Comments on: WB releases those Watchmen posters http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/ The Blog@ Team and prominent comics personalities share what’s on their minds. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:15:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Eduardo http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-541998 Eduardo Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:41:47 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-541998 I hae been looking for this informationthanks I hae been looking for this informationthanks

]]> By: mister pain http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448530 mister pain Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:06:37 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448530 The art or science of translating an existing property (whether it be a comic, novel, childrens book, whatever) into a movie, is known as adaptation. The graphic novel of Watchmen translated with 100% faithfulness into a motion picture would make... a bad movie. Too long, too wordy etc. Adaptation is a tricky thing. Retaining the essence and major points of a piece of work, keeping the fans happy, bringing the page-bound story to life. It requires a leap into time-based media and usually an attendant sacrifice of certain elements along the way. You can only cross your fingers whenever your favourite print media is crossing the line into mass-media movie land, and pray that the team of writers/directors/producers doing the work love the damn thing as much as you do... and hope the end result will be an adaptation whose inspiration remains faithful to it's source. Fans watching this production's progress through it's various web-prescence orgs will be feeling pretty good on all the above points. I saw the trailer at an Imax screening of The Dark Knight in New Zealand. Wasn't expecting it, was unprepared and totally surprised to be seeing so much of the movie so soon after principal photography wrapped. And I was blown away. In fact, during the slower bits of Dark Knight (of which there were a few too many) I found myself thinkin' 'Wow... Watchmen lookin' gooood!' The art or science of translating an existing property (whether it be a comic, novel, childrens book, whatever) into a movie, is known as adaptation.
The graphic novel of Watchmen translated with 100% faithfulness into a motion picture would make… a bad movie. Too long, too wordy etc.
Adaptation is a tricky thing. Retaining the essence and major points of a piece of work, keeping the fans happy, bringing the page-bound story to life. It requires a leap into time-based media and usually an attendant sacrifice of certain elements along the way.
You can only cross your fingers whenever your favourite print media is crossing the line into mass-media movie land, and pray that the team of writers/directors/producers doing the work love the damn thing as much as you do… and hope the end result will be an adaptation whose inspiration remains faithful to it’s source.
Fans watching this production’s progress through it’s various web-prescence orgs will be feeling pretty good on all the above points. I saw the trailer at an Imax screening of The Dark Knight in New Zealand. Wasn’t expecting it, was unprepared and totally surprised to be seeing so much of the movie so soon after principal photography wrapped. And I was blown away. In fact, during the slower bits of Dark Knight (of which there were a few too many) I found myself thinkin’ ‘Wow… Watchmen lookin’ gooood!’

]]> By: Pete http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448130 Pete Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:44:52 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448130 Re Dr. Manhattan's unit, I'm afraid there isn't an easy way around showing it. You know the audiences are going to blow a collective gasket if/when it show up, quite probably to the detriment of anything else going on in that scene (people talking over dialogue and whatnot). Plus religious groups are bound to protest it. Long story short, I don't see this ending well unless they slap a pair of boxers on him (which would be pretty hysterical). Re Dr. Manhattan’s unit, I’m afraid there isn’t an easy way around showing it. You know the audiences are going to blow a collective gasket if/when it show up, quite probably to the detriment of anything else going on in that scene (people talking over dialogue and whatnot). Plus religious groups are bound to protest it. Long story short, I don’t see this ending well unless they slap a pair of boxers on him (which would be pretty hysterical).

]]> By: jeff http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448123 jeff Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:31:36 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448123 george, he may not have written the story or made most of the camera angles and all that in 300, but he did make it look gorgeous. the special effects, and the use of cgi in that way was most defintely visionary in the sense that no one else had made a movie that looked quite like that yet. and lets not forget, directors are not writers. so any director making a movie isn't being "original" as far as the story, it's the delivery that counts. george, he may not have written the story or made most of the camera angles and all that in 300, but he did make it look gorgeous. the special effects, and the use of cgi in that way was most defintely visionary in the sense that no one else had made a movie that looked quite like that yet. and lets not forget, directors are not writers. so any director making a movie isn’t being “original” as far as the story, it’s the delivery that counts.

