This may end up being redundant but about Bubastis...

[TheDreamMaster]

So I've got to say that after reading the GN for the first time a few weeks ago, I thought Bubastis was great with Adrian, and thought what Bubastis was created for was really cool. In the movie, I was extremely happy to see Bubastis as with the ending changed and myself staying away from photos and such, I figured she wouldn't be included. But then since she only showed up during the Antarctica parts and was used to lure Jon into the field generator, I ended up feeling Bubastis would have been better to have just been left out of the film. At least in the graphic novel we feel that Adrian did care for Bubastis, as well as Bubastis had a decent amount of panel-space dedicated to her before she was vaporized so we actually gave a damn about her dying. Maybe the director's cut will expand upon Bubastis' screen time, but until then, what is your opinion: Was Bubastis ok in the movie, or would you have rather had her left out.

 

[Capt Throbberson]

The first thing 2 people I know who never read the book asked me once we left the theater is "What was with the cat thing?"

Yeah, she could have been left out.

 

[jimmiejoefro]

Didn't really make sense to have her in there since her existence depends on the squid research. It was still cool to see her.

 

[Nivek]

Loved seeing it, it was one of the more iconic images from the book. I don't think the lack of that damn squid made Bubastis redundant.

 

[Armored Avenger]

I loved seeing Bubastis on screen, but a bit explanation to what she was would have been useful for people who have not read the novel.

 

[Kanon]

The scene where Veid is talking to reporters, or Iacocca could have been perfect introductions to Bubastis...

Instead, my sister asked WTF is that, with the movie almost ending...

 

[Kable24]

My wife asked what she was too. I think it would have been ok to leave her out. For the regular movie audience, Bubastis was probably a WTF moment.

 

[Kane52630]

i only wished they kept the Adrian and Laurie conversations in the movie, because thats how the book introduce her

 

[Whiskey Tango]

My friends asked about her at both showings, so yeah...a throwaway line about Veidt's genetic engineering or whatever wouldn't have hurt. It did feel to them like she came out of left field.

For my part, I was happy to see her and I would have been disappointed, but not crushed, if she'd been cut.

 

[BLACK-SPIDEY]

at the moment i saw her i was happy everyone else was WTF?...........i think i shed a little tear when she died...lol not that much but yeah i thought it was sad.

 

[Bishop2]

Absolutely should have been left out. My theater was utterly baffled by that creature, and with the removal of the "genetic engineering" plotline she serves no purpose other than to confuse and befuddle the audience. There's no story reason she's there, it's just something that's utterly freaking weird.

 

[The Sage]

I'm curious if there were more scenes with Bubastis that were removed for the theatrical cut.

 

[moguy]

Loved the movie, but Bubastis should have been left out. People were like WTF is that??

Without the genetic engineering aspect of the story, it just came off as bizarre.

 

[Raiden]

Well, I think she should've been in the movie anyway, as a nod to the Watchmen fans. In the movie she is only used to lure Dr. Manhattan into that trap, but not as a protector for Veidt when both Rorschach and Nite Owl were tag-teaming him, which would've given her a greater purpose for being there. I agree that some throwaway line about generic engineering (even in the absence of the squid) might've helped GA to figure out why she was there in the first place.

 

[Nivek]

Eh, sounds like the GA had a hard enough time wrapping their heads around Manhattans existence, why over explain Bubastis more to people who complained it was boring?

 

[The Guard]

If people said "WTF" is that...MISSION. ACCOMPLISHED. It's a giant purple cat. It's supposed to be weird, eerie, awe inspiring, etc.

This amazes me. A LOT of things could be left out of WATCHMEN, and aren't wildly significant on any level, but are appreciated elements of WATCHMEN nonetheless. Bubastis is one of these.

As for the "I need an explanation" bit, If you fancy yourself intelligent enough to look for relevance to everything, but are too stupid to tell a giant purple lynx is not NORMAL, and must therefore be genetically engineered or something...and cannot be Bubastis' actual relevance...there's no help for you.

And the fact that so many people think it's more important that Bubastis is a minor story element and a stepping stone to the squid than Adrian's sidekick/pet/sacrifice element baffles me.

