Merchandise, toys, bobbleheads, movies, games…does anyone read the actual comics?

I think they should just start making all the crossover projects and merchandise first and then put out the comics later. Given some erratic publishing schedules, that’s not much of stretch.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Oh God that’s funny

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I think I remember reading about that in an article about Len Wein, the editor on the first 7 (?) issues of Watchmen. I can’t remember exactly how many issues it was before Wein bowed out.

Anyway, according to Wein, he called Moore out on the ending ripoff from Outer Limits, and according to the article and Wein’s recollection, Moore basically admitted that the ending was a ripoff but didn’t want to change it, hence Wein leaving the series as editor. I think Alan Moore is a great writer, mind you, but I tend to agree that he’s vastly overrated and just because he’s messed around with open domain characters doesn’t change the fact that they were characters created by others so it does make him look like a rather hypocritical ass when he throws a tantrum at the idea of other people taking the reigns on his stuff.

Speaking of getting screwed out of credit and money, Len Wein also created a little character known as Wolverine. It’s hard to believe that he hasn’t sued yet, especially after the recent Siegel decision.

ahahaHAHAHAHAHA. Jesus Christ, have you even read V for Vendetta?

“anyone on this board could take six of their favorite literary characters and tell a kick-ass LOEG type sotry also.”

Yes, and I’m sure everyone on this board could do note-perfect imitations of the writing styles of Shakespeare, Wodehouse, Kerouac and others as well while they write their masterpiece “Harry Potter, Deadpool and Anita Blake fight Doctor Doom and Sinestro.” Let’s see your literary masterpiece, AnimalMother.

I’m not sure how many merchandise opportunities were actually turned down between the run of early merch (buttons, watch, role playing game module) and the 15th anniversary kerfuffle… but it should be noted that years ago, Alan ceded financial interest in the films to his artistic collaborators. Dave’s share of that likely, shall we says, mutes the financial blow of there not having been Watchmen pogs.

And even if Alan took his inspiration from elsewhere, that does not mean there was not considerable effort in crafting the details of his stories and building the richness of his scripts. His work may not be to everyone’s taste, but it is well-regarded by many who are not ignorant of his influences.

I can’t recall seeing any effort by Moore to deny the value of his collaborators (and have seen cases of exactly the opposite.) It seems to me that it is others who tend to overlook the value of the contributions of Gibbons, Lloyd, and his other fine collaborators.

Yes, but that’s hardly when the film was “done”. A film like this has a heckuva lot of the effort in post production.

“#

By their own words, they don’t appear to have ownership of story, creation rights, or anything that gives them a right to “squash the film”. Wouldn’t distribution rights be a pretty limited thing?

No… because a film that cannot be distributed cannot make money. Distribution is where the money comes in, so if you want to show financial damages, that seems like the logical point to focus on. However, that’s not their only claim. In the complaint, they speak of “Fox’s exclusive rights to produce and develop the picture and to distribute the work throughout the world.”

However, their claims appear more vigorous with regard to distribution over production. They state that they entered into a 1991 Quitclaim, which would remove their right to make the film but leave them with the right to distribute the first film that was made. That Quitclaim and other relevant documents can be found linked to at http://uncivilsociety.org/2008/08/watchmen-lawsuit-original-docu.html

We only notice the length of a movie when it isn’t very good…like Wall*E. Had it gone on for 2 hours, I’d have killed someone. The short cartoon before the movie was far better.

The fact that this is going forward as a case basically illustrates that the judge isn’t sure. A Distribution rights deal could have any number of requirements and riders attached to it and obviously we don’t have access to those contracts to give our qualified INTERNETS LAWYER opinions.

Also I’m seconding Fahad’s comment. FOX and Newscorp has been doing worse than this for decades, and _now_ it’s important to you guys? Because funnybooks are involved?

“Why not a 3 hour long Watchmen with an intermission?”

The Lord of the Rings theatrical cuts were 3 hours and did fine without intermissions.

Most theaters don’t have the staff to police all the people who would probably try to sneak in or break up fights and ensuing riots between people stealing other people’s seats with general admission. I’ve never had an intermission at a movie and I don’t see them making a comeback.

You know, a long time ago, studios would occasionally make 2 1/2-3 hour long films and place an intermission in between. Gone With The Wind (A movie based on a popular book with a very dedicated fan base) was one such film, and if I’m not mistaken that made quite a bit of cash. So why not a 3 hour long Watchmen with an intermission?

Yes, I know that cineplexes don’t like long films, because it lessens the amount of shows they can play in one day, but with an intermission they could make up for the lack of show times with selling more crap at the concession stand (where the theaters make all of their money anyway).

This would give the film makers to make the correct length of time to tell the story and give all the restless audience members a chance to stretch their legs and gab on their cell phones.

And he was right. It was actually better than the graphic novel, and that’s coming from someone who read the graphic novel long before seeing the film.

Nat Gertler Said (August 22nd, 2008 at 12:37 pm):
“Hoping that eventually this sinks in on the ‘blame Fox for suing yesterday’ crowd:

Fox did not just file suit. They didn’t wait until everything was done.”

In truth, that’s pretty much what they did. Filming wrapped in February. Fox sued in February, 8 days before filming ended. Granted, they reputedly had tried contacting Warner before production ever began and were ignored, but that’s irrelevant in the matter of when the suit occurred.

If Christopher Nolan and crew just made Year One and Killing Joke shot-for-shot, it’d get kind of boring for those who have read those stories.

Instead, their Batman films stand on their own alongside the comics. They’re certainly faithful to the spirit of various classic stories and the mythos but they’re also not slaves to them which is why I think they’ve appealed to such a broad audience.

Still, it’d be nice if they would show some restraint. Personally, I’m sick of movies that reach up to 2 1/2 – 3 hours – especially comic book movies. It worked for the Dark Knight, maybe, but Batman Begins, Superman Returns, Spider-man 3, Sin City – all way too overlong and bloated.

Or here’s a solution. Let Snyder have his 3-hour long cut, but THEN turn all the slow-motion bits into normal-motion, and you’d have a 2 hour movie! Problem solved.

And besides, that’s what special edition DVDs are for. No one wants to sit in a theatre for more than 2 hours and 20 minutes or so.

Usually it’s around 5 years. What was the deal between Warners and Fox?

Fox is without a doubt the king of all douches. They do this crap all the time, like when they told Hugh Jackman and the cast of X3 if they were going to be in Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns they would not be in X3.

When James Mardsen took a bit part he was killed off in the first 10 minutes. They threatened to take the Wolverine project from Jackman if he went over to Superman…

They KILL great things like Firefly, while giving us “who wants to marry a guy pretending to be a millionaire”

Also, Warners would be INSANE not to make this the full three hours. Dark Knight was 2 and a half hours, and it is almost rivaling Titanic in non-adjusted ticket sales.

IF YOU DO A GOOD MOVIE, PEOPLE WILL GO EVEN IF ITS LONG!

I want to see Snyder’s full version of this.

I can’t help but notice Fox’s statement

“What we are doing is seeking to enforce our ***distribution rights *** to Watchmen. Legal copyright ownership should not just be swept under the rug and ignored.”

By their own words, they don’t appear to have ownership of story, creation rights, or anything that gives them a right to “squash the film”. Wouldn’t distribution rights be a pretty limited thing?