Watchmen Ending: How should it be adapted?

[StorminNorman]

If you haven't read the book - don't read further.


Now while Veidt's plot was genius and worked out well in the Graphic Novel - I don't think you have the time in a 2 1/2 hour movie to fully flesh out the various aspects of creating the "monster" and being able to transport him into New York.

After reading Tse's script, I think what he did by making Doc Manhattan the threat to the worlds safety worked very well and remained faithful enough to Alan Moore's masterpiece.

How would you write Veidt's plan in the Watchmen movie? How faithful to the comic should Snyder be?

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

I liked the version in Tse draft. But it only works if you somewhat explain why Dr. Manhattan was acting as a puppet for the American administration since he got the powers.

 

[ConcreteBlock15]

***SPOILERY WARNING THING FOR THE UNITIATED***

If you've not read any of the alleged screenplays to have cropped up over time (David Hayter's third draft from 2003, Alex Tse's first attempt from last summer... or another of Tse's efforts dated Nov. 2006 which returns the setting to the 1985 of the comics & which Snyder says will be the case for his movie)... you may not wanna know this next bit:

Spoiler

The precise nature of the disaster to befall NYC, and possibly other cities too, aside (although why can't they just stick with the Faux Alien Death Squid; Hollywood turns out really great, gloopy monsters nowadays and could easily up the gross-out scare factor of the one in the comic)... does Dan REALLY have to kill Veidt? Isn't kinda the point the fact that Veidt gets away with it... or DOES he? He should at least be left around at the end to wonder if his new Utopia will come crashing down around him... shouldn't he?

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

I think that is one of the battles Snyder can't win against Warner executives. The open ending of the book, without a strong resolution (the bad guy gets killed) screams miniplot to shortsighted accountants who barely read a screenwriting book. And Warner doesn't produce miniplot scripts.

 

[Redwoods Wolf]

***SPOILERY WARNING THING FOR THE UNITIATED***

If you've not read any of the alleged screenplays to have cropped up over time (David Hayter's third draft from 2003, Alex Tse's first attempt from last summer... or another of Tse's efforts dated Nov. 2006 which returns the setting to the 1985 of the comics & which Snyder says will be the case for his movie)... you may not wanna know this next bit:

Spoiler

The precise nature of the disaster to befall NYC, and possibly other cities too, aside (although why can't they just stick with the Faux Alien Death Squid; Hollywood turns out really great, gloopy monsters nowadays and could easily up the gross-out scare factor of the one in the comic)... does Dan REALLY have to kill Veidt? Isn't kinda the point the fact that Veidt gets away with it... or DOES he? He should at least be left around at the end to wonder if his new Utopia will come crashing down around him... shouldn't he?

Spoiler

On a certain emotional level, I like that Ozymandias comes to a form of justice...but it seems to de-evolve into a sort of black-and-white morality play, completely different from the different gray hues that make up the rest of the story (both in the book and the movie). If Dan is going to kill Ozymandias, it shouldn't be through a showdown, and it shouldn't be for "the right reasons." Rorschach should be the only uncompromising, truly heroic character in this whole story. Dan having a "change of heart" plays him stronger than I'd like, and takes the focus off Kovacs. It seems better (and simpler) just to use the book ending, and emphasize Manhattan's "Nothing ever ends" talk. I guess another option would be to have the paper publish the journal excerpts and have the common man bring down the former superhero, but that leaves a V for Vendetta flavor on the whole affair.

As far as the fabricated crisis goes, I prefer the alien death squid over Tse's version. It makes more sense for humanity to come together after an "alien" threat than after Dr. Manhattan tries to fry them. It gives a face to the crisis, and a face is a target. A previously unknown alien animal is an enigmatic terror, almost a virus. Dr. Manhattan, however, would be perceived as sheer betrayal and grounds for militant revenge. (True, they couldn't do much against the Doctor, but it seems more logical that Tse's version would almost plunge Earth into a cataclysm than utopia.)

