The reason why I love Watchmen is because it's psychological realism. It isn't trying to be dark and edgy, but it's just showing how scary the world really is.
... how scary the alternate world really is ... the real world scares if you go outside or look into the newspaper ... "back to future" 1985 was also kind of scary, like real world 1985 in a cold war scenario with nukes, with the nukes still existing today ...
@@JoseAlberto-sk9lq No. Not at all. The book is sober and not at all excessive. The film however is absolutely and utterly in love with the horrors in the story, which is a big part of why it misses the point.
Fun fact: The writer Alan Moore signed a contract that stated once the book has been published the rights to the story would revert back to him. After the book's huge success, DC made sure to NEVER stop publishing the book, so DC/Warner Bros could keep ownership and ensure Moore would never own the book he wrote.
When DC bought a shit-tone of Charlton Comics characters, Alan Moore took these terribly dry heroes and made Watchmen, one of the greatest comics of all time.
SAGE I don't remember it being as big as "The Dark Knight Returns". In my opinion, that was a much more celebrated release and so I have a problem with all of the hoopla for Watchmen because I just don't remember it that way.
It's funny because publishers saw this and said 'Let's make everything darker and grittier' when Moore and Gibbons actually just tried to take a real life look at comics while also satirising comics (hence the characters and ending with the alien squid).
And the crazy thing is that most of the main cast (excluding Jackie Earle Haley) didn't know anything about the comic until they were cast. Imagine getting cast in a movie and finding out not long before production starts that it's an adaptation of one of the finest pieces of literature ever put to page.
She auditioned for a role. While she was waiting to find out if she got the job she was reading the source material. What is so unbelievable about that?
I enjoyed the film, even some of the changes made still worked in my opinion. The only real flaws in my eyes were some of the overly stylized action sequences (not all of them, some worked) and the fact that they tried telling such a complex and in-depth story in one film. Even with it's 3+ hour run time, I still feel like making it a two part story would have inhanced it significantly. Again, just some constructive criticism, I still stand by this film as an acceptable film adaptation of a true masterpiece of literature.
The Great thing about Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns is that they changed comics; the bad thing is that they changed comics! Everybody and I do mean EVERYBODY tried to "out Moore, Moore" and "Out Miller, Miller"! Comics just couldn't be fun anymore and that's how we got the "Dark and Gritty" 90s! There's some pushback now and that's GOOD!
Arliss Caruso Oh god yes. Nowadays even though i'm in love with the abundance of superhero movies coming out nowadays, the casual fans don't really bother to read comics so thats why people were frustrated with Watchmen. Its not all action and fights, its a good storyline and plot driven like the series. If people bothered to actually read the book and get an understanding what its like it won't disappoint.
Dakotah Stricker I imagine they would have been much more appeased if they had actually included that "alien" projection at the end to trick the world that it was aliens responsible and not Ozymandias.
Oh yeah most definitely. It depends on how Zack would of filmed it but it could of been the better ending then oh Dr. Manhattan did all this lets team up together and try to stop him like the world did at the end of the movie.
Dakotah Stricker it's wierd because his dr manhatten's abilities were known, and so was his patience, logic, and understanding. It just seems uncharacteristic... and now all of a sudden? No doubt half the population would've been skeptical. With the alien it was unexpected, it's powers uncertain, therefore, driving a more palpable sense of fear.
I love how they completely butchered the trigger for world peace in the movie. John's reasons for leaving earth become completely different. Also I believe they cut out the create life line which really furthered my view of John as a god and I believe was the essential ending line to the climax.
5 років тому+3
Cody Wolfenbarger they made it more logical actually. Instead of squid that appeared in NY out of nowhere and instantly died there were explosions created around the world. So it makes more sense for Soviets to unite with US, rather than just drop in NY where "alien invasion" was.
Theres some truly awe inspiring cinema in Snyders Watchmen film, that opening is a thing of beauty, I just wish the Snyders were a little more sophisticated because the Watchmen film couldve been an all time classic, alas its just a little too dumb to do Moores original vision a service. Still love half a dozen scenes in it tho, say what you like Snyder is a genius visually
I remember the advertisements for watchmen in other comics at the time, they were just full pages with who watches the watchmen on them. But I never read it till years later, and for that I'm glad because I would never have got it at the time. As far as the movie goes, it's the only comic book movie that I can watch over and over, and not get tired of it
+Ben Tillotson yeah, the Ultimate Cut is the only version worth watching, though the director's cut version isn't terrible and fixes most of the problems with the theatrical cut.
This is the very best Comic I've ever read (if you could call this masterpiece a Comic, this is a Classic Novel). The movie was excellent! "Nite Owl II: What happened to us? What happened to the American Dream?... Comedian: "What happened to the American Dream?!" It came true! You're lookin' at it... The Comedian was so right it isn't funny anymore...
Not at all. We have to thanks marvel comics for trying to brake the rule of the comics code authority by talking about drug use (Norman osborn) and also showing a brutal death in a comic book (Gwen Stacey) it was the 70s.
windi1982 Exactly. Its truer to the comic esp costumes and more believable and behind it are The Dark Knight, V for Vendetta, The Crow, 300, and Mystery Men.
im not gonna lie, there were so many moments in this GN, that i had to put it down after something i read, and say "OH MY GOD!!". the moment when Rorschach said, " im not locked in here with you, you're locked in here with me". i lost my shit. This changed everything for me.
" The Watchmen" is one of the greatest graphic novels/comic books ever made. It wasn't the first one to change the look of comic books though. It was "The Dark Knight Returns" and "Ronin" both made by FRANK MILLER (the absolute master). After reading "Watchmen" i realistę how do i want to draw comics (i always wanted to be a comic book artist). You know Dave Gibbons - god.
I agree that Frank Miller did good with those comics and sin city, but i kinda hate the things he did to Batman's character and other characters in the Batman and Robin allstar series. That "goddamn Batman" shit is being repeated too much.
I disagree. I think Miller had a couple of good ideas, but was no where nearly as consistent as Moore. Moore, I will always argue, was the greatest comic book writer of his generation.
Cap'n Mo Moore is my favorite aswell, Miller fucked up waaay to much lately to even put him close to Moore. However, there are quite a few other amazing writers, such as Jack Kirby, Mark Waid, Jeph Loeb, Grant Morrison, Gail Simone, just to name a few.
