watchmen

Back from the weekend, Justin watches "Watchmen" again, Wilson catches "Coraline" in 3D, and Jeff tries to kill himself when his parents and soon-to-be parents-in-law spend the weekend picking a place to get married and the font of the invitation envelopes.

Speaking of "Caroline" in 3D, it gave Wilson a massive headache. The film was incredibly imaginative and creative yet the story was a bit lacking. Reminds Wilson of "Alice in Wonderland."

In actual stories today, we talk mostly about Twitter. Jason Calacanis wants to pay the company $250,000 so that he can be at the top of suggested followers list. While we think suggested followers is a halfway decent idea (especially if they personalize the list), we don't especially think we want to follow Calacanis all day long. Also, Twitter may have caused a mistrial in a case where a juror tweeted the jury's finding. Twitter! Haven't you caused enough damage to people's lives!?!?

Tomorrow, we have Dr. Michael Breus, the Sleep Doctor, on the show. So please call into the show with all your questions about sleep. While it may sounds like a "snoozer"--Ha, get it?!?!--we promise the Sleep Doctor has never failed to entertain. Also, on the show on Wednesday is debbiefromtoronto, probably the hottest Canandian blonde fan of The 404. And ending the week is the composer of "Still Alive" from The Orange Box, Jonathan Coulton. As usually, the number is 1-866-404-CNET (2638). We need callbacks for the show. You know the part where we go, "Hey this is Jeff Bakalar from Hoboken, New Jersey, and you're listening to The 404, the show where [INSERT WITTY COMMENT]."

Last year, my friend Matt Hastings predicted that the coming Halloween would see a flood of people in unfortunate Joker costumes, inspired by "The Dark Knight." He was, of course, right. I'm hereby predicting that every un-creative person in the world will try being Rorschach from "Watchmen" this year. Mark my words.

These new officially licensed Watchmen movie costumes might make that easier. There are versions of all the major players in the film. A couple of them look pretty good, but the Nite Owl requires some imagination on the viewer's part.

The Silk … Read more

If you can't get enough of Watchmen: Justice is Coming, you'll find in this massive multiplayer online game an ambitious attempt to play against anyone else connected to the Net from your iPhone or iPod Touch. You get to create a character with gender, skin color, and even personality based on what you see in the character Rorschach ink blot.

Meanwhile, whether you're just trying to get your feet wet in a world where Nixon remained president well into 1985 or whether you're quoting the comic back at the screen, the "Watchmen" app might … Read more

If you can't get enough of Watchmen: Justice is Coming, you'll find in this massive multiplayer online game an ambitious attempt to play against anyone else connected to the Net from your iPhone or iPod Touch. You get to create a character with gender, skin color, and even personality based on what you see in the character Rorshach's ink blot.

Once you're in the game, you're treated to a fly through of the "Watchmen" version of New York City, where you find a typical MMO: touch exclamation points for plot info and game … Read more

Dan Ackerman joins us on today's show to talk about his not-critically-acclaimed album "Tales Out of Night School" and the technology world in general. Be sure to check out his podcast Digital City on iTunes. Also, he give his opinion on digital-music distribution and makes fun of our game of marry/boff/kill with Ms. Natali Del Conte.

On today's show, we talk about the release of the new "Watchmen" movie. The first reviews are mixed. Justin is still holding out hope that the film will be watchable. In other movie and television news, Showtime, a sister company of CNET, is releasing Emmy screeners on iPods. Amazon finally gets the sense to pull a video game featuring rape simulation. The cast of "Seinfeld" rejoins on "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Hopefully, Michael Richard won't drop any bombs on the show. Justin is disappointed that a sheriff in Cook County is finally starting to crack down on prostitution on Craigslist. And Matel releases a Barbie doll in China with a tattoo.… Read more

I've now seen "Watchmen" twice. After my first viewing, I did not know what to think. I've been reading the original graphic novel since about 1990, and I've always wanted to see a movie based on a work that had such a powerful impact on me.

So yes, as I left the theater, I did not know what to think. What had I just seen? There was so much changed from the GN, yet so much that was translated verbatim. There were scenes I felt didn't work as well as they did in the GN; conversely, there were scenes that were executed so well, they put the novel to shame.

I did not know what to think, but I knew what I was feeling--that I'd just had a very powerful experience. A day after that first viewing, I could not wait to see it again. Last night, I finally (after three days) got my chance.

This time everything just clicked. Scenes that felt compressed during my first viewing were pitch perfect the second go-round. The first time the movie felt like a collection of scenes in (mostly) sequential order. On my second viewing I saw, plain as day, the narrative structure of the film.

And it works, on so many levels. Some levels I'm not even aware of. What I am aware of is that as an action movie, as a drama, and as a character study (of many characters) the movie just works.… Read more

A couple days ago I posted a blog on the "Watchmen" iPhone game known as Watchmen: Justice is Coming. The game releases March 6, same as the "Watchmen" movie.

I sat down with game designer Jeff Morgan from Last Legion Games to get a few more details on the game. And by "sat down" I mean e-mailed Warner Premiere, had them forward my questions to Jeff, who then graciously sent them back to Warner, who then sent them to me. Thanks to Warner Premiere and Last Legion Games for sending, replying to and forwarding those e-mails.

BTW, this is Jeff Morgan. Not to be confused with Jeffrey Dean Morgan of "Watchmen" fame. Hmmm, or maybe it is him!

Crave: Since this is an MMO, in what ways can players improve their characters? New items/weapons/clothes/vehicles?

Jeff Morgan: The initial roll-out will be an advanced release where players can upgrade their fighting abilities, change their appearance, gain experience points, socialize with other players, and keep record of their achievements.

Once the world becomes populated we'll do continuous server-side play balancing and evaluate what the players would like to see in future updates of the game. … Read more

Need something to do while you're waiting hours in line to get decent seats for you and 12 other people for "Watchmen" this Friday? Obviously I do. Thankfully, on March 6, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution will release "Watchmen: Justice is Coming" for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

This is a massively multiplayer online game based on the movie, according to developer Last Legion Games. You can create your own character and customize its appearance. Although how detailed you can get is not yet known.

If I ever dreamed about a "Watchmen" MMO, I … Read more

I'm not gonna front. This is what I came to WonderCon to see. Warner Bros. had already shown the first 22 minutes of the "Watchmen" movie two weeks ago at the New York Comicon, but this was the Bay Area's first chance to see the footage, and it does not disappoint.

*HEAVY SPOILER ALERT* Director Zack Snyder was on hand to introduce the footage, which by now you've probably already read a play by play of. If not, check here. What I'll do here is just give my impressions of what I saw.

The … Read more