When in doubt, stick to the book, I say.

 

[ThatDamnNinja]

I think that is one of the battles Snyder can't win against Warner executives. The open ending of the book, without a strong resolution (the bad guy gets killed) screams miniplot to shortsighted accountants who barely read a screenwriting book. And Warner doesn't produce miniplot scripts.

I really, really hope you're wrong. The ending is such an important part of the book... why are producers and executives such ****ing idiots? Maybe if they took a minute to pull their heads out of their big white asses, they'd realize that dumbing down a classic does not bring in more money and does not result in greater critical or financial success.

 

[blind_fury]

Just like the graphic novel.

Dare I say it but that's the whole reason of doing the movie. So people can see why it's so highly regarded.

I don't care if makes 20 million less at the box office. Changing stuff defeats the whole purpose of bringing it to the big screen.

 

[Johnichi Chiba]

Viedt must not die. That would destroy an important point the book is trying to make.

 

[ThatDamnNinja]

Just like the graphic novel.

Dare I say it but that's the whole reason of doing the movie. So people can't see why it's so highly regarded.

I don't care if makes 20 million less at the box office. Changing stuff defeats the whole purpose of bringing it to the big screen.

I don't even think that it would result in less money... I cannot think of one circumstance in which dumbing down source material resulted in higher box-office receipts. In fact, dumbing down source material almost always backfires. League of Extraordinary Genitals anyone?

Producers are idiots... their job is to make money, and they somehow manage to screw up that. Their best chance to get maximum profit on this movie is to make it the best movie they can... they need to aim for Oscar. Nothing could boost this movie's sales like Oscar wins.

 

[ThatDamnNinja]

Viedt must not die. That would destroy an important point the book is trying to make.

I don't even know how you'd be able to kill Viedt. He can catch bullets. I'll be pissed if that scene isn't in there... that would be one of the all-time awesome things to see in a movie... when Viedt opens his hand with the bullet... Laurie saying "Oh sh..."

It's so cinematic. Gives me chills just reading it. Imagine seeing it...

 

[StorminNorman]

I don't even know how you'd be able to kill Viedt. He can catch bullets. I'll be pissed if that scene isn't in there... that would be one of the all-time awesome things to see in a movie... when Viedt opens his hand with the bullet... Laurie saying "Oh sh..."

It's so cinematic. Gives me chills just reading it. Imagine seeing it...

In the Tse script - or one of them at least - the Owlmobile crashes into him.

It made me sad, that shouldn't happen in the Watchmen

Veidt needs to live, its one of the more important aspects of the Watchmen I think - the "bad guy" (if one wants to call him that) wins.

 

[kaijunexus]

I'm not one for sticking to comic material like adapting and changing it to film is a mortal sin. Often times, comic plots, characters, intentions, etc. won't work on film due to the lack of 30+ years of history that can't be summarized in 2 hours. If the adaptation of long-running comic franchises is done well and with respect to the source material (Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Batman Begins, Superman, Hellboy, etc.), I have no problem and usually applaude the filmmakers for their successful efforts.

Watchmen, however, is not a multi-decade running comic. It's essentially a graphic novel written and drawn in a cinematic style that could easily be fit into 2 to 3 hours worth of film. It's practically a movie on paper!

There is absolutely NO reason to tamper with the plot, characters, and ESPECIALLY ending of this magnificent book. I'm honestly not a "fan boy". I'm not one to ***** because Peter Parker doesn't have brown eyes (I mean, seriously. Get a life), but to **** with Watchmen would truly be disgraceful...

 

[Capt. Jack]

in all honesty i think the giant squid monster thing is ****ing perfect and should never be changed but id rather have that happen than adrian being killed because that is just stupid

that is like letting rorschach live

 

[cookiva]

There is absolutely NO reason to tamper with the plot, characters, and ESPECIALLY ending of this magnificent book. I'm honestly not a "fan boy". I'm not one to ***** because Peter Parker doesn't have brown eyes (I mean, seriously. Get a life), but to **** with Watchmen would truly be disgraceful...

