It appears that this movie is indeed going forward. I have no doubt that this Zach Snyder guy has the best of intentions, but I just can’t lose my skepticism. He’s absolutely saying all the right things, I must admit. I think that in my heart of hearts, it just can’t be done right.
Here he is talking about his plans for the Watchmen movie.
Thanks to our favorite intern, Gordon for the pointer.
I have several thoughts about this:
1) I just can’t help it, but for some reason, this guy comes off as a bit of a douche. But that might be because I think he’s a huge nerd dressed up in cool people clothing. That might just be my thing.
2) Could the interviewer be any less interested?
3) If they’d like to hire us to help them with their motion control graphics, we’re available for reasonable rates. (That was just snarky.)
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Yeah, I’d have to agree on all points. Some things just can’t be transferred to film. Watchmen of all things…eeesh, it’ll just be so easy for it to go so wrong. There just won’t be enough time to develop the characters and background. Oh well. Another “Alan Smithee” for Moore.
btw–only the lower portion of Zach Snyder’s biceps were actually signed to direct…
Oh well. Another “Alan Smithee” for Moore.
Oh, c’mon – let’s wait until some footage is shot at least before we declare this a disaster.
Snyder has racked up a lot of credit with me for 300.
Moore’s work has to date not been sucessfully been translated to film. (not even V) I’m basing my opinion on that and not Snyder’s Green Screening success.
Is it just me or does the interviewer look a bit like a younger, hipster version of Paul Dini?
“Is it just me or does the interviewer look a bit like a younger, hipster version of Paul Dini?”
He is so
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I think this interview is indeed him saying all the right things, and if Watchmen fans are not careful, they might start sounding like the crankiest of Gaiman-ite Sandman readers–why try and please people who are determined not to be pleased? That’s like giving Hollywood execs total license to say “no” to this guy and:
1) Force Watchman to be PG-13
2) Be set in 2007, lots about “War on Terror” that was never in the original book
3) Be only 1 hour and 30 minutes long
4) Fire the director that did 300 and get Brett Rattner to do it.
4) Make Night Owl a “sexy 20 something”
OK, that last two were not said, but he did say “NO, DEFINITELY NO” to the first three, and is already vocally saying he is pushing for maximum autonomy and telling the studio it has to be a certain way, a bold move. But if Watchman Worshippers are going to be so hard to please, why bother listening to them at all? If you don’t got this guy’s back, why should he try so hard?
Why not just make that Night Owl a sexy 20 something? If Watchmen fans won’t ever by pleased, why not rip off the good stuff, dump the depth, and sell popcorn? Is that what you want?
Just putting it out there. I can smell the fires being lit to burn the heretics already….
I can see this becoming the iFanboy Civil War, with Conor on one side and Josh on the other (who’s Iron Man and whos Cap?), and Ron, Ron’s Ben Urich (Frontline veresion)
:=)
Moore’s work has to date not been sucessfully been translated to film. (not even V) I’m basing my opinion on that and not Snyder’s Green Screening success.
“I’m not going to like this movie (that hasn’t even been shot yet) because once I saw some other movies (by comletely different directors) and those movies were bad.”
That doesn’t make any sense.
As much I loved V for Vendetta the comic, I disliked the movie to the same degree. It’s not that it was horrible, but I felt this sense of embarassment as I watched it. Everytime V opened his mouth, especially upon initally meeting Evey, it was corny, and the scene where Evey reads the story on the toilet paper was overwrought with melodrama. It wasn’t even a bad translation; it just DID NOT work for me.
Allow me to explain my position. And lest it be thought this is unusual, Conor and I agree on so little that it’s a wonder we even speak with each other.
I’m not basing my skepticism on other Alan Moore movies. Rather, I don’t think that Snyder has shown me that he has the chops to get this movie done well. He’s done a couple of action movies that were a lot of fun, but rather surface-y. Not bad.
As you know, I don’t think it should be made into a movie. It was made as a 12 part novel. So I don’t see it fitting into that box.
I just see a B grade movie as tarnishing the reputation of a A+ book. When I think of all the people who won’t read League of Extraordinary Gentlemen because of the sucktitude of the movie, it makes me unhappy.
But then, that’s what happens with all book properties that get turned into movies.
