Holy crap, it's Rorshach!

[Tripe H. Redux]

I am actually rather pleased that it will feature in some way. I was rather miffed that Storm Saxon was gone from V for Vendetta.

I perfectly understand the constraints that cause the loss of the comic within the comic, especially as there are ways to get the point of the pirate story across in more cinematicly friendly means.

When it's a graphic novel you can tease out the allegory longer and more meticulously.

Edit: Hmm well aparently the Laser Lass bits were still Storm Saxon, could have fooled me.

[a pretty girl is like]

To me, the fact that they're adding the Black Freighter issue as a dvd extra is an admission of how much the book has been gutted.

Honestly, what were you expecting? There's no conceivable way of fitting the entire story of the book into a feature-length film.

To me, the fact that they're adding the Black Freighter issue as a dvd extra is an admission of how much the book has been gutted.  The next thing to go will be the Mars issue.  There's no way Zack Snyder will take the time to explain quantum physics in a tent pole picture.

League Redux.  Hooray?

It seems to me more like they're admitting that they just couldn't find a place for it in the film. I mean, seriously, would it fit?
Pardon the vicious tone I'm taking here, but: Of course fucking not.
LXG didn't put a spectacular airship battle in the film's extras, I robot didn't put a story about two troubleshooting robot mechanics trying to talk down a malfunctioning megalomaniac AI in their special features, and in fact no one has to my knowlege put something in their DVD extras to make up for their gutting a book.

I don't know how this film'll turn out, and I barely care. But stop just grabbing at straws. They won't put a random pirate story in a superhero movie because it would be ridiculously bad for pacing and pander only to the people who are die hard fans of the book, and the publicity photo of the bad(ish) guy shows him with a weird crotch. Seriously, what else you got at this point? At least wait a bit before descending on the film in a fanboy/girl rage.

Truly, I wasn't expecting much.  However, if Zack Snyder expects us to believe that this is to be as true to the source material as possible then the Black Freighter has to be worked into the film proper.  It isn't just a random pirate story.  It's a storytelling conceit that ties together the themes and storylines  of all the different characters while being a completely meta representation of the individual reader's experience of reading Watchmen.

Frankly, I agree wholeheartedly that it doesn't fit in this movie adaptation.  I don't think it's possible with this particular film by this particular director.

And the two examples you gave (I, Robot and League) aren't very good examples simply because they bear little to no resemblance to the source material.

Also, I really don't mind the costumes.  They're quite pretty actually.  But that's superficial.  The Black Freighter section isn't.   

[Tyrant]

Truly, I wasn't expecting much.  However, if Zack Snyder expects us to believe that this is to be as true to the source material as possible then the Black Freighter has to be worked into the film proper.  It isn't just a random pirate story.  It's a storytelling conceit that ties together the themes and storylines  of all the different characters while being a completely meta representation of the individual reader's experience of reading Watchmen.

Frankly, I agree wholeheartedly that it doesn't fit in this movie adaptation.  I don't think it's possible with this particular film by this particular director.

And the two examples you gave (I, Robot and League) aren't very good examples simply because they bear little to no resemblance to the source material.

Also, I really don't mind the costumes.  They're quite pretty actually.  But that's superficial.  The Black Freighter section isn't.   

  I think it's safe to say that if they included every single element from the Watchmen graphic in the movie, you'd have a 5-6 hour long movie. What counts are the core elements and how they're represented in a film translation. I'm probably stating the obvious here, however. As an avid Watchmen fan, you won't see me complaining at all so long as what's really important to the story/characters makes it on film. Although it's too early to tell right now just from production stills and what not, I would say they're hitting the nail on the head visually at least. This bodes well for the rest of the movie, in my mind.

   That said, I don't percieve The Black Freighter to be a core element. Frankly, all the articles and book excerpts used in the graphic novel are the real glue that holds the story together, IMO. I'm not saying it's not an important part of the story, but the waters are very deep in this book and the movie has to be stripped down so the masses can digest it. What I believe we're going to see is a more action themed version of the story.

  Basically, I'm thinking this may be the Lord of the Rings debate all over again.   

[Junkyard]

Truly, I wasn't expecting much.  However, if Zack Snyder expects us to believe that this is to be as true to the source material as possible then the Black Freighter has to be worked into the film proper.  It isn't just a random pirate story.  It's a storytelling conceit that ties together the themes and storylines  of all the different characters while being a completely meta representation of the individual reader's experience of reading Watchmen.

Frankly, I agree wholeheartedly that it doesn't fit in this movie adaptation.  I don't think it's possible with this particular film by this particular director.

And the two examples you gave (I, Robot and League) aren't very good examples simply because they bear little to no resemblance to the source material.

Also, I really don't mind the costumes.  They're quite pretty actually.  But that's superficial.  The Black Freighter section isn't.   