]]> By: Steve http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448119 Steve Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:40:13 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448119 Comparison of original and new poster images: http://www.plasmicstudio.com/watchmen/poster_comparisons Comparison of original and new poster images:

http://www.plasmicstudio.com/watchmen/poster_comparisons

]]> By: George http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448112 George Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:15:40 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448112 Is no one else bothered by their constant reference to Snyder as "The VISIONARY Director of 300"? I mean, how visionary can one be for xeroxing a comic book onto film? Obviously it still requires a lot of adaptation and creative license, and was of course 30 was pretty to look at, but...visionary? Why? He didn't visually design it from scratch. Is no one else bothered by their constant reference to Snyder as “The VISIONARY Director of 300″? I mean, how visionary can one be for xeroxing a comic book onto film? Obviously it still requires a lot of adaptation and creative license, and was of course 30 was pretty to look at, but…visionary? Why? He didn’t visually design it from scratch.

]]> By: Matt http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448108 Matt Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:52:31 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448108 Oh man Im saving ALL my money to go out and get the novel. Iv been meaning to read it and now reading all these comments and with the movie coming out Im not making the same mistake like I did with other movies and not reading the novel frist. Seeing these posters are awsome. Oh man Im saving ALL my money to go out and get the novel. Iv been meaning to read it and now reading all these comments and with the movie coming out Im not making the same mistake like I did with other movies and not reading the novel frist. Seeing these posters are awsome.

]]> By: Rob Webb http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448107 Rob Webb Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:44:00 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448107 Sweeny I think it does seeing as in an interview the actor who plays Night Owl said he put on weight for the role and mentioned how easy it was with junk food. Sweeny I think it does seeing as in an interview the actor who plays Night Owl said he put on weight for the role and mentioned how easy it was with junk food.

]]> By: pat http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448101 pat Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:42:25 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448101 Gregg, I found that pretty funny too. Hell, I'd be offended if Doc's package doesn't make into the movie Gregg, I found that pretty funny too.

Hell, I’d be offended if Doc’s package doesn’t make into the movie

]]> By: Gregg http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448096 Gregg Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:29:33 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448096 Wow the first guy to post on here is weirdly afraid of seeing another dudes package. Wow the first guy to post on here is weirdly afraid of seeing another dudes package.

]]> By: Sweeny http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448087 Sweeny Sun, 03 Aug 2008 06:13:36 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448087 Night Owl looks cooler, but I really hope that armor has a gurdle... and that when he's out of the suit he has a beer belly hanging. Night Owl looks cooler, but I really hope that armor has a gurdle… and that when he’s out of the suit he has a beer belly hanging.

]]> By: Tenzel Kim http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448083 Tenzel Kim Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:26:34 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448083 I find it quite fun how a lot of posters are complaining about how ytou can read the entire "Who Watches the Watchmen?" line on the posters and how wrong that is, when the main article points to a look at all the original house ads which look almost exactly like the movie posters including the full line. http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/03/13/fearful-scenery-vintage-watchmen-ads/ I find it quite fun how a lot of posters are complaining about how ytou can read the entire “Who Watches the Watchmen?” line on the posters and how wrong that is, when the main article points to a look at all the original house ads which look almost exactly like the movie posters including the full line.

http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/03/13/fearful-scenery-vintage-watchmen-ads/

]]> By: crackwalker http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448078 crackwalker Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:39:42 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448078 Steve: I think you will be very surprised. I think Zack might have unlocked the magic formula here and actually made a good watchmen movie. I have a feeling that this is going to be a huge success. Steve: I think you will be very surprised. I think Zack might have unlocked the magic formula here and actually made a good watchmen movie. I have a feeling that this is going to be a huge success.