I dont think i have ever agreed more with a post....EVER.

My sentements exactly

 

[ThatDamnNinja]

In the Tse script - or one of them at least - the Owlmobile crashes into him.

It made me sad, that shouldn't happen in the Watchmen

Veidt needs to live, its one of the more important aspects of the Watchmen I think - the "bad guy" (if one wants to call him that) wins.

Gr... I think that certain things can be changed from certain source material for practicality purposes... but the terrible thing about it is... the ending has been changed for the sole reason of complete contempt for the audience: the idea that the original is too complex for the audience to "get" or appreciate.

The only circumstances in which I would even be remotely cool with this idea is if the tone of the movie is intact; the ending has a purpose and a meaning (even if it isn't the same as the one from the original book), and the tone of the ending doesn't conflict with the tone of the rest of the story. But to be honest, I doubt that would be the case, because the original story elements are so interwoven amongst one another that you can't just take one element out and replace it with something different and expect it to work with the rest of it.

 

[The Guard]

I used to hate the squid. Then I found out what it represented.

Go look up "Cthulu".

I love the alien, and what it represents. I think there needs to be an "otherworldly" threat to keep the metaphors intact. However, if Dr. Manhattan is that threat, I think it can work almost as well.

I want Veidt to survive.

 

[Rust]

I haven't read Tse's script (links would be welcomed). In short, how exactly does Veidt link Manhattan to his plan? And what IS Veidt's plan in the script? Is the death of half of New York still intact?

 

[Rorschach II]

Hayter had a laser from space, which was pretty good, but I haven't read Tse's script. I hear it's a watered down version of Hayter's.

 

[ConcreteBlock15]

Ta-da! Uploaded for your viewing pleasure:

Hayter's third effort (2003):

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RNFK6LNE

...and Tse's first attempt from last summer:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OPNJAKEE


To access the files, enter the three letter code in the box alongside & hit Download.


I am aware of the existence of a further Tse script reportedly produced only six months or so ago, but which I am not able to disclose in its entirety. The only major deviations between this and the version that I have linked to, however, are the fact that this rewrite returns the setting to 1985, accordingly includes scenes with Nixon and his advisors, features an extra opening montage set to the tune of Dylan's The Times They Are A-Changin' depicting the rise of the costumed hero in American culture, and the fact that Rorschach no longer terrorizes the added army officer and hooker characters as a means of gaining access to Dr Manhattan's quarters. The major dialogue, significant character interactions, and importantly the ending all remain the same.


Let's see what the final shooting script actually brings, eh...?

 

[Carmine Falcone]

Veidt shouldn't die. He needs to live for the look on his face after Dr. Manhattan says: Nothing ever ends. That's one of the finest moments from the book.

features an extra opening montage set to the tune of Dylan's The Times They Are A-Changin' depicting the rise of the costumed hero in American culture,

Excellent!

 

[CobraCommander]

When in doubt, stick to the book, I say.

I have a gut feeling that Snyder is going to do everything he can to make that happen.

I hope that feeling is correct.

 

[blind_fury]

If anyone is committed to keeping it close to the source material it's Zach Snyder. He not only wants to keep the setting in the 80's he even wants to keep the Black Freighter stuff.

Hopefully Warner Bros will let him play in their sandbox without too much interference.

 

[Rust]

Thanx a bunch, ConcreteBlock15.

Yeah, who knows what script they intend to use. Do THEY know?

 

[Sandman138]

If Veidt dies, the whole story is pointless.

 

[Ronny Shade]

Keep it the same or it'll suck. It has to be the monster in New York which works out perfectly, and then get undone by Rorschach's last act. This entire book is amazing to the last drop...and that's the last drop...and my favorite part. I really hope they keep it the same.