Cor Tadew Gaiman is brilliant, too. Love his work. It's because of creators like Moore, Gaiman, and Morrison, coming along at the perfect time after Eisner's hard push of the medium into mainstream acceptance, that comic books became recognized as being capable of producing literature.
The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, Daredevil, Watchmen. Frank revolutionized the genre. I know he feels a little guilty about being responsible for the dark and gritty modern day comic book stories but seriously, the audience who love these stories are NOT juvenile, grown ups who still believe there is a hero in all of us
"Absolute powers corrupt absolutely " that was in Dawn of justice trailer I think Zack Snyder was trying to recreate watchmen magic in mainstream DC characters and for me I understood but for most people it didn't work
Yeah i like both marvel and dc but i can't really see marvel pulling off their own version of a watchmen esque book with their characters or completely new characters.
5:40 he made nite owl to be like batman/robin, and the new nite owl looks like batman, and he has a "cave" and an aircraft. everything thinked carefully!
DC is a lot more serious and dark with brilliant people like Watchmen and Batman...but then they have Shazam and Aquaman and Wonderwoman and superman...Which kill it
Look I love DC Comics & Batman Is My favorite but i think Superman has his place, i think they should make him a bit less gay haha no offence but id like him alot more sober
Not every comic needs a serious and dark tone. Even though DC has mastered that atmosphere, I don't think every Super-hero story needs to be like that. Even the less serious stories have their own place in this universe. Comic relief isn't a bad thing, I mean look at Marvel's Deadpool, his stories are by no means heavy or weighty. Yet they are beautiful in their own right. Like wise not all of Marvel's stories are wacky and zany. ( i.e. Punisher MAX, and X-force)
DeadShot1307 it's not DC, it's Alan Moore. His work is the complete opposite of DC's golden age era comics, now he hates comic book companies or superheroes because he thinks they're "abominations".
While I'm glad for Watchmen's success, I think it's unfairly judged as a single "phenomenon", basically claiming it to be a singularity "above" all other comics/"graphic novels". In truth, there are quite a few comics that I consider on equal footing in terms of quality to Watchmen, some of them arguably even surpasing them, but the general, non-comic-reading public seems to prefer to think of Watchmen as the only truely worthwile "graphic novel" to read while all other comics are simply "kid's stuff" or "gory schlock" to them. What makes it easy to think that way and only flock towards Watchmen is its very down-to-earth setting despite showcasing super powers, its very "neutral" way of storytelling (which is truely masterful) and the fact that it doesn't showcase any previously established superheroes like Superman, Batman or Spiderman. However, I still think the general public should probably give some of the best of those more "traditional" comics the benefit of the doubt, a lot of the truely great ones are neither needlessly gory nor "kid's stuff" and they don't depend on you knowing a lot of backstory either. Some examples of great comics for interested people: "The Sandman" (by Neil Gaiman), "Batman: The Long Halloween", "Kingdome Come" and Grant Morrison's run on "Animal Man" (though the last one can get a little weird at times).
The Watchmen miniseries (yes, miniseries, not Graphic Novel) is one of the best comic books ever written, showcasing heroes aren't "heroes" but jaded, misanthropic, and mentally unstable people who become crimefighters for selfish reasons, moved by a personal agenda rather than help others. Since its release, not only have many writers wanted to clone Alan Moore's work and infuse his deconstruction into already established characters, taking the joy away from superhero stories in order to be something they aren't, but an unskilled filmmaker seemed to have forgotten what the story was all about when turning Watchmen into a film.
Apart from Dave Gibbons and those who worked on the book, nobody in these documentaries knows what they are talking about. They aren’t “superheroes” they are costumed vigilanties. The group isn’t called “The Watchmen” either, they don’t have a name.
+cabohicks Whilst I have to agree with the other posters, who have argued that it is rather imperious, arrogant and foolish to state that you dislike like something that you have never read (and I can't understand why you would post on a UA-cam thread that discusses a documentary that is about the book you say that you dislike), I have to point out that there are other comics out there. So, if comic books that are aimed at less mature audiences are your thing, then go and enjoy them and leave those you enjoy works of this nature to their own pleasures. I personally cannot stand the range of Marvel comics that are aimed at the "tween" audience. However, younger members of my family love them to pieces. I wouldn't dream of criticizing their tastes, spoiling their enjoyment or frowning on their choice of comic. It is also a strange thing that Maverikk68 should write that comic books and graphic novels aimed at mature audiences, in general, and Watchmen in particular, have, "Changed comic books for the worse. It led to the destructionof innocence and children audience" (sic) because, as I wrote earlier, there are still many comics, from the "My Little Pony" comics to the superhero books aimed at the "tween" market, that are widely available. If anything, books like Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns have led to a greater range of comics and more titles due to mature audiences, who have a greater spending power, buying comics and, therefore, providing comic book publishers with greater profits (not forgetting that the increased interest in mature comics has led to more screen adaptations, both for cinema and television). To finish, cabohicks, I do hope that you overcome your prejudice and read a copy of Watchmen (available at your local library) because, as always, there is far more on the page than a film adaptation can ever do justice. In the meantime, enjoy whichever comic books do interest you and leave others to enjoy theirs. All the best.
I agree to trash on an entire medium because of a certain target audience is bull shit and completely ignorant. As for maverick I wouldn't worry about him dudes a racist rock star wannabe dude has no say on the matter.
I personally think the manga “Berserk” is the greatest manga of all time the same way “Watchmen” is the greatest comic/graphic novel of all time. Does anybody else agree with me?
I just click on this because I was like "Watchmen, lets watch some awesome stuff about my favourite comic." Like normal shit. Then Gerard appeared and it became too much. Fave comic + fave band = *heads explode* Sorry, I had to pause. Continue.
I really think that it's the best graphic novel i've ever read. I was a HUGE (and i'm) fan of comic books earlier, my favourite artists : Frank Miller, Enki Bilal, Grzegorz Rosiński, Marc Silvestri (and many more) and i always wanted to be a CB artist. It was the novel after wich i realistę how i want to draw. You know Dave Gibbons - god. I have to disagree with this video. "Watchmen" wasn't the first comic book that changed comic books. It was "The Dark Knight Returns" ( published almost a year before Watchmen) and "Ronin" (published 3-4 years before Watchmen) they are both wrote and drawn by Frank Miller (the absolute MASTER).
