'Watchmen' (Pre-Release Hype)

[luthor]

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/31814

I dunno how I feel about it yet...

[conorkilpatrick]

That's most likely a test image. Production hasn't even started and I'm not aware that any casting has even taken place.

[k33k3r]

Yeah it's still marked as Pre-Production on IMDB with a start time of late summer.

[cam-]

My god, I'm both excited and terrified of this...

[mikegraham6]

i thought this flick was cancelled??? we should travel to hollywood and sabotage this movie, it shouldn't exist

[conorkilpatrick]

i thought this flick was cancelled??? we should travel to hollywood and sabotage this movie, it shouldn't exist

Nope. Zach Snyder is full steam ahead with it. My level of terror for the film will depend on how 300 goes.

[mikegraham6]

Nope. Zach Snyder is full steam ahead with it. My level of terror for the film will depend on how 300 goes.

honestly, i dont care who directs now, it could even be Martin scorsese (well.....that might be going too far :rolleyes: ) and i wouldn't be happy, im dead set against a watchmen adaptation mainly because they've f'ed up so many great comic properties and watchmen is so deep that there is no way they can get everything in it that needs to be in it. I love watchmen, its by far my favorite comic and like my 3rd favorite book in general and i dont think i can deal with it being anything other than that perfect comic work.....

[labor_days]

Of all comics the Watchmen is the one I'd least like to see adapted for the screen. The comic book medium itself is as important as the plot/storytelling in that book. /le sigh

I just don't think this sort of thing is going to turn out well. V for Vendetta was pretty terrible as a film.

[jgg0610]

Nope. Zach Snyder is full steam ahead with it. My level of terror for the film will depend on how 300 goes.
How is Zack Snyder associated with 300?

[k33k3r]

I was just going to say look what they did to V. I am very afraid to see what happens with this one.

They need to stick to characters that they can write their own story for.

[mikegraham6]

How is Zack Snyder associated with 300?

he directed it, and the dawn of the dead remake....take that for what its worth :rolleyes:

[jgg0610]

I haven't seen the Dawn of the Dead remake. Any good?

[mikegraham6]

in all honesty its one of my favorite zombie flicks. running zombies scare the shit outta me! i recommend at least checking it out if you like horror movies, it doesn't have the level of character development of say 28 days later but it does have amazing action a few holy shit moments. i just dont know if his style would fit a watchmen adaptation though....

[humphrey-lee]

Nope. Zach Snyder is full steam ahead with it. My level of terror for the film will depend on how 300 goes.

Honestly, 300 was a pretty damn good faithful adaptation (not as good as Sin City but that's a different point) but this movie should not be made. I'm sorry, one, if you're going to make it, it's an HBO mini series, that simple. You can't capture all the character development, all the forboding, the nuance, the aspects in just a 2-3 hour movie.

And even then, it probably still shouldn't be made. Some things just don't translate into mediums other than the one they're created for. Just because Watchmen is arguably the best comic of all time, doesn't mean it's going to make anything better than a 3 1/2 out of five star movie. Look at V for Vendetta and From Hell. And conversely, just because the Godfather is one of the best if not the best movie of all time, doesn't mean it's going to make a good comic book.

Sometimes you just need to leave things well enough alone.

[fred]

I'm afraid that this will suck

[conorkilpatrick]

Honestly, 300 was a pretty damn good faithful adaptation (not as good as Sin City but that's a different point) but this movie should not be made. I'm sorry, one, if you're going to make it, it's an HBO mini series, that simple.

They tried - HBO didn't want it.

Just because Watchmen is arguably the best comic of all time, doesn't mean it's going to make anything better than a 3 1/2 out of five star movie. Look at V for Vendetta and From Hell.

I'm not sure what that means... V For Vendetta was a really good movie.

Sometimes you just need to leave things well enough alone.

I agree, but we're talking about people in business looking to make money. Of course they're going to try.

I'm not really disagreeing with you in that I think it will take a damned miracle to pull this movie off... but I am interested to see if they pull it off. If they don't, the book isn't going anywhere. I can reread League of Extraordinary Gentlemen just fine, despite the awful movie.

[jerome]

I'm not really disagreeing with you in that I think it will take a damned miracle to pull this movie off... but I am interested to see if they pull it off. If they don't, the book isn't going anywhere. I can reread League of Extraordinary Gentlemen just fine, despite the awful movie.

I saw the movie (LoEG) before I ever read the book, and it was so bad that it really dissuaded me from reading the book for a long time. I recently got around to it and loved it, but I would hate to see anyone be dissuaded from reading Watchmen for the first time if the movie turns out to be garbage.

[conorkilpatrick]

I saw the movie (LoEG) before I ever read the book, and it was so bad that it really dissuaded me from reading the book for a long time. I recently got around to it and loved it, but I would hate to see anyone be dissuaded from reading Watchmen for the first time if the movie turns out to be garbage.

That all comes down to the quality of the film, I guess. I haven't seen 300 yet, but I'd hope that Zack Snyder would be a better filmmaker than Stephen Norrington. It would be hard to be worse.

[mikegraham6]

I saw the movie (LoEG) before I ever read the book, and it was so bad that it really dissuaded me from reading the book for a long time. I recently got around to it and loved it, but I would hate to see anyone be dissuaded from reading Watchmen for the first time if the movie turns out to be garbage.

and this, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason why the movie shouldn't be made. I would hate for non-comic reading people to see a crappy watchmen movie and be turned off of the greatest comic work out there. i know that if i saw a shitty adaptation of a highly regarded novel, i wouldn't read it.

on a side note, my roommate made fun of me the other day for reading league of extrodinary gentlemen and it was really hard to explain to him that, as a comic, the concept works very well, that its an intellectual book, but he wasn't buying it becuase the movie was so terrible and childish.

[fred]

and this, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason why the movie shouldn't be made. I would hate for non-comic reading people to see a crappy watchmen movie and be turned off of the greatest comic work out there. i know that if i saw a shitty adaptation of a highly regarded novel, i wouldn't read it.

My wife read Running With Scissors (http://www.amazon.com/Running-Scissors-Memoir-Augusten-Burroughs/dp/0312425414/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-1351768-4408668?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173474709&sr=8-1) and loved it. It was all she talked about for like a week. So I agreed to watch the movie. It was the biggest piece of shit I've ever seen. I'll never read the book now. I don't care how good it is.

[conorkilpatrick]

on a side note, my roommate made fun of me the other day for reading league of extrodinary gentlemen and it was really hard to explain to him that, as a comic, the concept works very well, that its an intellectual book, but he wasn't buying it becuase the movie was so terrible and childish.

Not to insult your roommate but if someone isn't saavy enough to realize that movie adaptations of books are different than the books themselves than Watchmen probably isn't for them anyway.

[mikegraham6]

Not to insult your roommate but if someone isn't saavy enough to realize that movie adaptations of books are different than the books themselves than Watchmen probably isn't for them anyway.

insult away conor, he's a jackass:D

[fred]

if it's your first experience with something though it can leave a bad taste. The movie adaptation of most anything isn't as good as the book, but if it's bad enough it can scare people off of the book

[jaflanagan]

My wife read Running With Scissors (http://www.amazon.com/Running-Scissors-Memoir-Augusten-Burroughs/dp/0312425414/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-1351768-4408668?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173474709&sr=8-1) and loved it. It was all she talked about for like a week. So I agreed to watch the movie. It was the biggest piece of shit I've ever seen. I'll never read the book now. I don't care how good it is.

I know we think overrated is a bad term around here, and I usually agree, but that book wasn't all that good to begin with either. It was in fact overrated. It was unfunny David Sedaris with shock value. You're not missing anything by not reading that.

But there's definitely a correlation between a bad movie, stopping people from reading the book it was based on, even if that was a good book. But I agree that the Watchmen works simply because it IS a comic book.

Snyder's zombie movie was pretty goood. Nothing about that tells me he could do what I would consider a good job on Moore's masterwork. But like others, I don't think anyone could.

You'll hear what I think about his job with 300 very soon. He's in a tough spot, because, as most of you know, it's one of my favorite books.

[labor_days]

A friend of mine really liked the V for Vendetta movie. Having never read the book, I lent it to him. He said the movie was better. We are no longer "friends". Just sayin'.

[fred]

it would actually be cool to hit him with a hockey stick for that

;)

[jaflanagan]

I've resigned myself to the idea that while the movie is not the book, it's not really bad. It's a pretty good movie, all things considered. And the book is a lot more to digest. At first, I really didn't like the movie, but as long as I accept that they are two different things, like the Shining, for example, I'm OK.

[mikegraham6]

i agree that the movie stood by itself as a quality piece of work. while its dissapointing that it wasn't as good as the book, i could accept that. personally though i wont make any exceptions for watchmen, i hold it in that high a regard. if it can't be made properly i feel it shouldn't be made at all. from the very nature of books like watchmen and V they can't be made to the full depth of both story and character development contained within the comic. while the characters in V did develop, i think the book relied more on its story, which is always easier for hollywood to adapt. i think watchmen on the other hand involves so many character with such a rich backstory that hollywood wouldn't even bother trying to tackle it and therefore the movie will be left only with the main story to tell, and this isn't the strongest part of the graphic novel. Dont get me wrong, i love the story, but without moore's handywork, this would have become mearly another "megalomanic trying to create a utopia" story that we've seen a million times. its the mystery, paranoia and history that intrigues the reader, and this is something that CANNOT be tackled properly in the film medium, in 2-3 hours, no way....

