I think I realized why this movie failed, it is because it's not actually a geeky movie rather it is a geek chic movie. It tries to act geeky because it's trendy but not because they actually care all that much about any of it. It is that guy who bought the Watchmen trade but doesn't know who Alan Moore is or who haven't at least thought what it would have been like if they used the Charlton characters instead. From everything I have heard, they copy the look and feel of the books, but not the heart and at the end of the day that is what fans love about anything. It is weird aspect when ever anyone tries to adapt anything geeky it is mostly superficial, like most superheroes just focus on the fights and powers. Geeks love the things they do because they have an emotional connection with them, and if you take that away to focus on the surface you are just left with a hollow experience.
I think this is going be a landmark movie though, since it is probably going be the point where Hollywood starts to realize pandering to geek trend isn't a good investment. Maybe next year we will start to get SDCC.