When Comic book stories come to the big screen there is only one able to do it masterfully .... Zack the Boss Snyder !! ... Boss make a version of the DKR for Ben pleaaaase !!!
The phenomenal comic that originally warned not to trust war profiteers or the media companies interlaced with them, just like Orwell, Bradbury, and every visionary author warmed us about, right, TimeWarner?
You know what bothers me about the film though? Try watching it with the book in hand - pretty much every line is changed. And people who don't swear - swear, and people who do swear - don't' swear. Stuff like that :/
The motion comic was awesome, and if I had not watched it I would have never read the comic or start reading comics ever. The motion comic will always be better than the Synder film bc it's the actual material panel for panel
Calling all Graphic Novel buffs! Can anyone recommend a graphic novel similar to Watchmen in its dark apocalyptic tone please? I'm looking for something more about crime and less about superheroes.
Whiteout I hear is a good series. There's 2 books published and a 3rd supposedly on the way. Its about a U.S Marshal stationed in Antarctica trying to solve a murder. (Yeah the movie with Kate Beckinsale was based off of it, but the movie is leagues of rubbish behind how good the Graphic novel is)
Not that I am aware of, i'm not actually a big reader of comic books/graphic novels in general. Other than watchman I guess I could recommend some of the Frank Miller Batman stories but you've already said you're not keen on any superhero stories. Other than that, I'm afraid I got nothing :(
It's the only movie so faithful to the comic book it's based on. You can't really copy it line by line, because what would be the point in watching it by those who had read the book.
Alan Moore said he doesn't make any money from this success because he was ripped off by the comic companies. He doesn't have a good word to say about them. Whats the truth?
As I recall he doesn't make any money from Watchmen because he stipulated that it should go to Dave Gibbons & John Ridgeway, Just like the money from other characters he created for DC and Marvel goes to his co-creators who worked on those books, Rick Veitch & Steve Bissette for instance being that they were the artists on Swamp Thing make money from all the Swamp Thing TPB reprints that are sold, They also make get money from any use of John Constantine from the Constantine film to the TV series Constantine as does Jamie Delano who wrote Hellblazer, David Lloyd has the same arrangement as regards V For Vendetta. I believe that's still the case, although I'm no lawyer so don't quote me on it. ;-)
Arliss Caruso I'd call it more of a distrust in the big two of the industry than anything else. Although I'll admit that when Moore has a falling out with someone it's usually terminal. He and Dave Gibbons are from what I understand no longer on speaking terms due to Watchmen and it's aftermath and the fact that it's become something of a poison pill between the two of them.
3:11 "We were really trying to blah blah blah".. "We" as in "We fucking stole it from Alan Moore and tried to milk it with Before Watchmen and all the other shit"
Zack Snyder is a hack. He’s obsessed with slow motion in order to distract from the empty and surface level storytelling in his movies. His adaptation is superficial lip service that doesn’t understand the themes of the story. There is no depth because Snyder is more interested in ‘cool, dark, and gritty’ aesthetics. The story is about these heroes becoming the villains they were meant to stop by believing the ends justify the means. Snyder thinks it’s about the power these characters possess, which leads to this vapid presentation. I saw the movie first and thought it was totally forgettable and I made no connection to the story’s themes or messages. Then I saw the motion comic and was blown away by one of the greatest pieces of American fiction.
The movie was WAY too short. I did hear about the director's cut but haven't seen it yet. Hope it managed to cram in EVERY single detail from the book, as hard of a task at that would be.
Alan Moore has many problems with DC. Here's one of them in his own words: It strikes me that the WATCHMEN contract which after all were signed upon the understanding, we were led to believe, that we would have the rights revert to us as soon as the books went out of print, which in the industry standards of the time, it was inconceivable that that would be more than 12 months. There had never been a comic book until WATCHMEN that had actually been in demand for more than 12 months, let alone 25 years. So immediately it became apparent that DC weren’t going to let WATCHMEN go out of print, we had suggested that in light of the success of WATCHMEN, perhaps our contract could be re-negotiated. DC were very reluctant to do this, even though there were things coming up that were starting to make it impossible for me to carry on working with them. The fact that I felt we had been swindled out of our just desserts on WATCHMEN, the property had been taken away from us by stealth or at least in my opinion, that was going to drive a huge wedge between me and DC Comics, which it did. It didn’t seem to me to be the brightest move, that from where I was standing, in that WATCHMEN seemed to have been the biggest boost to the comics industry and specifically to DC Comics, that they could have possibly expected. Learn more here: www.bleedingcool.com/2010/09/09/alan-moore-speaks-watchmen-2-to-adi-tantimedh/
No wonder it didn't get the depth of the comic book. Watchmen is way too complex to be your first comic book read. It's like reading Ulysses by Joyce when you just learned to read.
Watchmen was great because of its symmetry, complex characters and story, unnassuming commentary on race, politics, morals, ethics, law , justice , humanity etc. however most comics "writers", the immature bozos that they were (image comics writers especially but marvel and dc too) all they saw was blood, swearing and nudity and so they sold it as "mature". giving us the worst era of comics: the 90s. a comic from the 40s "The Spirit" an early inspiration for watchmen didn't have nudity or swearing and very little blood but was still more mature then any 90s comic because it had stories that respected your intelligence and characters that were complex human beings.
Zeke Payne this comment may be 2 years old. But, holy cow does it still ring true. For years comics have tried imitating either Moore or Miller, and failing miserably.
Hey Watchmen fans! Check out this awesome song by Pluto Nash called "Ozymandias" on Soundcloud from the Pluto Nash CD "Who Watches The Watchmen?" 13 songs about all the Watchmen/Minutemen characters! Even Dollar Bill! soundcloud.com/pluto_nash/pluto-nash-ozymandias
As an artist who does read manga, and has read watchmen, I can say that it really is impressive. It's a great land mark in the industry. Manga is a whole different thing. For years American comics were just for children and then books like watchmen happened. Honestly I think it's better than most manga I've read.
Watchmen is the first comic book I've ever read (aside from bits of various webcomics) and I wasn't too impressed by it. I understand the artistic skill and the book had its moments, but I was mostly uninterested except for in the most climactic scenes. I feel like I'm missing something because I'm one of the only people who isn't enthralled by Watchmen.
