Watchmen
Watchmen Smiley
Superheroes become a marginalized minority in this satirical take on the concept of super beings. Based on the comic strip by the same name, the movie is a treat to watch – a parody of the expectations we have from a superhero movie. This is a superhero movie not for the adrenaline charged teenagers – this is a superhero movie for the 60 plus “old guy” who has seen most of this world and doesn’t have too much hope for the salvation of humanity.
The characters are defined almost in a different dimension. Traditionally on the one hand we have the realistic movies – like The Godfather – true depictions of men and their follies and redeeming qualities. On the other we have Spiderman , Batman etc which strive to show people who are larger than life, living out the dreams of power and control of the helpless downtrodden – the saviors of the “world”. And somewhere in the middle is the Watchmen.
This movie is about looking at the world from the “real” perspective of the superhero. The fallen angels – retired and living without their masks – accustomed to the callousness of human behavior. These guys were doing the stuff that the law could not achieve – not so much powerful as brave – facing adversity with nothing but rubber masks and loads of attitude. This movie is about the pressures one would feel, if one could imagine one of these men in complete correctness.
One of the characters called the Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is a mix of the Joker and Batman. He does things one cannot be proud of, and yet he is a savior also. He is a parody of the our inner contrasts of good and evil. He is the middle ground where the good guys and the bad guys mix and share stories ! His character reminded me of two generals from either side of the border enjoying a quite drink in the night joking about how the next day they will have to face each other in battle.
Then there is Doctor Manhattan (Billy Crudup) – a blue form of energy – with immense powers. He is portrayed as the classic “weapon of the American masses”. Only he doesn’t care much about Americans in particular and humanity in general. He is so far ahead in terms of understanding time and our position in this universe – that he finds the human trails and tribulations, petty and unnecessary. He no longer wants to solve our problems.
Night Owl II (Patrick Wilson) is a take on batman – only he has a paunch and is no longer interested in saving the crap on the streets of New York. He has his little gadgets for amusement and dreams of the glorious past while pontificating on the bleak future. He is also in love with the lady in the group – Silk Spectre II.
Silk Spectre
Played by Malin Akerman – Silk Spectre is the love interest of Manhattan and Night Owl. She is them “human” part of them all. The fragile statement of life against the brutal onslaught of the human greed for power. She is following the in the footsteps of her mother – Silk Spectre I. The character has a history which is mired in acts of infidelity and misplaced expectations. Towards the end of the movie, her history sheds more light on the Comedian and sadness of his life.
Ozymandias (Matthew Goode) is the ex-hero with a billionaire background. Although initially in the wraps about his real intentions – the character gets more definition as the movie progresses. We see a clear thinking individual, who decides ( with no one’s permission) that the world needs to be set straight before the end is upon us. He goes about it in methodical fashion – uncluttered by emotions. He is an emblem of the ruthless change that is sometimes necessary to correct a situation which is beyond repair.
And finally we have Rosharch played by Jackie Earle Haley. A masked guy with inkblots on his canvas face – changing forever with time. Rosharch is a moralist like no other, and his fearlessness outstrips his powers. A mortal human who has pledged to defy all odds – to save whatever is left of the “humanness” in us. His character made me feel invulnerable on the inside. A person who is beyond harm because he chooses to be so – deep down inside. No pain can get to him, no force except death can stop him in his tracks.
Excellently directed with amazing special effects – the movie never tries to be a display of CGI graphics. Instead it uses generous measures of gore and special effects in understated tones – more to outline the characters than to tell the “story”. Zack Snyder has been a revelation in the past couple of years. His style is fresh as well as Noir. The title theme by the Smashing Pumpkins makes a statement in itself. Taken from a previous Batman movie – the score is dark and depressing – foretelling the bleakness of the outcomes.
The movie uses an “old-world” color scheme – bright plasticky and devoid of the brushed metal finish of the uber modern textures. The comic strip element is enhanced and the satire is magnified because of this. In effect you first suspend your disbelief and then realize you didn’t really have to ! The movie is about real people and real emotions – told through the medium of an imagined world.
