Ok guys, since I am apparently the biggest dick on this site, I felt the need to review Tales of the Black Freighter before the other softees did. I don’t know if it was evident from the most recent podcast, but I was not enamored with Watchmen. It really had nothing to do with what they left out, and what they changed or any of that, it was more a fact that the movie just can’t be made with the source material provided. Now I’m not about to say I hated the movie completely because I liked nay loved certain parts. The way they Snyder altered the ending for example…better than the book. Rorschach was awesome and Jackie Earl Haley was the highlight of the whole move. In fact I agree with one of the commentors that an all-Rorschach movie would have been sick. Nonetheless, I left the theater feeling underwhelmed and under-entertained, but in reality I don’t think it could have been better, unless they made a miniseries…and at that, who knows. Now, onto the supplemental material that was released this week. As a whole, it was much better than the theatrical release. The Black Freighter story is very gritty and dark, it is certainly not for the faint at heart. Snyder and Co. left no stone unturned here and gave me exactly what I wanted…a faithful replication of the story within a story. Gerard Butler’s voice over was ominous and angered. As Chuck and I left the movie we both were wanting more of the MinuteMen back story…well you will get that here with the Under The Hood interview by the original Night Owl. It is done in such a way that it seems like you are watching a 60 Minutes-like show from the 1960s with Seiko commercials included. As such, a lot of Sally Jupiter’s story shone through here as well as the original masked vigilante Hooded Justice. When Watchmen come out on BluRay, I will rewatch both in tandem and I feel that this may change my opinion for Watchmen, even possibly raising it’s iScore for me…nah.
Episode 23 kicks off with remembrances of winter, Chuck’s trials and tribulations of owning a dog, and multi-function remotes. Chuck and Jason then eagerly launch into their discussion of the Watchmen movie. The podcast concludes with Jason’s reviews of three new games: Street Fighter 4, Little Big Planet, and Resident Evil 5.
As Episode 22 kicks off with a serious PEBKAC issue and Clive Owen’s penchant for firearms, Jason and Chuck pick up the pieces of their shattered Oscar talk, High Jackman’s performance, and Jay’s shame. On the docket: Slumdog Millionaire, The Dark Knight, Taken, Watchmen, and Coraline.
As Episode 20 kicks off, Jason and Chuck realize that the iconogeek podcast is indeed 1year old. Happy Birthday to us! First stop Jason gets infected by the Zombie virus and proceeds to play every PS3 game he owns, finishes and shows his love for Metal Gear 4, Fable2, and Dead Space. Chuck then geeks out on his Nikon D40x DSLR and goes back to highschool as he and Jason bond over fstops.
Chuck’s childhood Jedi collaborator stops and becomes a believer in Guitar Hero World Tour (Chuck’s new favorite distraction)
Chuck and Jason then run through the great crop of TV. Battlestar Galactica is back, Chuck eats his words, and Jason drops a hint about a new BSG spinoff. Jason makes Chuck’s day by delivering some great Watchmen news and teases some new trailers: Franklyn, Outlander, Crank 2, and Taken.
As the 16th episode of iconogeek kicks off, Chuck and Jason delve into the much-anticipated “Preschoolers” HBO series, adventures in parenting, the dangers of Capri Sun, and why pets suck.
The term “Postal” is discussed and Chuck and Jason put it to the listeners to coin a new term. After which the discussion turns to Bangkok Dangerous, Elvis, Bubba Ho-tep’s sequel, and how cool Bruce Campbell is.
Chuck tasks Jason with reading Watchmen in preparation for the film, then the two discuss Fox’s bogus lawsuit against the WB and touch on the amazing story that is Watchmen.
The show continues with Jason professing his love for Tilda Swinton as the conversation moves from “Burn After Reading to Michael Clayton. RocknRolla enters into the conversation as Jason marvels at Guy Ritchie’s crazy cast of characters and then finishes up with a quick review of Babylon AD. But not before Chuck allows himself to lay into Doomsday once more (as if the post wasn’t enough).
The news of the summer is certainly The Dark Knight and Jason and Chuck delve into it head on (right after Jason’s water polo match, of course). But first, reminiscing about Batman and Star Wars Christmas specials from the 70’s is up first.
The conversation tangents off (what else?) to Superman and,his magic allergy. Then a sneaky segue by Jason brings us to DC Universe Online and Worlds Collide then off to Batman Gotham Knight and extending movies beyond the screen.
Jason drops another video game bomb with the upcoming Wanted game and then Chuck gets us back to The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger’s phenomenal performance and the most bad-ass movie of the year.
The show wraps with Alan Moore’s genius/craziness and looking forward to Watchmen.