10 replies to this topic

[Curiosity Inc.]

A while back, there was a viral marketing campaign that appeared to tie into the upcoming Watchmen movie. It turns out that this campaign wasn't remotely official; it culminated in the launch of Rorschach'sJournal.com, a Watchmen fansite created by the minds behind TheOneRing.Net.

RorschachsJournal was meant to be Watchmen Fanboy Central. A place where news on the movie could be gathered and fanboys could discuss the movie and the graphic novel. You know, kinda like what this site does for NiGHTS.

Unfortunately, RJ has failed in its mission. The news posts are few and far between. The forum has no moderators, save for one administrator posing as Rorschach himself, and discussion there has ground to a halt. What's more, there is evidence that the E-mail addresses of all the forum's registered users (including yours truly) were sold out to a spamming company.

And then another site launched: WatchmenComicMovie.Com. The layout is superb, the cast bios are very well-written and the movie news coverage is second-to-none. I'm trying to get the webmaster (his handle is "doomsdayclock") to include a web forum. E-mail him with the link at the bottom of the site and help me out with that.

Anyway, I apologize if this is violating some board rule, but the site is just starting out and I'd like to see it continue. A little word-of-mouth never hurt anyone, right?

So, if you're looking forward to the Watchmen movie, give the site a try. And if you haven't read Watchmen yet, pick up the book. You won't regret it.

[/shameless plug]

[TRiPPY]

I should really read up on this Watchmen stuff, it's been reccomended to me before.

[KiloTango]

Well, seeing as there's this thread, I should post this

WB Watchmen Site

Okay, so there's not much there, BUT STILL.

Oh, and yeah, if for some reason you've NOT read Watchmen, go do that. Because it is brilliant. I hope they manage to get the film at least vaguely right.

[Moriarty]

TRiPPY: If you want to be inspired, Watchmen is the graphic novel for you. It should be required reading for any aspiring comic writer. (It's a rather hard to find comic nowadays, I can provide .cbrs if you like. Not trying to facilitate illegal downloading or anything, but it's not exactly something you'll come across without a fair amount of looking, or getting it from ebay)

As for the movie, I'm extremely skeptical. I can't imagine cramming a story like Watchmen into a single motion picture without it being a trainwreck. The fact that Alan Moore doesn't want his name anywhere near the thing makes me even more wary.

[Curiosity Inc.]

I'm familiar with the official movie site. Word from Snyder is that he wants to pace himself with website updates. A board will be up there in due course.

As for Alan Moore, his mind was made up long ago. He's extremely prejudiced against Hollywood and especially against Hollywood adaptations of his work. Meanwhile, Dave Gibbons is collaborating with the production, drawing new artwork, writing notes for the screenplay... he made the teaser poster, for frak's sake!

Watchmen has two creators and one of them is a nutjob. A genius, but a nutjob. If the sane one is throwing his whole weight behind the movie, that's good enough for me.

Also, for those of you who don't know, it's common knowledge that Snyder carries his own personal copy of Watchmen: Absolute Edition with him at all times. Over the past several months, he's drawn on the book, making notes about the dialogue and how the various shots should be framed. This book will be used as the storyboard for the movie. Snyder has said in no uncertain terms that he is adapting the book as if it were written 2,000 years ago. He's treating the graphic novel as if it were a holy text. And everyone involved in the production is working as if the lot of them will be tried for heresy and burned at the stake if they screw it up.

Those of you who are worrying about the adaptation can quit now. We'll be in for a wild ride come March 6, 2009.

Oh, and to repeat: If you haven't already read the book, get to Amazon, eBay or Barnes & Noble immediately.

Seriously, go.

Quit reading this and get the damn book already!

[KiloTango]

It's a rather hard to find comic nowadays,

It is? I was pretty sure you could get it in almost any comic store, and most large book stores here...

Back to the film, I'm a little concerned because while Snyder kept to the shots and compositions of a lot of 300, and it looking painting pretty... I found that one a bit lacking.