]]> By: crackwalker http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448077 crackwalker Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:36:34 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448077 Don't get me wrong - I was skeptical when this film was in development at Paramount - I've grown more hopeful with every new piece of news I've seen, and now that I've seen the trailer, I'm totally on board. I'm officially drinking Zack's Kool-aid - I am a believer. If I point out tiny details that are different or whatever, I'm just enjoying myself in the same way I've enjoyed the GN for years. Endless minute details that all connect into a huge pattern is another on the the themes that's woven into the story. So don't think that I'm picking the movie apart, quite to contrary; I'm digging in and enjoying myself. Don’t get me wrong – I was skeptical when this film was in development at Paramount – I’ve grown more hopeful with every new piece of news I’ve seen, and now that I’ve seen the trailer, I’m totally on board. I’m officially drinking Zack’s Kool-aid – I am a believer.

If I point out tiny details that are different or whatever, I’m just enjoying myself in the same way I’ve enjoyed the GN for years. Endless minute details that all connect into a huge pattern is another on the the themes that’s woven into the story. So don’t think that I’m picking the movie apart, quite to contrary; I’m digging in and enjoying myself.

]]> By: steve http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448074 steve Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:47:30 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448074 i think the 'who watches the watchmen?' question is going to be the new 'missed it by that much' catchphrase used to review this movie -- who's going to watch a brilliant graphic novel that has famously failed to be adapted into a movie about half a dozen times, now at the hands of a 'visionary' director who brought us 300? Who's going to bother watching Zack Snyder's Watchmen indeed.. i think the ‘who watches the watchmen?’ question is going to be the new ‘missed it by that much’ catchphrase used to review this movie — who’s going to watch a brilliant graphic novel that has famously failed to be adapted into a movie about half a dozen times, now at the hands of a ‘visionary’ director who brought us 300? Who’s going to bother watching Zack Snyder’s Watchmen indeed..

]]> By: W. Thornhill http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448073 W. Thornhill Sat, 02 Aug 2008 10:19:05 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448073 I can't believe some of the criticism about these posters. Something as simple as whether the popular phrase "who watches the watchmen?" is partially obsured or not. Seriously? I could understand pointing it out if it stated "who watches the watchMAN, but to complain about it being partially hidden...come on, please. At THIS point in the release, let's just be happy that the story is even coming to the big screen. All this nit-picking...so critical, so anal, so unappreciative. Heaven forbid that Dr. Manhattan isn't the exact hue of blue as he was colored in the novel itself. I tell you...you just can't please some people. Such small minds. Yeah...I'm Whining about the Whiners. I can’t believe some of the criticism about these posters. Something as simple as whether the popular phrase “who watches the watchmen?” is partially obsured or not. Seriously? I could understand pointing it out if it stated “who watches the watchMAN, but to complain about it being partially hidden…come on, please. At THIS point in the release, let’s just be happy that the story is even coming to the big screen. All this nit-picking…so critical, so anal, so unappreciative. Heaven forbid that Dr. Manhattan isn’t the exact hue of blue as he was colored in the novel itself. I tell you…you just can’t please some people. Such small minds.

Yeah…I’m Whining about the Whiners.

]]> By: NeoSamurai http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448072 NeoSamurai Sat, 02 Aug 2008 06:08:11 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448072 crackwalker Says: August 1st, 2008 at 7:06 pm Roy - NeoSamurai: That’s for pointing it out - I went and looked through video blog #2 and found the costume design image with the masks - the gimp mask is there. woot ****** I guess I just conflated something they said about the riot control scene where he's supposed to have the gimp mask or something. Glad we know the truth. crackwalker Says:

August 1st, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Roy – NeoSamurai: That’s for pointing it out – I went and looked through video blog #2 and found the costume design image with the masks – the gimp mask is there.

woot
******

I guess I just conflated something they said about the riot control scene where he’s supposed to have the gimp mask or something. Glad we know the truth.

