Mar 6, 2008
First In-Costume Pics Of Zack Snyder’s Watchmen!!
The official site for Zack Snyder’s upcoming adaptation of the seminal Alan Moore graphic novel has given us our first good look at six of the characters set to appear in the film, due to hit theatres a whole year from now, in March of ‘09. I like them all, except for Nite-Owl, who looks a bit too fit and Batman-like than the original comic character, who was pudgy and based instead on Blue Beetle.
Click on The Comedian to see them all:
23 Comments, Comment or Ping
Grundy
I think he looks fine. He probably doesn’t look pudgy because of the suit.
Mar 6th, 2008
Nionix
Pretty cool.
I’m still worried about Fox’s lawsuit against Warner Bros. and how that might bar the release of the film
Mar 6th, 2008
Dave
Well, I’m still worried this will be more glossed over hyper stylized eye candy and nothing more. Zach Snyder is not exactly known for being capable of much depth and Watchmen can’t be treated as something that would just look cool on film. I’ve got a feeling that much of the abstractions will, like in 300, be diluted to the point that whatever remains will be lost on most audiences.
Mar 6th, 2008
Chris
Well, I’ve not read the Watchmen comic, though I’ve had a loaner copy for quite some time. I found the start to be rather dry and dull…a little too serious and self-important for a superhero tale. Sure, it probably gets better later on, but I’ve little to no interest in ever finishing it. These stills, however, have got my attention. I’d much rather sit through a condensed 2 hour action packed, “dumbed down” version of watchmen than suffer through more of the sad-sack soap-opera journals of owl-man…or whomever it was.
Mar 7th, 2008
Dave
Well, bully for you, Chris, because that’s probably what you’re going to get. If it’s “action packed” though, it might end up being Watchman in name only. Please don’t dismiss the source material as being nothing more than a superhero tale. Moore was trying to tell a larger story than that, and that’s what I don’t think Snyder can accomplish. The Watchman were only superheros because they wore costumes. There was nothing special about them other than their willingness to put on a costume and fight crime. Watchman was more a story about responsibility than Spider-man ever was. It’s also a story about the evil that springs from good intentions.
If you don’t think a graphic novel with guys in costumes can adequately explore those themes, then it’s your loss.
Mar 7th, 2008
Grundy
I think you’re writing Snyder off a little too early. It seems to me, from what I’ve read that he gets the material. Maybe Watchmen will show that he can do a character driven film.
Mar 7th, 2008
Dave
I’m not writing him off completely, but listen to him talk on the Dawn of the Dead commentary track and then think back on what 300 was. It doesn’t inspire much confidence that he has grown much beyond his commercial days and is really more interested in stuff looking cool on screen than characters having real depth. He really kind of rubs me the wrong way and I didn’t like how he sort of glossed over James Gunn’s script like it was nothing. I could be wrong but I don’t think I am. Care to provide any links to show me otherwise, other than his production blog which I don’t read?
Of course, I think you’ve already fucked up by making Watchmen into a film. It’s a completely different kind of story than Sin City or 300.
Mar 7th, 2008
Grundy
What do you mean by “glossed over” exactly, because other people were brought in to rewrite Gunn’s script while he worked on Scooby-Doo 2. And with 300, I’m sure what ever problems you have probably stem more from Miller than Snyder, considering the source material.
And a Watchmen movie was inevitable, better Snyder then someone like Shawn Levy.
Mar 7th, 2008
Dave
I mean that James Gunn got a raw deal, both with Dawn and Slither. My problems with 300 have nothing to do with the source material as I haven’t read it. All I know about 300 is from the film, therefore I hold Snyder responsible for it.
Look, we can go around in circles all night on this. I just don’t think he’s the wunderkind that people think he is. Whatever. Movies and I got divorced last December anyway. Nothing gets me excited anymore.
Mar 7th, 2008
Grundy
I agree about on SLiTHER, but how’d he get a raw deal with Dawn?
Also, I don’t think he’s a wunderkind, I’ve liked what he’s done so far and am giving him the benefit of the doubt towards Watchmen.
Mar 7th, 2008
Dave
Because unlike Mark Altman, Gunn knows horror and didn’t really deserve the short shrift he got from Snyder on the Dawn commentary track.
Mar 8th, 2008
GRundy
I listened to the track and, yeah Gunn doesn’t get talked about a lot, but I really don’t see it as a problem, you do for whatever reason. And who the fuck is Mark Altman?
Mar 8th, 2008
Dave
It wasn’t the lack of mention that bothered me. Director’s who do commentary tracks frequently don’t bother to mention the script or the writer. What bothered me was Snyder’s seeming dismissal of Gunn’s script as being irrelevant to the final product, a point of view that largely leads to the shaft writers get in Hollywood.
As for Mark Altman: http://eclecticgamer.com/?p=275
As for the rest of this conversation, Grundy:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=40kccNpb_dk
Mar 8th, 2008
Grundy
Well, whatever. From the looks of it Gunn seems to be doing just fine and not getting “the shaft.” He’s got 2 movies on the way and a series of shorts for the XBox 360.
Mar 9th, 2008
Gazz
Am I the only person who writes for a film website and has no clue what the hell WATCHMEN is about or why it isn’t on my radar for 2008?
Am I REALLY missing out on something with this?
Mar 9th, 2008
Grundy
Yes, yes you are. Go to your local comic shop or bookstore and pick up a TPB of it.
Mar 9th, 2008
Dave
Hey Grundy, you keep talking about these shorts Gunn has coming on the 360 but a Google search on the matter leads only to, um, this fucking site with you talking about it!
Could you please provide a link to something official about this? I’m interested but as far as I can tell, it’s merely a rumor that begins and ends with you. TIA.
Mar 10th, 2008
Gazz
On your word Grundy I invested in the big f**k off sized Watchmen book and am working my way through it. (I also bought up a few of the 30 Days of Nights sequel comic books coz I liked the movie!) I’ve got to say I’m impressed with what I’m reading but so incredibly sceptical as to how this will translate to the screen. Maybe Terry Gilliam could well have a point when he said that as a lone motion picture the project was “unfilmable”. It’s now on my radar though!
Mar 15th, 2008
Grundy
As late as I am to responde to this, Dave you wanted proof of Gunn doing the Xbox stuff here it is.
http://www.dreadcentral.com/node/26819
Apr 21st, 2008
Dave
Wow, you sure did get saved on that one! Posted *yesterday*! ;p
Apr 22nd, 2008
Grundy
What can I say, I knew about it before it was officially announced.
Apr 22nd, 2008
Dave
Did someone tell you or did you read it somewhere? Either way, Xbox Live is only being kept afloat in terms of DLC by companies like Harmonix. They’re actively touting that they have Hannah Montana on Marketplace which is completely going against the grain of their demographic.
Of course, this is neither here nor there. ;P
Apr 23rd, 2008
Grundy
It came straight from James Gunn.
Apr 23rd, 2008
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