[mikegraham6]

but whatever, its not like i have any say in whether this movie gets made or not:rolleyes:

[smarch]

There have been many adaptaions that I think have been better than the book, Shawshank Redemption, for one. But on a whole you can usually relly on either an adequate or below par adaptation. I have had a book that I loved transfered onto the silver screen (The Relic by Linoln Preston) and it was a sad day for me. The way they completely tore apart the core of the story and just streamlined it to fit into their budget was disgusting, there have been sequels to the book which would not be possible with how the movie finished up, and that is just not right.

Lord Of The Rings was not page for page, but it got a lot of people into reading the series. I am sure the true JRR fans had plenty to say about how the Hobbitts feet were not hairy enough or some such thing, but the average person would not have even noticed.

The true fans will be either happy or disappointed depending on the final product. Part of the pain is the main streaming of something that we enjoy as our own, and the fact others have heard about Watchmen but don't really know what it is about, it's fun having knowledge. That these "new" people will base their opinion about something that we love and hold so dearly on the adaptation, which is almost always a poor version of the original, is what is the most dissapointing.

It is in the producers best interest to do a good job with the work as a good adaptation will always rake in a return on their investment and will have flow on product sales. This is the sad state of affairs when our loved iconic story is sold to the highest bidder, but you can't blame them for cashing in on something that they probably got paid nothing to create in the first place.

I just hope they do not destroy it for us all, please make it at least as good as Sin City, I thought that was a quality transfer, I know that it is a lot to ask, but we can always hope.

[paper]

There have been many adaptaions that I think have been better than the book, Shawshank Redemption, for one.

That's a really good example. And one of the reasons for the success of that film is the length of the source material. Rita Hayworth was a novella. By and large, short stories make for better adaptations. It's always easier to add detail and nuance (filling in the cracks) than to compress a larger work to its core narrative. This is assuming that the writer is competent enough to be doing this work in the first place.

Watchmen is on the bulkier side, so the best you can hope for is compromise. And there is no one compromise that will satisfy everyone. Likely the most satisfying thing to come out of this will be the trailer, a good jumping-off point in the process for anyone who doesn't want to leave the theater pulling their hair out. The trailer would hopefully be that last bastion of hope, what with the certainty that the film's whole could never quite live up to its parts.

[mikegraham6]

There have been many adaptaions that I think have been better than the book, Shawshank Redemption, for one.

ever read the Forrest Gump book? utterly horrible! i loved that movie but the book's take on the character is completely different. he was so lovable in the movie and you rooted for him to suceed. in the book he's a bit of an ass and doesn't have any of the innocent charm found in the movie. i usually enjoy the depth books can bring over a film but I'm surpised robert zumekis (?) could pull that story out a book like that.
i know a lot of people will disagree but i liked the Lord of the rings movies far more than the books. I had tried to read the book numerous times before the movie was released and i always lost interest. i can appreciate that JRRT created an entire universe and several cultures that went with it but i found his style of writting extremely boring and it turned into a chore for me to finish the books. the movie on the other hand kept up my interest and i enjoyed the changes more (thank god it didn't have tom bombadil! argh). the only miss step that i found was the ending and that in part is due to JRRT's long drawn out writting style. i know it was a completely different type of ending that im used to in films/pop media but it got boring and i was sick of peter jacksons "false endings". it felt like he was tricking the viewer.

please don't kill me guys......;)

[conorkilpatrick]

From ComicBookResources:

Director Zack Snyder told Empire Magazine about the test shot that made the rounds last week. "That's actually Wes Coller, who's one of the Associate Producers on '300.' So, we were knocking around the office and I told him to put an overcoat on and I took a picture. We then took it outside to Grant Freckelton ('300's Visual Effects Art Director) who was having his lunch, and I asked him to knock it up for me. Put the Empire State Building there, put the moon there ... it's a start, but it was really just for fun."

Another rumor claims that actor Jackie Earle Haley is in the running to play Rorshach.

Finally, Snyder is quoted at Superhero Hype as pushing for an "R" rating, and that his first concern is costumes. "You want people to take the movie seriously," Snyder said.

***

Jackie Earle Haley (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0355097/) would be fantastic casting.

[mikegraham6]

Jackie Earle Haley (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0355097/) would be fantastic casting.

i've never heard of the guy, it doesn't seem like he has done much work recently, what have you seen him in and was he any good?

[conorkilpatrick]

i've never heard of the guy, it doesn't seem like he has done much work recently, what have you seen him in and was he any good?

What have I seen him in? Bad News Bears. Breaking Away.

He got an Oscar nomination for Little Children, which I dind't see but was supposed to be really good.

[k33k3r]

Hahaha he was in The Bad News Bears(the original). That's awesome.

[k33k3r]

Finally, Snyder is quoted at Superhero Hype as pushing for an "R" rating, and that his first concern is costumes. "You want people to take the movie seriously," Snyder said.

***

Jackie Earle Haley (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0355097/) would be fantastic casting.


So in other words he wants Doc to run around naked in the movie then.

[labor_days]

Haley is a good actor and his performance in Little Children was amazing. Still I don't like the idea of a Watchmen movie one bit. Especially done by Snyder.

[k33k3r]

Haley is a good actor and his performance in Little Children was amazing. Still I don't like the idea of a Watchmen movie one bit. Especially done by Snyder.

I agree but I don't know what much we can do about it. You know you'll still see it if/when it comes out.

[mikegraham6]

oh was he nominated this year? was he the old child actor who played a pedophile? if so i do think i've heard of him! any actor with an oscar nomination grabs my attention for this movie


but im still dead set against it though:mad:

[conorkilpatrick]

oh was he nominated this year? was he the old child actor who played a pedophile? if so i do think i've heard of him! any actor with an oscar nomination grabs my attention for this movie

To all of your questions - "Yes".

[conorkilpatrick]

Here's a five minute video interview with Zack Snyder about Watchmen:

http://www.reelzchannel.com/moviedetail.aspx?movieid=223693&clipid=18326

Quite interesting. This is the most I've seen on anything to do with this movie and it's straight from the director.

[acomicbookgirl]

Here's a five minute video interview with Zack Snyder about Watchmen:

http://www.reelzchannel.com/moviedetail.aspx?movieid=223693&clipid=18326

Quite interesting. This is the most I've seen on anything to do with this movie and it's straight from the director.


Very interesting. When I first saw Zack Synder, he reminded me of Thomas Jane..(some of you might have not liked Punisher but he was cute in The Sweetest Thing)


If and only if this actually gets made, I don't think I will be disappointed. :)

[luthor]

Here's a five minute video interview with Zack Snyder about Watchmen:

http://www.reelzchannel.com/moviedetail.aspx?movieid=223693&clipid=18326

Quite interesting. This is the most I've seen on anything to do with this movie and it's straight from the director.

This is up on the Digg front page now...

It's almost made me hopeful...almost.

[jgg0610]

Had a chance to watch this tonight. It might be alright after all. It did put me in the mood to reread Watchmen, however.

[paper]

AICN reports some casting news:

Patrick Wilson as Night Owl
Keanu Reeves as Dr. Manhattan
Jude Law as Ozymandias

"A longtime source reared his head today and passed on a few tips about faces we’re likely to see in WATCHMEN when Zack Snyder’s film version of the long-in-development graphic novel adaptation finally makes its way to the screen in 2008, and some of it’s surprising, while some of it isn’t at all.
Right now, there are offers out to three people to join the cast. If the studio’s gotten to the point where they’re officially making an offer, you can expect that these people will most likely make it into the film.

So that means we’ll see The Prom King, Patrick Wilson, suit up as Night Owl. I think he’s a great choice for Dan, and all you need to do is look at the work he did in LITTLE CHILDREN as an example of the sort of quiet sadness he’ll bring to the role.

Dr. Manhattan is a tricky part, and there’s something alien and otherworldly about him. Keanu Reeves always seems to me to be on a different wavelength than anyone else on the planet, so when he steps into the part as the big blue superbeing, it might be a nice fit.

And in the biggest “duh” of the year, Jude Law has been offered the role of Adrien Veidt, aka Ozymandias. Perfect choice, and Law’s been saying for years that he is a huge fan of the material. If anyone out there is more right for the role, I don’t know who it is.

Hopefully we’ll have more WATCHMEN news for you as it develops, and my thanks to the always-watchful Boss Hogg for the heads up."

[kahunablair]

Hm, Not really seeing Keanu as Manhattan. Maybe he could pull it off, maybe not.

Jude Law, is an absolute "duh" choice. Can't wait for that.

Patrick Wilson? I can't really say. Only thing I ever really saw of him was the trailer for Hard Candy (yet I own the DVD, go figure) and Phantom of the Opera, which I hate the musical, so of course I hated him even more. I'm going to reserve judgement on him. But am I the only one that could see a Christopehr Reeve as Clark Kent type for Night Owl? I've always pictured him as the Geeky guy that doesn't realize he's not one.

[paper]

Patrick Wilson's fantastic. He'll be great for it.

I hate Keanu Reeves. Could very well work though.

[fred]

I also hate Keanu Reeves. This news makes me unhappy.

