Customer Reviews

Watchmen: Director's Cut (Amazon Exclusive Nite Owl Ship) [Blu-ray]

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This is just to point out something not mentioned in the description. As you know, this comes with an exclusive Nite Owl Ship.

First, it looks cool. Nice details, looks 'properly used'. But here's the thing. After I unpacked it I noticed a slip of paper at the bottom of the box. It described how to replace the batteries in the Nite Owl Ship. Wait... BATTERIES?

So I then discovered the ship is made to easily come off it's stand. Under it there is a battery compartment. It requires a small Phillips head to open. I opened it to confirm... yup a battery compartment with two batteries!

But for the life of me I could not figure out what the Nite Owl Ship was suppose to do! I saw no switch. So I even tried talking to it... nope, no voice recognition.

*** spoiler **

Finally... I figured out the top plate (circular on the very top) is a hidden switch! You press it... and it lights up (detail lights and bright main front lights)! And, for about 5-10 seconds... it makes the SOUNDS of the Nite Owl Ship flying around! The lights stay on until you press the hidden switch again...

This ended up being much more than advertised! :)

And of course the movie is great... but you already know that (or else what the heck are you reading this for)!!!

They year 1986 was a watershed year for comic books. It was the year that people started taking comic books seriously as a form of literature. The reason? Alan Moore's Watchmen (along with Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns) introduced readers to superheroes with real problems. This was a vast departure from the the years of the kid-friendly Super Friends and the campy Adam West Batman television series.

When Watchmen hit, that all changed. Hailed for its deconstruction and examination of superhero tropes, it won a Hugo Award in 1988 and it is the only graphic novel to be listed by Time as one of the 100 greatest novels of the 20th century.

Naturally, Hollywood wanted in on the action, and attempts to make a Watchmen movie have continued since its publication. However, they were never able to crack the Watchmen nut. How do you take such a layered, complex book like Watchmen and turn it into a two-hour movie? How much would the material need to be changed? What elements would need to be left out? Many concepts were pitched - making it a buddy film centered on Rorschach and Nite-Owl, getting rid of crucial characters, setting the film in a contemporary setting instead of the 80's, the list goes on. Several directors were involved. After attempting to make his own Watchmen movie, Paul Greengrass ultimately deemed Watchmen "unfilmable."

But Zack Snyder, who had just come off the huge success of directing another graphic novel adaptation with 300, stepped forward and was given the task to film the unfilmable. Using the graphic novel itself as the film's storyboard, Snyder succeeded. His Watchmen film is as faithful to the graphic novel as you can expect. The Comedian is still a cynic who takes pleasure in his violent "crimebusting", Rorschach is still a brutal vigilante who sees everything in black-and-white morality (and is played with fury and intensity by a resurgent Jackie Earle Haley in the film's standout performance), Nite-Owl still can't "get it up" without being in his superhero costume, and Dr. Manhattan is still as naked as a jaybird and apathetic to the plight of humanity.

Most of the film's departures from the graphic novel are understandable. The graphic novel's out-of-deep-left-field finale involving a cataclysmic event is altered, though the goals and motives behind it are unchanged. This new ending actually makes more sense and ties to the characters much better, but it still doesn't quite have the gut-punch shock that the book's end had. Perhaps this has more to do with the fact that Snyder is forced to cram as much into the film as possible while trying to keep the film's runtime from getting too long that the audience isn't given much time to really absorb it.

Another element that Snyder has included in this film is moments of horror-movie gore that almost seem out of place. Perhaps the book's violence lends itself to a very violent film interpretation, but I felt Snyder (who directed the remake of George Romero's Dawn of the Dead) may have gone overboard during a few moments, like Nite-Owl breaking a thug's arm to the point that the bones burst through the flesh. Ouch.

The Director's Cut adds nearly a half an hour of footage that Snyder was forced to cut to keep the film under three hours. Most of this footage comes in the form of lengthened scenes. In one, Rorschach's investigation of The Comedian's apartment is interrupted by the police and a fight ensues, and Rorschach's questioning by Dr. Malcolm is longer. Hollis Mason's sad and brutal death at the hands of a street gang is also reinserted in the Director's Cut, a scene I was disappointed to hear that it was omitted from the theatrical version.

This version of the Blu-Ray comes with a handful of featurettes that reflect on the graphic novel's impact on comic books. Another examines the psychology and cultural impact of actual vigilantes like New York's Guardian Angels, Bernard Goetz, as well as the recent trend of "real life superheroes" who dress up in costume and patrol their neighborhoods. One featurette even delves into the real scientific basis behind the elements of the Watchmen world.

For me, the best feature would have to be the special commentary performed by Zack Snyder himself, who will step in during the film and explain aspects of the film's production as opposed to just giving a voice-only commentary. Then the audience has the option to view a vignette about that aspect of the film or continue watching the film.

