In this episode of WTF Happened to this Movie, we take a look at Zack Snyder’s divisive big-screen adaptation of Alan Moore’s Watchmen. Hollywood tried for years to turn this into a film, with directors such as Paul Greengrass, Terry Gilliam and more attached. In the end, Snyder, who was coming off of another ambitious graphic novel adaptation, Frank Miller’s 300, was the one who made it work.
The film boasts a unique cast. Patrick Wilson played the everyman hero, Nite Owl, while Malin Akerman was Silk Specter II, Billy Crudup was Doctor Manhattan, and Matthew Goode played Ozymandias. Best of all was Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach, a piece of casting many thought was brilliant, and even those who didn’t care for the film thought he was terrific. In the end, Snyder made a very expensive but undiluted version of Watchmen, even maintaining the alternate 1980s setting from the graphic novel. While some of his musical choices were a little on the nose (Tears for Fears’ “Everyone Wants to Rule the Word” when Ozymandias gives a speech?), the film has a lot of good points, especially in the longer “Ultimate Edition.” Yet, the critical and fan reaction was mixed. Even here on JoBlo, our writers were totally divided, with some of us thinking it was brilliant and others despising it. No matter what you think, it can’t be denied Snyder made an ambitious, uncompromised, and ultimately successful movie that paved the way for a unique HBO follow-up a few years back. We dig into all things Watchmen in this episode of WTF Happened to this Movie, which is written by Brad Hamerly, edited by Jeremy Hamley, produced by Ben Cantler, and narrated by Mathew Plale.
Do you like Zack Snyder’s Watchmen? Let us know in the comments!