[k33k3r]

Keanu Reeves painted blue..... I don't know about that one at all.
The other two should work out well though.

[fred]

I'm hoping they bathe him in radioactive waste to make it more realistic

[mikegraham6]

think about it, keanu is known for his stiff, robot like performances and Dr Manhattan is cold and out of touch with his humanity. Reeves was born for this role!

What excites me is the fact that actors like Reeves and Law were actively seeking out these roles. They are that pumped for a Watchmen movie and i hope that excitment transfers in their on screen performances.

I'm still skeptical/bitter about a Watchmen movie though:mad:

[kahunablair]

think about it, keanu is known for his stiff, robot like performances and Dr Manhattan is cold and out of touch with his humanity. Reeves was born for this role!


Haha, I was just thinking pretty much the exact same thing!

[cam-]

Hmmm,

Jude, of course.

Keanu, Mike's right, he's a robot, perfect for the Dr.

I've never seen anything this Wilson character in it. Sooooo.

Any word on Rorshach? Or the Comedian?

Still I'm terrified.

[k33k3r]

I think we are all scared or on the fence about this movie. Now that I think about it you guys are right about Reeves but I still don't like the idea.

[cam-]

Keanu Reeves, Brent Spiner, or Jeri Ryan. Hmmmmmm.

[mikegraham6]

Wasn't the kid from Bad News Bears attached to the Rorshach role??? see above

[mikegraham6]

did anyone catch the G4 pre-Comicon preview? they interview Zack Snyder about the Watchmen movie and apparently it will be set in 1985, i think this is a great idea since they can maintain much of the story without changing to much stuff.


NOTE: im still dead set against this flick though, please dont make this movie, im begging you

[comhcinc]

i agree with you mike and yeah everything i have heard about the movie seems to indicate that it's going to be a period piece

[sullivan85]

Just pray that the movie doesn't end with thousands of people marching on Washington wearing Rorschach masks.

[cam-]

I hope it starts with (ommited for spoilers) kicking (ommited for spoilers) through the window yelling:

WE ARE WATCHMEN!!!!!

Like a spartan.

[paper]

Wouldn't it make more sense to direct those jokes at Frank "Compensating for Something" Miller and not the director who couldn't have avoided those elements when considering the source material?

[conorkilpatrick]

Wouldn't it make more sense to direct those jokes at Frank "Compensating for Something" Miller and not the director who couldn't have avoided those elements when considering the source material?

Oh, don't go bringing logic and reason into comic fans' snarky complaining! ;)

[cam-]

Hey I was serious, that scene kicks ass!

Well, chest really.

Someone should be kicked in the chest in every Zach Snyder movie.

[defaultprophet]

I literally, just finished reading Watchmen for the first time 5 minutes ago. Moore is a genius. If Snyder can pull this off, it could be the best movie in years. That said, it's gonna be hard to reproduce the craftsmanship of Moore's words into a blockbuster medium.

[esophagus]

I think I'm going to boycott the movie by chaining myself to a chair in the theatre it plays at. This way I see it multiple times, and don't feel like an asshole.

[conorkilpatrick]

Warner Bros. has released a synopsis for its upcoming Watchmen movie.

Here's how the studio describes the film:

"Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the 'Doomsday Clock' -- which charts the USA's tension with the Soviet Union -- is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion -- a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers -- Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity...but who is watching the Watchmen?"

[paper]

Sounds pretty accurate to me.

[mikegraham6]

this does make me fell a little better about the movie (emphasis on Little)

[kahunablair]

Well apparently Ozymandias and Silk Spectre have been casted...

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33414

Interesting choices.

[sullivan85]

So Snyder has gotten WB to back a comic movie with no (as of yet) big name stars, that will be rated R, and features characters that the public at large knows nothing about. Thank you 300!!!!

Without 300, I cannot see how he would have ever gotten this movie off the ground.

Let's just hope he's able to make the movie we want to see without too much interfence!

[esophagus]

I'll be interested to see how they do Dr. Manhattan. Something tells me they won't have a nude blue man wandering around through the whole movie. But as of now, this sounds fairly accurate and alright.

[kahunablair]

I'll be interested to see how they do Dr. Manhattan. Something tells me they won't have a nude blue man wandering around through the whole movie. But as of now, this sounds fairly accurate and alright.

I'd imagine after the success they had with the Silver Surfer effects, Dr. Manhattan should be cake.
They'll probably just take the Surfer's computer model and turn the blue saturation up on there monitors. There done.;)

[fred]

I guess that I can put my clothes back on and put away the blue paint then.

[esophagus]

I'd imagine after the success they had with the Silver Surfer effects, Dr. Manhattan should be cake.
They'll probably just take the Surfer's computer model and turn the blue saturation up on there monitors. There done.;)Yeah, I guess so. I kind of hope not though. He would lose a lot of his appeal to me, and a lot of his more human aspects. But I'm sure you're right. They should get someone from the Blue Man Group. =o

[itsbecca]

Yeah, I guess so. I kind of hope not though. He would lose a lot of his appeal to me, and a lot of his more human aspects. But I'm sure you're right. They should get someone from the Blue Man Group. =o

I thought Silver Surfer looked really good (after seperation from his "board"). They could totally steal that and just add on some nads. Or wait... was that what we were trying to get away from?

[kahunablair]

I guess that I can put my clothes back on and put away the blue paint then.

Nah, go for it. Just be sure to put up some pics later!

[fred]

will do. we won't be getting away from nads though.

[esophagus]

I thought Silver Surfer looked really good (after seperation from his "board"). They could totally steal that and just add on some nads. Or wait... was that what we were trying to get away from?Basically. Sort of. I think the fact that Manhattan had a full ass, and a penis, and human eyes is the undertone of the fact that he still had a human side, however hidden. To make him a shiny blue CGI image with a small crack where his ass should be and a Barbies crotch would kind of get rid of that.

[kahunablair]

Basically. Sort of. I think the fact that Manhattan had a full ass, and a penis, and human eyes is the undertone of the fact that he still had a human side, however hidden. To make him a shiny blue CGI image with a small crack where his ass should be and a Barbies crotch would kind of get rid of that.
Wait... he was naked?? I don't remember that at all.

[itsbecca]

Wait... he was naked?? I don't remember that at all.

If I recall he was often clothed in social situations, but in the buff when at home. Or you know, on Mars.

http://blog.wired.com/photos/uncategorized/drmanathan.jpg

...


is this NSFW?

[kahunablair]

Now I remember, he said something to the effect that he wears those underwear pants to keep everyone else from feeling uncomfortable right?

[itsbecca]

Now I remember, he said something to the effect that he wears those underwear pants to keep everyone else from feeling uncomfortable right?

Yeah. Cause normally what the heck does someone of such high intelligence care about clothes? At least that's what I told the officer last night...

[esophagus]

Now I remember, he said something to the effect that he wears those underwear pants to keep everyone else from feeling uncomfortable right?
Yeah, I had kind of been thinking they would just keep him in those through the whole movie. The CGI thing makes more sense though.

[kahunablair]

Well I honestly see it going the CGI route, because make-up just doesn't make as much sense these days.
I just had a wacky thought that I really hope isn't what's going to happen. What if to save some money Manhattan jumps back and forth to human/normal form? They could explain it the same way they do the underpants.
He choices to look human to keep others at ease.

At least that's what I told the officer last night...

Didn't work for you either huh? Freaking Fuzz!! Think they own the world.

[sullivan85]

It won't happen, but I think it'd be hilarious if Dr Manhatten was stark naked the whole time, but the camera angle keeps putting objects in front of his privates! (like the scene in the first Austin Powers)

[miyamotofreak]

I'm not interested unless Hayter does it. If it was his screenplay and direction I would be intrigued. Not to mention if Hayter was doing there would be a better chance of Alan Moore being involved.

[kahunablair]

It won't happen, but I think it'd be hilarious if Dr Manhatten was stark naked the whole time, but the camera angle keeps putting objects in front of his privates! (like the scene in the first Austin Powers)

http://img36.picoodle.com/img/img36/9/7/24/f_ddm_cc3461e.png (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/9/7/24/f_ddm_cc3461e.png&srv=img36)

[conorkilpatrick]

I'm not interested unless Hayter does it. If it was his screenplay and direction I would be intrigued. Not to mention if Hayter was doing there would be a better chance of Alan Moore being involved.

It is David Hayter's screenplay. He's not a director, though. I would never want a first time director on this project.

Also, Alan Moore would never be involved, no matter who does it. He's not interested in film adaptations of his works.

[miyamotofreak]

It is David Hayter's screenplay. He's not a director, though. I would never want a first time director on this project.

Also, Alan Moore would never be involved, no matter who does it. He's not interested in film adaptations of his works.
I thought his screenplay was contemporary?

[kahunablair]

I thought his screenplay was contemporary?

Nope. 1985 Period peice.

[esophagus]

I'm not interested unless Hayter does it. If it was his screenplay and direction I would be intrigued. Not to mention if Hayter was doing there would be a better chance of Alan Moore being involved. As Connor said, no way Alan would get involved. If they offered him the chance to do it himself, he still wouldn't go for it.