On Alan Moore, yeah, good luck ever getting him to endorse a film of his stuff, Hollywood have messed things up too many times to him so he keeps away from all his films. I can understand where he's coming from, but it's really nice to see Gibbons getting involved.

That said, as much as I like accuracy in adaptions, I would worry if it's shot for shot like the comic, because... well, what works in one medium doesn't always work in another.

My main worry is them glamourising everyone up too much. I'm really looking forward to seeing some in costume shots of the cast, I'd like to see what they look like.

And maybe this version will actually get MADE instead of being canceled like every other attempt.

[Moriarty]

It is? I was pretty sure you could get it in almost any comic store, and most large book stores here...

Really? Haven't seen it in months, though it's entirely possible I'm just not looking hard enough. I wonder what the availability is like in the UK compared to here...

Anyway, Kilo makes a good point. I'm glad Snyder is so dedicated to the original book, but just because something works well in one medium, doesn't mean it's going to go over well in another; and frankly, I can't really see Watchmen working in any other format. I hope I'm wrong. Guess we'll see in 2009.

[Curiosity Inc.]

It is? I was pretty sure you could get it in almost any comic store, and most large book stores here...

Back to the film, I'm a little concerned because while Snyder kept to the shots and compositions of a lot of 300, and it looking painting pretty... I found that one a bit lacking.

On Alan Moore, yeah, good luck ever getting him to endorse a film of his stuff, Hollywood have messed things up too many times to him so he keeps away from all his films. I can understand where he's coming from, but it's really nice to see Gibbons getting involved.

That said, as much as I like accuracy in adaptions, I would worry if it's shot for shot like the comic, because... well, what works in one medium doesn't always work in another.

My main worry is them glamourising everyone up too much. I'm really looking forward to seeing some in costume shots of the cast, I'd like to see what they look like.

And maybe this version will actually get MADE instead of being canceled like every other attempt.

Watchmen's rarity is news to me as well. All I had to do to get mine was walk into my local Barnes and Noble, find the graphic novels section and get my $20 ready.

I should also add that while Snyder has admitted to using his copy of the book as a storyboard, that's no guarantee for accuracy. Remember, he's marked up his book plenty and there's no telling what he changed or omitted between those covers.

However, I can tell you that there are two versions of the script: One with Black Freighter and one without Black Freighter. Right now, it looks like the Black Freighter storyline may be filmed separately for the DVD; entirely on greenscreen and possibly with Gerard Butler in the main role. The only holdup so far is securing the budget.

I should also add that the costumes for Nite Owl II and Silk Spectre II will be modified. There may be other modifications as well. Fortunately, Snyder has stated point blank that Rorschach and Ozymandias will probably stay as they are. As for Dr. Manhattan, Snyder eloquently sidestepped a question regarding the big blue genitals, so I don't know what they're going to do with that.

Casting is also in place for real-life characters who never appeared in the graphic novel. Sure, Nixon is being cast, but lookalikes for Pat Buchanan and Dick Cavett are also being auditioned as we speak, and the non-speaking roles of John Lennon and Yoko Ono will be cast for a "key sequence."

Finally, if you look carefully at the teaser trailer, you'll notice that there's a picture of the Comedian shaking hands with Nixon -- but in the graphic novel, the picture is of him shaking hands with VP Ford. Word is that this was done to give a better idea of the movie's time frame. Gibbons drew the end result, so he obviously approved.

So far, it looks like Snyder is making changes in all the right places.

[KiloTango]

Wait, TEASER TRAILER?!-- Oh wait, you meant the poster. Damn, I was all excited there for a moment.

(The poster is awesome though.)

[Curiosity Inc.]

The message board at WatchmenComicMovie.Com is up, my friends! Get to the board, register and get things moving!

[NeoKairi]

I've been wanting to read the comics for some time now. Maybe this is one reason to go pick up a copy of it, ey?