If you wanted to pursue it further, I would suggest looking at the annotated version of the graphic novel for a little bit of immediate context specific to the panels, but other than that theres two books Watchmen and Philosophy and Watchmen as Literature. They could help?
Oh and SuperGods by Grant Morrison can help too! Even though Morrison and Moore aren't friendly...Morrison does give Moore his respect while also talking about how Watchmen both succeeded and failed.
@@MutantsInDisguise While I personally feel that Watchmen is a deeply layered masterpiece, and when taken in context with its peers, it has this "weight" to it that reveals it to be literature more than "graphic novel." So, in other words: it deserves its accolades. In terms of how it fails: I feel like in Alan Moore's attempt to "humanize" superheroes, it has lead some readers, writers, and creatives to believe that in order to be taken seriously, they need to create/write hyper real, hyper gritty, and neurotic superheroes (i.e.: there would be no "The Boys" without Watchmen) which has sort of stunted comic book heroes into a sort of teenage rebellion stage. Rather than adding another tool to a tool chest, the distinct lack of the very thing that makes super heroes modern mythology (there's no wonder here) created something else--this other space that has since been creatively mined into a self parody. So, I would say that is a failure. ironically, in Moore's attempt to expand hero narratives, in lesser artists/writers hands, the Watchmen standard has somewhat reduced the pliability of super heroes. All of this is my opinion, of course and not to disparage the books.
@@michaeld1889 I agree. I love Watchmen, more so than Frank Miller's Dark Knight, but both works were completely misunderstood and led to readers, writers, and artists wrongfully believing that making superheroes jaded, flawed, psychotic, and misanthropic would make them interesting when, ironically, those traits just make them ridiculous. That's why I prefer the brighter counterparts to both those books: The New Frontier and All-Star Superman, since they both embrace their superhero roots with honesty and remind me of what superheroes should be about. Most current comics are just ashamed of the superheroics, turning them all into nihilist dramas.
its a good book but it has been built up a bit too much, you have to remember that at the time there was nothing like it it did subvert what we thought the comic book was an could be.
No. DK is great. But a few things hold it back...a BIG Reason Watchmen is better is the Art. Dark Knight is ugly to look at... Dave Gibbons brought a cinematic quality to Watchmen, that Frank was Trying To do..
Justin Baggett I'll give you that but I for one love Frank Miller's art style. Though it doesn't quite have that cinematic quality Dave Gibbons gives to Watchmen, it still suits the story. Frank Miller's penciling is very solid and grungy if you will. Which translates well to a dystopian setting. Usually this would work best in a smaller setting, like an alleyway or a city street. But Frank Miller gives it a sense of scale. Not as big as Watchmen, but bigger then what that art style would usually work in. Even with this in mind, I still prefer Watchmen over TDKR. For a multitude of reasons. Including Dave Gibbons art.
The reason why I love Watchmen is because it's psychological realism. It isn't trying to be dark and edgy, but it's just showing how scary the world really is.
... how scary the alternate world really is ... the real world scares if you go outside or look into the newspaper ... "back to future" 1985 was also kind of scary, like real world 1985 in a cold war scenario with nukes, with the nukes still existing today ...
If you haven't seen how scare our world is, you haven't really done your research.
I love watchmen but being dark and edgy was part of the intention. But done in a good way
@@JoseAlberto-sk9lq No. Not at all. The book is sober and not at all excessive. The film however is absolutely and utterly in love with the horrors in the story, which is a big part of why it misses the point.
I love how human the Novel is. It's almost tangible humanity within the pages.
i love how distinct and unique and realistic this comic book was
It is so refreshing hearing people gushing over this thing. I wholeheartedly agree with it all
Fun fact: The writer Alan Moore signed a contract that stated once the book has been published the rights to the story would revert back to him. After the book's huge success, DC made sure to NEVER stop publishing the book, so DC/Warner Bros could keep ownership and ensure Moore would never own the book he wrote.
When DC bought a shit-tone of Charlton Comics characters, Alan Moore took these terribly dry heroes and made Watchmen, one of the greatest comics of all time.
+SAGE Good point. I remember when that happened.
Joseph Dungee Wow, that makes me curious. Can I ask what the world's reaction was when this first came out?
SAGE I don't remember it being as big as "The Dark Knight Returns". In my opinion, that was a much more celebrated release and so I have a problem with all of the hoopla for Watchmen because I just don't remember it that way.
Joseph Dungee I better get to reading _that_ before "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice".
The question certainly isn't dry
0:30 didn't expect this!! seeing 2000s Gerard always makes me happy
Read the Umbrella Academy, he wrote those and they are great
Carla Gugino is the most underrated smokeshow in Hollywood
Alan Moore was never spoken in this movie. I just want to point this.
I'm late to this but, he never liked Watchmen (his own story).
He himself signed a contract to make sure he wasn't.
It's funny because publishers saw this and said 'Let's make everything darker and grittier' when Moore and Gibbons actually just tried to take a real life look at comics while also satirising comics (hence the characters and ending with the alien squid).
Real life was darker and grittier than comics back then, so you can't blame them for not quite grasping the fine point.
I like how even the actors in the film care about the graphic novel.
And the crazy thing is that most of the main cast (excluding Jackie Earle Haley) didn't know anything about the comic until they were cast. Imagine getting cast in a movie and finding out not long before production starts that it's an adaptation of one of the finest pieces of literature ever put to page.
They were paid to.
"It was actually while I was reading the novel that I got the call..."
No, that never actually happened.
Oh hey! I see you have the powers to sense bullshit too! Glad I'm not the only one born with such an amazing gift!
lol no shit sherlock
She auditioned for a role. While she was waiting to find out if she got the job she was reading the source material. What is so unbelievable about that?
I enjoyed the film, even some of the changes made still worked in my opinion. The only real flaws in my eyes were some of the overly stylized action sequences (not all of them, some worked) and the fact that they tried telling such a complex and in-depth story in one film. Even with it's 3+ hour run time, I still feel like making it a two part story would have inhanced it significantly. Again, just some constructive criticism, I still stand by this film as an acceptable film adaptation of a true masterpiece of literature.
The Great thing about Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns is that they changed comics; the bad thing is that they changed comics! Everybody and I do mean EVERYBODY tried to "out Moore, Moore" and "Out Miller, Miller"! Comics just couldn't be fun anymore and that's how we got the "Dark and Gritty" 90s! There's some pushback now and that's GOOD!