It’s pure selfishness. I hear a Rorshach voice in my head when I read the book. I hear a certain Dr. Manhattan. Once there’s a movie, those will be defined for the reader. But it’s happened before, and this will be no different.
“I’m not going to like this movie (that hasn’t even been shot yet) because once I saw some other movies (by comletely different directors) and those movies were bad.”
That doesn’t make any sense.
Please show me where I said I wouldn’t like this movie. I merely stated that I had my doubts about it, which I did state as my opinion, which is based on previous attempts to translate Moore’s work into film. I then made a snide comment about Moore wanting an “alan smithee” credit which is based of hearing interviews from him in which he said he was (I’m paraphrasing) “done with hollywood.” Will I go see this film if it is made? Probably, will I like it? I won’t know until I see it. But no amount of ‘open mindedness’ changes the fact that translating Watchmen to film is a huge challenge-NOT because comic fans are insane purists, but because the two media are actually a lot different than people tend to think.
As much I loved V for Vendetta the comic, I disliked the movie to the same degree. It’s not that it was horrible, but I felt this sense of embarassment as I watched it. Everytime V opened his mouth, especially upon initally meeting Evey, it was corny, and the scene where Evey reads the story on the toilet paper was overwrought with melodrama. It wasn’t even a bad translation; it just DID NOT work for me.
Be careful–by not liking something you might be labeled a “Sandman”esque fan of Moore’s work now.
I need to see final casting, and at least a trailer to decide whether I’m completely for it or against it.
Who would Butler play?
I see him as the Comedian. But I don’t think his American accent is all that great.
Please show me where I said I wouldn’t like this movie.
“Some things just can’t be transferred to film. Watchmen of all things…eeesh, it’ll just be so easy for it to go so wrong. There just won’t be enough time to develop the characters and background. Oh well. Another “Alan Smithee” for Moore.”
I’m not saying this is going to be a masterpiece or even a good movie. My point is I’m not going to bring the hammer of judgement down on it because THE MOVIE HASN’T EVEN BEEN SHOT YET*. I have to have enough respect for the filmmakers to at least wait until they do the work before I decide its level of quality or lack thereof.
Does this movie make me uneasy? Of course it does! Would I direct this movie if they offered me ten million dollars? Now way! (That’s not true, I would, but I would make it six hours long and get fired.)
I think it is absolutely possible to make a good, entertaining movie out of Watchmen. It will not be the dense, lyrical masterpiece that the book is – it is impossible with the time constraints (unless they did a Lord of the Rings style trilogy, which they should do) – but it can still be a good movie that does not “harm” the book. It is possible.
*Capitalized for emphasis, not yelling.
I just can’t help it, but for some reason, this guy comes off as a bit of a douche. But that might be because I think he’s a huge nerd dressed up in cool people clothing. That might just be my thing.
It’s just you. The haterade is not necessary!
It’s just you. The haterade is not necessary!
I agree. He seemed nice enough to me.
Actually, I’m looking forward to it. Great chance it will suck, also great chance that it will be good. Isn’t a good Watchmen movie worth the risk?
This was an awkward interview, though. The interviewer’s weird aloofness seemed to really make Zach Snyder uncomfortable. That’s the way it looked to me, anway.
I think Josh’s argument that a 12 part series can not be made into a single movie, even at 2 + hours, is valid. Add in:
1) flash backs are key to the story,
2) a large ensemble cast with stories that don’t always flow seamlessly into one story all the time (lots of side trips)
3) the story relies on a rather slow atmospheric tone rather than a running, action packed one,
and yes, making the movie is pretty difficult considering those things. This is reasonable when considering an adaption. But “DON’T TOUCH WATCHMEN! IT IS THE BIBLE!” That’s not productive. Face it — the book is well known, it sells well even today, with all the comic book movies this is the book that speaks to the sceptic of costumed heros (really!), Hollywood is going to make this movie BECAUSE it has so many fans, so,
Who do you want to direct it? The guy who recognizes all these difficulties, respected Miller’s vision and WoWed people with 300, knows he is NOT Alan Moore, or some person who thinks, “Well, that Alan Moore appeals to all those geeks, but THIS will sell!” and turns out rubbish.
