Watchmen - The Movie - From A Woman's POV

As Reported From The 2008 SDCC Comic Con  International!

If, like most of America, you saw The Dark Knight, you've probably seen the trailer for Watchmen and, like many in America, wondered what in the heck is this? Whether you're an avid Watchmen fan or a novice you have to admit the trailer was visually stunning and very intriguing.

So I was camped out for Comic Con Hall H on Friday morning to check out the Watchmen panel. 

First observation: this is a very different crowd from the "Twilight" group the day before. It reminded me of the way Comic Con used to be -- a lot of socially-challenged guys excited to see something the general public knows nothing about. Oh, and a lot of them smelled bad. Wow, it took me back.

As I waited in line I started to panic about who I would try to sit next to - after waiting in line for four hours, you really need someone who'll watch your seat while you hit the bathroom.  I sure didn't want to have to fight anyone too big or too smelly to get my seat back. 

Fortunately, as practically the lone female, the other attendees were too afraid to sit next to me, so I had a couple seats open next to me.  Eventually a skinny, nerdy kid asked if he could sit there and felt indebted to me when I said OK.  Problem solved.  Off to the ladies I go - and yeah - no line, in fact there were only about two girls in there with me.  It made me nostalgic for the way things used to be at Comic Con.

Well enough about me - here's what I learned from the panel:

Co-creator Dave Gibbons was thrilled to visit the movie set and "to stand inside the owl ship, and smell the Comedian's cigar." Look for Gibbons's signature woven into the graffiti which is featured in the movie - it's a G inside a square.  He signed the wall and the set designer incorporated into the design.  Cool. 

Just hearing Gibbons talk about his labor of love coming to the big screen was way cool.  He was like a little kid.

Director Zack Snyder (300) explained why he decided to take on the project.  While he was wary of living up to expectations, he figured that if passed on it and someone else messed it up, he'd still be responsible, so he might as well do it.  How's that for motivated? Actually he seemed very jazzed about it, and concerned about keeping the original material.

Asked about co-creator, writer Alan Moore's refusal to have anything to do with the film, Gibbons said he "wished Alan could have gotten over it and hadn't such a bad experience" previously.

I'm intrigued.  I survived Hall H one more time.  Now I need to land me a copy of Watchmen - forget about finding one in the vendor hall.  After days of trying I finally landed my Watchmen T-shirt.  Check it out as it is for sale... Click Here!

See you at the movie -- March 6, 2009.

Tina! 

Michael