As for Rorschach's origin, a couple of people on net put forth the idea they had to change it because his comic origin is too close to the first SAW movie, which I'd say is valid.

As for Rorschach's origin, a couple of people on net put forth the idea they had to change it because his comic origin is too close to the first SAW movie, which I'd say is valid.

The squid/Dr Manhattan changed ending bothers me a little, not so much because the squid was great – even Alan Moore admitted its a mcguffin – but because ultimately I think it changes what the ending means philosophically. In the book humanity unites to defeat a perceived common foe not to appease an angered god to prevent further "Sodom and Gommorah"-like attacks. But really this is a matter of nuance and really isn't that big of an issue.

Similarly the amped up action even for the characters who, unlike DR. Manhattan, do not have superpowers is a conceit that I'm willing to forgive to get asses in theater seats. Do I think It'd be a better film with out the tacked on action? Yes. Would it be successful in this medium without it? Probably not.

So really what bothers me are the changes that seem to be done for no reason. Normally in a film adaptation these kind of smaller changes would really pass unmentioned but in a film where obvious effort was expended to stick to the source these changes seem glaring.

For example Rorschach's "origin" with the dogs and their owner. Why was it necessary to have Rorschach kill the man with a cleaver (and brutally so) as opposed to letting him burn? Also why change the scene at the jail with the crime boss and the two thugs? Were these changes made to amp up the gore? If so why is this necessary? Do we need torture porn in modern R-rated Films?

Overall I think I fall into the group that accepts that this is about as good a Watchman film as our current film industry is like to deliver. At the end of the day the amount of discussion and debate the film has caused I think in many ways mirrors the impact of the source material, although for different reasons. Its hard to see that as a negative.

The squid/Dr Manhattan changed ending bothers me a little, not so much because the squid was great – even Alan Moore admitted its a mcguffin – but because ultimately I think it changes what the ending means philosophically. In the book humanity unites to defeat a perceived common foe not to appease an angered god to prevent further "Sodom and Gommorah"-like attacks. But really this is a matter of nuance and really isn't that big of an issue.

Similarly the amped up action even for the characters who, unlike DR. Manhattan, do not have superpowers is a conceit that I'm willing to forgive to get asses in theater seats. Do I think It'd be a better film with out the tacked on action? Yes. Would it be successful in this medium without it? Probably not.

So really what bothers me are the changes that seem to be done for no reason. Normally in a film adaptation these kind of smaller changes would really pass unmentioned but in a film where obvious effort was expended to stick to the source these changes seem glaring.

For example Rorschach's "origin" with the dogs and their owner. Why was it necessary to have Rorschach kill the man with a cleaver (and brutally so) as opposed to letting him burn? Also why change the scene at the jail with the crime boss and the two thugs? Were these changes made to amp up the gore? If so why is this necessary? Do we need torture porn in modern R-rated Films?

Overall I think I fall into the group that accepts that this is about as good a Watchman film as our current film industry is like to deliver. At the end of the day the amount of discussion and debate the film has caused I think in many ways mirrors the impact of the source material, although for different reasons. Its hard to see that as a negative.

Alan Moore was right in not wanting to watch this or ever wanting it to be put on screen.
It's a graphic novel, not a movie.

Alan Moore was right in not wanting to watch this or ever wanting it to be put on screen.
It's a graphic novel, not a movie.