An Open Letter from David Hayter

[DACrowe]

You don't care about the atrocity of Adrian's plan because we don't see the ramifications of it. We see a shockwave and then we see Laurie and Jon at a huge crater in the middle of New York. That's it. He went gory for gory's sake for the action sequences (when that really wasn't needed) but when it really matter, he went PG 13 for the ending.

Then we get the scene in Dan's house with Laurie and her mother. Tonally, it's a happy ending, no matter how you slice it.

come again? I do think we needed to see more carnage from Veidt's attack, but I imagine that a major problem is that Dr. Manhattan's power vaporizes people and leaves not much behind. Butt they could have drawn some parallels to Hiroshima and Nagasaki by having blood smears on the walls and ground instead of ash (as we saw that happened to Rorschach anyway) and that would make Rorschach's decision not to go along with it, all the more ironic.

I do agree that was missing (albeit part of me wonders if the studio thought something like that was too grim and it may pop up in the DC). However, I don't think the gravity is lost as we saw midtown Manhattan go boom.

In any case, the ending with Dan and Laurie is no happier than in the comic. They ust changed the setting from Sally's retirement home to Dan's home (as he did not get discovered...yet). But both have the heart-to-heart happy ending between Laurie and Sally, Sally flirting with Dan and Dan and Laurie basically walking off into the sunset.

It was the one silver lining in the book to all the carnage and misery (that likely will be for nothing) as it is in the movie.

 

[Raiden]

come again? I do think we needed to see more carnage from Veidt's attack, but I imagine that a major problem is that Dr. Manhattan's power vaporizes people and leaves not much behind. Butt they could have drawn some parallels to Hiroshima and Nagasaki by having blood smears on the walls and ground instead of ash (as we saw that happened to Rorschach anyway) and that would make Rorschach's decision not to go along with it, all the more ironic.

I do agree that was missing (albeit part of me wonders if the studio thought something like that was too grim and it may pop up in the DC). However, I don't think the gravity is lost as we saw midtown Manhattan go boom.

In any case, the ending with Dan and Laurie is no happier than in the comic. They ust changed the setting from Sally's retirement home to Dan's home (as he did not get discovered...yet). But both have the heart-to-heart happy ending between Laurie and Sally, Sally flirting with Dan and Dan and Laurie basically walking off into the sunset.

It was the one silver lining in the book to all the carnage and misery (that likely will be for nothing) as it is in the movie.

I think Snyder took out Dan & Laurie's decision to assume a new identity because he took out the story of the detective investigating Dan, and nearly captured him in the GN. So they had to change their identity so they won't be discovered. In the movie, they weren't investigated, so they went back to their lives. I do think the movie shouldn't have ended with an upbeat song though; it should've ended on a somber note, due to Rorschach's death and his journal quite possibly reversing the new-found world peace that Ozy created.

 

[Addendum]

I think Snyder took out Dan & Laurie's decision to assume a new identity because he took out the story of the detective investigating Dan, and nearly captured him in the GN. So they had to change their identity so they won't be discovered. In the movie, they weren't investigated, so they went back to their lives. I do think the movie shouldn't have ended with an upbeat song though; it should've ended on a somber note, due to Rorschach's death and his journal quite possibly reversing the new-found world peace that Ozy created.

That is, if the New Frontiersmen is actually considered a respected newspaper by the people in the world.

 

[Raiden]

That is, if the New Frontiersmen is actually considered a respected newspaper by the people in the world.

I think that's why Moore left the ending wide open, because even if Rorschach's journal were to be published, it might not undo the peace and bring back the threat of WW3. Then again, Dr. Manhattan did said that it never ends, which means the fragile world peace probably will not be permanent.

 

[Silverglade]

I am a fan, I saw it twice. All my pals saw it.

But I can tell you something that is hurting Watchmen. Angry parents. My office today had 2 parents who were ranting all damn morning how angry they were for agreeing to take their kids to see it based off the flashy trailer, their kids begging them and whatnot. They listed the rape, butchering of skulls, sex. Basically, they were convincing all the other parents in the office to NOT go see it. I imagine that is happening in a lot of places. Since it was comic book and looks cool as hell on the TV spots, the parents who knew nothing about it got duped into taking their kids to watch some explicit themes.

I will go see it on IMAX tomorrow. When I like movies I see them a lot. But anyway, just wanted to share the office feedback I listened to across my cubicle wall. I wanted to say "well you knew it was Rated R.. wtf!!" but I guess that will not help convincing anyone anything.