Personally, I think we are FULLY ready for a movie that pokes a hole in the current popular idea that the 80s were some kind of wonderful time, “It’s morning in America,” and all that. He wants to set it in the 80s, a controversial move for Hollywood — that tells me he knows what’s up. Or am I wrong on that? Was Watchmen just about some costumed heroes and a blue guy?
I did not read “V for Vendetta,” I liked the movie, when I get around to either that or “League of Extrodinary Gentleman” I will fully expect something more and better than both movies in the comics. “The book was better” was not an expression invented by fanboys.
The ONLY thing that turns me away from those books are snarky, cultish fans, and a lack of free time, not the movies. AND, maybe I’m wrong, but Alan Moore probably wants you to think, not be slavish fans, but maybe I’m wrong on that, so if I am, burn me as a heretic.
Ok, I’m going back up on my cross now, feel free to ignore me…
As much as usually agree with Josh on almost everything, I’m on Conor’s side with this (pardon the instigation, or maybe I just want Josh and Conor to duke it out).
We can’t base any assumption for Snyder’s credibility on making this film on how WE think. Especially on terms of other Alan Moore adapted movies. Have any of you guys created any blockbuster movies ever in your lives?
Yeah, its going to be impossible to include every single element used in the book, but honestly, as significant as everything was, some things were not 100% necessary. So I say we let this guy do his thing, and if its good, its good. If its bad, well its bad.
No matter how good or bad the movie is, it will never replace the book. We’ve suffered through how many ridiculously terrible superhero movies? ie Batman and Robin, X-Men 3, Superman IV. And they are not completely destroyed just from a bad a movie. The movie was bad, never made the book bad.
Take off your movie hats and put on your comics hats. You still got your books. Don’t cry over a movie adaptation that hasn’t even had any released footage yet.
By the way, that Rorshach test screen looked pretty awesome. I know, it has nothing to do with the movie, but at least we all know the characters will look good.
I agree. He seemed nice enough to me.
I lived in LA for a long time, and I met a lot of people in the entertainment industry, and the periphery thereof, and he just reminds me a certain type of person. But I’m a crabby asshole, so my radar isn’t to be trusted.
I’m sure he’s a lovely gent.
Please show me where I said I wouldn’t like this movie.
“Some things just can’t be transferred to film. Watchmen of all things…eeesh, it’ll just be so easy for it to go so wrong. There just won’t be enough time to develop the characters and background. Oh well. Another “Alan Smithee” for Moore.”
You seem to have confused my comments on how difficult it will be to translate the book to film with no liking it.
Point by point since you began the tactic of parsing everything I said:
“Some things just can’t be transferred to film. Watchmen of all things”-Has nothing to do with Snyder’s abilities-commenting on the difficulty of bringing Watchmen to film.
“eeesh, it’ll just be so easy for it to go so wrong.” Again, commenting on the challenges of making it into a film. Does not express a value judgement of Snyder’s filmmaking ability, or the film he will in fact make. Acknowledges the potential for trouble without assuming there will be trouble.
“There just won’t be enough time to develop the characters and background.” Refers to the constraints of the film medium–a value judgement on my part that it’s hard to capture the story on film.
“Oh well. Another “Alan Smithee” for Moore.” A previously admitted snide comment, that does perhaps presuppose the film will be bad enough for Moore to not want his name involved. however, intended more as a joke based upon previous interviews given by Moore. Granted it isn’t funny.
I’m going to reserve judgment of the movie until I actually see it. To be honest, I loved V for Vendetta (as most comic readers do), and I felt the movie rocked! It captured the essence of the book and made changes to make it acceptable to both the comic fan and the book.
Watchmen is so dense, so deep that there’s no pausible way to capture it completely in film. We would never see a Lord of the Rings style approach because it doesn’t have that mass market sheen to it (i.e. not every teenager from the 1970s has read it, like with Lord of the Rings).
What I’m hoping for is that Snyder is able to catch the essence of the book for the big screen. With a solid story that touches upon the same themes with the right actors, this movie could be huge. And just think of all the people who may buy the book out of interest for the movie.
With the success of 300, movie goers may now be more inclined to read the book before the movie, or maybe I’m just an optimistic blow hard.
One thing I will say is that I know Snyder is a gigantic geek, so it makes me happy that they have him doing it instead of someone who read the trade and thought, “Hey, I could make some money off this.”
