Do you think Alan Moore would like the "Watchmen" movie?

[Raiden]

Alan Moore's journal, March 6th 2009.
Today the Watchmen movie was released. Midnight showing. Went dressed as Rorschach. Was pretty good. How did they manage to do it? Must investigate further. Will tell press it was horrible. Never compromise. Even in the face of a great film. Can't wait for the director's cut.

I think Moore's caveman beard would've made it hard for him to wear the Rorschach mask though.

 

[KenK]

Moore's more than entitled to his opinion, but he can be a bit of an ass at time. And the whole fiasco with V for Vendetta really soured him. If he has no intention of seeing the film, more power to him.

 

[spark627]

He would rip to shreds in the media and then go home and watch his illegally downloaded copy over and over...

 

[Motown Marvel]

Moore is a old and stinky English ****.

yet, f**king brilliant.

 

[WolfCypher]

Reading his comments on the film before it was even finished, as well as his thoughts on any of his works being treated as films, he's already 100% sure that none of his works can capture the same feel as a movie, and many things would be lost in translation. He won't see his Watchmen series for what it is if he watched the film because to him it would be impossible for the two media to deliver the same impact he feels the novel does.

So my vote is no.

 

[Max Shrek]

He would never like it. The most positive commentary he has ever given about a film translation of his works, was David Hayter's treatment (which was not a verbatim script like the Snyder film. Instead it took the major themes and characters and molded it into a similar story in modern times). Even with a less bitter sentiment for Hayter's work, Moore said he was still displeased with the idea of turning his comics into films.

He was enthusiastic about that idea in the 80's, but after that, he became very bitter about people translating his stuff. The guy doesn't hate film though. He has worked on films as well as novels and comics. I believe he just hates trying to reinterpret an original piece of work from one medium, into another medium. It is my belief that Alan Moore sees a clear distinction in what each medium is capable of doing and as such, they should not be criss crossed in the name of capitalizing on profit.

Exactly. Quoted for truth. All the "I think Alan Moore would say he hate it, but secretly like it" people are completely missing Moore's point. He doesn't think they are doing a bad job adapting Watchmen. He doesn't think they should do it at all. His point is why make Watchmen into a movie? It was designed to do things only comics could; Snyder should just make his own film that does things only movies could.

 

[akfj]

Exactly. Quoted for truth. All the "I think Alan Moore would say he hate it, but secretly like it" people are completely missing Moore's point. He doesn't think they are doing a bad job adapting Watchmen. He doesn't think they should do it at all. His point is why make Watchmen into a movie? It was designed to do things only comics could; Snyder should just make his own film that does things only movies could.

Right. I think Moore would rather people read the graphic novel than get the Cliffs Notes version.

 

[DACrowe]

Alan Moore's journal, March 6th 2009.
Today the Watchmen movie was released. Midnight showing. Went dressed as Rorschach. Was pretty good. How did they manage to do it? Must investigate further. Will tell press it was horrible. Never compromise. Even in the face of a great film. Can't wait for the director's cut.

lol

Best post in this thread and about Moore with this movie to date.

 

[Nivek]

IMO, the guy is a flake. Gibbons loved being a part of it, but Moore is content to be a old coot and biatch about it every time he is asked his opinion. It his right to say whatever he wants, but it's my right to say he is stuck up.

 

[spark627]

IMO, the guy is a flake. Gibbons loved being a part of it, but Moore is content to be a old coot and biatch about it every time he is asked his opinion. It his right to say whatever he wants, but it's my right to say he is stuck up.

Moore is being talented, but yea, he is crazy and pretty annoying. Bottom line is he hates everything that is not written or done by him... or so it seems.

 

[Nivek]

No, he just doesn't like his work being adopted, because he doesn't like anyone else playing with his characters, so he just disconnected from it. It's typical behavior found in most weirdo artist/ writer recluses.

 

[Franklin Richards]

He sounds like every playwright I've ever met.


Is he Irish?

 

[The Joker]

Not a chance in hell that he would like it.

 

[Shivsguy616]

One of me friends actually oraised the film on the night we saw it by exclaiming, "There's actually a 1% chance that Alan Moore would like that!" Great success!

 

[Arach Knight]

Exactly. Quoted for truth. All the "I think Alan Moore would say he hate it, but secretly like it" people are completely missing Moore's point. He doesn't think they are doing a bad job adapting Watchmen. He doesn't think they should do it at all. His point is why make Watchmen into a movie? It was designed to do things only comics could; Snyder should just make his own film that does things only movies could.