I've been thinking about this movie all day. I'm kind of a little worried, and anxious. The comic was just a fantastic literary thing. It was a well-written story. Whether you liked it or not, you know it wasn't a typical superhero book. So is a man dressed like an owl, or a man with a noose around his neck, going to just throw that out? How will they pull that off and still get it taken seriously.

[kahunablair]

Well it's official....

Jackie Earle Haley is Walter Kovacs / Rorschach
Billy Crudup is Dr. Manhattan
Malin Akerman is Juspeczyk / The Silk Spectre
Matthew Goode is Adrian Veidt / Ozymandias
Patrick Wilson is Nite Owl
Jeffrey Dean Morgan will play The Comedian

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie88dcf13294612e0d5010ddce2a351f1

[mikegraham6]

Well it's official....



http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie88dcf13294612e0d5010ddce2a351f1

i don't know who any of those actors are.....
but that could be a good thing!

disclaimer: i still don't support this film

[jimmyp]

Great casting. Not sure about Rorschach though...

[cam-]

The guy playing Rorshach was in Little Children, and my wife says he deserved the oscar.

[mikegraham6]

i thought the Rorshach casting was the best of the bunch, the other actors look far too young, the characters are suppose to be washed up and middle-aged!

[esophagus]

The guy playing Rorshach was in Little Children, and my wife says he deserved the oscar. Oh man, that's actually a pretty good cast. Looks a little off, and he's an AMAZING actor.

[labor_days]

Watchmen cast/character photos...pt. 1

http://admin.type40marketing.com/uploaded/gallery/29//s2/media/cast_1.jpg

http://admin.type40marketing.com/uploaded/gallery/29//s2/media/cast_2.jpg

http://admin.type40marketing.com/uploaded/gallery/29//s2/media/cast_3.jpg

[labor_days]

Watchmen cast/character photos...pt. 2
http://admin.type40marketing.com/uploaded/gallery/29//s2/media/cast_4.jpg

http://admin.type40marketing.com/uploaded/gallery/29//s2/media/cast_5.jpg

http://admin.type40marketing.com/uploaded/gallery/29//s2/media/cast_6.jpg

[mikegraham6]

now that they are put side by side (thanks labor!) the casting doesn't seem as bad as i initially thought. although the nightowl and comedian casting still look a little off (nightowl is to skinny and comedian is not old enough), but i will base my opinions one their performances not on their appearances (that can be fixed with makeup anyway)

[labor_days]

I'm still not sure this can be pulled off successfully. However, Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach is a brilliantly inspired choice.

[kahunablair]

....(nightowl is to skinny and comedian is not old enough)....
Take it from me putting on weight is easy. As far as the Comedian, his story is told in different flashbacks. If you need to age a character throughout the film, it will probably be easier to add years instead of taking them off. Younger looking saves money.

[miyamotofreak]

Guys we have worse to worry about than the casting:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7195695&postcount=93

If this is Hayter's script, then they're really taking liberties with it.

[esophagus]

I knew this was too good to be drew. I'm really not a fan of the Veidt casting, or Comedian, and if they do those things to the plot, it will just be awful.

Think they will do the pirate stuff? I think it would be hilarious if they just zoomed in on the kids comic and the panel came to life.

[horatio616]

Guys we have worse to worry about than the casting:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7195695&postcount=93

If this is Hayter's script, then they're really taking liberties with it.

I really don't have a major problem with these changes, especially the squid-alien part, because I can see it being a little hokey, not to mention the money it will trim from the budget.

[sullivan85]

I wonder how much time the film will devote to the "original" Watchmen? There were no casting announcements for them outside of the Comedian.

I'm not expecting the book on the screen, but I'm guessing they will drop the pirate stuff completely, drop the news vendor, and minimize the 1940s Watchmen's onscreen roles.

As for the age of the characters, a little movie magic can age the actors (or make em younger)!!

If anything, maybe a movie will get some more non-comic readers to pick up the book like 300 did!!

[kahunablair]

I really don't have a major problem with these changes, especially the squid-alien part, because I can see it being a little hokey, not to mention the money it will trim from the budget.

Same here. Nothing really bothering me to much.

[mikegraham6]

i like the hard edged rorshach, without that he's just a cliched character

[esophagus]

I really don't have a major problem with these changes, especially the squid-alien part, because I can see it being a little hokey, not to mention the money it will trim from the budget.The Squid-Alien isn't a concern. The costumed super-heroes will make it hard enough to stay a serious movie, a squid could make that harder. But Veidt killing Rorscach then Nite Owl killing him, and Rorscach not being a hard ass, that's just lame. The guy playing Rorscach showed he would be perfect for the role in Little Children, now they're changing the role completely. His character just won't be the same.

[jimmyp]

http://www.newsarama.com/Comic-Con_07/DC/Watchmenposter.jpg

Yes awesome movie poster!

[miyamotofreak]

You guys have to be kidding. Your saying that completely changing the ending and changing Rorshach completely is okay? The psychological complexity of Rorshach and the not typical ending were the best damn parts!

[kahunablair]

You guys have to be kidding. Your saying that completely changing the ending and changing Rorshach completely is okay? The psychological complexity of Rorshach and the not typical ending were the best damn parts!

Seriously. The movies called Watchmen, not Rorschach. They can't devote as much time to him as the book does without taking away from the other stories to much. I really doubt they're going to have Rorschach petting puppies, but I can just seem them cutting down on some of his crazier scenes. That only will not make him as crazy as he is in the book.

As far as the ending I agree that having them all kill each other is a little wacky, but somethings have to change just for the movie to exist and not be a 25 hour epic.

Just because the movie is made and is different, doesn't wipe the book away! If you want the original version you'll have it everytime you look at your bookcase.

[esophagus]

Seriously. The movies called Watchmen, not Rorschach. They can't devote as much time to him as the book does without taking away from the other stories to much. I really doubt they're going to have Rorschach petting puppies, but I can just seem them cutting down on some of his crazier scenes. That only will not make him as crazy as he is in the book.

As far as the ending I agree that having them all kill each other is a little wacky, but somethings have to change just for the movie to exist and not be a 25 hour epic.

Just because the movie is made and is different, doesn't wipe the book away! If you want the original version you'll have it everytime you look at your bookcase.There's no problem with cutting down on his scenes, but changing his personality is a stretch. His monotone dialogue and lack of care is what makes him. If they get rid of the "I see the world didn't end today." "Are you sure?" scene, or him breaking that man's fingers, I will be pretty pissed. This is why Moore hates stuff like this.

[kahunablair]

They might have those scenes, but if even one of them isn't shown, it won't matter. He could still have done it, just off screen.

[horatio616]

You guys have to be kidding. Your saying that completely changing the ending and changing Rorshach completely is okay? The psychological complexity of Rorshach and the not typical ending were the best damn parts!

The screenwriter(s) may fear making Rorschach too unsympathetic. If you make R more sympathetic but then have Dr. Manhattan kill him, Dr M becomes a villain and the audience gets pissed. Perhaps they felt that the ending was a little too downbeat and lacked that final showdown blockbusters need. When you're spending 100+ million on a film, you have to consider things like this, unfortunately.

[esophagus]

They might have those scenes, but if even one of them isn't shown, it won't matter. He could still have done it, just off screen.I don't think you are catching this. My problem isn't the physical acts themselves, its his demeanor. They are making him to be just a general superhero. With a much more sympathetic and cheery personality.

[conorkilpatrick]

How did you all get to see a preview screening of the movie? Did I miss it? I'm so jealous!

[fred]

How did you all get to see a preview screening of the movie? Did I miss it? I'm so jealous!

nice.

:)

[kahunablair]

How did you all get to see a preview screening of the movie? Did I miss it? I'm so jealous!

Really? It was on ABC at 11pm last night. It was actually pretty good.;)

[esophagus]

How did you all get to see a preview screening of the movie? Did I miss it? I'm so jealous!Good call. Internet rumors this early = rarely true.

[conorkilpatrick]

From Aint It Cool News (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33491)

Quint: My two biggest concerns were addressed in the Q&A… about the period and the pirate story. The pirate story in particular… I can see that being the most obvious…h2>

Zack Snyder: Cut…

Quint: Yeah, but it means so much to the story.

Zack Snyder: Absolutely and I feel the same way. It’s funny, because you know one of the biggest proponents of the pirate story is Debbie, my wife. She fights for it, because basically I’m in production and because we’re trying to figure out who’s going to pay for the pirate story… is it going to be marketing… is it going to be home video… I think the studio’s approach right now is like “look, we’re spending too much for this movie anyway, because we don’t even know who’s going to go see it…” and so…

Quint: One thing that the studio’s aren’t doing, and this is a big argument, like the HARRY POTTER fans are saying, “there’s so much material in these books and you’re only shooting a feature, but why don’t you do something like Peter Jackson did with LORD OF THE RINGS and you have the expanded DVD?”

Zack Snyder: Not to mention the fact that I think Peter also… because when he releases a DVD, the movie’s an hour longer... It’s not like “Oh… some bonus material…” It’s like another movie, which is kind of how I’ve been trying to go with the studio and saying “look, even if the pirate movie, the pirate part of the story exists on DVD only…”

Quint: And you can plan for it going in, so you can shoot it to integrate seamlessly.

