is a much better movie than what was in the theatre.

The characters have more room to breathe and everyone (even Ozzy) comes of better, more rounded, and more fully motivated.

The cheesy makup on Nixon is not as jarring on a smaller screen (even in Blu-ray) and Gugino's makup is also easier to bear. Maybe I'm just over the initial dislike.

I still have issues with how Snyder stages fight scenes with speed-up, slow down, speed-up camera tricks. but the big screen was not a friend to the frantic action

One has to wonder if this was how it would have been meant to be seen, or did Snyder restore scenes specifically to address viewers' complaints.

I swear there was a lot more Roarshak voice-over. It would be a small trick to get Haley to record some new stuff to address plot confusion

I read that Snyder had to trim quite a lot from his initial cut of the movie but planned all along to restore it to the DVD version. Given the wishy-washy response to the movie, I haven't seen it yet despite being a huge fan of the graphic novel. I wonder, if the studio had gone ahead and released the director's original cut, would it have done better at the box office?

Even if I do like the film when I finally see it, I doubt I'm going to be able to forgive changing the ending.

Watched it last night, agree completely the extended cut is much less confusing and incoherent, and plays much better than the theatrical release.

For all that though, the sex scene set to Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is still one of the most unintentially funny scenes I can recall in quite some time.

For all that though, the sex scene set to Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is still one of the most unintentially funny scenes I can recall in quite some time.

And completely wrong-headed as far as tone. That scene is a perfect example of why Alan Moore loathes cinematic adaptations of his work.

That said, how is the Blu-ray? .

I'm interested in seeing this version. My reaction from seeing the theatrical cut was that making it longer would be going in the wrong direction. I felt the movie was a great 2 hour movie trapped in a 2:45 running time.

Laurie's character is one of the chief beneficiaries of the added content. Her two new scenes with her FBI "handlers" really dispell some of the "lightweight" remarks made after the initial release.

The Blu-ray transfer is stunning!

I'll buy it for the opening title sequence.

The Blu-ray transfer is stunning!

Just ordered it from Amazon.*

*Amazon has got some real nice prices on Blu-ray discs right now.

I just ordered:


"2001 - A Space Odyssey [Blu-ray]"
Keir Dullea; Blu-ray; $9.99

"Blade Runner (Five-Disc Complete Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]"
Harrison Ford; Blu-ray; $17.99

"Watchmen (Director's Cut) (Amazon Digital Bundle + Digital Copy and BD-Live) [Blu-ray]"
Billy Crudup; Blu-ray; $20.49

"The Dark Knight (+ Digital Copy and BD Live) [Blu-ray]"
Christian Bale; Blu-ray; $21.49

"Unforgiven [Blu-ray]"
Clint Eastwood; Blu-ray; $9.49

"The Searchers [Blu-ray]"
John Wayne; Blu-ray; $7.99

"GoodFellas [Blu-ray]"
Robert De Niro; Blu-ray; $12.99

The "Blade Runner" set and "2001" will blow you away, the "2001" commentary with Lockhart and Dullea is fantastic. The workprint of "Blade Runner" shows how even a genius like Ridley Scott can be led astray by focus groups, if he had released that version of "BR" instead of the "happy ending" theatrical version he went with, "BR" would have been regarded as a instant sci-fi classic IMHO.

Is the director's cut what comes on the DVD, or does it have to actually SAY "director's cut" on the label? 'Cause I bought it without knowing there WAS a director's cut.

Is the director's cut what comes on the DVD, or does it have to actually SAY "director's cut" on the label? 'Cause I bought it without knowing there WAS a director's cut.

There are two DVD versions...One is the theatrical cut, and the other is the Directors' Cut. The Digital Download for either version is the Theatrical Cut. The Blu-Ray is the Directors Cut only, and the Theatrical cut as the digital download.

I'll buy it for the opening title sequence.

Fully agree with that. I don't think I've ever been quite as 'on the fence' about a movie as I am this one. There are parts I both loathed and loved. Maybe I'll give the directors cut a chance, but I can't help but feel the last thing this film needs to be is longer. Sometimes you can't do everything in a book as a movie, and you can't please everybody. Still, there were moments of brilliance and outstanding creativity here. Hopefully there's some good behind the scenes info on the disc too.

I really think it has to do with the "at home" environment vs. the "theatre" environment.

I had my beefs with the theatrical version, too ( I think it had a lot to do with the over hyped -hype as much as anything) but at home I wasn't noticing the length. mostly because the Director's cut seemed to have better pacing.