]]> By: crackwalker http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448067 crackwalker Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:08:07 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448067 http://www.geocities.com/rootwood/comedian_masks.jpg http://www.geocities.com/rootwood/comedian_masks.jpg

]]> By: crackwalker http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448066 crackwalker Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:06:49 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448066 Roy - NeoSamurai: That's for pointing it out - I went and looked through video blog #2 and found the costume design image with the masks - the gimp mask is there. woot Roy – NeoSamurai: That’s for pointing it out – I went and looked through video blog #2 and found the costume design image with the masks – the gimp mask is there.

woot

]]> By: crackwalker http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448065 crackwalker Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:55:12 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448065 Bubastis looks great - I was worried she wouldn't make it into the movie Bubastis looks great – I was worried she wouldn’t make it into the movie

]]> By: crackwalker http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448064 crackwalker Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:53:45 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448064 Scavenger: In a movie poster it _is_ a still image, and you totally _can_ study it for hours. (Who whines about the whiners?) Scavenger: In a movie poster it _is_ a still image, and you totally _can_ study it for hours.

(Who whines about the whiners?)

]]> By: crackwalker http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448063 crackwalker Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:51:36 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448063 ooohhhh - THAT's what that link is :-D ooohhhh – THAT’s what that link is

:-D

]]> By: crackwalker http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448062 crackwalker Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:49:26 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448062 KwesiK: Oh I am so owned!!! - I had never seen these images before. They're not in my trade paperback or the Absolute edition... KwesiK: Oh I am so owned!!! – I had never seen these images before. They’re not in my trade paperback or the Absolute edition…

]]> By: ro' http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448058 ro' Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:49:32 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448058 mike and kwesik just schooled everybody! the posters look real nice, trailer was awesome, but i have my doubts on the transition to film as a whole. i expect a lot of eye candy tho! 300 sure was pretty, especially the fight screens. mike and kwesik just schooled everybody! the posters look real nice, trailer was awesome, but i have my doubts on the transition to film as a whole. i expect a lot of eye candy tho! 300 sure was pretty, especially the fight screens.

]]> By: Dean Trippe http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448057 Dean Trippe Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:33:13 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448057 well these are gorgeous. well these are gorgeous.

]]> By: KwesiK http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448051 KwesiK Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:04:42 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448051 @crackwalker... http://blog.newsarama.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10007/normal_watchmen_poster_ozy_sm2.JPG @crackwalker…

http://blog.newsarama.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10007/normal_watchmen_poster_ozy_sm2.JPG

]]> By: Scavenger http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448049 Scavenger Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:01:14 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448049 Re: Whining about "Who Watches The Watchmen" not being obscured. Movies are a different medium than comics. In comics you can have an obscured phrase written on a wall in a panel. That panel can be studied for hours by the reader. In a movie, same "panel" lasts a fraction of a second on the screen. It can't be studied. Re: Whining about “Who Watches The Watchmen” not being obscured.
Movies are a different medium than comics.
In comics you can have an obscured phrase written on a wall in a panel. That panel can be studied for hours by the reader.

In a movie, same “panel” lasts a fraction of a second on the screen. It can’t be studied.

]]> By: Mike http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448040 Mike Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:32:36 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448040 As Kevin Melrose pointed out, these posters are based on the original 1986 promotional posters distributed to comics shops for the comics series. They are *almost* exact recreations (main exceptions being costumes). Google "original watchmen comic promotional poster 1986" and hit the eBay listings for the black-and-whites of Rorschach and Comedian. As Kevin Melrose pointed out, these posters are based on the original 1986 promotional posters distributed to comics shops for the comics series. They are *almost* exact recreations (main exceptions being costumes). Google “original watchmen comic promotional poster 1986″ and hit the eBay listings for the black-and-whites of Rorschach and Comedian.

]]> By: There's No Nerd Like Coyle, Part 2 http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448039 There's No Nerd Like Coyle, Part 2 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:28:48 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448039 Billy Crudup's schlong- priceless? Billy Crudup’s schlong- priceless?

]]> By: Andrew S http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/01/wb-releases-those-watchmen-posters/comment-page-1/#comment-448038 Andrew S Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:25:18 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=9034#comment-448038 Carla Gulgino thats all I want to see. Carla Gulgino thats all I want to see.

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