Watchmen Movie is Terrible

[Canadamus Prime]

I thought the Watchmen movie was quite good, except for the sex scene in that flying thing (I don't remember what it was called, ok?), that was more than a little over the top. But then again I haven't read the original graphic novel so I really don't have much to compare it to... well except other superhero movies.

 

[Wushu Panda]

High, how's the view from your high horse up there? I read the novel, and I GOT the themes they were going for. Is it my fault if I had never read the fucking thing before now? It came out before I was born for christ's sake.

My point isn't that they didn't adapt the novel faithfully, but that the changes they did make were detrimental to the story. I also love how you say that if I didn't like the movie, I should just make it myself. How about YOU do that then? If its so simple for me to do it, then why not you as well?

No shit movies that adapt novels make changes, but most of the time, they are to save on time or to remove extraneous plotlines in order to keep the pacing proper. But the genetic engineering was a theme in the novel that was very subtly used, keeping the squid as a surprise. Instead, they go with the free energy reactors being super nukes so that they could make a bunch of take thats to the goddamn oil industry. Was that needed in the movie?

Its NOT simple, thats my entire point you dolt. Its very complicated. Why dont you stop looking at me on my beautiful high horse long enough to read what I and others have posted. It used to be said that it was impossible to even make Watchmen into a movie. Its such an incredible alternate reality and plot people thought any attempt to make a movie would never even occur. Besides, I'm fine with the job they had done...exactly why would I try to make another?

Again. Did you not even bother reading my post? They did in fact had to change things for time. The movie in theaters was about 2.7 hours long, if they had to explain everything they left out it would've been over 4 hours long. They needed a force that Ozy could use to make the world think that as a whole they would have to unite together. The world knew DR. H's power and feared what he was capable of, not to mention he was already explained. The world doesn't see reactors, anyone who saw one was annihilated in the explosions. Everyone else saw Dr. H's power destroying cities all over the world. It does in fact fit and no it doesn't take away from the Novel one bit.

People have been bitching about how they can never make a perfect movie out of a book. Sorry to brake the news to you, but you aren't the first to QQ about this sort of thing. Before this it was Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Indian in the Cupboard, etc. Every year going back forever in the history of movies. If you (or anyone that throws similar hissy fits) really understood anything. You would understand to not judge the two so damn closely...BECAUSE IT ISN'T EASY TO DO!!

 

[John Farrell]

one thing I found was that with the movie's ending, it was more of a deterrent from America or any other superpower trying to make another Doctor Manhattan. With the squid, I could see them trying to make a few more to fight the damn thing and carry on Jon's work.

BTW, I think they should have made watchmen into two movies, that way they could have strengthened it with some of the supporting characters. I also disliked the jabs at big oil (who I still consider bastards) and modern usage of the word "socialism"

 

[Signa]

Well I haven't read the graphic novel so I can't really comment.

Spoiler

Also, out of curiosity, but what exactly is the point of the giant squid monster?

However, even if I did I still think the film has the best opening credits in any film I have ever seen.

To expand on what was told to you:

Spoiler: you probably should read the comic for yourself, or at least watch the Motion Comic

Instead of unlimited power reactors being researched like in the movie, they were researching extra-dimensional space and how to teleport things like how John could. However, without John's direct control over the process, the best anyone could do was make something explode and die more or less. So in the Comic, the research lab was ground zero for an "accident" that involved bringing an alien from an unknown dimension into the middle of New York. In reality, they just teleported the genetically created monster into New York, and had that explode. It wasn't even alive to begin with, so Ozymandias didn't need perfected teleportation technology. All he needed was for the survivors to see the alien from another dimension and decide that uniting was a better idea instead of constantly fighting in case more aliens come again later.

Also, the same tech that made the alien also made Bubastis, which they left in the movie. He actually was completely pointless because of the changes that was done to the plot.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

I think the problem was that they were too loyal to the source material. They couldnt fit every scene from the comic into the movie, but what they could fit in they didnt change at all to account for the difference....

