View Full Version : Watchmen - Discussion Thread
Tejstar
17-03-2007, 12:24 PM
Watchmen was a wonderful graphic novel published by DC comics. It will be coming to the big screen in 2008 directed by Zack Snyder (of 300 and Dawn of the Dead remake fame).
The graphic novel made Time's (http://www.time.com/time/2005/100books/0,24459,watchmen,00.html) 100 Greatest Novels. Check it out if you can, hopefully the movie will be just as good!
raigraphixs
17-03-2007, 1:39 PM
I cant wait to see the movie too.
Test shot of Rorschach visible in a single frame at 1:52 in the R-rated 300 trailer
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk304/raigraphixs/rorshach_badge.jpg
Tejstar
18-03-2007, 12:58 PM
Great spot raigraphixs! :smashin:
raigraphixs
18-03-2007, 1:15 PM
Great spot raigraphixs! :smashin:
thank wikipedia, not me mate. :grin: , neverless sly old Zack to sneak it in 300 trailer!.
Starburst
18-03-2007, 3:16 PM
If it's half as good as the graphic novel I would be amazed, please don't go for a PG rating:)
drunkenmaster
18-03-2007, 4:57 PM
Wasn't Rorschach's face yellow?
Or am I thinking of another Graphic Novel???
Tejstar
19-03-2007, 10:25 AM
Not as far as I remember, he wore a mask most of the time.
Please can this be good - The Watchmen is easily one of the best Graphic Novels ever written!
quarry2006
19-03-2007, 5:16 PM
Wonderful news. A mature, intelligent comic comes to the screen...I do hope they don't drop the ball with this.
As far as I remember, Rorschach, when unmasked, had red hair.
Tejstar
20-03-2007, 10:10 AM
I'm quite fearful that those attributes won't make it to the big screen though...
drunkenmaster
20-03-2007, 12:34 PM
Not as far as I remember, he wore a mask most of the time.
I meant his mask - yellow????
raigraphixs
20-03-2007, 12:36 PM
They did a great job with Sin City, using green screen. And 300 even pushes it further, but the plot is a little hollow i hear.
Hopefully they can get the script right for this before the fx.
Alan Moore (graphic novel) & Dave Gibbon (graphic novel)
Alex Tse(screenplay (aint done much!), David Hayter (screenplay (Xmen2)
I'm a bit worried with this one. i'd have loved to see the story made as a tv mini-series rather than a movie. The book was one of the first comic books to actually be considered "proper" literature, due mainly to the complex character developments and mature storyline rather than its fantastic action sequences, of which it is light on. I just wonder if a big budget Hollywood movie will be allowed to be made without the usual chase sequences/ epic battles etc. Done properly it could be amazing but i'm not optimistic.Hope i'm wrong!
Decadence
20-03-2007, 3:51 PM
I meant his mask - yellow????
I think Rorschach's mask was originally made from material with a layer of swirly inky stuff which formed patterns, hence him being named after the guy who invented the ink blot test.
This movie should be good if the make it correctly. All I know is that my 50,000 shares in the movie, bought for under a dollar each on the Hollywood Stock Exchange, have just gone through the roof! It's not real money but it is fun all the same! www.HSX.com
drunkenmaster
20-03-2007, 5:00 PM
Okay off-white mask with black inkblot markings.
But how the hell are they gonna replicate Doctor Manhattan?
This will be one hard graphic novel to replicate.
Decadence
20-03-2007, 10:28 PM
Doctor Manhattan will be CGI I reckon...they'll base it on the Silver Surfer CGI in the upcoming Fantastic 4 film.
Tejstar
21-03-2007, 11:02 AM
I think Rorschach's mask was originally made from material with a layer of swirly inky stuff which formed patterns, hence him being named after the guy who invented the ink blot test.
Exactly how i remember him too. I'll have to dust off my copy and re-familiarise myself with the story.
Doctor Manhattan will be CGI I reckon...they'll base it on the Silver Surfer CGI in the upcoming Fantastic 4 film.