Rent it or netflix or whatever, first. I wouldn't tell you to buy something you're not sure about.

I'll buy it for the opening title sequence.

I agree, Rob...one of the best title sequences I've ever seen in a movie! :thumbsup:

The workprint of "Blade Runner" shows how even a genius like Ridley Scott can be led astray by focus groups, if he had released that version of "BR" instead of the "happy ending" theatrical version he went with, "BR" would have been regarded as a instant sci-fi classic IMHO.

I rented from netflix the blade runner cut that did not have the happy ending (harrison/young in car at end and no dialogue throughout the movie).

It seemed so much better and it came across like more kubrickesh where you
actually want to watch it again and see if you missed something.

watchmen is in my netflix queue. I read the book and wanted to see it in the
theater but when I was able to see it, it was already gone.

gus.

Is the director's cut what comes on the DVD, or does it have to actually SAY "director's cut" on the label? 'Cause I bought it without knowing there WAS a director's cut.

John, you have to buy the two-disc DVD to get the Director's Cut. If you bought the single-disc, you got the theatrical version. The running times give it away: 162m vs. 186m.

I never read the graphic novel. I didn't see the film in the theater. I bought the Director's Cut and watched it last night. I was blown away! The opening credits are awesome, and The Comedian's funeral set to Simon and Garfunkle's "The Sound of Silence" was incredibly moving.

I like the irony of the way Dr. Manhattan offed Rorshach. Rorshack actually BECAME a Rorshach.

Aaaaand thanks for the non-warned spoilers, which I've managed to avoid up till now. :mad:

I picked up the director's cut last night, and we'll watch it tonight.

Anybody wanna buy my theatrical cut DVD?

I saw it in the theatre and actually liked it. I read the graphic novel and liked it too. The directors cut is a great piece of work though. It seems to follow the novel even closer.

Aaaaand thanks for the non-warned spoilers, which I've managed to avoid up till now. :mad:

I picked up the director's cut last night, and we'll watch it tonight.

Anybody wanna buy my theatrical cut DVD?

OOPS! My bad, and I'll cop to it.

Saw it in the theater and was unimpressed.

Saw the directors cut on bluray and found it to be significantly more watchable.

One of the few instances I can recall in which the longer version actually feels shorter.

I still don't think Watchmen ever comes completely to life as a movie, but it's certainly an ambitious effort, and one well worth taking a look at on dvd/ bluray.

SPOILERS!!!! :)










Kinda dragged in the middle. Seemed to lose the creativity that was forefront in the first hour or two. Picked up toward the end again. But I don't think it really sold the scope of the Disaster that Ozzy orchestrated. I should have been more moved by all that off-screen death than I was.

never read the comic, didnt see it in the theater, just rented the theatrical version on dvd. i was underwhelmed. maybe being slavishly faithful to the source isnt such a good thing every time.

and please god i am sick of bullet time. the only thing that impressed me was jackie earle haley, which makes me look forward to his teake on freddy krueger.

I just saw the Director's cut. I did not see the theatrical cut so, I have no idea what the short comings could have been.

I liked it. I haven't read Watchmen in 20 years, but, it played out pretty much the way I remembered it. Overall, thought it was pretty good. I Liked the little touches that were in the Graphic Novel. I could recognize certain things, even after all this time.

I rented it at my local video store (vulcan video) and I have read the graphic novel twice,
once a couple of years ago and then a month before the movie came out.

I did not see the movie in the theater and after watching it, it just seemed kinda boring.

Before I saw it, i actually thought about buying it, i glad I didn't. I really like 300
but this translation to movie just didn't seem right.

And yes it is still my favorite graphic novel.

Just finished watching the Blu-ray Director's Cut. I like the additions in this version and feel they improve the narrative. While I'm not a fan of Snyder's directorial "style" (the slow/fast/slow thing is an irritating gimmick, the exceedingly graphic violence is unnecessary, depressing and juvenile), and it's interesting to ponder this story in another director's hands, I still think the movie is a hell of an accomplishment and a largely successful one given it's massive challenges.

Typically the Australian distributors pulled a fast one to suck more money out of us here.

We only have the theatrical release but they used the artwork you guys got on the director's cut, so I picked it up thinking I bought the longer version.:mad:

They will doubtless release a special edition set next to try and get us to spend more money double dipping (one of my pet hates!) by including the director's cut and the motion comic and tales of the Black Freighter as well...

As much as I enjoyed the film I won't be early adopting. I'll wait for a sale.:rolleyes: