Watchmen - should they or shouldn't they?

[Dr. Fate]

I know that Hollywood's been itching to make a film about Alan Moore's Watchmen for some time now, but I ask you now, all of you, should they really even try to make a Watchmen film? For all the superhero movie hits, there's at least two misses to match, and Watchmen just seems like the type of comic that would be misinterpretted in the translation from comic to film.

So answer simply, yes or no, should they really make Watchmen: The Movie?

 

[IKnowSomeJudo]

To adress the topic: no, I think Watchmen should be left alone in its own medium. Having said that, Watchmen will be made into a movie. Even though its been in development hell for quite some time now, the film adaptation of Watchmen is inevitable. That much should be accepted. Zack Snyder seems to be a lock, so let's hope for the best.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

Why not?
Movies are a different medium, sure you can't bring everything that's on the pages on the screen, but that happens with most of the good books that end up being adapted. And the original material is so strong that no matter what you do with it, you'll probably get a good movie. A great one, if we're lucky. And people who don't know the book, maybe will take a look at it after seeing the movie.

 

[Kable24]

I think they should, but obviously things would have to be changed or left out like the whole comic inside the book with the pirate story. From what I remember David Hayter's script was very much a direct translation of the comic.

 

[ampersand]

I think Watchmen can be made into a decent film with a great twist, but I don't think any kind of adaptation of the work can do it justice. There is way more to Watchmen than a good plot and characters but for the most part that's all that can be adapted.

 

[Sandman138]

Only if they're actually going to make it a movie and not another genre film. The script I read was trying to turn it into something it wasn't.

 

[Dr. Fate]

Only if they're actually going to make it a movie and not another genre film. The script I read was trying to turn it into something it wasn't.

That sucks.

 

[Custer]

I know that Hollywood's been itching to make a film about Alan Moore's Watchmen for some time now, but I ask you now, all of you, should they really even try to make a Watchmen film? For all the superhero movie hits, there's at least two misses to match, and Watchmen just seems like the type of comic that would be misinterpretted in the translation from comic to film.

So answer simply, yes or no, should they really make Watchmen: The Movie?

Of course they should. Have you not read the past script. It was good enough then, so it should be even better if worken on now. But then I also think that Kevin Smith's 'Superman Lives' script should be committed to film also.

 

[Addendum]

No. Although they probably will, though I won't bother wasting money to see it.

 

[Dr. Fate]

Of course they should. Have you not read the past script.

Could never find it on the net.

 

[ZeroCorpse]

I would prefer to see Watchmen loyally adapted as an HBO/Showtime series, rather than cramming it into a feature film's time limitations.

But I've been dying to see this acted out since it was first published. I only hope the producers involved understand what a truly important book Watchmen is, and treat it with the respect it deserves.

 

[Dr. Fate]

I would prefer to see Watchmen loyally adapted as an HBO/Showtime series, rather than cramming it into a feature film's time limitations.

But I've been dying to see this acted out since it was first published. I only hope the producers involved understand what a truly important book Watchmen is, and treat it with the respect it deserves.

How often does that actually happen?

 

[Sandman138]

That sucks.

It wasn't terrible. It got everything right (to a t) up untill they go to Antarctica and then, instead of Moore's political message on the nature of heroes as useless figureheads and useless in the face of technology being appropriated by ideologies, it just turns into a cookie cutter Hollywood underdog hero saves the day. Veidt becomes a stereotypical egomaniacal villian without any of the ambiguity that made him the brilliant character that he was, and gets killed by Night Owl who ends up saving the world by sending out a Beatle's quote to all the nations under the guise of an alien warning. It's trite optimism and obviously an attempt to fit the story and it's themes into what Hollywood seems to think are staples for the genre: that superheroes always have to be morally right and win at the end of the day. The thing that makes it strange is that untill that point, Hayter was spot on. He got Dr. Manhattan's allegory down to a t, Rorsarch was perfect, he changed Laurie's character a lot but kept her most important traits and established an interesting connection to Manhattan. Everything was great, and then the ending just came out of left field and ruined everything that came before it.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

It wasn't terrible. It got everything right (to a t) up untill they go to Antarctica and then, instead of Moore's political message on the nature of heroes as useless figureheads and useless in the face of technology being appropriated by ideologies, it just turns into a cookie cutter Hollywood underdog hero saves the day. Veidt becomes a stereotypical egomaniacal villian without any of the ambiguity that made him the brilliant character that he was, and gets killed by Night Owl who ends up saving the world by sending out a Beatle's quote to all the nations under the guise of an alien warning. It's trite optimism and obviously an attempt to fit the story and it's themes into what Hollywood seems to think are staples for the genre: that superheroes always have to be morally right and win at the end of the day. The thing that makes it strange is that untill that point, Hayter was spot on. He got Dr. Manhattan's allegory down to a t, Rorsarch was perfect, he changed Laurie's character a lot but kept her most important traits and established an interesting connection to Manhattan. Everything was great, and then the ending just came out of left field and ruined everything that came before it.

That's not entirely true. Dan and Rorschach do not succed in saving the day, thousands of people still get killed in the Hayter's version. Dan sending the message just completes Ozymandias' plan.
However in the Tse's draft, gone are the black boxes and the Beatles quote, the killings happen worldwide and there's a plausible explanation for them, and it's not the alien invasion (maybe I like it more than the book one). Too bad they sacrificed part of the backstory of Doctor Manhattan, so you can't understand why the most powerful being on Earth is a puppet.

 

[Sandman138]

Doctor Manhattan's backstory needs to be in there. It's essential to the main theme of the story.

 

[Rez]

They should, always. Snyder is fantastic, and on the off chance it doesn't work out, then it doesn't. The book will always be great, no matter what happens with other media interpretations.

 

[Sandman138]

What do you remember more, The Godfather or the book?

 

[Union Jack]

no,i don' think they should make this film...the book was crap so the film would have to work real hard to be any good.

though thats just my opinon..i know alot of folk liked the watchmen book...

i thought it was drivel tho!!

 

[Superhobo]

Union Jack is not allowed to breathe any more.


Ever.




I mean it.

 

[Max J Power]

I don't know. The book is long and has a lot of material to cover. A movie is doable, but the makers will have to do some careful editing.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I just picked this baby up. Just finished Chapter 1....and....well.....I'm hooked.

Btw, shouldn't this be in the DC forum?

 

[blind_fury]

Meh. I'm so used to Hollywood butchering comic book adaptations I've become completely numb.

 

[Katsuro]

I think it should. Few people read comics these days, it would be a great way to bring this story to a whole other audience.

 

[Silvermoth]

Nah, They probably shouldn't. It would be too tough cutting stuff and not upsetting the fans plus with directors coming and oing for Watchmen, theres always a chance it will be hijacked by some terrible movie hack who will turn it into an action movie

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