Zack Snyder: We’ve done that. I’ve got the script that gets it in and out. I have all of the ends and outs (written). I have all the stuff and it’s not like it’s hard for us to do, so they’re really quite interested in it. It was funny, because the original script… you know, I was trying to get the pirates story as small as I could, because I felt like it was palpable, but now they’re like “It could be a little bit more.” I’m like, “Yeah there’s plenty more.” I was actually, and I don’t know if we will do it since I haven’t talked to him about it yet, but I was going to try to get Dave [Gibbons] to pen the rest of it.

Quint: Oh yeah?

Zack Snyder: Because if you’ve ever seen… Have you ever seen it laid out? Some guy took the pirates story and just made it’s own comic and used every piece of voice over as a separate panel and kind of put it together and it’s cool, because it’s missing a lot of course, but it could easily be…

*snip*

Quint: How long for the finished product?

Zack Snyder: I don’t know. I don’t know. We have a script, right? Then when I draw the movie over, I change the whole thing around. I just do… you can’t help it. I’m drawing and I’m like… because I have the graphic novel over here and I have the script over here, I’m like “Oh no, I need that piece of voice over from the thing” or “I need…” So I’m about to do another rewrite and we’ll see, but it’s long.

Quint: I wanted to talk a little bit about working with the actors and especially with Jackie, because Rorschach as written, when he puts the mask on they even have a different kind of font… colored voice box… squiggly lines and stuff, so how are you guys going to approach that?

Zack Snyder: I don’t know. I think we’re going to play around a little bit and try to figure out what’s going to be cool. It’s funny because, have you ever seen the documentary THE MINDSCAPE OF ALAN MOORE? It’s a new documentary and in it Alan does a dramatic reading of Rorschach’s voiceover and I was like “gosh, maybe we should use that as sort of the model for tone and stuff like that, because who would know, right?”

Quint: Is it dramatically different when… because in the books…

Zack Snyder: Well, he’s reading it as his VO, so I would imagine that would be his voice…

Quint: But in the book when he has the mask on…

Zack Snyder: You imagine that he’s more...

Quint: Yeah and then when he has it off, it’s like he literally does lose his identity, like he always seems to be talking just as concise, but without the…

Zack Snyder: The rasp or whatever it is…

Quint: Yeah or whatever that squiggly line is.

Zack Snyder: I love that, because they also refer to it in the most obscure way, so you’re not exactly sure. It’ll be fun. I don’t know, we’re going to have to play with and see… but we’re certainly aware of it.

More in link.

[esophagus]

Ane extended DVD would be really cool for this. If that's what happens I won't go in theatres.

[conorkilpatrick]

Ane extended DVD would be really cool for this. If that's what happens I won't go in theatres.

You (most likely) wouldn't know if an extended DVD was coming out until after the run in theaters.

[esophagus]

You (most likely) wouldn't know if an extended DVD was coming out until after the run in theaters.Really? You'd think if it was already being talked about they would announce it ahead of time. Oh well. I have a strong feeling I couldn't hold out.

[conorkilpatrick]

Really? You'd think if it was already being talked about they would announce it ahead of time. Oh well. I have a strong feeling I couldn't hold out.

They don't want to give anyone an excuse not to buy a movie ticket. It's just like they don't announce a special edition DVD release when they release a standard DVD, even though everyone knows it's coming.

[mikegraham6]

They don't want to give anyone an excuse not to buy a movie ticket. It's just like they don't announce a special edition DVD release when they release a standard DVD, even though everyone knows it's coming.

i absolutely HATE when studios do that, greedy bastards!:mad:

[horatio616]

It would be cool if the pirate part were on the DVD, but I'd never watch it!

[paper]

I still haven't finished Watchmen. I like the pirate part.

[cam-]

I still haven't finished Watchmen. I like the pirate part.

Maybe I've missed it, but are there people who don't? That pirate stuff is intense once it gets going.

[kwok_talk]

Maybe I've missed it, but are there people who don't? That pirate stuff is intense once it gets going.

I’m probably one of those. The pirate stuff didn’t grab me at first and I found myself just skipping over it eventually. I’m sure my laziness contributed to my lack of love for the book and I’m sure I’ll get around to reading through it proper one of these days.

[cam-]

I probably have to re-read Watchmen, I read it first when I was so young I'm sure I missed loads of stuff, but I still remember being impressed by the Pirate stuff.

Like a bizarre Moore written Old Man and the Sea.

[miyamotofreak]

Here is the very old 1989 script which was scrapped:
http://scifiscripts.com/scripts/wtchmn.txt

[sullivan85]

Interesting take on the material. Not sure about the time travel angle though. I especially didn't like the final scene of the script.

[conorkilpatrick]

The real, official website (http://watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com/) is live.

[mikegraham6]

The real, official website (http://watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com/) is live.

WEAK!!
(10)

[sullivan85]

WEAK!!
(10)

C'mon man, if that release date of March 2009 is right this movie is too far out to expect more than a blank website.

[mikegraham6]

C'mon man, if that release date of March 2009 is right this movie is too far out to expect more than a blank website.

true, it's still weak though

[kahunablair]

true, it's still weak though

Really? I think it actually looks pretty good for a movie that far off. They have everything that's been announced listed. It's not like just a smiley face.
Plus the Blog has some nifty potential if they keep it updated with actual production stuff.

[labor_days]

I also like the website. Pretty slick and not annoyingly garish like other movie sites.

Still think making this movie is a mistake. But hey, it's not my money.

[mikegraham6]

Really? I think it actually looks pretty good for a movie that far off. They have everything that's been announced listed. It's not like just a smiley face.
Plus the Blog has some nifty potential if they keep it updated with actual production stuff.

ha! the site just didn't work for me, i thought it was just a date and a smiley face. i take back my "weak":o

[kahunablair]

ha! the site just didn't work for me, i thought it was just a date and a smiley face. i take back my "weak":o

Haha I figured that, I just didn't want to suggest it.
It's good to know you can see some of the stuff now though.

[esophagus]

I'm so on the fence on this movie, I just neeed some new announcements to boost my confidence. Good website though.

[sullivan85]

I think at the very least, most people want to like the movie. For now, I'll give Snyder the benefit of the doubt. I think thus far, casting has been great.

[itsbecca]

Happy Birthday!

I'm jealous of everyone who has seen Superbad. I haven't even seen The Bourne Supremacy or Stardust yet.

I watched 300 again last night. I think I might be worried about the Watchmen movie a little bit now...

That's funny. I watched 300 last night too. Except it made me even more excited for Watchmen, especially when I watched the commentary. It was mostly boring, but Zack Snyder kept saying over and over "We took that from the shot from the comic, that was straight out of the graphic novel" over and over. While you can't fit every peice of into a two hour movie, I think the most important thing is carrying over the look, feel and overall tone. I have complete faith he'll hit it out of the park.

[horatio616]

That's funny. I watched 300 last night too. Except it made me even more excited for Watchmen, especially when I watched the commentary. It was mostly boring, but Zack Snyder kept saying over and over "We took that from the shot from the comic, that was straight out of the graphic novel" over and over. While you can't fit every peice of into a two hour movie, I think the most important thing is carrying over the look, feel and overall tone. I have complete faith he'll hit it out of the park.

I'm sure he will put everything he has into it, which may be the problem. 300 was way over the top, which worked for that movie. There are so many moments where the overly-dramatic music swells with this long pause right before it's time for the actor to deliver his line... well, it's borderline corny. That's okay for 300, which I really like, but for Watchmen, well, it makes me a little uneasy.

I'm worried it will be like the V for Vendetta movie. Pretty faithful to the source material, but what made the comic so compelling was its subtlety, which the movie was absolutely not. It was such a corny film that I really didn't enjoy a single second of it.

A weird thought occured to me last night while watching 300. At the end, when the one-eyed guy was giving his speech to the 10,000 troops, there's no way in hell the back 10 rows or so could hear any of it.

[conorkilpatrick]

I'm worried it will be like the V for Vendetta movie. Pretty faithful to the source material, but what made the comic so compelling was its subtlety, which the movie was absolutely not. It was such a corny film that I really didn't enjoy a single second of it.

If Watchmen is at all like V For Vendetta we will be very lucky indeed.

[horatio616]

If Watchmen is at all like V For Vendetta we will be very lucky indeed.

Hopefully there will be a wacky British talk show montage in it!

[itsbecca]

I'm sure he will put everything he has into it, which may be the problem. 300 was way over the top, which worked for that movie. There are so many moments where the overly-dramatic music swells with this long pause right before it's time for the actor to deliver his line... well, it's borderline corny. That's okay for 300, which I really like, but for Watchmen, well, it makes me a little uneasy.

I'm worried it will be like the V for Vendetta movie. Pretty faithful to the source material, but what made the comic so compelling was its subtlety, which the movie was absolutely not. It was such a corny film that I really didn't enjoy a single second of it.

A weird thought occured to me last night while watching 300. At the end, when the one-eyed guy was giving his speech to the 10,000 troops, there's no way in hell the back 10 rows or so could hear any of it.

Well but think about what you're saying. It was over the top but the style and approach worked for 300. So what makes you think he wouldn't do what works for The Watchmen? Any talented director is not going to approach two films in exactly the same way. I just really appreciate how Snyder services the source material.