Given that Snyder has just come of a cgi heavy movie, i think you're totally right. i don't really recall Dr.Manhatten doing anything that would require a completely cgi makeover though, apart from his increase in size! I think it would look much better if they created the character the same way as they did for Mystique in the X Men movies. One things pretty much for sure...he will get a pair of pants to wear!:grin:
raigraphixs
28-09-2007, 3:42 PM
heres the limited site with short video blog.
http://watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com/
raigraphixs
20-02-2008, 3:15 PM
Latest image from Watchmen movie.
In January 2008, Alan Moore revealed that he had negotiated to have his name removed from Zack Snyder's film and to have all royalties go to Dave Gibbons.
If you're not familiar with the story, that is loner detective Rorschach setting fire to a member of the police. Rorschach's kind of the hero of the piece, even though you could barely term him a good guy. If we're remembering the graphic novel correctly (it's not close to hand) this shot is from a fairly major sequence where Rorschach is set upon by a lot of cops.
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9642/watchmennw3.jpg
raigraphixs
06-03-2008, 8:30 AM
The Watchmen site has posted these images of some of the characters from the film. Nice :)
Silk Spectre
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8258/26056xv9.jpg
The Comedian
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/4892/26052vt2.jpg
Nite Owl
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5511/26053vq8.jpg
Ozymandias
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2771/26054zj6.jpg
Rorschach
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7969/26055qh0.jpg
http://rss.warnerbros.com/watchmen/
Shockabuku
06-03-2008, 9:28 AM
I really hope they don't screw this one up. The graphic novel is basically underpinned throughout by a deep paranoia of an inevitable nuclear holocaust. I wonder what they're going to do with that, as I'm not sure it would translate so well to today's audience. Or maybe they'll cop out & ignore that aspect.
Tejstar
06-03-2008, 2:58 PM
Thanks for the update raigraphixs - I'd completely forgotten about this. Looking good so far, I hope they do the graphic novel justice.
tiresias
07-03-2008, 7:12 PM
I hate to say it, but I think this will be incredibly hard to get right as a film. If memory serves me right, the graphic novel had an almost dreamlike, stagey quality to it - playing with time sequences, and the like. That, and the nuclear-holocaust-paranoia-zeitgeist make it very much of its time, I fear. Maybe David Lynch or Nick Roeg could have pulled it off, but I doubt it'll translate well as an all action superhero-flick.
Having said that, Silk Spectre looks like she may be worth a look-in and who could resist Rorschach staring into the abyss as it stares back into him? ;)
drunkenmaster
08-03-2008, 11:03 AM
This is being released on the 3rd of June 2009
Jon Osterman aka Dr Manhattan is being played by Billy Crudup, and it seems will be mainly CGI based.
enablerbro1
08-03-2008, 12:11 PM
Will they include the Pirate sub story? What you need is a director/producer/actor who holds the keys to a profitable franchise who can make this as their pet project and be as true to the sentiment of the novel as possible.
Spoiler One element they might have to worry about will be Rorschach wearing built up shoes, what Hollywood star is going to admit he's a shortar$e? /Spoiler
Crabman32
09-03-2008, 9:59 AM
The Black Freighter story is being done. However, the are doing it in the Japanese anime style and it's being narrated by Gerard Butler. This will not be in the theatrical cut of the film but in the extended DVD/Blu-ray release. Zack Snyder fought quite hard to get the budget to be able to do but had to omit it from the cinema release because of the running time.
Gonna be sweet.
:thumbsup:
Crabman32
09-03-2008, 10:01 AM
This is being released on the 3rd of June 2009
Jon Osterman aka Dr Manhattan is being played by Billy Crudup, and it seems will be mainly CGI based.
The film is actually being released 6th March 2009.
Tejstar
09-03-2008, 5:06 PM
Looks like the SE DVD release will have some superb extras then! The Black Freighter story in Japanese anime style sounds great!
raigraphixs
07-04-2008, 9:56 AM
New sets featurette
480 (http://wbads-78.vo.llnwd.net/e1/wbmovies/watchmen/videojournals/setsandsensibility_Watchmen_480p.mov), 720 (http://wbads-78.vo.llnwd.net/e1/wbmovies/watchmen/videojournals/setsandsensibility_Watchmen_720p.mov), 1080 (http://wbads-78.vo.llnwd.net/e1/wbmovies/watchmen/videojournals/setsandsensibility_Watchmen_1080p.mov)
.
