March 05, 2009
An Open Letter to Alan Moore
Filmcans is deeply torn about Watchmen. And who can blame him? He's a tortured soul, wrestling with his love of the artistic work of another tortured soul.
Dear Alan Moore,I am writing this letter with guilt in my heart, because, tonight, I get to see the movie adaptation of Watchmen, a movie you never wanted me to see. I have cited you as an major artistic influence of mine, and I have a great deal of respect for your body of work, yet it's that same devotion to your work that brings me into a theatre to (hopefully) be absorbed into a world featuring your iconic characters brought to life on the big screen.
This is not the first time I've done this. I went out of my way to see From Hell (weak), LXG (very weak), and V for Vendetta (better than you would think, Mr. Moore) in a movie theatre. Not once in those screenings did I feel any pangs of guilt. None of those three set pop culture or the box office on fire in any significant way, so I knew that they'd come and go, and that the books would inarguably win the imaginary battle in my mind over which form of the story would reign supreme.
I am beginning to suspect that this won't be the case with Watchmen. The Godfather may be a classic movie, but I don't hear people talking about Mario Puzo's source novel...ever. If Watchmen is as successful as a film as the advanced critical praise makes it out to be, then the book will simply become a very well-written curiosity to the new generation who will grow up with the film version. I imagine it's bittersweet to see your own creation gain a larger audience through the hands of someone else, to gain an all-new reputation and an all-new identity through an act of creativity that you actively tried to block.
I'm sorry that I am feeding the beast. As someone who fancies themselves an artist, like I do, it's downright shameful. When I read today that the principle actors have multi-film contracts, tying them down for future Watchmen sequels or prequels, I really started to reflect-this is what you were afraid of, wasn't it? The mass-marketing of a personal, political story that became one of comics' greatest accomplishments. As a true fan, I should stay home. I should re-read my Swamp Thing trade paperbacks. I should do anything but see Watchmen.
And, yet, I can't resist. I have to find out for myself, first-hand, if this is really the cultural end of Watchmen the Graphic Novel, and the cultural genesis of Watchmen the Movie, or if this is just another pretty superhero studio movie that people will remember solely because it wasn't as good as the book.
Deepest regrets,
Filmcans