Besides, if you step back and look at this material... most comics are "corny"... I mean that's not the word I would use. You're dealing with material that's larger than life. The characters need to be real, or it would not be beleivable, but it's still people who can fly, have superior intellects... can transport to mars? I mean there's always going to be that aspect. And the trick is transport the reader, or the viewer, out of their idea of reality into this other world. So that when these extraordinary things happen they don't think, oh that's not very likely, they stay with the story. And that transportation? It's done with the mood, tone and visuals.

So that's why I'm excited.

[horatio616]

Mark Steven Johnson was pretty excited about bringing Daredevil and Ghost Rider too. Not that DD or GR was anywhere in the same league as 300, but hopefully you get what I mean.

I just don't want to get my hopes up to be let down. It's been a rough year for me emotionally. :(

[esophagus]

I'm sure he will put everything he has into it, which may be the problem. 300 was way over the top, which worked for that movie. There are so many moments where the overly-dramatic music swells with this long pause right before it's time for the actor to deliver his line... well, it's borderline corny. That's okay for 300, which I really like, but for Watchmen, well, it makes me a little uneasy.Have you actually read the 300 GN? It was way over the top in itself. In translating things shot for shot, he picked up the general feel of the book. He picked up that this was no an overly emotional fight, just a stunning and beautiful bit of blood and politics.
I'm worried it will be like the V for Vendetta movie. Pretty faithful to the source material, but what made the comic so compelling was its subtlety, which the movie was absolutely not. It was such a corny film that I really didn't enjoy a single second of it.This is a much more genuine concern. In writing V, Moore had one historical event in mind, and they tried to make it into a this-is-a-metaphor-for-america film. This could easily happen to Watchmen, but Snyder seems to have better interests in mind looking back at Dawn of the Dead and 300.

[horatio616]

Have you actually read the 300 GN? It was way over the top in itself. In translating things shot for shot, he picked up the general feel of the book. He picked up that this was no an overly emotional fight, just a stunning and beautiful bit of blood and politics.


Yeah I read it. Miller's flair for dialogue often comes across better on the page than it does onscreen. There were some real howlers in Sin City. Not saying I didn't love the movie. I did, but, boy, it was so close to super cheesiness. That's part of what made it so good.

[greekgoat91]

http://www.watchmencomicmovie.com/102407-watchmen-starlog-article.php

It's official, Snyder won't give us the shitty ending where Dan kills Veidt. Watchmen fans can stop sweating now.

[six-gun]

Stopsweating? Have you not listened to some of the more rabid fan's worries?

[esophagus]

I trust him. As long as Rorscach is still angry, I'm good.

As far as Dr. Mahattan goes, I'm stoked. Should be interesting. I'm dying for the scene where he dies and his body parts find eachother.

[jimski]

You know, for a long time (pre-web) there was a lot of talk about Terry Gilliam wanting to make the Watchmen movie. I think a lot of the reason everyone always says "it really needs to be a miniseries or something" is because Gilliam said it when he gave up on the project.

I recently saw Time Bandits again for the first time since I was 7, and I am watching Brazil right now for the first time since I was 17... and... what about this seemed like a good idea to Watchmen fans? Is there a Gilliam enthusiast out there who feels like explaining why he would have been a good fit for this project? What would he have brought to the film that others would not have?

[jimski]

P.S.: If you are thinking about letting your 7-year-old watch Time Bandits a bunch of times, do not do that. In hindsight, my parents ought to be in jail.

[paper]

I love Time Bandits. And Baron Munchausen. Terry Gilliam would be a terrible choice for Watchmen because he's overly ambitious and a lot of effort would go into a film version of Watchmen that wouldn't satisfy people who aren't named Terry Gilliam. It's sad, but he can't even handle his original projects anymore, let alone an adaptation.

[horatio616]

Paper, are you going to skip Watchmen if the dog scene is in it?

[gungadin]

Paper, are you going to skip Watchmen if the dog scene is in it?

They'll probably have it. It does define a major turning point for his character...

[paper]

There are more profound reasons for my skipping out on Watchmen. Mainly my disinterest in the source material.

[six-gun]

There are more profound reasons for my skipping out on Watchmen. Mainly my disinterest in the source material.

huh? :eek:

;)

[paper]

I'm kidding. I'll go see it for sure. (Even though I still haven't finished the damn book).

[six-gun]

I'm kidding. I'll go see it for sure. (Even though I still haven't finished the damn book).

it's really dense I agree

[gungadin]

I'm kidding. I'll go see it for sure. (Even though I still haven't finished the damn book).

I know what you mean. My first time through I was in like... 10th Grade and I SLOGGED through that. I remember it was a pain. But the end was oh so totally worth it...

[esophagus]

I read it in one sitting. Granted it took me hours upon hours, I got through it. But, still, I missed things, and grabbed them on second and third readings.

[gungadin]

I read it in one sitting. Granted it took me hours upon hours, I got through it. But, still, I missed things, and grabbed them on second and third readings.

Amen. I couldn't read it in one sitting. Each issue (comic plus prose) takes me like... half an hour... So that's like... six hours or something...

[conorkilpatrick]

I read it in one sitting. Granted it took me hours upon hours, I got through it. But, still, I missed things, and grabbed them on second and third readings.

Me too. I sat on the couch of Josh's apartment in college for like 8 hours straight. I think I finished around 4am.

[gungadin]

Me too. I sat on the couch of Josh's apartment in college for like 8 hours straight. I think I finished around 4am.

That's so awesome...

[esophagus]

Me too. I sat on the couch of Josh's apartment in college for like 8 hours straight. I think I finished around 4am.Yup, I just couldn't get over it. There was so much to piece together. I started after school and just sat there until the wee hours of the morning. Even when I finished it I was rereading the prose, and analyzing the art. There's so much too it.

[mastap]

Yup, I just couldn't get over it. There was so much to piece together. I started after school and just sat there until the wee hours of the morning. Even when I finished it I was rereading the prose, and analyzing the art. There's so much too it.

I skipped the pirate stuff and went back later

[gungadin]

The pirate stuff amazes me. How Moore's able to tie it so well to the outside action... That's frakkin brilliant...

[esophagus]

I skipped the pirate stuff and went back laterI read it that first time and haven't since. It's just so hard to sit through.

[gungadin]

I read it that first time and haven't since. It's just so hard to sit through.

Oh man. I always relish the pirate stuff!!! I swear that one day I'll go through and read the whole pirate story. It's actually quite exhilarating...

Edit: or rather, I always find it rather exhilarating...

[mikegraham6]

Conor, have you read the pirate stuff yet? ;)

[conorkilpatrick]

Negative .

[kahunablair]

I read it every few years, and everytime I skip over the pirate section.

[cam-]

I'm always amazed that people didn't read the Pirate stuff.

I thought it was great, but moreso, it gotta be in there for a reason right?

I'm reminded of reading "Who has seen the wind" for school, it was late and I had a test the next day, so I figured "I'll read every second chapter. Brilliant"

Except I missed the main character's Dog, Grandmother, and FATHER's Deaths!!! Which were barely referenced again! Needless to say the test was a surprise.

[mikegraham6]

the pirate stuff definitely drags on but the resolution to that plot is epic!

[esophagus]

I'm always amazed that people didn't read the Pirate stuff.

I thought it was great, but moreso, it gotta be in there for a reason right?

I'm reminded of reading "Who has seen the wind" for school, it was late and I had a test the next day, so I figured "I'll read every second chapter. Brilliant"

Except I missed the main character's Dog, Grandmother, and FATHER's Deaths!!! Which were barely referenced again! Needless to say the test was a surprise.I read the pirate stuff once, and understand how intricately it tied into the book, and why it's considered so great. But now that I've read it, I have no interest in ever doing so again.

[doomlobster]

The pirate part is one of the reasons I've always enjoyed rereading Watchmen. It's like a Victorian-style serial adventure but more violent and with pictures, and is also completely relevant to the overall plot of the developing story. The man progresses further and further into madness, ultimately killing what is most dear to him thinking that he is saving his family. Kind of like Ozymandias and his New York murder extravaganza which supposedly saves humanity.

But they should keep pirate-adventure-man's story out of the movie considering most people reading the book skip that part anyway.

[gungadin]

Spoiler alert?

[esophagus]

Spoiler alert?Watchmen stopped getting those in 1987.

[gungadin]

No, I get that. But what I mean is, somehow people can pick up Watchmen and not know the ending, even now, today. And I was just saying that because people posting on this thread don't know the ending, but that post would make it so's they do...

I like Watchmen (and it's resolution) too much to just have it rampantly spoiled to those who haven't read it. You know?

[esophagus]

No, I get that. But what I mean is, somehow people can pick up Watchmen and not know the ending, even now, today. And I was just saying that because people posting on this thread don't know the ending, but that post would make it so's they do...

I like Watchmen (and it's resolution) too much to just have it rampantly spoiled to those who haven't read it. You know?Oh, I know, I got it. I'm just saying, if I were to post in a Crisis on Infinite Earths thread I wouldn't put spoiler alerts everyone, because people reading the thread should understand that at this point it's free game.

Spoiler Alert
Charles Darwin believes in natural selection.

At some point it just fades away.

[gungadin]

Oh, I know, I got it. I'm just saying, if I were to post in a Crisis on Infinite Earths thread I wouldn't put spoiler alerts everyone, because people reading the thread should understand that at this point it's free game.

