I'm in the camp that didn't like Zack Snyder's Watchmen for exactly reasons you sited, but I also think it's the best case scenario for a Watchmen adaptation that we could possibly get.
Also to note, they removed a lot of Rorschach’s dialogue from the comic - any “problematic” language, any homophobia, any lines of his that are considered “not for modern audiences”. It’s not the accurate adaptation they are marketing it as. The Snyder adaptation has issues, but it’s definitely not afraid of the source material, has beautiful visuals and the line delivery/performances are so much better. The motion comic has 1:1 accuracy. There are no pros that would make me recommend this new version over any others.
Nothing will replace reading it for me, but it's Watchmen. The live action had its issues, too (sans monster, why have the island?). But, the Dr. Manhattan scenes were handled better imo. And where I really disagree is that the colors in this SING Watchmen through and through, whereas a live action never could. But to each his own. Rorschach is awesome.
I saw the motion comic done for watchmen a while back. I thought it was really good. They should have done the adaptation more in a similar format to that. Each episode based on one chapter.
I think the scene with Dr.Manhattan on Mars was handled really well in this iteration. I especially like how they convey his past present and future perspectives all layering on top of one another. Really helps you understand why he seems indifferent to almost everything happening in the story because what others see as the present could basically be considered the past for him.
If the animation came out first I’m sure it would’ve been bigger… I like it for what is, I enjoy it… Bad idea to divide into two chapters and wait so long.. Hopefully part 2 steps it up…
Oh I’m not disagreeing. I think as a visual translation of Watchmen it’s pretty incredible. As an exploration of all of Moore’s themes and ideas it falls flat. Ultimately I really like the movie but it’s not a perfect adaptation.
@@BenFriedman916 Yeah that’s all I got from Zack’s version. Cool visuals of moments from the comic like Jon Osterman’s rebirth as Doc Manhattan, but barely any of the substance. I read the comic recently for the first time and I enjoyed it a hell of a lot more cause of how it was written
Funny, Snyder’s Watchman is of the most faithful adaptations put on the silver screens of anything. From the characters, to the costumes, the story, literally taking the panel drawings and making them into a live action sequence etc. the only major difference is there’s no giant squid. Big f^cking whoop. Fans will always b*tch and whine about anything, even faith
@@CommanderShepard-wq3wo aesthetically it looks fine and the cast did a great job but Zack completely missed the point of the story. The comic version was a deconstruction of the superhero genre with Alan Moore showing how absurd superheroes whether powered or not would be in a realistic world. Snyder’s version again visually impressive is basically “superheroes but if they were gritty” and he portrayed Rorschach wrong too. He made him the one with the right morals in the film when in the comic, Rorschach while being well written and having the best dialogue in the story, is a racist, sexist, sociopathic nutjob that tries to justify his actions with a very black and white worldview in a story where morality is very complex and isn’t always black and white as Rorschach claims. Snyder nailed the style but none of the nuance that made the original comic sell so well. If you liked the movie more power to you but If you haven’t read it and want the story in its purest form I highly recommend it or watch the motion comic of it.
I felt the same, except the dialogue was rushed, like the characters couldn't finish their sentences before someone else started there's. Didn't have any weight to the gravity of their conversation
3D animation is really hard to make look good for an animated project, and this looks like crap. I blame the budget, but I think 2d would've been a way better idea.
To be honest, I'm new to the Watchman series. Have no clue of what it was. Therefore, for me, it was enjoyable enough for me wanting to learn about it more. Generally speaking I viewed this new version as a mystery which just hooked me on who done it.
Exactly. Whoever wrote this script and directed it understands the detective noir at the heart of this story, before the real superhero action kicks in. This is why Chapter 1 ends with Rorschach's arrest.
@@christophercox8966 I respect that you like it, I think a lot of people did as well. I really hated it. It bothered me how obsessive every shot was trying to frame by frame recreate the novel only to shoe horn in his version ... The watchmen show really nailed the squid reality and its after effects. I think it would've definitely worked in the Snyder movie as well. It also really bothered me that it wasn't included as an alternate scene or scenes in the many versions released on DVD/BR over the years.
@@Dom2Wan art is subjective, but I think that the betrayal of dr Manhattan by tricking him into using his own power to bring about veidts “practical joke” fits into the theme more neatly. It also fits into manhattan’s decision to ultimately leave earth behind as an analytical and pragmatic decision rather than what seems to be an emotional one in the comics.
@@christophercox8966 Or, we could view Manhattan's emotional decision as growth, Rorschach's one being death-as-release, Owl's maturation is getting the girl (previously he was still pursuing his teenage ideals with his father-figure), Laurie's as finally integrating her suppressed memories and reconciling with her mother, and Ozy's growth as finally experiencing doubt ('Nothing ever ends').
Couldn't disagree more the animated version is faithful to the comic. Snyder's version left stuff out and made Dr Manhattan the villain for everyone to unite against which didn't happen in the story.
Very good review but since I'm a Watchmen completist I'll probably pick this up anyway. I totally agree with your assessment of Snyder's 2009 film & was surprised that they would do an animation that was shorter than that film. The style that they're using is a bit odd as well.