I loved the movie for its ambiguities and fallacies. It strives to make one think about how we behave and where we are headed. Although its an imaginary world – the events are heavily metaphorical of our lives today. This movie like its comic strip origin – is going to be one of the classics in the line of “V for Vendetta” and “Sin City”. Do not watch it with superhero expectations – rather suspend your expectations and live out the lives of the average super-hero in graphic detail. This movie is the stuff of coffee table discussions !
Prescription Drug Abuse
Michael Jackson having a jar of pills
Its the latest and most fashionable way to die …. or so it seems from the recent deaths of Michael Jackson and Heath Ledger. Its being called an epidemic and very soon it will probably replace all other addictions as the top-rated addiction !
But what is the reason for this “epidemic” ? Why is it that so many individuals in the US and other developed nations are popping pills day in day out ? What are the circumstances that lead the average guy to the nearest drug store with a handful of bogus prescriptions ?
Any attempt to answer the above questions must include a thorough analysis of the daily habits of the average guy. However since that is quite out of the scope of this little article – lets me just examine the circumstances a little superficially and attempt to find some meaningful answers. Let us start by examining what are the reasons for any sort of drug abuse – not just prescription drugs.
Drug abuse is well researched in other domains like cocaine and heroin. The abusers are usually disconnected people trying to lose their loneliness with the help of some chemicals. It does not really matter how the habit starts – it almost always ends up being an attempt to relieve the stress of modern day lives. Among those who start using drugs early – some do not feel the need for it once their circumstances change , while others continue to use it moderately and a handful few really become the abusers. These are usually the “misfits” – the people who just happened to be in the wrong circumstances.
Since drugs like cocaine and heroin are banned in most places on this earth – the abusers are often reined in and most of them eventually do quit the habit. The loneliness is long lasting and doesn’t go away, and its effect – a ton of stress on the fragile human mind. In our lives today we often neglect the things which we need to concentrate most on – like bonding with the people around us or finding long lasting friendships which can carry us through tough times. We are generally more interested in monetary aspects of our existence – and material gains are usually highest on the priority list. Having acquired the “latest” , we simply loose interest in it and the cycle starts all over again. This continuous need and satiation cycle wears our brains down to the last neuron. Eventually the “latest” fail to enthuse us anymore and a feeling of deep ennui sets in. Loneliness is the manifestation of this whole process. As we loose connections and friends while we age – we need the support of chemicals and artificial means to support our interest in the world around us. Its like the brain building and alternate and interesting world inside our heads so that the external disconnect can be overlooked.
Since drugs like cocaine are illegal, most law-abiding citizens will not use it, even though they may feel the need for it. Not so with prescription drugs. They are legal and at the back of our minds we know that they are “safe”, because they have been “tested”. Most celebrities today have such stressful lives that going on without the “support”of prescription drugs looks like an impossibility. The fans then follow these celebrities and think its fashionable to pop a pill and continue with the grind of daily life. The logic is that – ” my icon does it , so why not me !”. Even after they realize that they are doing a whole lot of harm to themselves – most prescription drug abusers feel that going on without them will be more “harmful” to themselves.
Prescription drug abuse cannot be rooted out by making new laws and punishing doctors. This malady has to be dealt with at different levels. This “epidemic” is the symptom of deeper problems with society as a whole. Treating the symptom will only make other symptoms appear – as the problem itself is ever present and ever growing. The problem of disconnection in our lives has to be solved first before any sort of drug abuse problem can be solved. The abusers need to be reassured about their “necessity” to the people around them. They have to be made to feel a part of the whole – not the outsider – an aberrant personality taking drugs to solve problems. We need to accept our stress and try to solve it – not suffer from it while maintaining a calm exterior supported by forty different chemicals running inside our systems.
Michael Jackson was an icon in more than one way. He lived larger than life and paid the price for it. His death itself is iconic – starting a world-wide debate on prescription drug abuse. More like him will pay the same price as our constant clamor for gratification increases. Celebrities are usually most hit by the loneliness – they are surrounded by “fans” they are not allowed to bond with. They meet numerous faces everyday without forming relationships. They are doomed to snuff themselves out, as they feel the pressure of remaining viable and famous, while their bodies slowly wither away from the stress.