 

[Soviet Heavy]

High, how's the view from your high horse up there? I read the novel, and I GOT the themes they were going for. Is it my fault if I had never read the fucking thing before now? It came out before I was born for christ's sake.

My point isn't that they didn't adapt the novel faithfully, but that the changes they did make were detrimental to the story. I also love how you say that if I didn't like the movie, I should just make it myself. How about YOU do that then? If its so simple for me to do it, then why not you as well?

No shit movies that adapt novels make changes, but most of the time, they are to save on time or to remove extraneous plotlines in order to keep the pacing proper. But the genetic engineering was a theme in the novel that was very subtly used, keeping the squid as a surprise. Instead, they go with the free energy reactors being super nukes so that they could make a bunch of take thats to the goddamn oil industry. Was that needed in the movie?

Its NOT simple, thats my entire point you dolt. Its very complicated. Why dont you stop looking at me on my beautiful high horse long enough to read what I and others have posted. It used to be said that it was impossible to even make Watchmen into a movie. Its such an incredible alternate reality and plot people thought any attempt to make a movie would never even occur. Besides, I'm fine with the job they had done...exactly why would I try to make another?

Again. Did you not even bother reading my post? They did in fact had to change things for time. The movie in theaters was about 2.7 hours long, if they had to explain everything they left out it would've been over 4 hours long. They needed a force that Ozy could use to make the world think that as a whole they would have to unite together. The world knew DR. H's power and feared what he was capable of, not to mention he was already explained. The world doesn't see reactors, anyone who saw one was annihilated in the explosions. Everyone else saw Dr. H's power destroying cities all over the world. It does in fact fit and no it doesn't take away from the Novel one bit.

People have been bitching about how they can never make a perfect movie out of a book. Sorry to brake the news to you, but you aren't the first to QQ about this sort of thing. Before this it was Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Indian in the Cupboard, etc. Every year going back forever in the history of movies. If you (or anyone that throws similar hissy fits) really understood anything. You would understand to not judge the two so damn closely...BECAUSE IT ISN'T EASY TO DO!!

Well you know, I wouldn't be so hostile if you hadn't started accusing me of not grasping any of the subtlety of the novel and then simply regarded my opinion as me bitching, as well as making assumptions that I was unaware of how this affects other movies as well. If I wanted to talk about how all movie adaptations make changes from the novel, I would have made a topic about that.

I GET what they were trying to go for with Manhattan being the threat instead of squid people, but I felt that it was poorly implemented, and just as big a WTF moment as the squid, except without any of the hints being thrown throughout the movie. More like they pulled it out of their ass at the last minute than something that came as a surprise, but could be understood by putting together the pieces.

The fact that they kept Bubastis in the film seemed to suggest that they were still going to go with the genetic squid monster idea, but then nope, just energy bombs. The changed ending wasn't telegraphed, meaning that those who were expecting the squid were thrown out to left field, and those who hadn't read the book were just left confused.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

The idea of the squid was to unite the world to stave off space alien invasion, should it happen, rather than pointlessly destroy ourselves in war against each other. Turns out, the idea of using Dr. Manhattan's energy bombs to attack the globe means that the world unites to save itself from further destruction by Dr. Manhattan, rather than pointlessly annihilate ourselves through nuclear war. The tragedy of millions of deaths causing a global peace is the heart of the issue--not the means by which the deaths occurred. The Comedian still uncovers the plan, Moloch is killed because he was going to spill the beans, Dr. Manhattan is publicly shunned to put the idea into the mind of all people that he was getting fed up with the petty squabbles of humanity, it all still works out. Nuclear war across the globe was a real threat, and could be taken seriously. Giant space squids invading the world at the drop of a hat would have destroyed the tone of the movie, as it's a less credible act. It's why the shift from 'we're making some freaky mutant animals to kill a portion of mankind' shifts to the particle research. It still works.