The purpose of this animation is to _undo the harm_ that Zack Snyder did in forcing his grotesque mangling of the graphic novel on the public. The Comedian's mental breakdown from his discovery of the squid and his confrontation with Morloch is given the appropriate gravitas in this beautifully art-directed piece. Watch it again, and pay attention to the characters' eye movements and their body language. Everything good here is subtle. To say that the Black Freighter was merely metaphorical underlines how little you have understood the source material. In addition, Matthew Goode's obviously slimmer body was a huge casting mistake but even worse, he was _misdirected_ - that smirking pose and the implication of homosexual amorality in your clip of Snyder's movie gives the game away and essentially misunderstands Veidt's motivation, his struggle to contain his hubris and ambition in a mask of contained detachment and yes, even his wrestling with his conscience in the face of his belief in his own superiority, which this new animation captures so well. As for what new thing this work brings to the table, just rewatch Laurie's cab ride after she leaves Jon. Really let the mood come through via the music and the raindrops with the bokeh. Now feel that slight tinge of menace from Veidt's omnipresence throughout the city in that Nostalgia poster and the Pyramid delivery truck. That bit of Veidt's opinion of himself in the ad's tagline, 'Where is the essence that was so _divine._' This film is filled with subtleties like these which you will miss if you come to it already thinking 'Snyder's film was 'the best'.'
The New York Times Bestseller list considers comics literature. Go complain to them. Dismissing an entire medium like that is ignorant as hell. What comics have you even tried reading? Archie? 😂
I'm in the camp that didn't like Zack Snyder's Watchmen for exactly reasons you sited, but I also think it's the best case scenario for a Watchmen adaptation that we could possibly get.
The whole reason this was made was so DC wouldn't have to give Alan Moore his flowers.
100%
Also to note, they removed a lot of Rorschach’s dialogue from the comic - any “problematic” language, any homophobia, any lines of his that are considered “not for modern audiences”. It’s not the accurate adaptation they are marketing it as. The Snyder adaptation has issues, but it’s definitely not afraid of the source material, has beautiful visuals and the line delivery/performances are so much better. The motion comic has 1:1 accuracy. There are no pros that would make me recommend this new version over any others.
Nothing will replace reading it for me, but it's Watchmen. The live action had its issues, too (sans monster, why have the island?). But, the Dr. Manhattan scenes were handled better imo. And where I really disagree is that the colors in this SING Watchmen through and through, whereas a live action never could. But to each his own.
Rorschach is awesome.
I saw the motion comic done for watchmen a while back. I thought it was really good. They should have done the adaptation more in a similar format to that. Each episode based on one chapter.
100% agree. The motion comic is good!!
I think the scene with Dr.Manhattan on Mars was handled really well in this iteration. I especially like how they convey his past present and future perspectives all layering on top of one another. Really helps you understand why he seems indifferent to almost everything happening in the story because what others see as the present could basically be considered the past for him.
If the animation came out first I’m sure it would’ve been bigger…
I like it for what is, I enjoy it…
Bad idea to divide into two chapters and wait so long..
Hopefully part 2 steps it up…
Zack snyder watchmen is both a alright and terrible adaptation of watchmen.
Finally someone said it. The comic is still the superior version.
Oh I’m not disagreeing. I think as a visual translation of Watchmen it’s pretty incredible. As an exploration of all of Moore’s themes and ideas it falls flat. Ultimately I really like the movie but it’s not a perfect adaptation.
@@BenFriedman916 Yeah that’s all I got from Zack’s version. Cool visuals of moments from the comic like Jon Osterman’s rebirth as Doc Manhattan, but barely any of the substance. I read the comic recently for the first time and I enjoyed it a hell of a lot more cause of how it was written
Funny, Snyder’s Watchman is of the most faithful adaptations put on the silver screens of anything.
From the characters, to the costumes, the story, literally taking the panel drawings and making them into a live action sequence etc. the only major difference is there’s no giant squid. Big f^cking whoop.
Fans will always b*tch and whine about anything, even faith
@@CommanderShepard-wq3wo aesthetically it looks fine and the cast did a great job but Zack completely missed the point of the story. The comic version was a deconstruction of the superhero genre with Alan Moore showing how absurd superheroes whether powered or not would be in a realistic world. Snyder’s version again visually impressive is basically “superheroes but if they were gritty” and he portrayed Rorschach wrong too. He made him the one with the right morals in the film when in the comic, Rorschach while being well written and having the best dialogue in the story, is a racist, sexist, sociopathic nutjob that tries to justify his actions with a very black and white worldview in a story where morality is very complex and isn’t always black and white as Rorschach claims. Snyder nailed the style but none of the nuance that made the original comic sell so well. If you liked the movie more power to you but If you haven’t read it and want the story in its purest form I highly recommend it or watch the motion comic of it.
I felt the same, except the dialogue was rushed, like the characters couldn't finish their sentences before someone else started there's. Didn't have any weight to the gravity of their conversation
3D animation is really hard to make look good for an animated project, and this looks like crap. I blame the budget, but I think 2d would've been a way better idea.
