So the new Batman movie opens tonight (well, technically tomorrow at midnight). And yes it looks great, is getting rave reviews and all. But the real star of the show is a short preview trailer appearing before “The Dark Knight.” Yep, Warner Bros. is finally ponying up a full-fledged Watchmen movie trailer. And honestly, I’m shocked that the first peek at the movie isn’t a few quick shots, lots of overdubbing and a big close-up of a bloody smiley face. That’s completely what I expected for now, followed up in a few months by a more legitimate trailer.

Boy was I wrong. While I’m not sure when the trailer technically is supposed to be out, it did leak early. And there’s no stopping an internet leak once something this big is out. And I really have no words to describe it, because frankly, I’m speechless. And March 6, 2009 cannot come soon enough!

View the Watchmen Trailer

And be sure to check the official Watchmen Movie site.

This year I’m actually attending Comic-Con and I’m sure there’ll be something even bigger Watchmen-related. Maybe some scenes, a trailer, a new poster, who knows. I can’t wait and while I rarely go to panel events, I will most definitely go to any Watchmen-related ones.

Over on the official Watchmen Movie Blog, director Zack Synder’s put up a new video blog post that’s basically artist Dave Gibbons (that’s him on the right) talking about his experience on the movie set, and in particular, his appreciation for the immense attention to detail. Hollis Mason’s “Under the Hood” book casually placed on a desk. The grumpy old man at the newsstand and his young comic-reading friend. The Gunga Diner. It’s all there, including a short scene of Rorschach just walking past it.

I know there’s a really small chance this one can live up to the hype and the just awesomeness of the original comic, but everything I’ve seen so far just gets me more and more pumped for this film.

Hurm.

So I just love this swing-style version of the theme by crooner Michael Buble, that a real good friend of mine (Thanks again, Tish!) just turned me on to. Not only does he have an impressive voice, but I’m more impressed that the managed to successfully stretch a 30-second little ditty, into a full-fledged 3 minute tune.

I’m not talking about the cameo at the end of the movie after the credits. Nope. I’m talking about a certain Super Soldier’s best friend. Yep. At just about the 1 hour and 30 minute mark of the movie, take a peak under Tony’s right armpit and you’ll see what appears to be Captain America’s shield.

I’m going to have to see the movie again and really look for it before making any true judgement, but it sure looks like Cap’s shield to me. And if so, does it mean anything story-wise (building up to the next Cap and Avengers movies?) or is it just a neat geek easter egg?

(Source: FirstShowing.net)

1. All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix/Electric Ladyland
2. Time – Pink Floyd/Dark Side of the Moon
3. What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong/single
4. Call of Ctuthlu – Metallica/Ride the Lightning
5. The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan/The Times They Are A-Changin’
6. Valley of the Kings – Blue Murder/Blue Murder
7. Burn in Hell – Twisted Sister/Stay Hungry
8. Unchained – Van Halen/Fair Warning
9. The Joker – Steve Miller Band/The Joker

Some liner notes for ya here to help explain my picks. And if you haven’t read Watchmen yet (?!?), consider this your SPOILER WARNING as I will be discussing some specific plot points below:

1. How can you NOT include this classic tune somewhere in the movie. It’s even quoted at the end of issue #10 as Rorschach and Nite Owl head off to Ozymandias’ frigid fortress. Granted Bob Dylan’s the one quoted (he did write the song after all), but Hendrix’s cover is just too amazing and gives off the perfect raw energy for this flick.
2. Not sure where in the film this could fit but most likely during Dr. Manhattan’s “origin” story (issue #4) where we learn all about his love of fixing pocket watches. The entire issue is about time, jumping backwards and forwards through history, as watch cogs fall into place.
3. This one may seem like the oddest fit of all but it’s the clearest one for me. Picture this. It’s flashback to Vietnam with the Comedian mowing down anyone and everyone in his path, continuing the butchering, all with a smile on his face… and the deep gentle voice of Louis Armstrong singing “What a Wonderful World.”
4. What better song to represent Ozymandias’ grand scheme and crazy monstrous creation (issue #12′s opener) than this heavy, driving tune by Metallica? Even if the name “Ctuthlu” wasn’t in the title, it’d still fit the bill.
5. Another Dylan tune, this one could be running in the background during various flashbacks such as the government passing the Keene Act to outlaw masked vigilantes, society turning against the heroes, etc.
6. Not too well known a song I know but this one is Ozymandias’ theme song basically. Rich with Egyptian mood/atmosphere and powerful driving drum beats, it’s a great tribute to the King of Kings as he explains his master plan to save the world (issue #12).
7. Appropriate on two levels, I see this classic Twisted Sister tune playing in the background as Rorschach catches up with the psycho kid-killer, handcuffing him in place with a hacksaw inches away, as he proceeds to burn the hole place down.
8. Rounding out the soundtrack would be this driving David Lee Roth tune. Possibly lead into the ending of the film with this one as Ozymandias realizes “nothing ever ends” soon followed by Eugene reaching for Rorschach’s journal, showing that the future is wide open.
9. This could fit in just about any part with the Comedian, but I’d love to see it start the whole film off as the Comedian’s falling to his death from his penthouse window. The lively music and lyrics would be a perfect contradiction to what everyone’s seeing on the screen.

Warning: Watching this trailer may induce a complete loss of faith in humanity’s talents to entertain.

Next Avengers – Heroes of Tomorrow

According to Six Flags, “As part of the experience, park guests will see, hear and feel the action of the movie the moment they enter the ride queue line, as they are transformed into citizens of Gotham City — caught in the middle of a city under siege and torn apart by The Joker. Guests will then board a Gotham City rail car and careen through demented hallways of twists, turns, unseen hills and chaotic images, and continue to be tormented by The Joker as they are thrust onto the battlefield of good vs. evil. Will The Dark Knight save them in time? ”

So what’s my problem? Sigh. Same thing as the last Hulk movie. The CGI. I’m so sick of lame CGI. By lame I mean the type where you can tell it’s CGI. The Hulk looks “okay,” but really fake. And the Abomination looks downright ridiculous. If this were an animated movie throughout, it’d be fine. Or if they had amazing makeup, it’d be perfect. But for some reason I just can’t get into this CGI. Maybe the final deal on a big screen will change my mind, but it’s really hard to like a Hulk movie if you don’t like how the hero and villain look.

Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan)

Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson)

Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman)

Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley)

Ozymandias (Matthew Goode)

Anyways, according to Crave.com, it seems they unveiled a movie poster at San Diego Comic-Con (another thing I missed by not going… sigh) and it’s real close to the original cover by Frank Miller.

Here’s the original cover by Frank Miller.