 

[Owen Robertson]

There is too much information involved with the alien plot to make it film-able. It'd be Return of the King long, if not longer. Cutting/altering for time is what made it good. If they'd just rushed through the alien plot without explaining it in-depth it'd seem out of place and disjointed. While we're on the subject of graphic novels and their movies, V for Vendetta is different but still good. Kick-Ass is different but still good. The Muppets Christmas Carol is different from Charles Dickens's novel but it's still good... Actually so is The Muppets Treasure Island (I know it's Robert Lewis Stevenson, not Dickens)...
I love The Muppets.

Edit - On another note, if the "Manhattan Generators" weren't weaponized, would they provide unlimited free energy?

 

[ChupathingyX]

To expand on what was told to you:

Spoiler: you probably should read the comic for yourself, or at least watch the Motion Comic

Instead of unlimited power reactors being researched like in the movie, they were researching extra-dimensional space and how to teleport things like how John could. However, without John's direct control over the process, the best anyone could do was make something explode and die more or less. So in the Comic, the research lab was ground zero for an "accident" that involved bringing an alien from an unknown dimension into the middle of New York. In reality, they just teleported the genetically created monster into New York, and had that explode. It wasn't even alive to begin with, so Ozymandias didn't need perfected teleportation technology. All he needed was for the survivors to see the alien from another dimension and decide that uniting was a better idea instead of constantly fighting in case more aliens come again later.

Also, the same tech that made the alien also made Bubastis, which they left in the movie. He actually was completely pointless because of the changes that was done to the plot.

Yeah I always wondered what that strange cat thing in the movie was.

However, one thing that bugs me is if the alien teleported into New York, couldn't the Americans maybe think the Soviets created it? I mean yeah it's a stretch but so is a giant alien squid monster.

 

[Signa]

To expand on what was told to you:

Spoiler: you probably should read the comic for yourself, or at least watch the Motion Comic

Instead of unlimited power reactors being researched like in the movie, they were researching extra-dimensional space and how to teleport things like how John could. However, without John's direct control over the process, the best anyone could do was make something explode and die more or less. So in the Comic, the research lab was ground zero for an "accident" that involved bringing an alien from an unknown dimension into the middle of New York. In reality, they just teleported the genetically created monster into New York, and had that explode. It wasn't even alive to begin with, so Ozymandias didn't need perfected teleportation technology. All he needed was for the survivors to see the alien from another dimension and decide that uniting was a better idea instead of constantly fighting in case more aliens come again later.

Also, the same tech that made the alien also made Bubastis, which they left in the movie. He actually was completely pointless because of the changes that was done to the plot.

Yeah I always wondered what that strange cat thing in the movie was.

However, one thing that bugs me is if the alien teleported into New York, couldn't the Americans maybe think the Soviets created it? I mean yeah it's a stretch but so is a giant alien squid monster.

I don't remember enough of the fine details to tell you why, but that suggestion sounds impossible. Like I said, ground zero was the extra dimensional research lab. The soviets couldn't have teleported it there without gaining the tech from Manhattan. I think the Soviets stopped invading Afghanistan and sent aid too. Stressed tensions, an attack and then good will all from the Soviets? Doesn't make much sense to the Americans.

 

[AbsoluteVirtue18]

I can't say anything, really, since I hate Alan Moore with a passion (Except for his run on Supreme and the Superman "For The Man Who Has Everything" story.)

That said, I honestly thought the movie was a decent adaption of the comic, and while there were some changes I didn't like, the Giant Squid Monster being left out isn't one of them.

 

[cdstephens]

I think overall the plot still works with or without the tentacle monster. Dr. Manhattan is more or less an alien really. The strange cat was probably there because certain fans (*cough cough*) would have cried foul if it was left out.

As for the tentacle monster being ridiculous, I think that's kinda the point; the comic was a deconstruction of the superhero genre and one of the themes was the negative consequences of having superheroes in a realistic world. As such, one could view the tentacle monster as a parody of the various deus ex machinas that appear in all superhero comics, especially considering that this was around the time of the Silver Age, so not quite yet when superheroes became more "realistic".

