WatchmenComicMovie.com Forum

Many folks were slated to direct Watchmen over the years before it fell into Zack Snyder's lap. Who would you have wanted to direct?

I think Terry Gilliam's interpretation might have been interesting to see. What about Bryan Singer? But, my vote goes to Zack. I think he's the best choice.

I'm quite happy with the job that Zack Snyder is doing, and I think that Terry Gilliam's vision would've been fantastic. Unfortunately, Snyder is still relatively untested and Gilliam's anti-studio tendencies would've slowed things down considerably. In fact, that's probably why his version of the movie never happened, but I digress.

Anyway, I'd like to go outside the box for this one. I want to suggest a director that's never been attached to this project but would probably do a good job. So I scanned my DVD collection for ideas and my eyes settled on a little flick called "Dark City."

That one was directed by Alex Proyas. He also directed "The Crow", "I, Robot," and he's reportedly in talks to direct an upcoming Silver Surfer movie. I think he could've done a good job with Watchmen.

Stanley Kubrick or Robert Altman. Kubrick for his ability to create films where every frame is amazing to look at and the stories are all filled with depth and complexity. Altman because he was the master of great ensemble films. An honorable mention would be PT Anderson, who I think could have brought a unique visual style to Watchmen, and also ground the characters in reality (albeit a slightly skewed reality).

Watchmaker, I'm absolutely with you on both Altman and Kubrick, for exactly the reasons you mention.

I think today, David Fincher could also pull it off with the right script. I'm not saying Snyder can't, he just wouldn't have registered with me if I was picking. I'm hopeful he'll have a good finished product.

I think that as long as Ang Lee or Ewe Bol stay away from it, it should be a fantastic ride; 'The Hulk' was awful and Ewe Bol is the Kiss of Death for any movie (just to mention a few of my least favorite directors). John Frankenheimer might be an interesting choice, but most of his movies fall short. 'Year of the Gun' and 'Ronin' were pretty good, but I find some of the other stuff he did to be mediocre at best.

Wouldn't it be interesting if Paul Thomas Anderson directed it though? Punch Drunk Love was one of the more interesting titles I've ever seen...

I'm totally with the Kubrick / Altman opinion though. Good call.

Actually, lavelle, Ang Lee might've done a decent job with the graphic novel.

The problem with Hulk was that Lee took too many liberties with the property, which any director with half a brain would know not to do with Watchmen. Furthermore, Lee ignored the "Hulk smash!" element so desperately needed and decided instead to focus on moralizing and character relationships. It was like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. But Watchmen, by the same simile, is a perfectly square hole.

I liked the Hulk a lot and Ang Lee could well have done the metaphysical side of Watchmen very well. Not so sure about the action, though.

I wasn't concerned with the liberties taken with the Hulk's saga, either. Had there been a long-running series of Watchmen adventures, then I reckon we would be more relaxed about how closely the film will adhere to the book. Take the novel "Frankenstein — a modern prometheus". Most of the films of note have diverted greatly from the novel itself. The first two Karloff films are true classics in the genre while the fairly recent Branagh version which followed the novel more closely is more of a failed footnote.

What I am getting at is that most of the audience of Watchmen will have not read the graphic story — some would have never heard there was one. It will be a movie and will work or not on those grounds.

Snyder's visual flair (as seen in 300) will work nicely if he stays with the program. The way the "deeper", "acting" parts of 300 were filmed lead me to think that he had better pull his socks up, though. There is some tricky dialogue that will have to be played very cleverly to not appear camp or unintentionally funny. That isn't just up to the actors. (Take SW I, II and III as examples! — fine actors pontificating in front of a director unable to get it right)

But as I am more interested in eye-candy, then I reckon it will have to do. 300 worked fine on that level.

As for my dream-directors that could handle this...

I'd like the guy that did 12 monkeys, but not the guy that did The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.

I'd like the guy that did Psycho, but not the guy that did The Birds.

I'd like the guy that did Schindler's list but not the guy that did Hook.

I'd like the guy that did The Killing but not the guy that did Eyes wide shut.

I'd like the guy that did Spiderman, but not the guy that did Spiderman III.



The french chap — Jean-Pierre Jeunet — that did "Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain" and "Un long dimanche de fiançailles" is clever with visuals, and can get people to act. (Audrey Tautou as silk spectre?).

The guy that did Pan's Labyrinth, Guillermo del Toro, did a fantastic job. He got some great acting out of his team for that one.

One of these reasons I started this site. So those interested in the movie who know little about the comic can learn about the depth of Alan Moore's graphic novel and perhaps pick it up and read it.

i picked aronofsky merely because i'm a fanboi of his

I think as long as the casting holds up (it looks pretty johnny-on-the-spot so far), Snyder will cowboy up and pull through with the actual acting sequences. '300' might have been an off example for that particular caveat, since it looked like he was going for the purist approach towards the graphic novel; most of the characters consisted of pure bad ass. King Leonidas' might as well have been named Chuck Steak - not really conducive to a heart felt monologue, but I digress... I think Snyder can do a decent enough job when it comes to scenes that involve sequences other than slow motion decapitation shots.

I got excited when I heard Darren Aronofsky was attached. I get the feeling that he would pay attention to the subtleties of the original work and create an cinematic equivalent.

I think having Terry Gilliam direct would equal the same kind of work if one had Tim Burton direct. Firstly Gilliam would probably have a stroke before he finished his vision and Tim Burton would just... just make it into an artsy fartsy Tim Burton flick.

I cant say Mr. Snyder is my dream director because he really hasn't done too much work. So far I've loved 100% of it though. I dont know why I feel Watchmen is safe in Snyder's hands. Perhaps because he doesn't come across as pompous.

I agree. I still have faith...

I think Aronofsky would be great, but the finest choice, in my opinion, is already dead.

Stanley Kubrick.

I can't say. No one director will ever be perfect for Watchmen. Snyder has his faults, but he also has some amazing talent that may translate well to the screen. I could say Kubrick, but I don't want a fifteen-hour long film.

REALLY good call on Chris Nolan...

I just think it's important that the director not take it upon himself to rewrite the story and start taking asinine liberties that fuck up the canon. Daredevil - nuff said. I STILL have a bad taste in my mouth from that one...

Before Snyder and right around the time where I became a Watchmen fan (two years ago), I would have said Aronofsky. I had just seen Requiem for a Dream and was very impressed with his style and it looked like a lot of images from that film were very reminiscent of Watchmen, but also I think he could have captured the apocalyptic, chaotic mood of it perfectly while paying perfect attention to all the nuances.

I also thought that Christopher Nolan could have done something great.

But right now, with the way things seem to be going, I am very impressed with Zack Snyder. He was the last guy who I would have considered for Watchmen. Not because I hated him or anything. I quite liked Dawn of the Dead. But he had just done that and I was awaiting 300.

Then a year later, I saw 300 and after seeing how faithful that had been to the graphic novel I thought that he just might be the perfect guy for it and so far with all the production stills, production journals and extra testimonies, I don't really see a reason to doubt. I'm cautiously optimistic.