It is a HUGE shame the film was underrated I mean it was GREAT
(Well, my opinion it was).
Too many people went into the theatres expecting an action blockbuster, having not read the graphic novel prior, and going home disappointed.
Arliss Caruso Oh god yes. Nowadays even though i'm in love with the abundance of superhero movies coming out nowadays, the casual fans don't really bother to read comics so thats why people were frustrated with Watchmen. Its not all action and fights, its a good storyline and plot driven like the series. If people bothered to actually read the book and get an understanding what its like it won't disappoint.
Dakotah Stricker I imagine they would have been much more appeased if they had actually included that "alien" projection at the end to trick the world that it was aliens responsible and not Ozymandias.
Oh yeah most definitely. It depends on how Zack would of filmed it but it could of been the better ending then oh Dr. Manhattan did all this lets team up together and try to stop him like the world did at the end of the movie.
Dakotah Stricker it's wierd because his dr manhatten's abilities were known, and so was his patience, logic, and understanding. It just seems uncharacteristic... and now all of a sudden? No doubt half the population would've been skeptical. With the alien it was unexpected, it's powers uncertain, therefore, driving a more palpable sense of fear.
watchmen... like wrist watch, time, clock, watch.... holy fuck... it hits home for me.
I love how they completely butchered the trigger for world peace in the movie. John's reasons for leaving earth become completely different. Also I believe they cut out the create life line which really furthered my view of John as a god and I believe was the essential ending line to the climax.
Cody Wolfenbarger they made it more logical actually.
Instead of squid that appeared in NY out of nowhere and instantly died there were explosions created around the world. So it makes more sense for Soviets to unite with US, rather than just drop in NY where "alien invasion" was.
after seeing what it could have been in the HBO Watchmen series is disheartening
Theres some truly awe inspiring cinema in Snyders Watchmen film, that opening is a thing of beauty, I just wish the Snyders were a little more sophisticated because the Watchmen film couldve been an all time classic, alas its just a little too dumb to do Moores original vision a service. Still love half a dozen scenes in it tho, say what you like Snyder is a genius visually
phenomenol! alan moore is just of a wholly different level and magnitude from any other comic writer (or writer fullstop) !!!
I remember the advertisements for watchmen in other comics at the time, they were just full pages with who watches the watchmen on them. But I never read it till years later, and for that I'm glad because I would never have got it at the time. As far as the movie goes, it's the only comic book movie that I can watch over and over, and not get tired of it
the watchmen movie became my all time favorite. Its so unique and it just keeps getting better and better every time i watch it.
you need to see the full extended version too.
Ben Tillotson i live in germany and they dont have it sadly =/
Gonna watch it probably online somewhere
+Ben Tillotson yeah, the Ultimate Cut is the only version worth watching, though the director's cut version isn't terrible and fixes most of the problems with the theatrical cut.
too true you have to have the tale of the black freighter in there
This is the very best Comic I've ever read (if you could call this masterpiece a Comic, this is a Classic Novel).
The movie was excellent!
"Nite Owl II: What happened to us? What happened to the American Dream?...
Comedian: "What happened to the American Dream?!" It came true! You're lookin' at it...
The Comedian was so right it isn't funny anymore...
Watchmen is a Classic
yes, it is the citizen kane of comics BUT: not watchmen was initial changer of the industry. moore´s miracleman was the spark.
And Squadron Supreme explored similar concepts in the 80s as well.Watchmen is excellent but not the first
Not at all. We have to thanks marvel comics for trying to brake the rule of the comics code authority by talking about drug use (Norman osborn) and also showing a brutal death in a comic book (Gwen Stacey) it was the 70s.
The best comic-novel ever!! And the best movie based on a comic!! Awesome job!!!
windi1982 Exactly. Its truer to the comic esp costumes and more believable and behind it are The Dark Knight, V for Vendetta, The Crow, 300, and Mystery Men.
***** I saw both and didn't care too much for them. Something about Robert Rodriguez films...eh.
im not gonna lie, there were so many moments in this GN, that i had to put it down after something i read, and say "OH MY GOD!!".
the moment when Rorschach said, " im not locked in here with you, you're locked in here with me".
i lost my shit.
This changed everything for me.
I doubt that because In the book its not as epic as in the movie since you never see Rorschach say it the psychologist just says he said it.
John Webb Bro, I seriously was the exact same way when I read it.
I'd watch this movie three times a day if I didn't have to work or study
" The Watchmen" is one of the greatest graphic novels/comic books ever made. It wasn't the first one to change the look of comic books though. It was "The Dark Knight Returns" and "Ronin" both made by FRANK MILLER (the absolute master).
After reading "Watchmen" i realistę how do i want to draw comics (i always wanted to be a comic book artist). You know Dave Gibbons - god.
I agree that Frank Miller did good with those comics and sin city, but i kinda hate the things he did to Batman's character and other characters in the Batman and Robin allstar series. That "goddamn Batman" shit is being repeated too much.
I disagree. I think Miller had a couple of good ideas, but was no where nearly as consistent as Moore. Moore, I will always argue, was the greatest comic book writer of his generation.
Cap'n Mo
Moore is my favorite aswell, Miller fucked up waaay to much lately to even put him close to Moore. However, there are quite a few other amazing writers, such as Jack Kirby, Mark Waid, Jeph Loeb, Grant Morrison, Gail Simone, just to name a few.
Cap'n Mo cough cough Neil Gailman please
Cor Tadew Gaiman is brilliant, too. Love his work. It's because of creators like Moore, Gaiman, and Morrison, coming along at the perfect time after Eisner's hard push of the medium into mainstream acceptance, that comic books became recognized as being capable of producing literature.
The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, Daredevil, Watchmen. Frank revolutionized the genre. I know he feels a little guilty about being responsible for the dark and gritty modern day comic book stories but seriously, the audience who love these stories are NOT juvenile, grown ups who still believe there is a hero in all of us
Frank Miller didn't write Watchmen
one very significant voice is absent from this pseudo-doc- to my complete relief.
Problem is the movie is dark and bleak(visually), while the graphic novel has eye-popping contrasting colors.
A work of art!
Did you know that Alan Moore hates the watchmen movie and hates holly woods.
+diojo stando z holly shits
Phreaker1997 nice pun.
He's never seen the movie.
