Zack Snyder has been fighting Warner Bros.’ studio execs since before Comic-Con to retain the full length of his movie adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ graphic novel, Watchmen. The objective: to preserve the “core” of the story. While I’m sure this is still the case, it seems that at the end of the day the business aspect of the picture is still key. Longer movies=less turnaround=less tickets=less money.
According to Sci Fi Wire, the current cut of the film is down to two hours and 35 minutes from the previous length at two hours and 50 minutes. The length still hasn’t been approved however, and it’s likely it will be cut further.
As announced, Snyder has been trying to be as faithful as possible to Moore and Gibbons’ seminal graphic novel, which tells a complex story of superheroes in an alternate-universe 1985 New York. The graphic novel interpolates other comics and book excerpts into its narrative, something Snyder has been really trying to approximate in his film.
It sounds like with each minute more that is cut, we might have to settle for reading Moore and Gibbons’ graphic novel again. Here’s a little bit of comfort, the director’s cut on the DVD will be three hours and 10 minutes long, incorporating even more than the theatrical version as far as the details that bring the film even closer to the graphic novel.
That is exactly the reason why I do not waste my time and money in movies theaters. I will wait for the Blu-Ray and enjoy it in my home theater…