To be honest, I'm new to the Watchman series. Have no clue of what it was. Therefore, for me, it was enjoyable enough for me wanting to learn about it more. Generally speaking I viewed this new version as a mystery which just hooked me on who done it.
Exactly. Whoever wrote this script and directed it understands the detective noir at the heart of this story, before the real superhero action kicks in. This is why Chapter 1 ends with Rorschach's arrest.
The HBO watchmen chapter 1 was amazing movie. The script was amazing
I like the animated movie it stright retells the source material minus the dialouge
Boy -I hope CH. 2 doesn't change the ending like Sniderville did. I want to see that adapted faithfully.
I think the Snyder ending was an improvement.
@@christophercox8966 I respect that you like it, I think a lot of people did as well. I really hated it. It bothered me how obsessive every shot was trying to frame by frame recreate the novel only to shoe horn in his version ... The watchmen show really nailed the squid reality and its after effects. I think it would've definitely worked in the Snyder movie as well. It also really bothered me that it wasn't included as an alternate scene or scenes in the many versions released on DVD/BR over the years.
@@christophercox8966 No it wasn't. The grotesqueness of the squid was too important to have cut out and was a disrespectful expression of hubris.
@@Dom2Wan art is subjective, but I think that the betrayal of dr Manhattan by tricking him into using his own power to bring about veidts “practical joke” fits into the theme more neatly. It also fits into manhattan’s decision to ultimately leave earth behind as an analytical and pragmatic decision rather than what seems to be an emotional one in the comics.
@@christophercox8966 Or, we could view Manhattan's emotional decision as growth, Rorschach's one being death-as-release, Owl's maturation is getting the girl (previously he was still pursuing his teenage ideals with his father-figure), Laurie's as finally integrating her suppressed memories and reconciling with her mother, and Ozy's growth as finally experiencing doubt ('Nothing ever ends').
Just watch the motion comics
doomsday clock was trash
I'm in the Zack Snyder Director cut camp... Until the end. No squid? Wtf?
Couldn't disagree more the animated version is faithful to the comic. Snyder's version left stuff out and made Dr Manhattan the villain for everyone to unite against which didn't happen in the story.
Taylor Mark Anderson Joseph Rodriguez Matthew
I disagree. Zack’s adaptation was a masterpiece.
Real:'(
Motion comic clears
Zack Snyder's version was an abomination.
I'm starting to feel like you don't like Watchmen Chapter 1...
Very good review but since I'm a Watchmen completist I'll probably pick this up anyway. I totally agree with your assessment of Snyder's 2009 film & was surprised that they would do an animation that was shorter than that film. The style that they're using is a bit odd as well.
The purpose of this animation is to _undo the harm_ that Zack Snyder did in forcing his grotesque mangling of the graphic novel on the public.
The Comedian's mental breakdown from his discovery of the squid and his confrontation with Morloch is given the appropriate gravitas in this beautifully art-directed piece. Watch it again, and pay attention to the characters' eye movements and their body language. Everything good here is subtle.
To say that the Black Freighter was merely metaphorical underlines how little you have understood the source material.
In addition, Matthew Goode's obviously slimmer body was a huge casting mistake but even worse, he was _misdirected_ - that smirking pose and the implication of homosexual amorality in your clip of Snyder's movie gives the game away and essentially misunderstands Veidt's motivation, his struggle to contain his hubris and ambition in a mask of contained detachment and yes, even his wrestling with his conscience in the face of his belief in his own superiority, which this new animation captures so well.
As for what new thing this work brings to the table, just rewatch Laurie's cab ride after she leaves Jon. Really let the mood come through via the music and the raindrops with the bokeh. Now feel that slight tinge of menace from Veidt's omnipresence throughout the city in that Nostalgia poster and the Pyramid delivery truck. That bit of Veidt's opinion of himself in the ad's tagline, 'Where is the essence that was so _divine._' This film is filled with subtleties like these which you will miss if you come to it already thinking 'Snyder's film was 'the best'.'
Exactly how I felt having only watched the trailer for Chapter 1. Director's Cut is very good and why just re-do it in animated form? Just stupid.
Bcz movie dint do it justice
@@prodigalfraudaddy-es1gl So now we have two that didn't do it justice. What's your point?
Why do an animated adaptation when there is already a perfect live action adaptation, and has a perfect Black Freighter animated movie
That Black Freighter movie should be seen by everyone
Perfect live action my ass
This movie felt so unnecessary and a complete waste of time in my opinion.
Why would I skip watching a bad movie to watch a bad movie?
Zack Snyder Watchmen is ass.
Your opinion is objectively wrong.
Son, if you consider comics literature, you have way bigger problems than a bad film.
Watchmen is better than a majority of the 20th century American classics. Comics like Watchmen or Maus are deserving of such acclaim.
@@BenFriedman916 I do agree that Zach Sniders 2009 Watchmen was an Excellent flick!
I love Zach synders version
The New York Times Bestseller list considers comics literature. Go complain to them. Dismissing an entire medium like that is ignorant as hell. What comics have you even tried reading? Archie? 😂