What can we Afford to Lose?

[ManofmyWord]

People are saying what all they want in the movie, and sadly not everything can fit. So what can we lose in the editing room and what do you think was cut from the get go?
It's hard because everything in Watchmen reflects or has an effect on something else.

But I think we could lose the Lesbian story/fight, the Knot Tops.

Thoughts?

 

[Compi716]

Yeah, the lesbian thing isn't necessary for the movie version of the film.

 

[FatalEnergy]

keep the lesbians.

 

[The Guard]

You can lose a lot and still have an amazing film.

 

[Evil Twin]

Definitely the lesbians.

Obviously the Black Freighter, along with all the text pieces.

Dr. Long's home life.

The Detectives in their office getting a call re: the whereabouts of "Raw Shark". Might be better if its just a surprise to find Moloch dead and the police outside.

Max Shea on the island/freighter.

Probably most of Ozymandias's monologue on his origins. Some of that is important, but it's likely to stop the film dead in its tracks as it heads towards its climax if it's too extensive.

Probably most of the scenes at the crank newspaper, other than the finale.

 

[Sun_Down]

Definitely the lesbians.

Obviously the Black Freighter, along with all the text pieces.

Dr. Long's home life.

The Detectives in their office getting a call re: the whereabouts of "Raw Shark". Might be better if its just a surprise to find Moloch dead and the police outside.

Max Shea on the island/freighter.

Probably most of Ozymandias's monologue on his origins. Some of that is important, but it's likely to stop the film dead in its tracks as it heads towards its climax if it's too extensive.

Probably most of the scenes at the crank newspaper, other than the finale.

Agreed, except I think the "raw shark" bit and the New Frontiersman stuff can be worked in pretty easily since they're pretty short little scenes.

 

[Evil Twin]

Agreed, except I think the "raw shark" bit and the New Frontiersman stuff can be worked in pretty easily since they're pretty short little scenes.

Probably. But, I think we can "afford" to lose them if it's a choice between keeping them or choosing to cut some other scene.

 

[Quinzel]

I'm not big on the lesbian scene, it doens't really tie in to the rest of the movie, so i'd say lose it.

 

[Katsuro]

The squid.

Yeah, I said it.

 

[Silk Spectre]

I don't think the squid is necessary either. Veidt could just as easily drop a bomb of some type on NYC. Most people will think the squid thing is stupid, or just go WTF.

The squid.

Yeah, I said it.

 

[Closerframe]

Keep Veidt's origins

-Get rid of the squid

 

[Dr. Manhatten]

I don't think the squid is necessary either. Veidt could just as easily drop a bomb of some type on NYC. Most people will think the squid thing is stupid, or just go WTF.

The squid can be cut if they find something as equally odd. You can't just drop a bomb in the story since the whole point of it was to create a fake external enemy that would unite the US and Russia and end the war. If it was a bomb, the US would blame Russia and strike, destroying the world pretty much

 

[SPIDERMAN117]

Hmm well Znyder did say they were keeping the ending

 

[Gilpesh]

I don't think the squid is necessary either. Veidt could just as easily drop a bomb of some type on NYC. Most people will think the squid thing is stupid, or just go WTF.

Whooooooooooosh. There goes the point.

Like Dr. Manhatten said, the whole point was to NOT start a war between the US and the USSR.

 

[CaptainGenerica]

I think you have to have Knot Tops, since they kill Hollis Mason, and there's that fight scene with KT's vs. Dan and Laurie. I guess that second thing's not as important, and you can pretty much have any hotheaded street thugs killing Hollis (although they might as well be the KT's, even if the gang doesn't get much screentime).

We can lose the squid easily, just as long as it's replaced adequately.

We can lose a fair chuck of Doctor Manhattan's backstory. Keep the main points of course, but there's a good amount of fat that can be trimmed here and there.

We can lose Adrian's three servants, and their deaths/subplot.

We can probably lose most of that stuff told from Rorschach's POV in Fearful Symmetry. Actually, we'll probably have to, since POV in movies can be pretty clumsy.

 

[StillTheKing]

I really don't remember the lesbian part, what are you guys talking about?

Is Silk Spectre actually a lesbian and I just wasn't paying attention?

 

[CaptainGenerica]

I really don't remember the lesbian part, what are you guys talking about?

Is Silk Spectre actually a lesbian and I just wasn't paying attention?

They're talking about the lesbian taxi driver (who shops at Bernie's newsstand) and her knot-top girlfriend, I believe.

 

[StillTheKing]

They're talking about the lesbian taxi driver (who shops at Bernie's newsstand) and her knot-top girlfriend, I believe.

Oh, hell I don't even remember that after multiple readings, I guess it could be cut. I don't think it would even make a difference if it was in the movie.

 

[Commodore Schmidlapp]

Cut the lesbian's keep the squid. Viva La Squid!

 

[Angel_Faerie]

Looks like the lesbians are in. Or at least the Pink Triangle posters are there.

 

[ProfeZZor X]

I'm completely oblivious to the Watchmen universe but was fascinated by the trailer, and now I own the graphic novel, anticipating a good read.

So does anyone know how long the movie is going to be? It would make sense for the creators and distributors to break the movie down into 3 hour increments, like they did with Lord of the Rings. But the last two Matrix movies seem like the logical solution, considering both of them were distributed within the same year.

And with a date of 3/6/09 set in stone, the second part could easily premiere at any time later in the year....Just a thought.

 

[The Battousai]

I'm completely oblivious to the Watchmen universe but was fascinated by the trailer, and now I own the graphic novel, anticipating a good read.

So does anyone know how long the movie is going to be? It would make sense for the creators and distributors to break the movie down into 3 hour increments, like they did with Lord of the Rings. But the last two Matrix movies seem like the logical solution, considering both of them were distributed within the same year.

And with a date of 3/6/09 set in stone, the second part could easily premiere at any time later in the year....Just a thought.

FIrst off, I'm going to suggest you not browse this particular forum until you've read the GN at least once - there are spoilers abound here.

Secondly, the film couldn't possibly work as a two-film deal. The only way you could split up the story is to make it a 12-part mini-series on TV, but that would be pointless - no adaptation should strive to replace the original.

It'll be a single film with a run-time between 155-170 minutes (most likely).

 

[Katsuro]

Looks like the lesbians are in. Or at least the Pink Triangle posters are there.

I have a feeling that's just an easter egg for people who will recognize it. I'd love them to keep the lesbians in, but I cant imagine they could actually keep them.

Or maybe they're in the extended director's cut. In fact, they better be. Snyder better have at least filmed the lesbians, Dr. Long's wife, the detectives, and all those characters.

 

[Angel_Faerie]

I have a feeling that's just an easter egg for people who will recognize it. I'd love them to keep the lesbians in, but I cant imagine they could actually keep them.

Or maybe they're in the extended director's cut. In fact, they better be. Snyder better have at least filmed the lesbians, Dr. Long's wife, the detectives, and all those characters.

It very well could be an easter egg. I guess we'll see for sure in March.

 

[StillTheKing]

Aw, now that I see that picture I remember what you are all talking about.

Even if they kept the lesbians, it would be like 30 seconds tops added to the movie.