Who watches the Watchmen?

[jjreason]

I'm halfway through the movie (extended version) and didn't watch it in the theatre. So far, the lines & characterization of Dr. Manhattan and The Comedian are absolutely spot-on. Ozymandias only looks slightly silly, the Owl & (can't remember the girl's name) are close enough. The writing - if it's been tailored at all - is spectacular, again especially Dr. Manhattan's recount of his past as he gets to Mars.

Fist half of movie = 9/10. Hopefully it carries through.

Done. Very nicely wrapped up. This movie is a keeper - but some of the violence is so horrendous, I'd likely skip segments next time through. Call me a pussy if you like, but some of that shit was gross.

[Rollo Tomassi]

I liked it. I haven't bought it on DVD though. This seems like the potential to have several different versions with extended cuts and behind the scenes docus and such. Anybody know what the best version to buy is?

[Sleazer]

I'm getting a BluRay player for a wedding gift, so I plan on getting the 2-disc Director's Cut Blu set at some point this year...that probably doesn't help you since I'm clearly ignorant of all available choices.
I just know I will NOT get the 1-disc set.

[Rollo Tomassi]

I'm hoping Xbox wil have a BluRay in their next gen console, then I'll kill two birds with one stone. or if BluRay drop under $100. But I hate the thought of rebuying EVERY damn movie I like all over again.

[anarky]

The quality difference isn't sufficient. Even if I got a BluRay player, I'd still keep my DVDs and not upgrade any of them. I still think the industry believes people are ready to upgrade again, and I don't believe most people are.

[Rollo Tomassi]

It's funny because I see those ads for BluRay on DVDs when I buy them and they show the split screen of a grainy-ass image from Troy with all the ships and then the crystal clear version that is BluRay and I'm thinking "Shitty ass VHS tapes I've watched 100 times don't look that grainy. Who are you trying to fool with that crap?" It's like shooting themselves in the foot.

Also, I don't have a deluxe sensurround system hooked up to my TV (which is HDTV 45" flatscreen) and I heard 80% of the BluRay is the increased sound capabilities. I wouldn't be able to tell the difference on that either way.

[Sleazer]

I'm with 'Nark, I will definitely not upgrade...well maybe 1 or 2 exceptions if there are ULTRA-epic movies with more bonus features on my absolute favorite movies (for example if they did a "Fuckin' Quintana, that creep can roll, man" collector's edition of The Big Lebowski, then yes I would upgrade). Or after Season 7 of The Office, if they do a BluRay gift set then I might double-dip there. Star Wars Saga, of course I will get on Blu but really, it's been so far so good for me on NOT re-buying anything in anticipation of getting Blu. I've seen alot of cool flix at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc in the $8 - $10 range but I won't do it.

Thankfully I broke my DVD buying addiction several years ago, so when I do make a purchase it's rare and carefully considered.

[anarky]

The only thing that pisses me off about BluRay is Disney's approach to it. You can no longer get special features on the DVD. I'm willing to pay extra to get behind-the-scenes stuff on movies I like, but they're so geared toward getting everyone to BluRay, they don't want to take my extra couple of bucks.

And they (and other studios) push "BluRay Combos" for people, saying they can have the BluRay already when they get a player. Um, hello, wasteful much?

[Rollo Tomassi]

Well, a majority of the cost of any disc format is the coding and compression. Once they have that master copy done, pumping out a disc costs less than a buck (and then you pay anywhere from $10-30 for it. Suckaz!) So weighing the cost of making extra copies to sell to DVD owners AND the Blu-Ray owners is negligible. Especially since you think you are getting a 2fer1 bargain for a nominal price increase.

if you are talking wasteful as in the amount of extra plastic being used? Oh man, thats a whole other rant in my book.

Plastic is going to destroy humanity.

[anarky]

Yeah, I was referring to the actual disc. With the penchant for "BluRay Combos," Disney had become the new AOL.

Of course, they were on that path before BluRay. The worst of all time: Wall-E. That was one of the last movies they made on DVD with more than a couple of token special features. As the movie is about waste and its effects on Earth, the case for the Deluxe Edition was cardboard. Disc 1 was the movie and some features. Disc 2 was more features. Then there was a third disc, which was only the access code for a digital copy of the movie, which an awful lot of people wouldn't care about. And which could easily have fit on either of the other discs.

[Diabolical]

I haven't upgraded to Blu-Ray and have no plans to do so until my DVD players die or unless I get a PS3.
And when I do, I really don't plan on much double-dipping, only on a select few.


As for Watchmen, it has several releases.

Single disc DVD: Theatrical Cut

Double Disc DVD: Director's Cut

Five disc DVD: Ultimate Cut
1 - Ultimate Cut of the movie with Tales of the Black Freighter added
2 - Special Features
3 - Digital Copy
4 & 5 - Watchmen: Complete Motion Comics

As for Blu-Ray, no idea.

[Tom Foolery]

Watchmen came out 5 years ago last week.

We are all getting older.

[Ran]

Five years? Really? Last time I was in Big Lots, they had Watchmen: Tale of the Black Freighter.

[Tom Foolery]

I only remembered because the ad campaign was 03•06•09 with the smiley face as one of the dots.

[Diabolical]

I still think it's the best possible Watchmen adaptation we could have ever hoped for, outside of a 10-12 part mini-series on HBO or something.

I still don't mind the altered ending. A giant alien pussy octopus works on the page, but probably would have been laughed at on the big screen.