 

[Beanjuice]

Must..obey..hayter

 

[craigdbfan]

I am a fan, I saw it twice. All my pals saw it.

But I can tell you something that is hurting Watchmen. Angry parents. My office today had 2 parents who were ranting all damn morning how angry they were for agreeing to take their kids to see it based off the flashy trailer, their kids begging them and whatnot. They listed the rape, butchering of skulls, sex. Basically, they were convincing all the other parents in the office to NOT go see it. I imagine that is happening in a lot of places. Since it was comic book and looks cool as hell on the TV spots, the parents who knew nothing about it got duped into taking their kids to watch some explicit themes.

I will go see it on IMAX tomorrow. When I like movies I see them a lot. But anyway, just wanted to share the office feedback I listened to across my cubicle wall. I wanted to say "well you knew it was Rated R.. wtf!!" but I guess that will not help convincing anyone anything.

If these parents are taking their kids to a film without checking (or ignoring) the rating and think its fine because the film has "superheroes" and everything will play out nice and dandy. They deserve to go through an experience they weren't expecting for their bad parenting and ignorance.

 

[Nivek]

I am a fan, I saw it twice. All my pals saw it.

But I can tell you something that is hurting Watchmen. Angry parents. My office today had 2 parents who were ranting all damn morning how angry they were for agreeing to take their kids to see it based off the flashy trailer, their kids begging them and whatnot. They listed the rape, butchering of skulls, sex. Basically, they were convincing all the other parents in the office to NOT go see it. I imagine that is happening in a lot of places. Since it was comic book and looks cool as hell on the TV spots, the parents who knew nothing about it got duped into taking their kids to watch some explicit themes.

I will go see it on IMAX tomorrow. When I like movies I see them a lot. But anyway, just wanted to share the office feedback I listened to across my cubicle wall. I wanted to say "well you knew it was Rated R.. wtf!!" but I guess that will not help convincing anyone anything.

Please, please PLEASE...call out these parents for the Oblivious morons that they are.

 

[Figs]

Please, please call out these parents for the Oblivious morons that they are.

Agreed.

They need to know not to spoil their children and to read up on what their kids are into or want to see.

 

[Raiden]

I am a fan, I saw it twice. All my pals saw it.

But I can tell you something that is hurting Watchmen. Angry parents. My office today had 2 parents who were ranting all damn morning how angry they were for agreeing to take their kids to see it based off the flashy trailer, their kids begging them and whatnot. They listed the rape, butchering of skulls, sex. Basically, they were convincing all the other parents in the office to NOT go see it. I imagine that is happening in a lot of places. Since it was comic book and looks cool as hell on the TV spots, the parents who knew nothing about it got duped into taking their kids to watch some explicit themes.

I will go see it on IMAX tomorrow. When I like movies I see them a lot. But anyway, just wanted to share the office feedback I listened to across my cubicle wall. I wanted to say "well you knew it was Rated R.. wtf!!" but I guess that will not help convincing anyone anything.

I'm glad that those parents were taught an important lesson, which is that just because the movie features superheroes doesn't mean it's suitable for young kids. Maybe next time they'll bother to do a little research about an R-rated movie before they take their kids to see it in theatre.

 

[Nivek]

Yeah, like reading the rating, and why it's rated R. That is like taking the kids to see Crank 2 in a couple weeks because it looks like a comedy!

Morons.

 

[Dope Nose]

All this time, you’ve been waiting for a director who was going to hit you in the face with this story. To just crack you in the jaw, and then bend you over the pool table with this story.

Trust me. You'll come back, eventually. Just like Sally.

as a couple of posters in the comments section pointed out, Hayter comparing the movie to a rapist and moviegoers to victims who were supposedly asking for it is pretty offensive.

 

[TheVileOne]

I like and respect Hayter a lot.

While some of what he's saying in this letter is true and I believe that many fans put their heart and souls into this production,

I don't understand why Hayter felt it necessary to write this letter.

I mean what ruins the letter to me is that Hayter is ultimately . . . essentially begging fans to see the movie. There's an undertone of him saying that people were disappointed and dismayed by the reviews and are avoiding so he's begging them to see it so it will make more money.

I don't get it. Why does he need to sound so desperate? Sometimes even the most best or classic movies don't make a lot of money.

I would've found the letter a lot more sincere if Hayter just stated his case and say let the movie stand for itself for however many years.

Considering that the original graphic novel itself can be very polarizing this doesn't necessarily have to be a movie that everyone will see or like and it doesn't have to be a movie people have to see over and over again to get it.