CrazyHorse
15-07-2008, 5:57 AM
Details of the 'teaser trailer' that will be shown with 'The Dark Knight' this week in the US - no idea if it will make an appearance with TDK here in the UK too...
http://chud.com/articles/articles/15591/1/DEVIN-WATCHES-THE-WATCHMEN-TRAILER/Page1.html
Sounds really promising and I imagine it will be available on the net within a week or two. :thumbsup:
Tejstar
15-07-2008, 8:34 AM
Superb stuff, had forgotten about this due to the lack of news! :)
Brausch
15-07-2008, 9:18 AM
The action figures, busts and 12" figures are already listed at http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/#activePage=search&searchTerm=watchmen&searchCat=&searchMode=term&pagerPage=1&pagerTotalItems=18 The 1:6 Comedian looks very good
Tejstar
17-07-2008, 8:52 PM
The trailer can be viewed here (http://thephoenix.com/blogs/phlog/archive/2008/07/17/trailer-park-watchmen.aspx).
raigraphixs
17-07-2008, 9:28 PM
Now HD trailer sizes :smashin:
Right click to download
480 (http://movies.apple.com/movies/wb/watchmen/watchmen-tlr1_h480p.mov), 720 (http://movies.apple.com/movies/wb/watchmen/watchmen-tlr1_h720p.mov), 1080 (http://movies.apple.com/movies/wb/watchmen/watchmen-tlr1_h1080p.mov)
Looks pretty cool :)
.
raigraphixs
17-07-2008, 11:36 PM
^^^ Updated with HD links above.
.
Bokononist
17-07-2008, 11:53 PM
Visually it seems to fit the bill and looks pretty stunning. Hopefully the story won't suffer.
KH
Tejstar
18-07-2008, 6:22 AM
I'm still concerned by how much they will be able to fit into the movie - but it's a good start. Thought the trailer looks great!
raigraphixs
18-07-2008, 11:52 AM
Watchmen Trailer Easter-egg :grin:
Source; MTV
Remember the '300' trailer last year by Zack Snyder (director), he had snuck 'Rorschach' blink you miss him test footage, so only fitting there is an easter-egg in the Watchmen trailer!.
I have taken some snap shots from the trailer and attached below, around the 1:30 mark, the guy is holding a walkie talkie instead of the gun, which he does go back to in the subsequent shots of the scene.
For years, the MPAA has prohibited weapons from being pointed at the “viewer” in advertising, presumably for fear that it will freak them out. That’s why you always see guns pointed at angles on movie posters and in film trailers.
“So we erased the gun,” Snyder grinned. “And put a walkie-talkie in his hand.”
As many film geeks remember — and are still angry about — Steven Spielberg famously re-released his family classic “E.T.” in 2002 after using CGI to transform the gun-wielding federal agents into less-threatening agents holding walkie-talkies.
“It was a total Spielberg reference,” laughed Snyder. “Because I was like, ‘Well, it worked for Spielberg, so we should do that. Just put a walkie-talkie in his hand!’ … [The editors] were like, ‘But then you cut to a real gun!’ but I’m like, ‘No one will ever see that; they’ll think he had a gun in the other shot, so it’s fine.’”
Walkie
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk304/raigraphixs/Picture17-1.jpg
Now with gun.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk304/raigraphixs/Picture18-1.jpg
.
Shockabuku
18-07-2008, 12:15 PM
Wow, that trailer has sent my anticipation through the roof :thumbsup:. Really looks like they're getting the tone of the book just right based on that brief glimpse. Even the music, great stuff, and not the obvious choice for an "action movie" trailer, but spot on for Watchmen.
martwho
18-07-2008, 8:26 PM
Oh my God! I hate watching trailers like that then having to wait for the movie. Bring it on!!!!!!:clap:
drskhaled
21-07-2008, 2:40 PM
Watchmen is easily my favourite graphic novel of all time. It deserved all the accolades it got and had a depth to the characters to match any mainstream novel. In fact i believe graphic novels such as watchmen have a layer of depth above most novels in that along with the textual narrative and speech, the art also conveys more than words alone. Watchmen does this in so many ways, from the running theme of the clock (doomsday clock) to its film noiresque detective yarn and finally it delivers its last twist in an awe-inspiring shock. I had to reread that part so many times then reread the book itself.
