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RT News / Studio
Zack Snyder Talks Watchmen Effects and Characters
Plus, is it Dr. Manhattan's movie or The Comedian's?
by Fred Topel | June 30, 2008
Blog Article | Discuss Article

Zack Snyder won the Saturn award for 300, but all the talk at the Sci-Fi ceremony was of Watchmen. Still battling for his three hour cut, Snyder also revealed how much of the film's visual effects work is completed.

"I think the version I have right now has maybe two real Dr. Manhattan shots in it and they're not even done," said Snyder. "There are two shots that don't look like Billy [Crudup] in the light suit in the movie."

With the movie less than a year away (March 2009), shouldn't they be a little closer? "The visual effects supervisor is totally on it. I mean, exploratory of Manhattan and all that stuff has been happening and it's super cool."


Click for high-res images

For those who aren't ultra-comic book fans, Snyder offered a perspective on the Watchmen characters. "There are two ways to look at them. One says like, oh, it's like a dysfunctional family. It's like a Thanksgiving. Then you could also say they're all personality traits of a single person, which is also a really cool way to look at it."

Perhaps the two main characters are Dr. Manhattan and The Comedian, each of whom could be seen to drive the movie. "I think to me it's Manhattan's movie in a lot of ways, because it's his influence on the world but it's also The Comedian's movie in a way because it's his influence on all of them. I mean, Rorschach is seminal and he's everyone's favorite. And Jackie [Earle Haley]'s a frickin' rock star in the movie."


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Comments (1-17 of 17 posts) | Reply
jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jun 30 2008 04:26 PM

Awesome, cant wait for this.... BEST BOOK EVER!!!

(Reply to this)
jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jun 30 2008 04:35 PM

Yeah I would say Rorschach is the best character, 2- The Comedian, 3- Dr. Manhattan. I am just worried abouth how Night Owl is going to be like in the movie. They better release that 3 Hour cut.

(Reply to this)
Simple Minded writes:
on Jun 30 2008 04:40 PM

Definitely hoping for a 3 hour cut.

(Reply to this)
450491
Drunken Mastermind writes:
on Jun 30 2008 05:13 PM

3 Hours is the way to go. I was hoping that it would be Rorschach's movie, since he's in the book the most(and he's being played by the best actor), but oh well.

(Reply to this)
469258
The_Duckling writes:
on Jun 30 2008 06:15 PM

I've reached the conclusion about a week ago that Zach Snyder is actually going to do a good job on Watchmen (not that he didn't do a good job on 300, but I'm too young to get into that theater :-( ). If the 3-hour ( ?) cut doesn't get the theatrical show (which it should), at least all you fanboys and I will get to see the masterpiece on DVD/Blu-Ray where we can lament the fact that the reason we can't get a girlfriend/boyfriend/thing is because we bought the Amazing Extreme Super Duper Special Director's Full Final Real Cut of Watchmen. Not that that is me or anyone else, just a common stereotype, but whatever. See you in line!

(Reply to this)
575548
lovetomato809 writes:
on Jun 30 2008 11:30 PM

He is my favorite. I support him forever. I saw him on a mil lionaire & celeb rity dating site (r i c h ki s s . c om) last week. It seems he is turning to online scene for true love.

(Reply to this)
569224
Sly Shaitan writes:
on Jul 01 2008 04:07 AM

In reply to this comment (#1829063)
I think that there has to be a way of filtering these kinds of comments from the threads coz this same post is on absolutely all the forums; don't know about you but this is getting on my nerves. Thank you in advance administrator

(Reply to this)
265396
JMA writes:
on Jul 01 2008 04:14 AM

My two favorite characters are Veidt and the Doc, so I'm glad. Rorschach is a great character and all, but he's often misunderstood to be some scrappy underdog, when that's not who he is at all. He's a disturbed and crazy, yet oddly intelligent, vigilante who can only see the world in black and white (his strength AND weakness).

There are many different ways to see WATCHMEN, but for me it's more about Man vs. God than anything else. In other words, Veidt (the ultimate human) vs. Manhattan (God), with the future of Earth at stake. But that's only MY interpretation.

As for The Comedian, I've always seen him as more of a catalyst than anything else. He seems to be there to get the other characters to take actions. For example, his death inspires Rorschach's investigation and his nihilistic view of the world inspires Veidt to try to change it. He's essential to the plot, but more because he brings the other characters into conflict. He's like the Jerry Seinfeld of WATCHMEN.


(Reply to this)
LordVapor writes:
on Jul 01 2008 10:20 AM

Love tomato is a loser, and you peeps should ban him cause he is a solicitor. Cut off his nuts and glue them to his tongue ;)

(Reply to this)
LordVapor writes:
on Jul 01 2008 10:22 AM

In reply to this comment (#1829063)
I hope you die. You are in all the talkbacks...Your mom reaks of runny poop, and your father is a hamster.

(Reply to this)
BowieSwimmer writes:
on Jul 02 2008 06:15 AM

While I honestly feel that Zack Snyder is doing a wonderful job [at least from what I've read about his work while shooting and in post production, his heart really seems to be in this work, without a doubt he's extremely passionate]... I am very very apprehensive about the film. Most of the costumes look like a weak modern attempt at what Moore's envisioned, and the fact that effects have barely been worked on has me very worried.

I want nothing more than for this film to succeed; hopefully Snyder's three hour cut makes it into theaters. Still, I think three hours still isn't enough to tackle the depth that is presented in the INCREDIBLE original graphic novel [which is also my favorite pieces of literature, not just my favorite graphic novel. yes people, it really is that astounding. it reinvented what could be done in graphic novel as a form of literature and not just superhero pulp]. I think this would work much better as an HBO mini-series...
But I'll have to live with what is being released. Best of luck, I wish nothing but good fortune for everyone involved in this adaptation.


(Reply to this)
425356
TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Jul 02 2008 09:22 AM

Okay, that's it. I need to read Watchmen again.

I started reading it about three months ago and --here's where I get slammed on by just about *everyone*-- after getting about half-way through it, I wasn't that into it. I thought it was a little slow and plodding. And 'no,' I'm NOT the guy who needs blood and explosions on every page.

Anyway, I'm going to take another crack at it, as it would appear I'm missing something that many a fan of good literature are not.

I admit, either way, I'm intrigued by the possibility of this movie. Whatever my feelings about the 'novel, I would love for a cerebral comic book movie to do well.



(Reply to this)
564245
JRoss writes:
on Jul 03 2008 05:56 AM

Why is there a movie?
....seriously.
Watchmen is THE graphic novel-- it explores and perfects what graphic novels are capable of.
Making a film is not the logical thing to do.
But hey-- let's follow the comic book fad and make a hundred million bucks.


(Reply to this)
396802
kathzerion writes:
on Jul 03 2008 04:29 PM

In reply to this comment (#1832712)
The reason that Watchmen is a bit slow is because there are only about 6 comics worth of material that were then supplemented by about 6 more comics worth of autobiographical/backstory information (/Tales of the Black Freighter?). I think that this extra material is really worth it, especially for Rorschach.

(Reply to this)
429772
punktuate writes:
on Jul 04 2008 01:20 PM

MOVIE IS GOING TO ROCK HARDER THAN YOUR MOM'S HEAD AGAINST THE BED POST

(Reply to this)
61898
StonetheCrow writes:
on Jul 05 2008 01:21 AM

Okay, Zach.
Don't turn Watchmen into neo-con propaganda now.


(Reply to this)
61898
StonetheCrow writes:
on Jul 05 2008 01:22 AM

No ' let sleeping dogs lie ' bull****, okay ?
You know what I'm talking about.


(Reply to this)
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