Pre-Emptive Critics

    After more than a decade of rejected adaptations and legal struggles, “Watchmen,” the veritable queen mother of graphic novels, has finally made its way to the big screen. “Watchmen” is a superhero story in only the most shallow sense – it simultaneously builds upon and dissects the conventions of the genre. The novel is set in an alternate 1985 in which Nixon still controls the presidency, Cold War paranoia runs rampant and former “masked adventurers” are learning to cope with life after a congressional act outlaws their profession.
    When former heroes begin disappearing, several of the characters suspect a plot, and must come out of retirement to unravel the far-reaching and frightening conspiracy.
    At the helm is “300” director Zak Snyder, and his visual prowess is apparent in the trailer.
    The images are stylized and vividly colored, and seem faithful to Dave Gibbons’ original art. The characters’ looks are updated, but capture the spirit of the originals. The trailer includes some important moments and lines from the book, but doesn’t reveal much about the plot. With such a cult following, Snyder should be careful about making major changes.
    Each character in “Watchmen” is superbly developed, and it will be interesting to see if the film will be able to strike a balance between satisfying pacing and sufficient back story. Without proper portrayal of each hero’s complex psychological profile, “Watchmen” will be just another superhero movie. What makes it unique and important is how each of its characters answers the question, “What does is mean to save the world?”
    This gleeful fanboy gives “Watchmen” two pre-emptive thumbs up.
-by Ben Roden/ be.ro@aggiemail.usu.edu

    Frankly, “Crossing Over” looks like a direct rip-off from Academy Award Winner “Crash.” Except this time the subject matter is dealing with those people who cross the borders of the United States every day.
    Like “Crash,” “Crossing Over” features a star-studded cast, headlined by Harrison Ford. I hope that “Crossing Over” is good, really, I do. I mean, seriously, anything is a step up for Mr. Ford after doing the latest “Indiana Jones” installment.
    Watching the trailer, you can tell there are numerous different stories that are going to be told about all nationalities that try and get into the U.S. every day, even what looks to be a story about an undocumented British couple, one of them being Jim Sturgess of “Across the Universe” fame.
    If “Crossing Over” does what it’s setting out to do, it could start a meaningful dialogue about immigration, and hopefully it brings to light the personal stories of those who sacrifice so much to get into this country. It also looks like it is trying to show the country that “illegal immigration” isn’t just about people that cross our southern border.
    I’m optimistic about “Crossing Over” and hope that it uses its subject material to create something that will make us think. But, if it tries to be another “Crash” by interweaving a bunch of different stories, I feel like it may fall short of getting across its important message.
    I pre-emptively have hope for this movie.
-byAaron Peck/aaron.peck@aggiemail.usu.edu

    It’s time for another movie that sends you back to when nothing was better than the cookies your mom had ready when you got home from a stressful day at kindergarten.
    “Phoebe in Wonderland,” staring Elle Fanning, will take anyone back to the days when being a Disney character seemed to be the dream any young child would have. I would enjoy any movie that a small child talks to a giant caterpillar or egg-shaped man. Think about all the profound advice she could receive from  just these two wonderland characters. I’m sure their conversations are a lot more useful than what any parental figure would tell her.
    I think anyone who enjoyed childhood will be able to relate to this movie. It takes viewers through the process in a young girl’s imagination where she tries to discover who she is. Phoebe wants to be somewhere else and she uses the childhood favorite, “Alice in Wonderland” to take her to that magical land that is next door to Neverland and across the street from the seven dwarfs’ cottage.
    If you love Disney and always wanted to be a Disney princess or prince yourself, step out of this cold dreary world and step into a mystical land where floating cards and pink cats are normal. Pre-emptively, I think this movie is definitely worth the time to go see.
–by Courtnie Packer/courtnie.packer@aggiemail.usu.edu