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Harry lets TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER and UNDER THE HOOD play out before his eyes!





WATCHMEN: TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER & UNDER THE HOOD

In total - there's over an hour or so worth of content on this DVD. I think that a lot of you will probably pass this release, hoping that this content will appear on some miraculous future WATCHMEN ultimate edition - and you're probably right - you'll most likely put this on a Netflicks queue before then though - and you definitely should.

I put this in at approximately 5am this morning - and it absolutely riveted me.

Upon unsheathing the disc from the case, I instantly chose to see UNDER THE HOOD - as I hadn't heard how that would be adapted. I quickly found out. It is in the form of a pre-Keene Act news program that was about Superheroes / Masked Heroes in America. It has lengthy interviews with Hollis Mason and Sally Jupiter, and newsreel footage of the various members of the Minutemen doing their thing. This is all WATCHMEN mega-geek overload stuff. Completely authentic feeling. The news show was very faithfully created and is critical of Hollis' book and heroes themselves. Interviewing people on the street about their thoughts and some surprising Watchmen side characters show up to talk as well! I found this very satisfying. It runs a shave over 37 minutes.

Then there's TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER. I fucking loved it! Atmospheric, haunting, creepy and a fantastic short film all on its own. I wish that they'd hold the DVD release - and release this first in a select few theaters for Academy Qualification.

TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER is very faithfully adapted - featuring the voice of Gerard Butler as the castaway. The feeling I got watching it (saw it 3 times tonight) is of a lost Poe or Lovecraft or EC story. The parallels and metaphoric references are all in there to work as a companion to the WATCHMEN universe, but better than that - this 21 minute animated short film is absolutely a solid work in and of itself. At points it feels very Graham Ingels or Bernie Wrightson. I love that this is hand animation at work, because it literally brings that comic to life. The score helps to enhance the fear - but Butler sounds like a man on the brink of insanity - clawing at reality as it tears upon his fingertips.

The shark attack on the raft... Quint will die - and all JAWS fans and shark attack junkies should love it as well. This short film is R-rated and uncompromising in its conveyance of dread and melancholy. It is perfect.

The only significant special Feature is the STORY WITHIN A STORY: THE BOOKS OF WATCHMEN - which is a very nice feature about why Zack felt it was important to give life to these two parts of the WATCHMEN story, which so many would have thought instantly eliminated from consideration. You'll find Len Wein and Dave Gibbons throughout this doc - along with various members of Zack's creative team - and lots of behind the scenes footage. It runs about 25 minutes. So in all this whole package is about an hour and a half - not counting the GREEN LANTERN preview or the 1st chapter of the Motion Comic for the WATCHMEN.

I'd say this. If you loved WATCHMEN this weekend - then this is definitely worth picking up. It really made me want to go back and watch the film again for a fourth time!

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Reader Talkback

I need to pick this up...
by R L S
Mar 10th, 2009
08:20:51 AM
I think Harry is on amphetamines or something
by chrth
Mar 10th, 2009
08:21:28 AM
Yeah, I'm thinking rental for now...
by rev_skarekroe
Mar 10th, 2009
08:21:37 AM
Can't wait...
by 11ZOMBIES
Mar 10th, 2009
08:22:13 AM
After seeing the film ............
by Judge_Dredd
Mar 10th, 2009
08:26:52 AM
I'll rent it, can't have enough "R" rated cartoons
by SoylentMean
Mar 10th, 2009
08:30:39 AM
chrth
by HEADGEEK
Mar 10th, 2009
08:30:54 AM
Don't mix those 5-hour energy drinks with...
by SoylentMean
Mar 10th, 2009
08:31:59 AM
Three Watchmen links, if you're interested...
by Kevin Holsinger
Mar 10th, 2009
08:34:25 AM
Time to go shopping.
by clw1227
Mar 10th, 2009
08:34:39 AM
harry you talk about being geeks too much...
by thekylegassproject
Mar 10th, 2009
08:38:51 AM
There's an odd part of me...
by HEADGEEK
Mar 10th, 2009
08:45:44 AM
I'm not paying for content that should have....
by Playkins
Mar 10th, 2009
08:46:16 AM
Whinynegativebitch
by odo19
Mar 10th, 2009
08:46:53 AM
HARRY
by odo19
Mar 10th, 2009
08:48:22 AM
and why the fuck didnt Vern review it?
by odo19
Mar 10th, 2009
08:49:51 AM
Streetfighter review
by NedNederlander
Mar 10th, 2009
08:51:34 AM
"...it literally brings that comic to life"
by Sw0rdfish
Mar 10th, 2009
08:57:02 AM
"...it literally brings that comic to life"
by Sw0rdfish
Mar 10th, 2009
08:59:55 AM
SwOrdfish
by DeadPanWalking
Mar 10th, 2009
09:07:25 AM
Did Massa ever do Part 2 of his Watchmen review?
by Kevin Holsinger
Mar 10th, 2009
09:12:03 AM
ATM machine is redundant
by Scumcock
Mar 10th, 2009
09:13:13 AM
Should call it the "Absolute Edition"
by most excellent ninja
Mar 10th, 2009
09:14:42 AM
Why aren't these cut in with the extended DVD?
by dr sauch
Mar 10th, 2009
09:15:22 AM
I love who Dave Gibbons
by Series7
Mar 10th, 2009
09:16:50 AM
Scumcock: That was his point
by chrth
Mar 10th, 2009
09:19:45 AM
Watchmen: the motion comic...
by Sephiroid
Mar 10th, 2009
09:23:53 AM
Department of Redundency Department
by Sw0rdfish
Mar 10th, 2009
09:24:29 AM
Anyone else bored of Watchmen?
by IAmMrMonkey!
Mar 10th, 2009
09:42:58 AM
Harry's complete lack of writing ability aside...
by whitty
Mar 10th, 2009
09:44:26 AM
But how is "it literally brings that comic to life" redundant?
by bah
Mar 10th, 2009
09:46:30 AM
Debating Whether Or Not To Buy It Now, Or Wait For Extended Cut
by LaserPants
Mar 10th, 2009
09:52:45 AM
Watchmen will be released in more editions than LotR
by Spandau Belly
Mar 10th, 2009
09:53:20 AM