 

[Kanon]

The problem is people see Bubastis thrown there for no reason... Is a WTF with no purpose (other than the nod to the comic). You can't just throw weird **** around and expect people to accept it as artistic awe...

The squid would have been a WTF, but at least had a major purpose in the plot...

 

[Kanon]

The problem is people see Bubastis thrown there for no reason... Is a WTF with no purpose (other than the nod to the comic). You can't just throw weird **** around and expect people to accept it as artistic awe...

The squid would have been a WTF, but at least had a major purpose in the plot...

 

[The Guard]

The nod to the comic IS purpose, because Bubastis fills an actual role beyond "squid antecdote".

At what point did people begin giving more value to "Bubastis here was an early genetically enegineering success"

than:

"Bubastis...forgive me"?

 

[Bishop2]

If people said "WTF" is that...MISSION. ACCOMPLISHED. It's a giant purple cat. It's supposed to be weird, eerie, awe inspiring, etc.

This amazes me. A LOT of things could be left out of WATCHMEN, and aren't wildly significant on any level, but are appreciated elements of WATCHMEN nonetheless. Bubastis is one of these.

As for the "I need an explanation" bit, If you fancy yourself intelligent enough to look for relevance to everything, but are too stupid to tell a giant purple lynx is not NORMAL, and must therefore be genetically engineered or something...and cannot be Bubastis' actual relevance...there's no help for you.

And the fact that so many people think it's more important that Bubastis is a minor story element and a stepping stone to the squid than Adrian's sidekick/pet/sacrifice element baffles me.

Your perspective on this matter utterly shocks and baffles me. Seriously: A mutant cat is not a valid end in and of itself. It's either part of the story, part of the symbolism, part of the mythology... or it's insanely random. In the movie it is purely the last of those: A random-ass pink cat that serves and accomplishes nothing.

 

[The Guard]

See, the problem is that you all insist on reducing Bubastis to what she is...instead of what she means.

"Giant mutant cat?"

Sure, like Batman is "some vigilante".

The whole freaking point is that it is almost insanely random. Even after it's been explained it's eerie and just weird as hell. The genetic engineering line in the book is simply to make Bubastis slightly more palpable as an existing entity, and the idea of Veidt's ongoing genetic engineering more apparent.

It is NOT the reason that Bubastis exists as a character. If it was, Bubastis would have simply been mentioned in Jon's flashback, and then abandoned. She wouldn't have been following Adrian around throughout the entire final chapters, he wouldn't have been treating her as a pet, and he would not have felt bad he had to sacrifice her. Because the man built himself a genetically enginnered giant squid. Bubastis is called "an early success" by Veidt. But Bubastis isn't just another "animal" to Veidt, she's part of his very image (pay attention to the end chapter materials for this) and he loves her as a man loves his dog (or in this case, cat). That's the true point of her use in the novel.

The fact that people cannot see what purpose Bubastis really and truly serves tells me that most do not fully understand the character (not it's origins) to begin with.

I blame Chris Nolan for this mindset. People have become more intent on explaining things than finding any real, true emotional depth in them.

 

[Camisado]

I liked seeing her but yeah I think an explanaton would have been a lot better.
R.I.P. Bubastis

 

[arman200]

i didnt mind the appearance, i would have liked if they mentioned her name, but in the comic i doubt i'd have really questioned anything if there wasn't an explanation.

 

[Star]

Loved the movie, but Bubastis should have been left out. People were like WTF is that??

Without the genetic engineering aspect of the story, it just came off as bizarre.

Exactly. It just looked like a weird, cartoony character (because I didn't think the CGI was done very well) who was shoved into a relatively realistic movie (all things considered)

 

[SuperFerret]

Bubastis was fine. People expect the rich to be eccentric, and rich superheroes moreso. Veidt having a weird "tiger-thing" as a pet isn't that big a "WTF?"

Although, and this is an issue I have with her design in general, why does she have a long tail? She's a lynx, which have short tails. Sure, she's a mutant, but I think she should've had a shorter tail.