Watchmen thoughts
This is mostly a summary of some thoughts I had and discussed with baka_san about the ending of the Watchmen movie compared to the book.
I thought the changes to the ending made for a simpler, more elegant package. No need for the pirates themes, the author and artist (et al), the genetic engineering, and the psychic research. It also helps better explain why Doctor Manhattan leaves.
However, this does create some dissonance. Given that they didn't need genetic engineering as a plot element, the fact that it is mentioned and the presence of Bubastis seem unnecessary.
My bigger problem, though, is with the fact that the changes weaken the impact of Rorschach's journal. In the original, the world was brought together through the hoax of an alien menace that didn't actually exist. Rorschach's journal had the potential to unravel that hoax and negate that achievement. In the movie, the journal might be fodder for conspiracy theorists, but because the attack was based on something known (Doctor Manhattan's powers), and since there was no way to prove that he wasn't out there waiting to do it again, I don't think the hoax would be as damaged by the journal.
In other words, in the original the journal could have unraveled the entire tapestry, but in the movie it seems like it could only pull a few threads out of the corner.
I thought the changes to the ending made for a simpler, more elegant package. No need for the pirates themes, the author and artist (et al), the genetic engineering, and the psychic research. It also helps better explain why Doctor Manhattan leaves.
However, this does create some dissonance. Given that they didn't need genetic engineering as a plot element, the fact that it is mentioned and the presence of Bubastis seem unnecessary.
My bigger problem, though, is with the fact that the changes weaken the impact of Rorschach's journal. In the original, the world was brought together through the hoax of an alien menace that didn't actually exist. Rorschach's journal had the potential to unravel that hoax and negate that achievement. In the movie, the journal might be fodder for conspiracy theorists, but because the attack was based on something known (Doctor Manhattan's powers), and since there was no way to prove that he wasn't out there waiting to do it again, I don't think the hoax would be as damaged by the journal.
In other words, in the original the journal could have unraveled the entire tapestry, but in the movie it seems like it could only pull a few threads out of the corner.