by PedroM
Mar 10th, 2009
10:11:17 AM
IAmMrMonkey!
by Judge_Dredd
Mar 10th, 2009
10:12:04 AM
I've seen this DVD too
by Fuck The Napkin
Mar 10th, 2009
10:19:12 AM
iammrmonkey
by batmarv
Mar 10th, 2009
10:20:53 AM
"Closeup of Malin Ackerman's Vagina for 3 Hours" Edition
by dr sauch
Mar 10th, 2009
10:26:00 AM
Instead of separating the Freighter out
by Monkey Butler
Mar 10th, 2009
10:37:58 AM
and it absolutely riveted me.
by reaganjn
Mar 10th, 2009
10:38:43 AM
Green Lantern preview?
by CarmillaVonDoom
Mar 10th, 2009
10:46:53 AM
Who is credited with Freighter's script?
by Charlie Murphy
Mar 10th, 2009
11:12:43 AM
batmarv
by Judge_Dredd
Mar 10th, 2009
11:13:57 AM
batmarv
by Judge_Dredd
Mar 10th, 2009
11:14:17 AM
Netflicks?
by TheBlackKnight
Mar 10th, 2009
11:30:11 AM
Yeah, these should be cut into the film somehow.
by FluffyUnbound
Mar 10th, 2009
11:36:05 AM
bacci40
by chiahead
Mar 10th, 2009
11:38:58 AM
batmarv
by IAmMrMonkey!
Mar 10th, 2009
11:48:41 AM
TOO LOYAL?
by DECTHEMAN
Mar 10th, 2009
12:18:48 PM
"Madness? THIS...IS...THE BLACK FREIGHTER!!!"
by MrMysteryGuest
Mar 10th, 2009
01:25:26 PM
getting the word" litterally" wrong is
by FleshMachine
Mar 10th, 2009
01:38:48 PM
typos aside...
by FleshMachine
Mar 10th, 2009
01:39:12 PM
two best reasons why dark knight is better than watchmen film
by phoenixmagida5th
Mar 10th, 2009
02:33:58 PM
also can any of you hardcore fans of watchmen film
by phoenixmagida5th
Mar 10th, 2009
02:37:49 PM
also can any of you hardcore fans of watchmen film
by phoenixmagida5th
Mar 10th, 2009
02:37:51 PM
Re: Green Lantern preview
by teethgnasher
Mar 10th, 2009
02:50:12 PM
Pre-order CANCELLED!
by REVENGE_of_FETT
Mar 10th, 2009
02:55:25 PM
Am I the only one who though Ackerman was great as Laurie?
by dr sauch
Mar 10th, 2009
03:03:43 PM
I'm Gonna Say It
by enderandrew
Mar 10th, 2009
03:17:42 PM
phoenixmagida5th
by enderandrew
Mar 10th, 2009
03:19:28 PM
Ackerman
by enderandrew
Mar 10th, 2009
03:24:22 PM
I look forward to it
by Biffs_Pleasure_Paradise
Mar 10th, 2009
04:24:42 PM
Watchmen Babies
by HewligansHaircut
Mar 10th, 2009
05:20:12 PM
The Ending
by Dancingforever
Mar 10th, 2009
07:20:43 PM
enderandrew
by MattmanReturns
Mar 11th, 2009
12:58:58 AM
And Rorshach's final scene was much better on film
by MattmanReturns
Mar 11th, 2009
01:02:30 AM
Stop bitching and listen to what Gerard Butler has to say...
by alucardvsdracula
Mar 11th, 2009
04:27:46 AM
I agree with IamMrMonkey!
by Potatino
Mar 11th, 2009
05:10:21 AM
I think the fact that they left out tales of the black freighter
by Potatino
Mar 11th, 2009
05:17:39 AM
I have to admit...
by Sithtastic
Mar 11th, 2009
07:19:17 AM
Sithtastic
by enderandrew
Mar 11th, 2009
10:32:20 AM
Tempting, but...
by JT Kirk
Mar 11th, 2009
03:00:37 PM
hARRY
by boogy110
Mar 12th, 2009
02:07:42 AM
Nice for DVD Extras
by MattDomville
Mar 21st, 2009
11:24:00 AM
No more R-rated movies...
by Chuck_Cobra
Mar 24th, 2009
06:13:48 PM
How To Find A Millionaire? (Or Billionaire)
by iamalice1
Mar 25th, 2009
04:23:11 AM
SPAM!^
by Orcus
Mar 26th, 2009
02:59:18 PM

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