That is the point I wanted to establish. It isn't that he hates the actual film. He hates the translation of it and the subtle elements that will be lost in the process. From an artistic perspective, Moore is being true to the craft...not necessarily elitist. Is he snobby in the manner he goes about expressing it? Yes he is. But his underlying point is not so rooted in being disagreeable. I believe Alan Moore's sentiment can be summarily stated via a quote from Erykah Badu. "I'm an artist and I'm sensitive about my ****."

 

[Doctor Jones]

He'll hate is when he says it.

But saying it is completely different from secretly liking it in your head.

Hell, I still think he has an undergroud basement that watches LXG on loop just for giggles.

He'll make way for this baby.

 

[JAK®]

No, he wouldn't like it. You have to understand that its not about quality for him. He just thinks comics should be comics, and films should be films.

 

[Camisado]

These fans will look up and shout "Just admit it! It was a good movie..." and I will whisper "No."-Moore

 

[Dr. Manhatten]

has anyone heard from alan moore after the movie came out?

"They cut out the Squid? Bollocks!"

 

[Fox]

Alan Moore would probably hate it. However even if he did like it and the film had been absolutely perfect and faithful the the book, Alan Moore would still hate it because he would choose to.

Alan Moore is one of the best writers I have ever read. The man is clearly a genius and I am more than happy to read his stuff. There are even times when I'd say he's easily justified in feeling upset over the way some of his stuff has been brought to the big screen... having said that, he's also a bit of a *****. He's one of those role models I don't ever really want to meet.

 

[JAK®]

Again, Moore is not an unpleasant person. He does loads of interviews, and will talk to you about comics as much as you want. He has enough sense of homour about himself to appear on The Simpsons. He does, however, have some pet hates. He has a strong sense of trust, which in the business world, would always be his downfall. He also feels insulted when he gets attention not for the comics he was written, but for their film adaptions. Especially when most of these adaptions are of such a low quality.

 

[Fox]

I've seen some of his interviews. Again from what I see I just don't think I'd get along with him. Like you said, he has pet hates. But his pet hates aren't 'house hold cats' pet hates, they're more like 'Bubastis twin' sized pet hates. Based on some of his quotes, when something pissess him off it REALLY pisses him off. Very likely it is such strong character traits that allow him to be so unafraid in his thinking and forming of opinions. Having said that, I just think that I would feel irritated at how unwilling he is to even try something. Its not that he doesn't like the movie that bugs me, its that he's already made up his mind to hate the film before he's even seen it.

 

[JAK®]

I've seen some of his interviews. Again from what I see I just don't think I'd get along with him. Like you said, he has pet hates. But his pet hates aren't 'house hold cats' pet hates, they're more like 'Bubastis twin' sized pet hates. Based on some of his quotes, when something pissess him off it REALLY pisses him off. Very likely it is such strong character traits that allow him to be so unafraid in his thinking and forming of opinions. Having said that, I just think that I would feel irritated at how unwilling he is to even try something. Its not that he doesn't like the movie that bugs me, its that he's already made up his mind to hate the film before he's even seen it.

The thing is though, unless you do something that annoys him, he won't be unpleasant towards you.

 

[Fox]

The thing is though, unless you do something that annoys him, he won't be unpleasant towards you.

And I guess if you want to be fair everyone is a bit that way to a point, but Alan Moore tends to take things VERY personally, and thats where I think I would have a problem. Pretty much everyone I know has annoyed me at some point, but unless its something really serious or blatantly inentional, I will try to stay pleasant.

I don't know. Perhaps he's a wonderful man who the media has portrayed in a slightly negative light. All I'm saying is that based on what I've seen and read I'd just as soon not meet him and just enjoy his work, than catch him on one of his more eccentric days. Not saying I'd run away if we were ever in the same room.

Perhaps thats as slightly more fair word than *****e... 'eccentric'

 

[Jawn]

From what I understand, Moore refused himself a credit and any money that he would potentially make from the film (obviously, he will still make money on any spike in sales from the comic).

As far as I'm concerned he has a perfect right to complain. If he'd said "Give me the money but keep my name off it", that'd be a different story. And besides, every interview I see him criticizing his adaptations in has the interviewer bringing up the subject first. So they ask him and he gives them an answer.

Besides, a lot of fans have issues with this film, I doubt then that Moore would like it.

Also, I agree with the posters who talked about Moore's understanding of the different forms of media and their different strengths, etc...

And here is the link to the Moore being enthusiastic about Watchmen in the 80s. http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Alan-Moore-Talks-Watchmen-Movie-In-1987-10577.html If you've never read the Sam Hamm script mentioned there, either save it for a rainy day when you want to read something horrible, or avoid it altogether. Its atrocious.