First Look
Time to Watch a Watchmen Trailer
Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on July 17, 2008
We knew this was coming — we had reported last week that we knew the trailer for Zack Snyder’s Watchmen would be attached to The Dark Knight. So it was safe to assume that it would end up online sometime this week. And thanks to Empire Online, we have our first look at what appears to be a pretty breathtaking flick.
As expected, the trailer is absolutely breathtaking in its visual representation of the artwork done by Dave Gibbons on the Alan Moore graphic novel from which this is taken. For Watchmen fans, there will be nothing like seeing Rorschach, Night Owl and The Comedian on screen for the first time. And while I think there will be general complaints about the full-CGI Dr. Manhattan, played by Billy Crudup, I would argue that he looks pretty damn good. It appears that Snyder, as he did with 300, is trading realism with style. And if he stays committed to it, as he also did with 300, it seems to be his bread and butter. Personally, I couldn’t be more excited for this film — bring on the panel at Comic-Con!
Just click any of the screen shots below to see the trailer.
UPDATE: It appears that Empire has removed the trailer for the time being. We will be sure to let you know when it comes back online. For now, we’ve got a low resolution version. It is also now available in high definition at Apple.com.
What do you think of the first trailer for Watchmen?
Read more articles by Neil Miller
18 Comments
July 17th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I’m gonna watch the trailer until I go see The Dark Knight tonight, but after seeing these pictures I literally got chills up my spine. I mean I knew Snyder got the comic book just as much as any die-hard fan…but the visuals shown in the pictures exceed my expectations…WOW.
Dr. Manhattan looks great, the glow is kind of weird, but it’s probably how he would actually look like in real life. It looks much better than how it would’ve been had he chosen blue make up.
Archie, Ozymandias, Silk Spectre and Dr. Manhattan all look great, however the ones that stand out to me the most are The Comedian and Dr. Manhattan’s Palace on Mars…amazing.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Oh My God. Yes.
And they said it couldn’t be done…
July 17th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Gave me chills, looks amazing.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Ok. I’ve never read the graphic novel. I’ve never cared to. Things that “cool” seldom turn out to actually be cool.
But this looks pretty goddamn sweet.
I may have to pass on Samurai Girl after all…
July 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
That’s a really gorgeous blimp.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
..Whoa…
July 17th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
i must admit to knowing absolutely NOTHING about The Watchmen however i have just quickly done a read-up on wikipedia and my interest is definitely piqued!
Also, this trailer looks A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Zack Snyder certainly is a very different mould of a director, cos the look of this movie is awesome awesome awesome. Cant Wait!
P.S What qualifies a director as a “visionary”?
July 17th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Forget Obama or McCain, this November I’m voting Snyder/Ozymandias! Looks great. I’ve predicted great things for Snyder since his Dawn of the Dead remake and he looks like this will be 3 for 3. After Watchmen he’ll be launched into the same league as Tarantino, except he’ll continue to make good movies. Snyder is maybe my favorite working director right now.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
A quick tip: it’s even better on the 37th viewing.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
While it looks very good, “300″ looked good too and was frankly the most disappointing
movie experience of last year for me. I don’t know if I can trust Snyder completely before I
see more. So yeah, skeptical but willing.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Can anyone identify which remix of Smashing Pumpkins - End is the Beginning is the End being used in this trailer?
Thanks
July 18th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Its the Beginning is the end is the Beginning. B-side of the single. Awesome trailer, awesome choice of song
July 18th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I also need to add that in the comic, Dr. Manhattan was not my favorite character. I didn’t like his design for some reason (really smooth looking I guess) and he was a prick. In the movie, I’m sure he’ll still be a prick, but I’ll be damned if the look isn’t awesome. I like the musculature and all the detail.
The Comedian still looks like he’ll end up being my favorite again though. Such a badass.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Awful casting at first glance…
That Ozymandias looks like a wall street yuppy, instead of what should be the reincarnation of Alexander the Great! The Comedian could use some beefing up, that guy looks like he couldn’t take a biker, let alone Nam. and the CGI Manhattan should be the image of blue perfection, not a marvel hulk with steroid pectorals and WWF throbbing veins. jeez…
Despite of Alan Moore’s spite for the movie, i enjoyed the adaptation of V for Vendetta, let’s up this one just doesn’t suck as much as League of Gentlemen.
July 19th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
i only read your comment now Robert Fure. Wow man, we couldn’t disagree more. Manhattan in the comic was a symbol for pureness, wich was illustrated metaphorically in that moment when he chose the hydrogen atom for his symbol - the simplest element in nature. That’s also why he is so void of emotion and can almost only relate to mathmatics and logic.
In the trailer he looks to me like a neon zombie about to say Braaainss.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
WTF! i thought 300 was good who in there right mind wouldnt and League of Gentlemen i thought that was good and come on this trailer looks very promising i feel the book is becoming alive or some shit its like it jumped off the page but yea Manhattan will still be a prick GOD! i love Dr M but Damn i hate him too haha
July 24th, 2008 at 9:24 am
OMG! I know there’s something for every taste, but common! League of Gentlemen? Did you even read the comics? All those intricate and cleverly sewn literary references were completely bulldozed to make an empty trivial action flick and… TOM SAWYER?!? he wasn’t even in the original and they turn him into the teenage leading role just so there was an american icon among the giants? as far as i’m concerned that movie goes down in history as the worst adaptation ever! Alan Moore must’ve cried!
And what’s all this about M being a prick? I’m not keen to psychoanalyzing comic books but this is bugging me. I don’t understand how you can single him out of the crowd. Among characters like the rapist Comedian, the sociopath Rorschach, or the genocidal fascist Ozymandias (actual men, unlike Manhattan) i can’t honestly see how he’s the villain. Sure he was about to let the world end and showed little regard for life, but we’re not talking about a person here, he’s not bound to human beliefs and rules. he’s an abstract thinker, logic is his moral. It would be like blaming a machine for not smiling, or blaming God for not mingling. lol
August 9th, 2008 at 12:54 am
This looks like the movie is going be slow getting into the story