Let us close out the week with a third Watchmen story, shall we? Dave Gibbons, the artist behind the iconic book, gave an excellent interview to Den of Geek. Of course, the first questions directed at him centered on the upcoming movie -- and while he's not officially involved, Gibbons visited the set and blogged about it in December. He has been unfailingly supportive of the film and all involved; the guy even created the first promo poster handed out at 2007's ComicCon.He was a little more guarded during this interview, but still admired what he had seen of the filming: "The most important thing is that the Watchmen movie be a good movie. From what I've seen of it, I think it is going to be a good movie, and I think it's going to be as faithful to the original graphic novel as is possible, given the constraints of a movie and the nature of a graphic novel. I think that as long as it's true to the spirit of the comic book, and as long as – in broad strokes - it follows the plot and the characterisations ... I don't think you can ask for every individual detail to be replicated. There are hardcore fans out there who'll be satisfied with nothing less than a word-for-word, line-for-line, scene-for-scene recreation of the comic book. I didn't believe that was ever going to happen. Certainly, from what I've seen of the movie, it looks like it'll be a good movie and very faithful to the comic book. If it isn't, it won't be for want of trying. Everybody's using the graphic novel as their bible, and really doing their best to pay tribute to it, I think. "
Gibbons also shared his feelings on Alan Moore's name being taken off the movie, as well how the film could affect his relationship with the writer. "Alan's excision from the credits is entirely at his request. I do respect his right to not have his name on the movie if he doesn't want to. So does everybody involved with the movie, and documents have been signed that mean his name will not be on it. I'm happy to have my name on; Alan and I, although we're friends -- and I really hope that throughout all this that we remain friends – we are two different people; we have our own experiences, and we each have a different position. I suppose I'm sorry that he can't see his way to having his name on it, but it's his decision and I respect it. My real feeling is that something which started off so creatively rewarding has actually come to a point where it can't be by 'Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' ...in an ideal world, that's what I would like. "
Could this really be the thing that tears Gibbons and Moore apart? I doubt it, but how sad that would be. Gibbons deserves a great deal of credit for being able to follow Moore's scripts to the letter without losing his mind. I'm glad the movie has the support of one of the creators -- and I hope it's the kind of movie that could sway Moore ... at least a little bit.
[via IMDB]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-29-2008 @ 4:27PM
Matt said...
I have high hopes for this movie, and the fact that Gibbons is enthusiastic makes me happy. To those who said that nothing less than a 12-part, $300 million HBO miniseries could do this justice, should be happy as well - with this, as well as the announcements this week about the Black Freighter DVD. 3/6/9 can't come fast enough!
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5-29-2008 @ 4:48PM
Riley Freeman said...
i wanna know what happens if this is a smash success a la 300? is he gonna come crawling back for the sequels o stay on the sideline?
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5-29-2008 @ 4:49PM
Riley Freeman said...
i should follow up my comment with i have no clue what the watchmen are and i dont know why everyone is so fussy about it. but im always up for a comic book/video game movie. I have never been a ironman fan and that movie was really good i cant wait to see the sequel. I turned on my ps3 to play the game but the games controls suck so bad i turned it right back off.
i hope it is good. i knew nothing about sin city or 300 and they are 2 of my most favorite movies.
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5-29-2008 @ 6:37PM
Sam said...
Here are the Cliffs Notes (as I understand them):
Watchmen is arguably the greatest graphic novel ever written. It is the only comic to make TIME's list of the 100 greatest novels of the 20th Century. Its writer is Alan Moore, an Englishman who has also written the graphic novels that From Hell, V For Vendetta and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen are based on.
Due partially to his dissatisfaction with the movies made from his work and partially due to V For Vendetta's producer claiming Moore had seen and approved of the movie when he had not, Moore has asked that his name be taken off any movie that's based on one of his works.
I'd be tempted to say he won't come back, but Frank Miller swore he'd never work in Hollywood again after Robocop 3 and now look at him.
5-29-2008 @ 5:08PM
ryan said...
I'm thinking no matter what Moore won't be happy with the Watchmen. Mainly, at the moment, since they cut out the Black Freighter stuff.
Moore seems to be a details guy who plots and plans every word. If it's not perfectly followed, then it's ruined.
No amount of movie success would change his mind, in my opinion.
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6-02-2008 @ 10:24PM
Mike said...
Alan Moore has been distancing himself from Hollywood adaptions of his work for years now. Ever since he got dragged into a lawsuit over LxG, even though it bares little resemblance to the original Graphic Novel, so I've been told I never saw the movie as it was clear from the previews they were telling a different story. After that he demanded that his name be taken off any future adaption of his work. Which probably happens as soon as the project is greenlit. He won't even accept any money for it. So since he wants absolutely nothing to do with the films I doubt any decisions the film makers make affects his option of the movies. He doesn't even watch the movies.
5-29-2008 @ 5:47PM
NvM said...
I just hope that it's a "Good Movie".
Ironman was a great 'superhero' movie but it wan alright movie in general.
Watchmen is much deeper and has a potential to genuinely a great movie, if they try and pull a Sin City and shoot it shot-by-shot it would fail worse than something based on the story. But it looks like it's in the middle which seems like the best way to go with this.
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5-29-2008 @ 7:28PM
Riley Freeman said...
ok thanks for that. ididnt know he did v and leauge. that said i enjoyed v for vendetta. the problem with why people probably complained about it is non comic book fans thought it would be somewhat of an action movie. i personally thought it was going to be one too. then a friend warned me that said i went in expecting lots of story. so i enjoyed it. now whether or not it stayed true to the novel that i dont know someone will have to answer that.
leaugue in my mind wasnt terrible it just felt like another movie again someone would have to give their opinion on if it stayed true
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5-30-2008 @ 2:53AM
KMatt said...
I feel I should warn you that this comic book is completely unlike anything you may think of when you think about superhero comics. If you come in expecting a "comic book/video game movie", well, you probably won't even know what hit you.
It is very much not at all like Sin City or 300 (ignore the fact that the same guy is directing, the movies won't have anything in common). It's pretty much nothing like Iron Man. There won't be any sequels. There can't be any sequels. If they manage to make a game, I'll be very surprised.
Oh, and you can ignore V for Vendetta and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen movies. The first was slightly, and the second massively shit compared to the books. They have nothing to do with Watchmen, or even much to do with the books they were based on.
However, I will say that if you read one superhero comic book in your life, it should be Watchmen, and the movie seems like it will be a decent adaptation - which is a hell of a compliment. Go see it. But read the book first. Hell, read the book regardless.
5-29-2008 @ 11:28PM
AJ Wiley said...
League destroyed the comics. I saw the movie before I had read the comics, and even then I didn't like it, so it has just as many issues with being a good movie on its own as it does with being a good adaptation. It is neither.
Moving on:
Everything I've seen from Watchmen looks fabulous. But I don't want to get my hopes up, because everything that Zack Snyder does LOOKS great but is never anything more. Dawn of the Dead was flashy yet moronic; 300 was pretty but empty. And after a while, neither of those films' looks are worthwhile: Dawn of the Dead eventually looked like the slick, manufactured Hollywood piece it was, and 300 came to feel distractingly artificial.
I really want Watchmen to be great, and I'm glad Dave Gibbons is for it, but until we see a trailer or a clip or something I don't know if I'm entirely sold. For the moment, my optimism shall remain cautious.
5-30-2008 @ 1:40AM
V.M.L. said...
Aww, too bad it can't be a "Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons" movie. :(
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