 

[Cosmic]

I'm not a fan of the whole "open letter" thing. I think you do your best work, send it in, and if the fans want to go see it two or three times in the first two weeks, then great. If not, then so be it. If the studios decide to cut back on making the types of movies you like to see (or in this case, create), then don't blame the fans for not supporting said movies with their dollars. Especially when you're talking about movies that you are working on and profiting from. This is BS!

 

[Cosmic]

.

Thank you. These are my thoughts, exactly.

 

[Dark Knight]

http://www.hardcorenerdity.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2239098:BlogPost:40658

^^^Agree wholeheartedly with Hayter on this and he hit on all points.

To me Watchmen is very much like Blade Runner and will do down as one of the classic comic genre films of all time.

Watch....

 

[TheVileOne]

OK but Blade Runner bombed in theatres.

So why is Hayter still begging people to see it?

I think people are letting their love for this making them a little deluded.

 

[Doc Samson]

Maybe I'm in the minority on this, but I never saw a Watchmen film being a huge commerical success no matter how well it was made. The very premise of it is something that automatically alienates those not familiar, and for those who are, any deviation is seen as an attack on the source material itself. In the end, the movie was good enough to me, a fan of the book, with the allotted time. And I'd venture to guess for most fans of the book, it did more right than wrong. Judging a movie like this on it's box office receipts is like judging a slasher movie on it's artistic merits, it's completely missing the point....

 

[cryptic name]

This movie stands no chance. The julia roberts movie is coming out and Race to Witch mountiain. BYE BYE Watchmen. t:

it's cool that you don't like the movie, but...why do you have to be such a prick about it?

 

[-Arya-]

Maybe I'm in the minority on this, but I never saw a Watchmen film being a huge commerical success no matter how well it was made. The very premise of it is something that automatically alienates those not familiar, and for those who are, any deviation is seen as an attack on the source material itself. In the end, the movie was good enough to me, a fan of the book, with the allotted time. And I'd venture to guess for most fans of the book, it did more right than wrong. Judging a movie like this on it's box office receipts is like judging a slasher movie on it's artistic merits, it's completely missing the point....

Pretty much spot on in terms of how I feel. Well said.

 

[The Sage]

Maybe I'm in the minority on this, but I never saw a Watchmen film being a huge commerical success no matter how well it was made. The very premise of it is something that automatically alienates those not familiar, and for those who are, any deviation is seen as an attack on the source material itself. In the end, the movie was good enough to me, a fan of the book, with the allotted time. And I'd venture to guess for most fans of the book, it did more right than wrong. Judging a movie like this on it's box office receipts is like judging a slasher movie on it's artistic merits, it's completely missing the point....

Excellent post. Wholeheartedly agree.

 

[Figs]

it's cool that you don't like the movie, but...why do you have to be such a prick about it?

It's because he's what I call a super or uber nerd.

Since most of us read comics and all of us are obviously posting on a message board that's primarily for comic films...that makes us all nerds, but there are different degrees.

As for Chosen1 being a super nerd. Well, it's the kind of fanboy that fits some of the typical and true stereotypes. The main and obvious one being, he needs to get a life because in this case, he worships the graphic novel like it somehow altered his real life or fed starving children or stopped wars around the world.

It's because he worships the novel or maybe even Alan Moore that he was against this movie from the start, probably even before Snyder was on board. So he feels smarter and superior(in a typical fanboy way)by knocking a movie(since the movies are always dumbed down and simple minded )that is based on a book that him and other fanboys hold sacred mainly because the general audience/majority won't "get it".

That's my guess at least. Seen and met in real life enough of these types that they can be fairly easy to read from their rants.

I understand if someone doesn't like this film and they have good and valid reasons for it. It's when you constantly throw elbows any chance you can get to make the film or whatever it is you hate sound like the biggest pile of crap ever made, well that's godawful. Almost like the movie somehow ruined your life lol.

 

[chosen1]

chosen1,

That 150 price tag was BEFORE marketing. You can add another 60 to 100 million on the price tag AFTER marketing.

Thats even worse.

 

[super85]

haven't read this thread that closely...do I like Hayters letter though. But one thing, about the budget, every article said it cost 100 millon for the movie, then later it was announced that WB spent 50 million on marketing,

after that it has been talked about as a 150 million dollar production. So is that still true? can we actually get either official quote? that it cost 100 mil +50 marketing, or that the actual film cost 150 million without any marketing costs?

 

[BrollySupersj]

Guyver knows best.