Mmmm. Yeah. But to be fair, Watchmen is a standalone story that is self-contained and... graphic novelly... CoIE is relevant to modern continuity (Infinite Crisis, Countdown (perhaps Final Crisis), and Sinestro Corps) so it's understandable that they'd know that and not Countdown.

But still. It amazes me how the ending is... not the most important part of the book, yet it never gets spoiled... If that makes sense. I mean, the ending you'd almost expect TO be spoiled (not unlike Harry Potter or... Harry Potter... Apologies, my mind can't think of anything else that fits what I'm trying to convey) doesn't get spoiled... And for something so rampantly popular, that's kinda awesome...

[esophagus]

Mmmm. Yeah. But to be fair, Watchmen is a standalone story that is self-contained and... graphic novelly... CoIE is relevant to modern continuity (Infinite Crisis, Countdown (perhaps Final Crisis), and Sinestro Corps) so it's understandable that they'd know that and not Countdown.

But still. It amazes me how the ending is... not the most important part of the book, yet it never gets spoiled... If that makes sense. I mean, the ending you'd almost expect TO be spoiled (not unlike Harry Potter or... Harry Potter... Apologies, my mind can't think of anything else that fits what I'm trying to convey) doesn't get spoiled... And for something so rampantly popular, that's kinda awesome...Yeah, sometimes I find I've forgotten the ending. Obviously it doesn't take much to remember, but it's not the most important thing to pull from the book. When you have such a dense book, there's plot points flying at you in every which way.

[gungadin]

That, and it's brootiful, and ingeniously structured, and got great images, and is fantastically cinematic and specific and amazing and...

Well... You get the idea...

[cav]

The Pirate story is one of the things I enjoy most about watchmen! The way Moore juxaposes it with the "main storyline" is simply amazing, skipping it would take away from the emotional impact of the book.

I can't imagine the book without it!

[conorkilpatrick]

The Backlot (http://rss.warnerbros.com/watchmen/)

http://images.comicbookresources.com/reel/watchmen/watch-1317_select.jpg
http://images.comicbookresources.com/reel/watchmen/WMD-21550_select.jpg
http://images.comicbookresources.com/reel/watchmen/WMD-22648_select.jpg
http://images.comicbookresources.com/reel/watchmen/WMD-22669_select.jpg

[gungadin]

I saw that... The Newspaper stand really got me buzzed. It looks so perfect...

At least we know it'll look good...

[mikegraham6]

OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!!!!!

I like the little flash of Rorshach and the two guys they got to play the Newstand "Duo" look perfect. this is really
cool. i love all the little details, like the "Pale Horse" poster, the "Who Watches the Watchmen" graffiti and the Black Freighter poster
So i guess it's going to remain a period piece? (the Nixon poster seems to indicate this)




im still against this movie though ;)

[conorkilpatrick]

So i guess it's going to remain a period piece? (the Nixon poster seems to indicate this)

From the link:

Street had to work for 1938, 1945, 1953, 1957, 1964, 1974, 1975, 1977, and 1985

[sullivan85]

From the link:

Street had to work for 1938, 1945, 1953, 1957, 1964, 1974, 1975, 1977, and 1985

The pics look great! But someone please tell me how the set dressing for 1975 was different than 1974!

[six-gun]

New Stand = Perfect

[cam-]

News Stand = Perfect

Quoted (and slightly edited ;)) for truth.

[jimski]

I understand why it will never happen, but a part of me thinks it would be really nice if Alan Moore saw these images and said, "My God! It's like my creation leaped off the page and came to vivid, glorious life," and then his jaw went slack, and a single tear rolled down his cheek, and he hugged whoever happened to be standing next to him. I sort of wish I lived on the Earth where that happened.

[mikegraham6]

as acurate as those pictures are, I still can help but notice that the cars aren't electric ;)

[gungadin]

The pics look great! But someone please tell me how the set dressing for 1975 was different than 1974!

The difference is an inch of bellbottoms. They tighten the circumference of the knee by an inch. People take these things seriously, man. Haven't you seen the "bloopers" on IMDb for any movie? People are "blooper mongers."

[kahunablair]

Ok, in that first picture, take a look at the guy in the green trenchcoat, walking in front of the Subway entrance. Is that George Bush Sr.??
;)
The pics look great! But someone please tell me how the set dressing for 1975 was different than 1974!

Easy, in '74 scenes everyone is talking about Watergate and Nixon. In the '75 scenes everyone is carrying a pet rock.

[esophagus]

So i guess it's going to remain a period piece?... Meanwhile, another exciting development is happening on Watchmen, one that will expand the depth of the film and add some of the detail that just can't be fit into a movie. Readers of the comic know that writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons packed Watchmen with background and back story detail that creates a rich and rounded world, including text pieces at the end of every issue. A number of the text pieces take the form of excerpts from Under the Hood, the memoirs of Golden Age crime fighter Nite Owl, telling his own history and that of the original hero team The Minutemen. Picture this concept: while doing promotion for the book, Nite Owl appears on a newsmagazine show which profiles him, his career and his friends in The Minutemen. Just such a newsmagazine show is being filmed, and it's being done in period early 60s style, reflecting the release date of the book in the Watchmen universe. Apparently this will be a full hour long. I don't know what the plans for this are - I have to imagine it will be on the DVD release, which is rumored to be a mega-packed set. This would actually make more sense as a day and date DVD release to promote the movie, as far as I'm concerned, but it would probably also give away too many story points to the uninitiated, as the secret history of The Minutemen has a major impact on the characters in the main story.It sure is. I'm so excited.

[esophagus]

And the first part of that news bit, which holds even more exciting news... couple of weeks ago Moviehole brought us the news that Zack Snyder had gotten Warner Bros to cough up the dough to allow him to shoot the Tales of the Black Freighter segments from Watchmen. This pirate comic within a comic are not integral to the main plot of Watchmen, but rather comment on the themes and characters in the story, so it was always the first thing cut out by screenwriters taking a crack at the material. Now a scooper has given me more info about what the possible plans are for the Black Freighter: according to my source, there's talk of doing the pirate story in animation*, and releasing it on DVD at the same time that Watchmen is in theaters.

Snyder told me at Comic Con that he wanted to do the Black Freighter 300 style. Could the change to animation be to get around the strike (animation writers are under the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) for some reason, not the WGA)? The idea of releasing it on DVD at the same time the movie is in theaters (if true - repeated attempts to confirm or deny this story with Warner Bros bore no fruit) is sort of weird - other films have seen animated tie-ins show up in stores, but Black Freighter has just about zero to do with the main Watchmen story. Would this confuse casual fans?

[mikegraham6]

That's pertty exciting, it sounds like they are on the right track

[gungadin]

Tales of the Black Freighter would be fantastic on screen... Especially in animation...

The more I hear....

[neb]

I was just browsing through IGN and found this link. Has a few cool pictures from the set, plus pics of all the actors with the characters they're playing.

http://movies.ign.com/articles/837/837849p1.html

Enjoy!

[conorkilpatrick]

I was just browsing through IGN and found this link. Has a few cool pictures from the set, plus pics of all the actors with the characters they're playing.

http://movies.ign.com/articles/837/837849p1.html

Enjoy!

You mean the pictures 15 posts above yours? :)

[esophagus]

You mean the pictures 15 posts above yours? :)There was one new one in there, and the cast photos. That cast photo of Rorscach made me remember just how excited I am to see him act in this. Little Children = Rorscach if he was a sexual predator.

[conorkilpatrick]

There was one new one in there, and the cast photos. That cast photo of Rorscach made me remember just how excited I am to see him act in this. Little Children = Rorscach if he was a sexual predator.

That one new photo isn't new at all, nor is it from the movie. It's a test image that was embedded in the trailer for 300.

[neb]

I think a common thing you guys will find with me is that I'm one lazy mofo. The pics may have been 15 posts up, but I wouldn't have known because I didn't want to read through all 200 + threads.

Am I embarassed? Not in the least. A little ashamed? Possibly...

[kahunablair]

Maxim actually posted a side by side comparison of the set pictures and the Movie stills. This looks good...

http://cdn.maxim.com/15001-15500/15090_watchmenMovie_newstand_l1.jpg
http://www.maximonline.com/Entertainment/Thenewsstand/slideshow/10133/585.aspx

[paper]

The kid is facing inward. And he's not even sitting on the ground! Why do the filmmakers hate us?! Is this some kind of joke?

This isn't Watchmen! It should be called WatchMeNotBuyATicketMen!

;) obviously

[esophagus]

That kids outfit is totally different, and he's so much older in the movie. Snyder's a douchebag with no respect for the source.

[kahunablair]

You think that's bad???

http://cdn.maxim.com/15001-15500/15087_watchmenMovie_gungaDiner_l1.jpg

Look at this. If I didn't actually read the name on the cafe, I would never have never realized they were trying to make Watchman. This alone has my stomach revolting! I mean come on... You might as well put Superman in a pink and teal pant suit, and Batman in a Bunny costume.

Mark my words, this will be worse then latex nipples on the bat suit!

[esophagus]

The taxi is going the wrong way! This is Watchmen, not some alternate universe where cars moving left go right instead. And where's the green hat? Or the lady wearing it? Or the word balloons?

[esophagus]

I was wondering how long this would take.One of the greatest graphic novelists ever, Alan Moore, has proven quite famous for being very unhappy with adaptations of his works.