Anyway i doubt the film could possily have everything there, incuding the nightmare pirate story. Which is a shame as it would then leave out the young boy, the newsvendor and the couple. An incredibly touching scene involving these characters totally seperate to the main story would not be experienced by moviegoers.
I wonder if david hayter will do rawsharks (at least thats how its pronounced) voice over; Snaake snaake!
katiakatia
21-07-2008, 4:37 PM
I think so yes!
mjpartyboy
25-07-2008, 4:43 PM
One of the comic's artists talking about the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRwpiPn1oPg
Oh wow, I absolutely love the book, and I've been hoping someone would make a film of it for years and years. I remember getting really excited many years ago when there were rumours that Terry Gilliam was starting to film it - that would have been interesting. Anyway, so far I think all the signs are good. I'm just ging to keep my fingers crossed on this one and hope they do the book justice.
Thanks for all the links so far in the thread, and looking forward to getting more info as the months go by :-)
raigraphixs
07-08-2008, 11:05 AM
Creating the Owl Ship Featurette
Video (http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?sid=69510802&sdm=web&pt=rd)
.
Decadence
07-08-2008, 11:09 AM
I think this film is going to be massive...its stock value has just gone through the roof on the HSX!
Ashzilla
07-08-2008, 10:01 PM
Cant wait for this:thumbsup:
Ive just perchased the book in preperation for next June
When i did the women behind the counter told me that its one of the greatest books she has ever read :eek:
I realy hope they do the book justice.
Bokononist
19-08-2008, 12:14 PM
Let battle commence...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7569770.stm
KH
Shockabuku
19-08-2008, 12:55 PM
Wow, I'm sure the film is bound to be released anyway (even if it involves Fox getting a chunk of $$$ from Warner), but I'll be pulling up a chair for this battle of the giants.
mjpartyboy
19-08-2008, 1:00 PM
I was just reading this at Cinema Blend.
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Fox-Closer-To-Destroying-Watchmen-9886.html
Shockabuku
19-08-2008, 1:04 PM
Eek!
"Fox’s legal team insist they have no interest in cash. Their stated goal is to prevent the movie from being released, to prevent the film from ever being seen. They want it dead and buried, according to Variety."
crimsoneagle
19-08-2008, 2:22 PM
This is a very very poor show and if this becomes the case I will boycott all FOX related products and companies, Mr Murdoch and his henchmen are going too far! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:
The fact that all they want to do is just tie it up is disgusting!!
Shockabuku
19-08-2008, 2:51 PM
yeah, I totally agree mate, it's pretty sad they didn't do something earlier, but studios do enjoy sticking it to their rivals in a very public way given the chance.
Btw, Kevin Smith has seen the film & reckons it's superb, which ups my anticipation massively as he knows his chips in this area :smashin:
Tejstar
19-08-2008, 2:57 PM
Well I hope they reach sum kind of agreement - not allowing the film to be released is just not on.
akane_1984
19-08-2008, 4:18 PM
I have had the Watchmen novel sitting on my sideboard for over a year now along with a lot of other graphic novels I need to catch up on. Pushing my way through the Watchmen now, since seeing the trailer at Dark Knight I need to get this read ! lol
mjpartyboy
27-08-2008, 8:07 AM
Four exclusive Brazilian SET magazine covers:
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Gorgeous-Watchmen-Magazine-Covers-9960.html
mjpartyboy
03-09-2008, 5:34 PM
Watchmen's fate to be decided on January 6 2009:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3id7efd5118ad0ac0728020a905a1f15ac
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Watchmen-s-Fate-Decided-On-January-6-10023.html
raigraphixs
08-09-2008, 8:55 AM
Video Journal - The Look Of Watchmen (http://moviesmovies.ign.com/movies/video/article/908/908042/watchmen_dp_feat_090508_qthighwide.mov)
Previous
Video Journal - The Owl Ship (http://moviesmovies.ign.com/movies/video/article/897/897462/watchmen_owlship_080708_qthighwide.mov)
Video Journal - The Costumes (http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?sid=64753297&sdm=web&pt=rd)
Video Journal - Sets and Sensibility (http://wbads-78.vo.llnwd.net/e1/wbmovies/watchmen/videojournals/setsandsensibility_Watchmen_480p.mov)