Watchmen - Tales Of The Black Freighter Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Good story

Let me start by saying for all you who think this is, Watchmen 2 or the original Watchmen it's NOT!

This is one of the, 'in film comics' that superhero's read in, Watchmen' the film. As one of the writers says on the DVD when talking about The Black freighter, Superhero's wouldn't read about other Superheo's they would read something different, maybe Pirate stories.

The DVD is made up of 3 parts, the Black freighter story, (in comic book form ie. animation). First chapter of the Watchmen film in comic book form and actors, writers and production staff on the next release by DC Comics called, 'The Green Latern'.

All interesting, but would like to have the Black freighter longer, it lasts about 30 mins. Probably my fault for not checking properly but nonetheless good chiller.

Be careful

probably my own fault but we thought this was the film version, it wasn't and it isn't.

This is very graphical with eyes being ripped out, heads being ripped off & torso's tearing apart. Definately not one for the kids.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Good, but not worth renting...

Good half hour story, but not worth renting.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Watch Watchmen, then watch this.

I've just read another review here that states that this is an animated version of the comic that a superhero reads in Watchmen - it's actually a kid sat beside an opinionative news vendor. The source novel, Watchmen, splices some of the important moments in the book with the kid reading the 'Tales of the Black Freighter' comic. You would honestly have to read it to fully get it. As a separate animation it is pretty good though, I really liked the Under the Hood feature (which is another interpretation of material which features in the book - excerpts of the autobiography of the first Nite Owl) a series of interviews with the original Nite Owl played superbly by Stephen McHattie. I normally find fake documentaries to appear as just that... fake, but this is very well done.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Tales of the Black Freighter

I wasn't expecting too much from this DVD. As a fan of the graphic novel, and a big fan of the film adaptation of Watchmen, I always considered 'Tales' to be my least favourite part of the story. While I understood what Alan Moore was trying to say with the comic within a comic, it just didn't sit very well for me, was a little contrived, and had an ending you could see from a mile away.

So, I approached this DVD with little enthusiasm.

The 'Tales' feature itself is well done: beautiful, if simplistic, artwork and well voiced by Gerard Butler. But the story is still the story from within Watchmen, so I find it difficult to rave about it. That said, it does stick to its source material very well, so fans of the original will find a lot here to enjoy.

The hidden gem within the package, though, is the inclusion of the 'Under the Hood' documentary about the original Nite Owl. It is my opinion that, for fans of the Watchmen movie, this documentary is a much better companion piece to the film, and gives a much more satisfying addition to the film than the standalone 'Tales'. Had the distributors packaged this DVD as 'Under the Hood', with 'Tales' as the additional material, I believe it would have been so much better for it.

In conclusion, if you do rent this title, don't make the mistake of only watching 'Tales', as you may be left slightly disappointed. Take a look into the extras, and it is there you will find the real companion piece to Watchmen.

Tales of the black fighter

This is not a film it only lasts 30mins at most, more like a carton horror advert. Then just men talking about other versions . A total waste of time and money , in fact i would like a refund, as this canot be classed as a film.

Watchmen - Tales Of The Black Freighter

This is not Watchmen 2, not the movie that has been at the cinema! It is an animation but quite graphic in gore. I personally did not rate it, partly as it was totally something different from what I was expecting but also a short animation about an hour long. Disapointing!

[Highly rated reviewer]

One for the fans

If you have read Watchmen or seen the movie then this is well worth seeing. If neither of those apply to you then I doubt if you will get very much out of this. This Freighter is supposed to be going to be built into the extended DVD when that comes out and from what's here it might actually work.

Poor at its best

Not worth the place on the disc

[Highly rated reviewer]

rubbish

didnt watch any further than 15 mins.

story seemed lame, seemed to be a film to push the moral boundaries and decent taste.

was far too over the top and needless.