ROTTEN TOMATOES: Five Favorite Films With Dave Gibbons

Five Favorite Films With Dave Gibbons

What's the creator of Watchmen watching?

by Luke Goodsell | July 27, 2009

Dave Gibbons

Dave Gibbons' revered work in the comic book world stretches back to the 1970s, when he contributed to cult British publications 2000 A.D. and Dan Dare, before illustrating both DC and Marvel series in the early '80s and collaborating with writer Alan Moore on the seminal Watchmen -- the graphic novel that upended the genre. As the film adaptation of Watchmen arrives on DVD, we asked this inherently cinematic artist to name his five favorite films. On the spot. "I wish I had time to prepare this," he protests. "Okay, this is absolutely off the cuff... "

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964, 100% Tomatometer)

I generally like very visually striking films. I love a lot of Stanley Kubrick's films. I would have to say Dr. Strangelove, which of course has got resonance in Watchmen. It's a favorite movie of mine.

Apocalypse Now (1979, 98% Tomatometer)

Apocalypse Now is a favorite movie of mine. Again, there are kind of Watchmen resonances there.

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997, 78% Tomatometer)

For a slightly off beat one, you know sometimes you see a movie and you think, 'That's a really good movie -- why did I never ever hear of that?' A movie called Grosse Pointe Blank, which is an incredible movie.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 97% Tomatometer)

I really actually liked this one. There's a thing with genre movies and science fiction movies that number two is the charmed; two seems to be the best. I loved Terminator 2. I think of all those kinds of movies, that has to be my favorite 'blowing big shit up' kind of movie. How many is that so far?

The Reader (2008, 62% Tomatometer)

So I have to think of one more? Okay, I'll say that on the plane coming here I saw The Reader and I thought that was an amazing film, a very affecting film dealing with an almost overfamiliar subject but in an almost novel and emotional way. That's my current favorite movie.

Read RT's full interview with Dave Gibbons, in which he looks back on his experience with Watchmen and shares his thoughts on the film.

(1-20 of 48 posts) | Reply

GST writes:
on Jul 27 2009 11:37 PM

Great list Mr. Gibbons, great list. I must say I am rather surprised at the last 3, though, not that that's a bad thing. But its obvious Apocalypse Now and especially Dr. Strangelove had some fair influence on the graphic novel, and on the film.

(Reply to this)

nathanpoitras writes:
on Jul 27 2009 11:41 PM

Just watched The Watchmen on Blu-Ray and must say it looks gorgeous, the director's cut footage definitely makes the movie better as well.

(Reply to this)

Patt B. writes:
on Jul 28 2009 12:01 AM

T2!!!!

(Reply to this)

jake l. writes:
on Jul 28 2009 12:05 AM

The Reader? ARE YOU JOKE?

(Reply to this)

GST writes:
on Jul 28 2009 12:08 AM

In reply to this comment (#2531301)
Yeah, HE JOKE.

(Reply to this)

GST writes:
on Jul 28 2009 12:10 AM

I meant to say earlier; that I think -in a way- Watchmen is the Blade Runner of my generation.

(Reply to this)

will s. writes:
on Jul 28 2009 12:28 AM

yeah, except it was more ridiculous and boring. and it's no surprise that one of the minds behind the pretentious "Watchmen" would like "the Reader"

(Reply to this)

RE4P3R writes:
on Jul 28 2009 12:45 AM

Dr. Strangelove!

My personal favorite.

(Reply to this)

laidtowaste writes:
on Jul 28 2009 12:50 AM

That's an absurd statement. If you've ever read (or even looked at the artwork for) Watchmen, you'd have, at least, some idea of the contribution that he and Alan Moore made to humanity with A GRAPHIC NOVEL, no less. Whether or not the movie made money or scored well with critics is beside the point - they've given us some of the most mind-bending and groundbreaking literature of this century. I don't think any of us are worthy of faulting him for liking some movie or not liking another.

(Reply to this)

GST writes:
on Jul 28 2009 01:11 AM

In reply to this comment (#2531310)
More ridiculous and boring? You think Blade Runner was ridiculous and boring? *cough* imbecilic dunce *cough*

(Reply to this)

Account writes:
on Jul 28 2009 02:54 AM

LMAO! I saw it on the plane here xD Funny ****.

(Reply to this)

Luke G writes:
on Jul 28 2009 04:11 AM

In all fairness to Dave, he'd just come off a LONG flight and The Reader was the movie fresh in his mind at that moment. Who knows? Given time, his choices may have been entirely different.

(Reply to this)

martinscorsese25 writes:
on Jul 28 2009 04:30 AM

not evenT TDK? i thought the comic book universe embraced that film. oh well, maybe he isnt a fan of Nolan's take on the batman universe

(Reply to this)

martinscorsese25 writes:
on Jul 28 2009 04:32 AM

well. Dr. Strangelove is probably my favorite comedy because it ahs the balls to say what it want. and the fact that Kubrick thoguht of it back in 1960s was amazing. the great visionary...

still 2001 was something special... these two are my favorite Kubrick film

(Reply to this)

martinscorsese25 writes:
on Jul 28 2009 04:33 AM

TDK is the Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Empire Strikes Back, and T2 of our generation

(Reply to this)

Moonpig123 writes:
on Jul 28 2009 05:31 AM

In reply to this comment (#2531329)
I found Blade Runner boring, and the Watchmen film was a mess. The graphic novel's amazing, though.

(Reply to this)

Kevin B. writes:
on Jul 28 2009 06:05 AM

In reply to this comment (#2531360)
Scorsese25, I hope you weren't going for great sequels with your post because Raiders is the first in the Indy franchise.

(Reply to this)

Kevin B. writes:
on Jul 28 2009 06:09 AM

In reply to this comment (#2531360)
I wish I hadn't read the Novel before I saw the movie because I went with a bunch of friends to see it and they all were blown away by the movie. I was a little dissappointed. Just one question, is this a five favorite column or five best ever column? Just curious because so many people make negative comments when someone doesn't list the five they want to hear.

(Reply to this)

Terrible_Majesty writes:
on Jul 28 2009 06:14 AM

TDK is "The Godfather" of comic book films.

(Reply to this)

Terrible_Majesty writes:
on Jul 28 2009 06:15 AM

Watchmen is the "Casino" of comic book films.

(Reply to this)

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964, 100% Tomatometer)

Apocalypse Now (1979, 98% Tomatometer)

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997, 78% Tomatometer)

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 97% Tomatometer)

The Reader (2008, 62% Tomatometer)

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