What's to hate?
diojo stando z Yeah comic book movies are not only incompetent but they can be very poorly written at times
This isn't the documentary I was looking for, there was another one just like this, but back before the film was made.
"Absolute powers corrupt absolutely "
that was in Dawn of justice trailer
I think Zack Snyder was trying to recreate watchmen magic in mainstream DC characters and for me I understood but for most people it didn't work
Great graphic novel and a great film. I was pretty much 100% Marvel until I read this
Yeah i like both marvel and dc but i can't really see marvel pulling off their own version of a watchmen esque book with their characters or completely new characters.
5:40 he made nite owl to be like batman/robin, and the new nite owl looks like batman, and he has a "cave" and an aircraft. everything thinked carefully!
I HEART WATCHMEN!
say what you want about the movie but it made me to want to read the comics so thanks zack snyder
DC is a lot more serious and dark with brilliant people like Watchmen and Batman...but then they have Shazam and Aquaman and Wonderwoman and superman...Which kill it
Look I love DC Comics & Batman Is My favorite but i think Superman has his place, i think they should make him a bit less gay haha no offence but id like him alot more sober
Not every comic needs a serious and dark tone. Even though DC has mastered that atmosphere, I don't think every Super-hero story needs to be like that. Even the less serious stories have their own place in this universe. Comic relief isn't a bad thing, I mean look at Marvel's Deadpool, his stories are by no means heavy or weighty. Yet they are beautiful in their own right. Like wise not all of Marvel's stories are wacky and zany. ( i.e. Punisher MAX, and X-force)
You're acting as if Watchmen and said Superheroes are both in the same world. You are wrong.
DeadShot1307 it's not DC, it's Alan Moore. His work is the complete opposite of DC's golden age era comics, now he hates comic book companies or superheroes because he thinks they're "abominations".
John Constantine basically.
While I'm glad for Watchmen's success, I think it's unfairly judged as a single "phenomenon", basically claiming it to be a singularity "above" all other comics/"graphic novels".
In truth, there are quite a few comics that I consider on equal footing in terms of quality to Watchmen, some of them arguably even surpasing them, but the general, non-comic-reading public seems to prefer to think of Watchmen as the only truely worthwile "graphic novel" to read while all other comics are simply "kid's stuff" or "gory schlock" to them.
What makes it easy to think that way and only flock towards Watchmen is its very down-to-earth setting despite showcasing super powers, its very "neutral" way of storytelling (which is truely masterful) and the fact that it doesn't showcase any previously established superheroes like Superman, Batman or Spiderman.
However, I still think the general public should probably give some of the best of those more "traditional" comics the benefit of the doubt, a lot of the truely great ones are neither needlessly gory nor "kid's stuff" and they don't depend on you knowing a lot of backstory either.
Some examples of great comics for interested people: "The Sandman" (by Neil Gaiman), "Batman: The Long Halloween", "Kingdome Come" and Grant Morrison's run on "Animal Man" (though the last one can get a little weird at times).
I would also say that numerous older issues of 2000 AD, Heavy Metal, and even Alan Moore's "Miracle Man" fall into a similar category
I agree there are many books that are on watchmens level but for me it's what it did for the industry
id say the sandman is better then watchmen
how about marvel? anything from them that can "top" watchmen?
Ervin Bernardez nope
The Watchmen miniseries (yes, miniseries, not Graphic Novel) is one of the best comic books ever written, showcasing heroes aren't "heroes" but jaded, misanthropic, and mentally unstable people who become crimefighters for selfish reasons, moved by a personal agenda rather than help others. Since its release, not only have many writers wanted to clone Alan Moore's work and infuse his deconstruction into already established characters, taking the joy away from superhero stories in order to be something they aren't, but an unskilled filmmaker seemed to have forgotten what the story was all about when turning Watchmen into a film.
Dauuum! Negan is a perfect Comedian.
Apart from Dave Gibbons and those who worked on the book, nobody in these documentaries knows what they are talking about. They aren’t “superheroes” they are costumed vigilanties. The group isn’t called “The Watchmen” either, they don’t have a name.
Omg Gerard I love him sooooo much
+cabohicks
Whilst I have to agree with the other posters, who have argued that it is rather imperious, arrogant and foolish to state that you dislike like something that you have never read (and I can't understand why you would post on a UA-cam thread that discusses a documentary that is about the book you say that you dislike), I have to point out that there are other comics out there. So, if comic books that are aimed at less mature audiences are your thing, then go and enjoy them and leave those you enjoy works of this nature to their own pleasures.
I personally cannot stand the range of Marvel comics that are aimed at the "tween" audience. However, younger members of my family love them to pieces. I wouldn't dream of criticizing their tastes, spoiling their enjoyment or frowning on their choice of comic.
It is also a strange thing that Maverikk68 should write that comic books and graphic novels aimed at mature audiences, in general, and Watchmen in particular, have, "Changed comic books for the worse. It led to the destructionof innocence and children audience" (sic) because, as I wrote earlier, there are still many comics, from the "My Little Pony" comics to the superhero books aimed at the "tween" market, that are widely available. If anything, books like Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns have led to a greater range of comics and more titles due to mature audiences, who have a greater spending power, buying comics and, therefore, providing comic book publishers with greater profits (not forgetting that the increased interest in mature comics has led to more screen adaptations, both for cinema and television).
To finish, cabohicks, I do hope that you overcome your prejudice and read a copy of Watchmen (available at your local library) because, as always, there is far more on the page than a film adaptation can ever do justice.
In the meantime, enjoy whichever comic books do interest you and leave others to enjoy theirs.
All the best.
I agree to trash on an entire medium because of a certain target audience is bull shit and completely ignorant. As for maverick I wouldn't worry about him dudes a racist rock star wannabe dude has no say on the matter.
I personally think the manga “Berserk” is the greatest manga of all time the same way “Watchmen” is the greatest comic/graphic novel of all time. Does anybody else agree with me?
I just click on this because I was like "Watchmen, lets watch some awesome stuff about my favourite comic." Like normal shit. Then Gerard appeared and it became too much. Fave comic + fave band = *heads explode* Sorry, I had to pause. Continue.
It was a phenomenon because it was written by Alan Moore. 'Nuff said.
Gerard Way
My Chemical Romance AND Comic Book Writer
Alan Moore is a genius
It’s cool they have Gerard way in this video
Watchmen is a master piece
I really think that it's the best graphic novel i've ever read.