But we’ll see. I’m just glad to see comics getting so much attention.
“I lived in LA for a long time, and I met a lot of people in the entertainment industry, and the periphery thereof, and he just reminds me a certain type of person. But I’m a crabby asshole, so my radar isn’t to be trusted.
I’m sure he’s a lovely gent.”
I think your radar is probably OK, but even if someone is not “that type of person in the entertainment industry” they have to act like it (or look like it, or just be handsome) to get work. I’m from SF, so you won’t get any LA love from me, and the only person I ever heard defend LA and the entertainment industry was Sandra Bernhard, and that was in the context of her saying it was her place to get away from New York to be alone to write.
Ian McKellan (no stranger to comic movies) has had his own say about Hollywood culture, and its not all flowers and hearts. So, mistrust of Hollywood is not unwarranted, just can’t let it become an over riding prejudice.
This is my prejudice — get someone from New York or the UK on a project, and you’re better off…but just a prejudice…
Seeing this interview and watching 300 has really got me in the mood to get back into the gym. Snyder is doing a great service to lazy Americans. Hit the gym guys!
Josh, Shhhhhhh Shhh Shhhhh. It’s ok. We’ll always have Paris and you’ll always have Watchmen as a graphic novel. If you can’t get the voices from the movie out of your head, you can just play some soothing ocean sounds while you read. That will go along with the Black Raider scenes nicely.
I do hope Tom Cruise stays away though. Unless he wants to be the Comedian. He plays a good dick.
He does at that. But he’d need lifts in his shoes.
You don’t want a Comedian who has to look up at Rorschach.
I nominate Josh Hollowell for Comedian.
And The Watchmen Wars has begun…..
Look at all the fighting because of an interview.
1. I love V for Vendetta…… so ya.
2. I will wait till this movie is cast and a few images come out, I hate Toby as Peter, Jackman as Wolverine, Christian Bale as Bruce and they all came out pretty good.
Guys there is no point in picking “Whose side are you on!” (can’t believe I just wrote that) right now.
This would work much better as a trilogy though!
Would it make me a bad comic book fan to say that despite reading comics for 14ish years, and having owned both the trade paperback, and now the Absolute edition, I’ve still yet to read Watchmen?
“Would it make me a bad comic book fan to say that despite reading comics for 14ish years, and having owned both the trade paperback, and now the Absolute edition, I’ve still yet to read Watchmen?”
Honestly, if you were next to me right now I would punch you in the face. But for your own good. You understand, right?
Ha!
I have a rather interesting take on Watchmen. When if first came out, I gobbled it up. I was out of comics, but that and Millers Dark Knight Returns were two books I gobbled up in one night.
Recently, I tried reading it, and I couldn’t get through it, and I think it was for personal reasons. I lived through the eighties in my late teens and twenties, and when the whole country was all rosy and happy with Reagan’s America, I was hating it. Watchmen really captures that deep sense of the ugly despair and ugliness that was the REAL eighties I lived through, despite what they tried to tell us on TV. December 31, 1989, I went to a AWESOME “F*** the 80s” party, and when they blew up a giant 80’s tinfoil thing, the crowd when ape crazy, ecstatic with jubilation.
So now, when I read Watchman, it’s like reliving a bad memory, as Moore really catures the dark (and nighmare cold) underbelly of a America trying to be a bad fake, “back to the 50s that never were.” I guess it’s a tribute to Moore’s work, but now, that time is just one nightmare I’m glad is long gone.
So I have trouble reliving it. So, that’s why Synder saying he wants to set it into the 80s when we are so bombared with how wonderful the Reagan years were these days (I was so scared of nuclear war then), I get where he’s coming from. If you didn’t live that time, it’s easier to feel more distance from it. I just can’t, and want to put it behind me.
The “doomsday clock” with the “how many minutes to midnight/doomsday” is a good example, as is the lack of splashy graphics. and overall atmosphere–again, the eighties as they really were.
Moore’s strength as a horror writer is well known, and he really captured the horror of the 80s beneath the sunny exterior. My love of the music and comics of the time are all about my escape from the reality that was just…horrible.
I going to wait of course to see what comes from this, because even if it’s not like the book all the way, we might still get a HELL of a great movie, not just a great comic book movie
…okay…you can stone me now…