New Watchmen Movie Poster

Now that The Dark Knight movie came and conquered this last summer it’s time to bank on the next big comic book movie. I personally am really geeked about The Watchmen. Directed by Zack Snyder who took the helm to bring Frank Miller’s 300 to life I feel like The Watchmen will get the treatment it deserves. Here is a new teaser poster for the movie that is coming out March 6th, 2009.

The scenes come right from the comic book

Zack Snyder’s break through film in Frank Miller’s 300 was a visually spectacular adaptation that continues down the path of stylized cinematics established by the success of Sin City.

I view comic books in comparison to film the same way I view books to film, they are two completely different medium and it would be foolish to think otherwise. I think the extensive storyboarding that was produced for the Matrix films and then published may led to this idea that Comic Books are just better rendered storyboards, and that just isn’t the case.

But Watchmen is a different scenario all together. Famous, critically acclaimed, and well established all of the Watchmen characters are iconic as well as other associated imagery like the Comedian’s smiley face button. All of the Watchmen posters to date have been taken right from panels of the comic book ‘chapters’ and this teaser poster of the Comedian plummeting to his death is no different. Check it out.

Here is the falling Comedian poster;

Here are the panels from chapter one. Not a direct translation, more like a frame / angle in between, but the inspiration is obvious.

What will the movie be like?

I don’t know, and neither does anyone else. I am hoping that Watchmen makes $200 million. The Dark Knight established that people are looking for a dark movie, and if this movie is faithful to the original story this film couldn’t be much darker.

But how do you fit all 12 chapters with the density and the subtlety into even a 3 hour movie? I just don’t think it will be done in a manner that will satisfy critics.

Good thing think isn’t my favorite story of all time. I will go there to see Zack’s interpretation push the visual envelope and see how he envisions believes the translation of Alan Moore’s novel.

I know that the teaser trailer and trailer so far have been amazing albeit overly dramatic. I am hoping that is for effect and nothing more. I absolutely love the choice of Smashing Pumpkins for the backdrop, it sets a perfect tone. Here is the new Watchmen footage that was just released showing the scene where the Comedian plunges out of his apartment window with a sweet effect showing the blood splash on the button.

Has anyone else been following the news on this movie? I can only assume if you have, you’ve read the comic book. If you think a successful translation of the comic can be done that will satisfy critics, how will Zack Snyder pull it off?

Here are some similar arcade posts

• Sin City (2005)
• Three New Dark Knight Posters!
• Spiderman 2 (2004)
• Upcoming Comic Based Movies for 2004
• Interesting Arcade Links – 2008-04-30

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