I was a HUGE (and i'm) fan of comic books earlier, my favourite artists : Frank Miller, Enki Bilal, Grzegorz Rosiński, Marc Silvestri (and many more) and i always wanted to be a CB artist. It was the novel after wich i realistę how i want to draw. You know Dave Gibbons - god.
I have to disagree with this video. "Watchmen" wasn't the first comic book that changed comic books. It was "The Dark Knight Returns" ( published almost a year before Watchmen) and "Ronin" (published 3-4 years before Watchmen) they are both wrote and drawn by Frank Miller (the absolute MASTER).
Thank you for uploading!
Great video but I would like to have the songs that have been played in the background at the end
When Comic book stories come to the big screen there is only one able to do it masterfully .... Zack the Boss Snyder !! ... Boss make a version of the DKR for Ben pleaaaase !!!
The phenomenal comic that originally warned not to trust war profiteers or the media companies interlaced with them, just like Orwell, Bradbury, and every visionary author warmed us about, right, TimeWarner?
I wish Allan Moore was interviewed in this.
You know what bothers me about the film though?
Try watching it with the book in hand - pretty much every line is changed.
And people who don't swear - swear, and people who do swear - don't' swear.
Stuff like that :/
Motion comics: Good idea, usually poorly executed.
@22:41 being an unfortunate example of this.
I disagree I saw the whole story motion comic it was not a very bad interpretation
The motion comic was awesome, and if I had not watched it I would have never read the comic or start reading comics ever. The motion comic will always be better than the Synder film bc it's the actual material panel for panel
i could only hope my comis are as good as this one
Calling all Graphic Novel buffs!
Can anyone recommend a graphic novel similar to Watchmen in its dark apocalyptic tone please? I'm looking for something more about crime and less about superheroes.
Whiteout I hear is a good series. There's 2 books published and a 3rd supposedly on the way. Its about a U.S Marshal stationed in Antarctica trying to solve a murder. (Yeah the movie with Kate Beckinsale was based off of it, but the movie is leagues of rubbish behind how good the Graphic novel is)
Brilliant, thank you, I'll check that out. Are there any graphic novels of a similar tone that are in urban settings?
Not that I am aware of, i'm not actually a big reader of comic books/graphic novels in general. Other than watchman I guess I could recommend some of the Frank Miller Batman stories but you've already said you're not keen on any superhero stories.
Other than that, I'm afraid I got nothing :(
KiddCrowley Hey man that's some great recommendations to check out. Thank you again!
ghettowinnebago frank Miller.
It's the only movie so faithful to the comic book it's based on. You can't really copy it line by line, because what would be the point in watching it by those who had read the book.
Alan Moore said he doesn't make any money from this success because he was ripped off by the comic companies. He doesn't have a good word to say about them. Whats the truth?
As I recall he doesn't make any money from Watchmen because he stipulated that it should go to Dave Gibbons & John Ridgeway, Just like the money from other characters he created for DC and Marvel goes to his co-creators who worked on those books, Rick Veitch & Steve Bissette for instance being that they were the artists on Swamp Thing make money from all the Swamp Thing TPB reprints that are sold, They also make get money from any use of John Constantine from the Constantine film to the TV series Constantine as does Jamie Delano who wrote Hellblazer, David Lloyd has the same arrangement as regards V For Vendetta.
I believe that's still the case, although I'm no lawyer so don't quote me on it. ;-)
cha5 Thank you for that reply
Probably why Alan Moore doesn't show up on a lot of the Watchmen stuff
Alan Moore just comes off as a really paranoid dude.
Arliss Caruso I'd call it more of a distrust in the big two of the industry than anything else.
Although I'll admit that when Moore has a falling out with someone it's usually terminal.
He and Dave Gibbons are from what I understand no longer on speaking terms due to Watchmen and it's aftermath and the fact that it's become something of a poison pill between the two of them.
!!!!!!!!! ALAN MOORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Try reading the manga called Gantz, you will be hooked.
3:11 "We were really trying to blah blah blah".. "We" as in "We fucking stole it from Alan Moore and tried to milk it with Before Watchmen and all the other shit"
The great classic!
Just finished it. Shit was amazing
Zack Snyder is a hack. He’s obsessed with slow motion in order to distract from the empty and surface level storytelling in his movies. His adaptation is superficial lip service that doesn’t understand the themes of the story. There is no depth because Snyder is more interested in ‘cool, dark, and gritty’ aesthetics. The story is about these heroes becoming the villains they were meant to stop by believing the ends justify the means. Snyder thinks it’s about the power these characters possess, which leads to this vapid presentation. I saw the movie first and thought it was totally forgettable and I made no connection to the story’s themes or messages. Then I saw the motion comic and was blown away by one of the greatest pieces of American fiction.
The movie was WAY too short. I did hear about the director's cut but haven't seen it yet. Hope it managed to cram in EVERY single detail from the book, as hard of a task at that would be.
Woah . . . 04:54 : Dat Rorschach :P
What was up with the dubbing in that motion comic? It's all done by one guy!
Strange how alan moore was not in this.
Alan Moore has many problems with DC. Here's one of them in his own words:
It strikes me that the WATCHMEN contract which after all were signed upon the understanding, we were led to believe, that we would have the rights revert to us as soon as the books went out of print, which in the industry standards of the time, it was inconceivable that that would be more than 12 months. There had never been a comic book until WATCHMEN that had actually been in demand for more than 12 months, let alone 25 years. So immediately it became apparent that DC weren’t going to let WATCHMEN go out of print, we had suggested that in light of the success of WATCHMEN, perhaps our contract could be re-negotiated. DC were very reluctant to do this, even though there were things coming up that were starting to make it impossible for me to carry on working with them. The fact that I felt we had been swindled out of our just desserts on WATCHMEN, the property had been taken away from us by stealth or at least in my opinion, that was going to drive a huge wedge between me and DC Comics, which it did. It didn’t seem to me to be the brightest move, that from where I was standing, in that WATCHMEN seemed to have been the biggest boost to the comics industry and specifically to DC Comics, that they could have possibly expected.
Learn more here:
www.bleedingcool.com/2010/09/09/alan-moore-speaks-watchmen-2-to-adi-tantimedh/
Also the comic Alan Moore hates and wishes people would forget about.
