

And by the way, I've been on DU for a few years, but I just discovered this forum. Hello!

[semillama]

6. I pretty much agree with you

I find Moore's blanket reaction to treatments of his work in film amusing, but given the track record so far, he's had good reason to be skeptical.

My wife just finished reading the book - it's the first graphic novel she's read. She says she normally can't stand reading comics because the format makes her brain hurt. I'm hoping this positive experience will allow her to read other graphic novels now...

[edhopper]

7. I've had the same reaction from

non-comic readers. Reading comics seem so effortless and automatic to us. Yet to the non-comic reader, they have difficulty following the story.
Hopefully your wife will enjoy WM enough to make the effort. I also find Will Eisner's novels good for non-comic people.

[semillama]

8. Oh, she loved it.

Funny you mention Eisner - she asked me if she should read the Spirit before the movie comes out and I guiltily admitted I didn't own any TPBs of the Spirit. That's something I plan to rectify tomorrow at the comic book store.

[edhopper]

9. I would especially recommend

his later graphic novels like "Dropsie Avenue" and "Heart of the Storm". Masterpieces.

[But....]

11. Wow...

I have the same reaction-to manga! The whole left-right leaves me with a monster headache:hurts:

[Orrex]

15. Found a blog entry that seems fitting

http://www.yourmomsbasement.com/archives/comics/index.html

I haven't read much of the blog beyond this Moore-releated entry, but it cracked me up and seemed to go along with this thread.

[ACTION BASTARD]

16. Moore has had a lot of people shit on his work so I can see where he's coming from.

However, I don't think he can reverse course now. People now expect him to shit on Hollywood's interpretation of his work.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

17. Aye, but . . .

keep in mind that Alan has tacitly agreed to allow his work to be shit on. It happened as soon as he signed the back of the check.

His appearance on the Simpsons was quite revealing. He appeared "in character", but appeared nonetheless, and allowed Matt Groening and Co. to poke all of the Alan Moore sacred cows. This pic is from a scene in Comic Book Guy's shop where Moore refused to autograph some merchandise that he had obviously approved.