It's understandable though - "From Hell" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" were cinematic trash and barely resembled their intricately detailed and brilliant literary counterparts. Even "V for Vendetta", which I love as a film, strays away quite a bit from Moore's original work.

Now though with "Watchmen", one of his most famous works being adapted, many have expected he would have something to say. Original artist Dave Gibbons, Moore's collaborator on the graphic novel, has already stated that he's very happy with how it's going and that the film looks surprisingly accurate.

Moore on the other hand now tells Wizard magazine that whatever the case, he's no interest in it - "I got a piece of paper - they must’ve learned something from the V for Vendetta debacle. I got a piece of paper a couple of months ago saying, 'I, the undersigned, hereby give you permission to take my name off of the film and to send my money to Dave Gibbons.' So I sent that back to them all signed and sealed, which means that now I don’t have to rant and spew about the film."

Moore goes on saying "I’m just simply not interested in it...I don’t really know much about it. I believe that it’s going ahead. I won’t be watching it, obviously. I can at least remain neutral to it as long as they’re taking my name off of it and not playing these silly, ultimately futile games like they were doing last time, which worked out so well for them. No, I’m keeping well away from all of that."

[labor_days]

Much respect for Alan Moore.

[esophagus]

Much respect for Alan Moore.
This also gives me a lot of respect for Zack Snyder and the studio. Doing a faithful (from the looks of what we've seen and heard) adaptation of the source, and respecting his wishes to not be in any way involved.

[labor_days]

Snyder made 300, am I right? Not a fan at all.

[gungadin]

This also gives me a lot of respect for Zack Snyder and the studio. Doing a faithful (from the looks of what we've seen and heard) adaptation of the source, and respecting his wishes to not be in any way involved.

I agree... Although I do think Alan Moore's a LITTLE closed minded about it... Probably because he's been burned so many times...

'S a shame... 's a damn shame....

[esophagus]

I agree... Although I do think Alan Moore's a LITTLE closed minded about it... Probably because he's been burned so many times...

'S a shame... 's a damn shame....I don't think he's closeminded. He has never said "Anything you do wont be as good as what I do", he just says that it's not what he made, it's a whole new material. I respect him for wanting to steer clear of everyone sticking things, good or bad, that aren't really his to his name.

[gungadin]

I don't think he's closeminded. He has never said "Anything you do wont be as good as what I do", he just says that it's not what he made, it's a whole new material. I respect him for wanting to steer clear of everyone sticking things, good or bad, that aren't really his to his name.

I get that... I'm just saying that maybe he could just like... look at some pictures? Or something, ANYTHING...

But power to him.

[mikegraham6]

Alan Moore reading Rorschach's journal is THE BEST THING EVER!:D

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKebCtCTbCA

Link. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKebCtCTbCA)

[k33k3r]

So did anyone else see that Fox is sueing Warner Brothers over The Watchmen movie. May never make it to the screen now.

[idave]

So did anyone else see that Fox is sueing Warner Brothers over The Watchmen movie. May never make it to the screen now.

On what grounds? Link Please.

[kahunablair]

On the grounds that they (Fox) claim to still hold the Motion Picture rights to Watchmen.
http://revision3.com/forum/showpost.php?p=294315&postcount=28

[gungadin]

I'm shocked and depressed at this... What a bunch of douchebags.

[jon_samuelson]

At this late stage I doubt any judge would award a complete injunction against releasing Watchmen. Fox, and everyone else, has known for a long time that this movie was being made. I doubt it's legal for them to sit around and wait for the movie to get made, costing some other well-meaning company millions of dollars, and then dump the law suit on them last minute. More likely I think is the possibility that Fox just wants a piece of the pie.

[k33k3r]

Many believe Fox bought the rights so it would never be made and/or just doesn't want it made now.

I agree though that I don't see a judge stopping the release this far a long.

[esophagus]

Zack Snyder recently answered a bunch of fan questions (http://www.watchmencomicmovie.com/021108-zack-snyder-watchmen-interview.php) about the movie at the Watchmen website. Some really interesting info in there. My personal favorite was this:TK8103: As we all know, one of the most intriguing elements of Rorschach’s costume is the changing patterns on his mask. How is that going to be accomplished on screen?

Zack Snyder: As you can imagine, the most effective way to render the ever-changing inkblot that is Rorschach’s face is with the use of visual effects. So, we created a blank mask and strategically placed small green tracking markers on it. The markers will be used to track the contours of his face throughout the shot. There is also a hole that reveals Jackie’s [Jackie Earle Haley] eyes not only so he can see, but also to help to the VFX artists later while they animate Rorschach’s face. The opening allows them to see what Jackie’s eyes were emoting. When completed, his open-eyed, green polka dotted face will have been replaced by a CG element, a slowly changing inkblot pattern. We’ve gone through and analyzed the many inkblots from the graphic novel and have assigned them each different emotional characteristics — so that when Rorschach is experiencing something in a scene, the shape on the mask reflects his emotions in a graphic and abstract manner. I have had the opportunity to see some of the early tests and I am very pleased with how it is coming together.

[kahunablair]

Is it sad that out of that entire movie, I'm most excited to see the Rorshach mask in action?

[kahunablair]

This. Is. The Black Freighter!
Gerard Butler confirmed that he's voicing the Captain for scenes in the animatedTales of the Black Freighter for director Zack Snyder's Watchmen, in a segment solely being created for the DVD. Last year at Comic-Con Snyder said that the Freighter portion of the book (a comic book-within-a-comic book about pirates) would be in the film. But then Warners later nixed the idea, probably to keep the length down.

According to Butler, "It's this descent into madness but explained in such a sane way that you totally feel it yourself." Which doesn't make much sense now, but we'll go along with it. If all future comic book related DVDs received this much attention to detail, it might create a new market and medium for comic books. Just imagine X-Men: Days of Future Past, The DVD. Unfortunatelty, it also means you'll have to double dip at the theater and later on DVD if you want the full experience. http://io9.com/361966/this-is-the-black-freighter

[esophagus]

I always pictured the Captain as being somewhat mellow. The captions to the comic seemed like a journal almost, and I always pictured him reading it out loud solemnly while chaos ensued around him. Butler doesn't fit that. That's just my opinion, though. Very excited for this.

[cammyknoxville]

THIS. IS. THEBLACKFREIGHTER!!

*kicks*

[kahunablair]

I always pictured the Captain as being somewhat mellow. The captions to the comic seemed like a journal almost, and I always pictured him reading it out loud solemnly while chaos ensued around him. Butler doesn't fit that. That's just my opinion, though. Very excited for this.

Well in my experience, I've only seen him do the overbearing screaming guy in 300 and the end of Phantom. Oddly, that's what he always seems to be remembered for.

He's a good actor that could pull it off.

[kahunablair]

http://www.aintitcool.com/images2007/NiteOwlSm.jpg
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2007/ComedianSm.jpg
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2007/OzymandiasSm.jpg
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2007/SilkSpectreSm.jpg

[kahunablair]

http://www.aintitcool.com/images2007/RorschachFullSm.jpg
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/35862

[gungadin]

This movie suddenly looks about four hundred times grittier...

[racemccloud]

Just saw the pictures over at AICN. Love, love, love them. I'm not a huge Watchmen fan, but I am very interested in the development of this film.

[horatio616]

Aw man, those pics have me excited, but I'm still nervous about it. I loved V for Vendetta the comic, and despite the movie trying really really hard, I thought it was embarrassingly cheesy. I have my fingers crossed.

[horatio616]

Ozymandias looks a little Robin as in Batman & Robin, don't you think? What, no nipples?

[horatio616]

I agree... Although I do think Alan Moore's a LITTLE closed minded about it... Probably because he's been burned so many times...

'S a shame... 's a damn shame....

So how long before he gets pissed at Top Shelf?

He's a shiny dress and a perfume line away from being a true diva.

[superfriend82]

Latest pics of Watchmen form their blog.
http://rss.warnerbros.com/watchmen/?loc=inerstitalskip

[conorkilpatrick]

Latest pics of Watchmen form their blog.
http://rss.warnerbros.com/watchmen/?loc=inerstitalskip

They are already in this thread.

[superfriend82]

Sorry.

[kahunablair]

I didn't comment right away because I just wasn't sure about the suits.

I like them, they seem to keep in line with the "Cape" costume of today's movies.

My only thing is, did anyone else look at Ozy's costume and flash to Mystery Men. I don't know why, but that suit/picture look straight out of that movie.

[paper]

I think the costumes are fine, but the lighting and the stuff they did to the pictures in post kinda hurts them. The strongest ones are Silk and Rorshach.

[esophagus]

Well in my experience, I've only seen him do the overbearing screaming guy in 300 and the end of Phantom. Oddly, that's what he always seems to be remembered for.

He's a good actor that could pull it off.
That's all I have seen him do as well, which is what has me worried.

He does have a very quiet dignity to him, though, which will definitely fit. Then again, it's a comic book we're talknig about, who knows how the captain is actualyl supposed to sound. Well, Moore, but we'll never get to hear that one.

[labor_days]

Silk Specter looks incredible. The rest...

[paper]

Somebody's noticeably absent...

[kahunablair]

Somebody's noticeably absent...

He'll probably be revealed later on. Plus I doubt his look is mainly CGI, so I don't think it will come out anytime soon.