Good lord. Yeah, metaphor blah blah central to the story blah blah how could they leave it out blah blah Tom Bombadil blah blah ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO READ WATCHMEN WOULD GET IT BLAH BLAH.

[Fig Neutron]

I say we just hope for an entertaining movie on its own terms--which I believe it will succeed in.

It of course can't capture the minutiae of Moore's work, but it's not like a good but (inevitably) more shallow take will lessen the book's appeal any.

It happens with all good books into movies.  I'm reading 'I am Legend' right now, and while things are VERY (VERY!) different, so far I feel both tones are similar.

And anyone wanna play 'Two' Degrees of Separation between Rorschach and Chris Elliott?  Too bad most of you won't be able to actually see what I'm talking about, but a pretty amusing connection.   

[Tripe H. Redux]

I'm sure the adaptation of Lost Girls will be slavishly accurate

[Fig Neutron]

I'm sure the adaptation of Lost Girls will be slavishly accurate

Movie's already under way.  Too bad it will have the ultra ULTRA dreaded rating curse of the NC-32.

[Tripe H. Redux]

Yay, I won't need an accompanying adult 

[GregMcduck]

It's high time I got some porn in my local multiplex.

[Junkyard]

Sigh....
Well, I read over Watchmen again last night....
I still hold that we haven't been shown/told enough to judge this movie, and I'm more than certain that no one will miss the Black Freigter storyline, but I still have very low expectations for any movie adaptation.
I'm afraid the number of movie- worthy fights in the book, or at least fights that can be extended without getting ridiculous, comes up to about.... 1. And that's where Spectre and Owl fight some muggers in civilian dress.
And with Hollywood's record with moral complexity....
Yeah, this'll be pretty sad.

Aaaannnddd, being a bit of a hypocrite, with apologies towards "A Pretty Girl Is Like," I have to say that Ozy's "Batman and Robin"-esque costume does not bode well. Anything that can be likened to Joel Schumacher's Batman does not bode well.

[a pretty girl is like]

Sigh....
Well, I read over Watchmen again last night....
I still hold that we haven't been shown/told enough to judge this movie, and I'm more than certain that no one will miss the Black Freigter storyline, but I still have very low expectations for any movie adaptation.
I'm afraid the number of movie- worthy fights in the book, or at least fights that can be extended without getting ridiculous, comes up to about.... 1. And that's where Spectre and Owl fight some muggers in civilian dress.
And with Hollywood's record with moral complexity....
Yeah, this'll be pretty sad.

Aaaannnddd, being a bit of a hypocrite, with apologies towards "A Pretty Girl Is Like," I have to say that Ozy's "Batman and Robin"-esque costume does not bode well. Anything that can be likened to Joel Schumacher's Batman does not bode well.

No worries, junkyard.  I don't think that's hypocritical at all.  We're having a difference in opinions.  That's what makes conversations fun. 

[Junkyard]

We're having a difference in opinions.  That's what makes conversations fun. 

I'm imagining two people talking, one of them saying those last two sentinces, and then both of them high fiving. That image is the highlight of my day.

[bigmattyg]

God, I hope this is good.
That being said, I don't see how anything less than three hours works for this.  Too much plot.  I do think that there's plenty of action for a film - all the prison stuff with Rorschach alone has tons of stuff that'll look great on film.  But the alternate 1985 thing, the general complexity of the plot, and the necessity of the "supplemental materials" in the book (especially Rorschach's history) seem like they are really necessary and nearly unfilmable.
The biggest character problem, however, is Dr. Manhattan.  This is the same problem that I have with any Fantastic Four film that has any Galactus involvement of any scope.  There's only so much power you can really contain on screen before it looks ridiculous.
Also, I wish Bruce Campbell had been cast as the Comedian.
Anyhow, screen shots look great, and I'll be first in line to see this.  But.... you know.

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

Keanu Reeveses is not in the Watchmans movie

I've received countless emails from fans asking whether Keanu Reeves will appear in the upcoming "Watchmen" film. The reason was because his upcoming movie, "Street Kings," was previously titled "The Night Watchman," creating confusion between the two films.

MTV News got the chance to sit down with Reeves, who revealed that even though he is the leading man in "Street Kings," he was also considering the role of Dr. Manhattan in "Watchmen." He was interested in the part, but had to pass, because it simply "didn't work out."

"I went to the set," he recalled. "They were shooting in Vancouver while we were filming so I went over to the set to say, 'hi.' They showed me some stuff and it looks amazing! I can't wait. It's going to be so killer, man!"

He also added that he had a chance to re-team with "The Matrix" directors on their upcoming "Speed Racer" movie. According to Reeves, he was asked to play the part of Racer X, which eventually went to Matthew Fox. "I wish [it had worked out]," Reeves said, before dropping the character's line. "Speed, I'm not your brother!"

[bratpop]

On the upside, we get to see Street Kings! WOOT!