First Look At What Watchmen Will Look Like

Zach Snyder's official Watchmen movie blog has already been the cause of countless nerdgasms — especially after Snyder released photos from the set. Last week, the blog rumbled back into life with a look at the movie's storyboards which, if nothing else, act as proof that Snyder's future definitely isn't in illustration. Snyder talks about the boards, and we show more examples, after the jump.

Explaining the importance of storyboards to his process, Snyder wrote:

Storyboards play a vital part in my process long before I start sharing them with my team. I've always storyboarded my commercials and movies. It is a key part of my process for envisioning the entire film from beginning to end. In addition to using that drawing time to figure out blocking and action, it is also when I can begin to get a sense of whether the dialog and pacing are working. As you can see from these frames, my storyboards aren't necessarily super-finished art pieces on their own. I often find that the frames that get the most detail are the ones where I'm stalling - thinking of the next shots. In contrast, if I already have a sequence sorted out in my head, the boards tend to be much sketchier.

Look at the examples below, and see how closely that Snyder is keeping to the original artwork from the comic. Maybe artist Dave Gibbons' optimism about the project is well-founded after all.

Storyboards [Watchmen blog]

2:07 AM on Tue Jan 22 2008
By grae
3,224 views
19 comments

Comments

Katana_Mind at 02:23 AM on 01/22/08
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After all the apalling "translations" of Alan Moores work to the big screen, I'm not holding my breath. Although "Watchmen" is one of my favourites, it is perhaps the one work that is hardest to adapt, with all it's subplots and amazingly detailed artwork.

I'mean "V for Vendetta" was ok, but "The League" or "From Hell"....? They totally raped the source material.

I sympathize with you, Mr. Moore. Pray continue to write, but keep tabs on who ends up owning licensing rights to yer stuff.
gnz at 04:29 AM on 01/22/08
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@katana
What I found disturbing with the movie version of "V for vendetta" was how it lost most of it's subtleness. They seem to emphasise detail for watchmen, but knowing how this normally goes down, I don't hold much hope.

I would also love to see Promethea made proper, but that's never going to happen for many reasons.
ElijahDProphet at 05:17 AM on 01/22/08
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The funny thing about this movie is that I am most interested in how they are going to handle Rorschach's face. Will it be CGI, or will they make it from the same kind of material he described in the original?
braak at 06:04 AM on 01/22/08
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Connectedness Index: 990

@ElijahDProphet: I think that wasn't actually real material, was it? Don't you need an actual Doctor Manhattan to make that stuff?
Katana_Mind at 06:25 AM on 01/22/08
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@braak:
W00t?
Are you talking about Rorscach's mask? Wich I presumed was made out of cloth/textile?
Where is it mentioned that it's made out of some strange material?
Imipolex_G-Unit at 06:52 AM on 01/22/08
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I wonder how they are going to protect American viewers from Dr. Manhattan's penchant for nudity. Boxer shorts decorated with hydrogen atom insignia?
goldfarb at 07:25 AM on 01/22/08
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Rorschach's face will be CG...and they're taking designs right from the comic...
Machete_Bear at 08:25 AM on 01/22/08
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@Katana_Mind: When Rorschach's past is being detailed, he talks about the dress being made from material that Doc Manhattan made possible. Notice how the mask looks different in every panel.
ElijahDProphet at 08:40 AM on 01/22/08
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@machete_bear: Was it that Manhattan made it possible? I am at work so don't have the issue handy, but he described it as 2 sheets of clear plasticy material with 2 liquids that wont mix between. He used scissors heated over a fire to cut it so the plastic would fuse at the new seams.

It sounds plausible, although there would be no way to see through it I think...
Katana_Mind at 08:55 AM on 01/22/08
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@machete_bear:
Well, shame on me then.
I've read it at least three times, but that piece of info must have either stored itself somewhere really deep into my subconscious or erased itself totally out of existence.

Maybe this is a clue to why I dream of ink blots so often?
Agro at 08:59 AM on 01/22/08
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@Imipolex_G-Unit: In a slight change to the plot, Manhattan's detachment from humanity will be severe from the start, as he explains he soon did not see the need for genitalia.
guibom at 09:17 AM on 01/22/08
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@Katana_Mind: It's made from two cloths sandwiched between some liquid material. It was created for a dress, but the girl didn't like it. Rorschach thought it was the most beautiful thing ever.

I'm afraid of this movie... I want it to work, because more people need to know about it, and eventually go read the graphic novel. But I'm sure the movie will also loose a lot of the subtleness, as GNZ mentioned. And the dialogs with double meaning (as seen a lot with the Black Freighter)... I don't see that working too well in a movie.
DrWest at 10:28 AM on 01/22/08
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I heard that the mask used in the filming is blank, except for some reference points and eyeholes, all of which will be removed and replaced with CGI.
Lab_Cat at 10:43 AM on 01/22/08
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I'm so nervous about this movie... The previous debacles are the reason that Alan Moore vowed never again to work with Marvel, DC, Vertigo, or any other major comic publisher, for that matter.
Watchmen is one of his greatest, followed shortly after by Swamp Thing... and I'd hate to see it butchered like League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was... *shudder*
aspiringexpatriate at 12:45 PM on 01/22/08
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People think Snyder's 300 kept close to Miller's image. Hell, even Miller thinks so. I don't. And this will be as shitty as 300.
aspiringexpatriate at 12:46 PM on 01/22/08
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@Katana_Mind: The worst part about V For Vendetta adaptation was that James Robinson wrote the bloody screenplay, and it still sucked it up compared to Moore's tale.
DrWest at 01:58 PM on 01/22/08
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I agree whole-heartedly. Snyder may have copied a few of the scenes perfectly visual-wise, but the heart and soul of the narrative was destroyed. I expect the same from his Watchmen adaptation, only much worse, considering this story is far more complex.
Lizfu at 08:28 PM on 01/22/08
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Yay! Another movie for Alan Moore to disown :D I wonder what it's like watching Hollywood destroy your brain children and offer them up as horderves for the Oscars?

Snarky comments aside, I think I need to change my pants....
SoulCarnival at 07:26 PM on 01/23/08
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I found 300 to look nothing like Miller's comics.

The frames were too clean and cg-looking and despite (I'm sure) a lot of talented folk working on it - it just looked like it was filmed inside a box. Which it probably was - but that's not the point. It just felt like the CG extravaganza that it was.

I'm amazed Frank Miller thought it was faithful to his work. Cognitive dissonance is a bitch.

I have no faith that Watchmen will fare any better.