HOLY SHIT, GERARD WAY
No wonder it didn't get the depth of the comic book. Watchmen is way too complex to be your first comic book read. It's like reading Ulysses by Joyce when you just learned to read.
The Watchmen movie has way too much CGI. That's not how movies are supposed to be made.
Watchmen was great because of its symmetry, complex characters and story, unnassuming commentary on race, politics, morals, ethics, law , justice , humanity etc. however most comics "writers", the immature bozos that they were (image comics writers especially but marvel and dc too) all they saw was blood, swearing and nudity and so they sold it as "mature". giving us the worst era of comics: the 90s.
a comic from the 40s "The Spirit" an early inspiration for watchmen didn't have nudity or swearing and very little blood but was still more mature then any 90s comic because it had stories that respected your intelligence and characters that were complex human beings.
I agree with you on the most part but I still think that Spawn was great.
Zeke Payne this comment may be 2 years old. But, holy cow does it still ring true. For years comics have tried imitating either Moore or Miller, and failing miserably.
Gotta love the lack of Moore in this
it really makes me upset that they never once mention Alan Moore
+Jordan Allen
they do. Who do think they refer to as Alan?
Allan Moore has never see his watchman movie.
OTHER gn's that were/STILL ARE awe-inspiring: "Sons of Liberty" & Sons of Liberty:Death and Taxes"..."KaijuMax"..."Enormous"... just to name a few...
Why is Alan moore never mentioned???
It's a shame, Alan Moore is barely mentioned in this documentary shit.
Hey Watchmen fans! Check out this awesome song by Pluto Nash called "Ozymandias" on Soundcloud from the Pluto Nash CD "Who Watches The Watchmen?" 13 songs about all the Watchmen/Minutemen characters! Even Dollar Bill!
soundcloud.com/pluto_nash/pluto-nash-ozymandias
And to blame for New 52!
See DC Rebirth for how its darkness removed hope from comics (and film).
"It was the first book to change everything you knew about comics".
Okay, What the fuck is that supposed to mean?
Yet the creators made no money off of watchmen
DC f*cked over a lot of creators. Starting with Siegel and Shuster.
Does people read manga? I don't understand why they are so impressed about this little details...
As an artist who does read manga, and has read watchmen, I can say that it really is impressive. It's a great land mark in the industry. Manga is a whole different thing. For years American comics were just for children and then books like watchmen happened. Honestly I think it's better than most manga I've read.
Watchmen is the first comic book I've ever read (aside from bits of various webcomics) and I wasn't too impressed by it. I understand the artistic skill and the book had its moments, but I was mostly uninterested except for in the most climactic scenes. I feel like I'm missing something because I'm one of the only people who isn't enthralled by Watchmen.
If you wanted to pursue it further, I would suggest looking at the annotated version of the graphic novel for a little bit of immediate context specific to the panels, but other than that theres two books Watchmen and Philosophy and Watchmen as Literature. They could help?
Oh and SuperGods by Grant Morrison can help too! Even though Morrison and Moore aren't friendly...Morrison does give Moore his respect while also talking about how Watchmen both succeeded and failed.
@@michaeld1889in what sense did Watchmen fail?
@@MutantsInDisguise While I personally feel that Watchmen is a deeply layered masterpiece, and when taken in context with its peers, it has this "weight" to it that reveals it to be literature more than "graphic novel." So, in other words: it deserves its accolades. In terms of how it fails: I feel like in Alan Moore's attempt to "humanize" superheroes, it has lead some readers, writers, and creatives to believe that in order to be taken seriously, they need to create/write hyper real, hyper gritty, and neurotic superheroes (i.e.: there would be no "The Boys" without Watchmen) which has sort of stunted comic book heroes into a sort of teenage rebellion stage. Rather than adding another tool to a tool chest, the distinct lack of the very thing that makes super heroes modern mythology (there's no wonder here) created something else--this other space that has since been creatively mined into a self parody. So, I would say that is a failure. ironically, in Moore's attempt to expand hero narratives, in lesser artists/writers hands, the Watchmen standard has somewhat reduced the pliability of super heroes. All of this is my opinion, of course and not to disparage the books.
@@michaeld1889 I agree. I love Watchmen, more so than Frank Miller's Dark Knight, but both works were completely misunderstood and led to readers, writers, and artists wrongfully believing that making superheroes jaded, flawed, psychotic, and misanthropic would make them interesting when, ironically, those traits just make them ridiculous. That's why I prefer the brighter counterparts to both those books: The New Frontier and All-Star Superman, since they both embrace their superhero roots with honesty and remind me of what superheroes should be about. Most current comics are just ashamed of the superheroics, turning them all into nihilist dramas.
Yes, it did change comics. Spawned a whole new era, in fact. It was called the Dark Ages.
They tried to be as dark as Watchmen, but forgot everything else that made it such a masterpiece.
Frank Miller wrote this? , Right?
Alan Moore
Thankfully not
its a good book but it has been built up a bit too much, you have to remember that at the time there was nothing like it it did subvert what we thought the comic book was an could be.
On time motif - The WATCHmen ;)
The only thing I didn't like was the story that guy was reading about corpse raft. Snore!
And here's where all the try hards start bashing the invasion of their world by the normies.
The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller was better, period!! Best Graphic Novel of all-time.
+Joseph Dungee To each his own, and TDKR is still great, but I still think Watchmen is better.
Epicbenstudios np
No. DK is great. But a few things hold it back...a BIG Reason Watchmen is better is the Art. Dark Knight is ugly to look at... Dave Gibbons brought a cinematic quality to Watchmen, that Frank was Trying To do..
Justin Baggett I'll give you that but I for one love Frank Miller's art style. Though it doesn't quite have that cinematic quality Dave Gibbons gives to Watchmen, it still suits the story. Frank Miller's penciling is very solid and grungy if you will. Which translates well to a dystopian setting. Usually this would work best in a smaller setting, like an alleyway or a city street. But Frank Miller gives it a sense of scale. Not as big as Watchmen, but bigger then what that art style would usually work in. Even with this in mind, I still prefer Watchmen over TDKR. For a multitude of reasons. Including Dave Gibbons art.
Watchmen also had a bigger impact then TDKR. Think of it this way, The Dark Knight Returns changed Batman, Watchmen changed comics.
M
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None of these people got it.
Marlin Akerman destroyed the movie for me...