Reactions and Reflections

I enjoyed watching Watchmen on opening day (not night) on an IMAX screen. Crowding was minimal for my strategically chosen time. It's hard for me to be objective about the quality since I know all of the depth from the book that was missing and was just excited about seeing it all brought to life, but I enjoyed myself. Of course the book is better quality, but I wasn't disappointed. If I had to pick one thing to gripe about, though, it would be the fight scenes. They were too cartoonish and easy for our heroes. The whole point of the book is that despite their chosen profession/hobby they are all ordinary, flawed people with no real powers (except Dr. Manhattan, but even he has his issues), just a vigilante fetish. Sure they're trained athletes and all that, but even the most honed Kung Fu masters/boxers/expert combatants can't do what these people did. They took out every bad guy with a single punch or kick, usually breaking bones in the process. Totally unrealistic, but more importantly totally undermining a major theme of the book (and movie). My wife and a friend who both hadn't read the book were really confused by this aspect of the movie and couldn't figure out if they had super powers or not. So of course there are details to nitpick, but this is my only real gripe.

That train of thought also brings to mind a comment that Aerin recently made over at Scott's new House Rules blog: I think the idea of the heroic character is someone who stands apart, and is greater than the surrounding press of sentient life. I can see that, but it's not really what appeals to me. I've said something similar before in comparing Star Wars to Lord of the Rings, that instead of the hero destined for greatness from birth I prefer the extraordinary courage of ordinary Hobbits when faced with extraordinary circumstances. I've also said in conversations I'm not so drawn to Superman because I can't relate to being invincible. Not even Batman so much because I've never had unlimited wealth. Spider-Man's more my style because I know what it's like to be a teen nerd. And maybe it even goes back to my whole fixation with the nurture side of the nature vs. nurture debate.

When I play a game like D&D, I don't really want a superhuman heroic type, but an average person of humble beginnings who has developed into something special much like anyone could under the right circumstances. Someone who could be me if I had been in those circumstances. Sure I want to role-play a different personality, try life as an elf or dwarf, control powerful magics and hone superior fighting skills, but all of that as the result of discipline and hard work and gradual growth. And within the realm of logic and limits. I like starting my character as a first level weakling instead of jumping right in at higher levels because I want to experience the journey more than the hero destination. I want my character to be someone I can relate to.