An un-wolfed Me, Nyah and Kofi
What a weekend of film with my two children, the proud Dad smile could of easily been seen from Jupiter. First up, Friday, Kofi said he wanted to see Watchmen and the smile started to form in the corners of my mouth. Forget the popcorn, I grab a pile of pork chops to see us through. Father and son time with dark twisted supers and a mountain of meat.
I’m a Marvel guy at heart but if I had to choose it would be Alan Moore’s and Dave Gibbons epic comic book superhero creation from the DC universe. Zack Snyder’s love of the source material just shines through. I know people get their knickers in a twist at certain points but there’s no denying that this is a masterful rendition of the graphic novel, especially the director’s cut. I adore both the film and the comic. Could that opening montage sequences to the sound of Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin be one of the most incredible opening credit scenes in film, ever?
After, I grabbed the book off the shelf and we flicked through the pages comparing scenes. Hopefully he will pick it up for a read soon. Who watches the Watchmen?
The smile was gaining ground, it would just be approaching that critical overload moment…………….
Out of the blue, Saturday afternoon, Nyah announces the idea of watching 2001: A Space Odyssey! The beam of light from my smile broke lightspeed as it fired into space. If we are contacted by aliens soon, it will be down to the beacon I sent into the universe. If they come and destroy us then please accept my apologies but if they bring enlightenment, you are most welcome.
This time the food of choice was a bucket of the finest Kentucky Fried Chicken. Kofi bowed out on this one in favour of gaming with his mates but not before grabbing a handful of tasty pieces of chicken. Nyah is applying for English and Film Studies at University so Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C Clarke’s journey of humanity’s evolution is essential viewing. Can you believe it’s now 50 years old and still those visuals are jaw dropping beautiful .
Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C Clarke
I informed her that many years ago I had locked myself in a room, turned everything off and started knocking back whiskey on the rocks. Halfway through it started to release my mind. I was relaxed and completely at one with my body and soul as I too journeyed through space and time to be born as a freaky baby star child. The hangover wasn’t pleasant but I was joyful to the fact that I believe I understood the film.
I have seen both films multiple times and adore them in different ways. Yes many animals were sacrificed for this wondrous weekend of movies but the film bonding was perfect like always. Nyah and I had seen Watchmen together only last year and I hope to return to 2001 Space Odyssey with Kofi one day. I can’t wait to see what movie discoveries we journey on next time.
Have fun with movies. Mikey the Wolf
Ps No point me doing a review on these movies but here’s Roger Ebert’s take.
Watchmen (2009) Roger Ebert Review
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Roger Ebert Review
Related – Jaws (1975) How Could I Introduce Jaws To My Two Kids? Our Viewing Experience.
Wolfmans Cult Film 
Great post 🙂 I am sure your two grown children had a fun time with these films 🙂 I love Zack Snyder’s film adaptation of Watchmen and given the huge size of it’s source material, I think he did as much justice to it as he possibly could. I heard that HBO may be doing a Watchmen miniseries sometime in the future. I also have to say that Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A Changin” song in the intro came off as truly poignant for me. I mean that whole montage of history with those superheroes (or anti-heroes) was just so expressive. As for 2001: A Space Odyssey, what more else can be said. I mean Stanley Kubrick’s vision of outer space is just phenomenal: the space ship itself and outer space as well. Everything has aged so well in that film that it is not even funny. That is the sign of a timeless classic. Hard to believe that 2001: A Space Odyssey is 50 years old and Watchmen will be 10 years old next year. Also thanks for those two Roger Ebert links as well. You must have been happy with his rave review of Watchmen 🙂 Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂
P.S. I just posted a review of Kiss Me Deadly on my site 🙂
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Thanks for the great comment John. It’s so perfectly suited that montage and the Bob tune. Showing the Minutemen creation and the wonderfully twists on iconic historic images like Silhouette’s end of war kiss and her unfortunate demise.. Loved the quirky alternative Cold War elements too. It has so much. The directors cut is fantastic. I’ve never seen the almighty Ultimate Cut though, hear the Tales of the Black Freighter and Under The Hood short films are added in the places they are in the book. Wow. I’m gonna have to watch that the next time I revisit it.
Yes the Watchmen HBO series sounds very interesting. Sounds like they may go into new territory and I imagine flashbacks to the original crew! Not too sure I’m that buzzed about showrunner Damon Lindelof in charged but I’m hopeful. Very excited to see it when it arrives.
2001! 50 years old, it’s incredible isn’t it. The visuals are still a wonder, you can see where the “fake moon” idea stuff could come from because it looks all so beautifully real.
Cheers John, All the best… Mike
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We’re both alike when it comes to sharing the great films with the kiddies who are no longer kiddies in age. Love these type of posts the best and you know I like writing them as well. Also wanna mention I love Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead though that might be blasphemous to the Romero die hards out there.
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It’s my favorite thing ever to sit and watch films with them. With GCSE’s and A-Levels going on at the moment I’ve had to sit back and wait. Then they both surprised me. Hence the beacon of light! Hehe…. You know what I need to revisit Dawn as I was one of those that dismissed it a bit originally down to loving Romero’s film so much. I liked my zombies slow and little stupid, probably because deep down I knew I might be able to just run away. But with those fast crazy ones like 28 days later etc, jeez you aint got a chance. Yeah I really must watch it again, I’ve heard many people say it one of the best of the “new” zombie films.
Snyder’s 2010 animated film the Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole is an underrated gem. Might be showing my softer side again
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Hope the wolf cubs enjoyed these flicks. 2001 is stunning. I think it is a film that is pure cinema. It doesn’t really need dialogue because the images are everything. It’s a masterpiece. I love how the effects and model work look real today(and so much better than the fake CGI everywhere in modern films).
I’m not a big fan of comic books and superhero films, but I really enjoyed Watchmen. The title sequence is a work of art, and I think that Bob’s song makes the images and events we see unfold be even more emotional as we watch them.
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[…] Watchmen (2009) – Wolfman Rating 10 – IMDB Rating 7.6 Definitely not for everyone but I’ve seen this at least 6 times now and I could easy sit and watch it right now. It’s just perfect to me and hits everything I like about dark twisted supers and heroes having to step up. A write up of sorts? Wolfie write up here. […]
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[…] the Orient Express (1974) to Superman (1978) but we all know it’s all about this little film, 2001: A Space Odyssey […]
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