 

[ghostrider9876]

As an interesting aside, Alan Moore once said that he chose the giant Squid Monster specifically because "they'll never be able to make a movie out of WATCHMEN now."

Guess he was wrong...

But I disagree that Veidt's plan wouldn't work. Because the "attacks" by "Dr. Manhattan" affected major American cities as well, the rest of the world would no longer see Manhattan as on the side of the US. If somebody with godlike power decides he hates all of humanity, then all of humanity can unite against him. And it won't lose relevance, because Manhattan is in on the plan; if its success ever seems to be waning, he can make it "relevant" again.

 

[agentorange98]

Yeah I disagree, but then again i really don't like Watchmen for a lot of reasons, but the plot holes you mentioned aren't there in the movie the comedian discovered what Ozymandius was using the Generator for and everyone on earth thinks that Dr. Manhattan is still on Mars watching them and in about 6 years the cold war ends and everyone is happy, actually this makes more sense then the stupid squid monster thing

 

[Freaky Lou]

As for Dr. Manhattan being an American symbol, I'm sure that the Russians would INSTANTLY send their nukes out to America even after they see that America was half to hell, because obviously blowing up most American cities is just part of the capitalistic plot to destabilize the motherland! Yeah, they wouldn't shoot anything.

No need to be sarcastic. You can make a point without putting down someone else's.

They would launch the second they heard Dr. Manhattan attacked them, without waiting and realizing that the US was attacked too. In the primed-to-explode Cold War environment, I doubt they'd have stopped even if they did know that the US was also hit.

Also, to learn how to do a spoiler box, just click "quote" on any post that uses one.

 

[ChupathingyX]

I don't remember enough of the fine details to tell you why, but that suggestion sounds impossible. Like I said, ground zero was the extra dimensional research lab. The soviets couldn't have teleported it there without gaining the tech from Manhattan. I think the Soviets stopped invading Afghanistan and sent aid too. Stressed tensions, an attack and then good will all from the Soviets? Doesn't make much sense to the Americans.

Ahh well that makes more sense, thanks.

 

[akkronym]

OP: You missed the point of the book.

I'll try and avoid spoilers so if for some reason you haven't read Watchmen and you're reading this, you've been warned ahead of time that I might slip up.

A huge theme of the book was the fatalism of humanity and the fact that it literally takes the smartest person alive to realize that we will kill ourselves in retaliations in order to somehow protect ourselves and that the only way the band everyone together is to trick them into a larger threat. In the movie, there was no conceivable way to introduce the comic book's conclusion to mainstream audience without massively compromising the iconic scenes from the book. Snyder was told that the Mars scene (Chapter 4) and the Prison scene (Chapter 6) could be cut entirely to make the film shorter - he told those writers that it wasn't an option. Can you imagine is the big shocker that tied everything together with a nice little bow (that was hinted at the whole time) was suddenly dropped on the audience at the end of the movie? It wouldn't have made sense as a film adaptation at all.

Replacing the ending plot twist from the book with the plot twist in the movie wasn't perfect but it was the closest thing to a reasonable conclusion that didn't totally muff everything up. It still pointed out that humanity would have to be faced with an unstoppable, invisible enemy that couldn't be confront let alone over come in order to stop fighting amongst themselves. *spoiler for rest of paragraph* When Dr. Manhattan left, the world didn't know that he was gone; all they knew is that they had done something wrong, that Manhattan had the power to punish them, he could be back at any moment, and they had no defense against him. No it wasn't perfect but it was the theme of the movie that needed retaining; not the semantics.

Am I saying the movie is as good or better than the book? God no! It's mediocre at best comparatively but it's definitely not terrible. Especially when your arguments are that the ending didn't follow the books and the director of 300 (a brofest if there ever was one) was too excessive on the violence that for the most part, followed the comic book panel by panel.

Word of advice for you, when you read Alan Moore - read it twice. He's that kind of author.

 

[Naeras]

I saw the movie before I read the novel. I still think the ending of the movie made more sense, although the novel did everything else better.