Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:44PM7 comments ›
Mon Oct 20, 2008 — by Josh Wigler
'Watchmen' Loses Taste for Squid?
Film's Ending Reportedly Changed
According to /Film, a screening for Watchmen occurred last week for a test audience without preexisting ties to the graphic novel. Despite rave reviews of the film, there are reports that Zack Snyder has significantly altered the story's ending. How, you ask? Well, it's spoiler-heavy, so click below to find out...
BE WARNED! SPOILERS AHEAD!
/Film reports that those who attended the screener post reviews on IMDb message boards. The reviews were quickly pulled, but information has leaked that the assault on New York City has been changed from Ozymandias' giant mutated squid.
"Instead," reports /Film, "Dr. Manhattan and Ozymandias build a machine that mimics Dr. Manhattan's powers and Ozy uses the machine to set off atomic bomb like explosions in various cities around the world."
/Film cites several fans of Watchmen describe the squid's use as "probably not the best way to go. The new ending supposedly works thematically, and isn't that what is realy important? ... [Is] it possible that Snyder could have went for a better ending?"
Collider has an interview with Kevin Smith, who has seen Watchmen. He describes the film's ending:
"It's a little different. While it is a slight departure, it actually makes sense in the context of the story because it brings the characters back into it. It kind of makes the movie more about them by the end of it because of the switch they made. I would never say that Alan Moore fucked it up or something. I love the ending of the Watchmen comic book, but I think this ending works just as well."
In the novel, Ozymandias utilizes such an extreme, visually bizarre monster to rally the human race together as a species against a common enemy, thereby insuring peaceful resolution to impending armageddon. If the film's ending has changed as reported, Snyder will need to find a new way to sell Ozymandias' plan, as an onslaught of nuclear attacks on various cities would likely only fuel global tensions.
We, personally, just love giant squids. Be it Watchmen related or just a normal giant squid, we're all about the slimy sea suckers. How 'bout you? Feel short-changed by Watchmen's potential lack of exploding mutant squid? Let us know!
Jump to comments (7) 
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Comments (7)
Mr.Wizard (6:19 PM on Mon Oct 20, 2008)
Ok I have a question more than a comment.
http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/10/07/matthew-goode-on-ozy...
The link above has an article which implies the squid is in the end of the film. Now there is this one article vs countless others saying the ending is totally different, well at least different. Personally I'm for the ending in the book. I won't get into why (unless I'm asked). But to get to my question: Why would Matthew Goode be stating the squid is in the end while Snyder continually talks around whether or not there is a squid and information leaked from the test screening would lead us to believe there is a replacement for the squid?
Dave (10:27 PM on Mon Oct 20, 2008)
Maybe this all is simply publicity to keep us talking about the film.
Mr.Wizard (3:42 PM on Tue Oct 21, 2008)
It wouldn't surprise me.
Russ Rogers (8:44 PM on Tue Oct 21, 2008)
Maybe they filmed two endings and are showing both to test audiences to see which reviews better. My guess is a Deluxe DVD release will have both endings, forcing big fans to shell out extra bucks.
Anonymous (11:35 PM on Tue Oct 21, 2008)
Two words:
Test. Screenings.
They probably shot a couple of ways to see what would be better (like say, in case audiences laughed at the squid ending...just because I love it due to having read the comic doesn't mean it applies to everybody). I mean, look at all the DVDs out there now with "alternate endings." People watched a TEST screening...lot more edits to make until showtime.
Either way, we'll find out in March.
Peter David (5:40 PM on Mon Oct 20, 2008)
Point of information: The original report has been adjusted to reflect the fact that Doc Manhattan has nothing to do with the construction of the device.
As for the ending, well, the original was never anything other than an admitted rip-off of "The Architects of Fear." So it'll be interesting to see if what they've come up with is more original.
Personally, I think they should have had the menace be a galactic cloud. Fans just love galactic clouds.
PAD
Bill Mulligan (5:09 PM on Mon Oct 20, 2008)
I always thought that it would have made much more sense for Ozymandias to have set up a situation where it appears that Dr Manhattan has gone insane and now threatens the human race. Him destroying New York would achieve the same effect that the giant squid did and provide a suitable outside force that the world would have to unite against. A lot easier too--Ozy building the giant squid thing, transporting it, destroying the city, sending psychic shock waves throughout the land to reinforce the idea of an alien invasion...it reminds me of how the guy in a Scoobie Doo mystery always seemed to spend about $100,000 on a holographic projector just to scare people off some land so he could build a parking lot. I mean, how much can you make from a parking lot?
But Allan Moore is a genius while I, conversely, am not, so what do I know?