This Amazon-exclusive version of Watchmen: Director's Cut comes in a replica of the Owlship, Nite-Owl's hovering vehicle, which emits lights and sounds with the press of a button. The Owlship itself can be removed from its base, and I'm sure your kids would like to run around the house with the Owlship in their hands pretending it can fly (note: Watchmen is an R-rated film and NOT for children, but i'm sure kids will still get a kick out of playing with the Owlship).

There is a Digital Copy for your computers and iPods, but I was disappointed to find that it is of the theatrical version and NOT the Director's Cut.

There is an "Ultimate Edition" of Watchmen being released around Christmas, which will include the animated "Tales of the Black Freighter" feature spliced into the film as it appears in the graphic novel, so if you want a copy of Watchmen: DIrector's Cut that will give you the most bang for your buck until it comes out, the Amazon-exclusive Owlship version is probably the best way to go.

This movie is a masterpiece in my opinion. And so is the collectible case for this edition of the DVD. The movie was a classy production from top to bottom and the Nite Owl ship version of the DVD looks fantastic!

I can't really review the DVD yet as it isn't out yet. But the Director's Cut is about 30 minutes longer than what was shown in theaters and I'm dying to see it.

My own view as to why it didn't clean up at the box office is because the movie is ahead of its time. When the graphic novel came out in the 1980s, comic readers were tired of the same old same old in comics. WATCHMEN came along and blew up the traditional superhero stereotypes.

A lot was said in interviews by the creators of the film that MOVIE audiences were tired of "typical" superhero movies (just as those comic readers were back in the 80s) and the timing was right for WATCHMEN to blow people's minds.

Well, it did and it didn't. For those who "got" the movie, mission accomplished. For most fans of the novel, mission accomplished. But for the "masses", it didn't quite work. I've read a lot of complaints about the film and there is a common thread running through them. Folks who didn't like the movie complain that it was not what they expected. In other words, it was not a typical superhero movie.

From this, I think it's safe to say that movie goers WEREN'T ready for a different kind of superhero movie.

Yet.

When Blade Runner came out it was a dismal failure. Many of the same complaints being made now about WATCHMEN were made about Blade Runner: it's too long, it's too slow, there's no action... Now Blade Runner is generally considered (not by everyone, I know) one of the best science-fiction movies ever made. It has become a classic. It was ahead of its time and audiences eventually caught up.

I think the same will be said of WATCHMEN. Hollywood is cranking out superhero movies faster than we can watch them. Movie goers are loving the CGI and action sequences. We're eating it up! But the time is coming when you'll see a trailer for one of these and groan: "My God, not ANOTHER superhero movie."

And that's when it'll be time to check out WATCHMEN again. You might just see the movie a little differently then.

I'm convinced that WATCHMEN, like Blade Runner, will become a classic. I loved the movie. Saw it 5 times in the theater and will probably wear out the DVD. Zack Snyder stayed true to the source material, he didn't dumb it down. And the movie looks stunning! In my mind it is already a classic.

Let's see what time does to the general regard for the film.

this is quite possibly one of my favorite movies. and i love the night owl ship case. i was looking for a display piece for the movie but found most models and statues extremely expensive. this is awesome. i'm about to dive into the special features now. buy this. love it!

i am wondering though, if this is amazon exclusive why would they put a price tag of $119 if they will never sell it for that much? just seems weird.

and the ship freaks out my wife's cats. added bonus.

Hello everyone! This is my first review so bear with me.

I just got the Watchmen Night Owl Ship Edition today in the mail (only took 4 days from the release date to my house in Minnesota) and I am very pleased!

I was a little disappointed on the size of ship which is smaller then I thought but is not a reason to re-consider. I do not recommend people to get this unless they are DIE HARD fans like I am. If you are just buying this as a person that liked the movie, just pick up the normal 2 disc blu-ray edition.

The ship's detail is VERY great. It does not have an interior (I expected that) because of the lights inside. When the lights are lit on the water, it glows a tinge of blue that is great.

Another downside to the product is that the discs aren't in a real Blu-Ray case. They are in thick, plastic - like, sleeves. For me that is disappointing because I have a collection of Blu-Ray's and I want to add to it with this great film. But a small price to pay for this great product.

Now the actual Blu-Ray is VERY good! Only thing I disliked is that it doesn't start on an actual "menu" but just commences the original Director's Cut. You may bring up the sub-menu though.

The maximum mode for the film is great! It does behind the scenes on the entire film with Zach Snyder, comic book comparisons and storyboards! I am watching it now and I am very impressed!

And the film itself is breathtaking! Every scene is so vibrant and fresh! It follows the graphic novel so well too! It also looks INCREDIBLE on Blu-Ray.

If you are a big fan of this film get this edition today!

The ship is amazing I didn't expect that it can emit sounds and had light.
Watchmen,the movie, is the best transposition from a graphic novel to screen ever.
As a fan of Alan Moore I can really say that film deserve an holder like this.

One sad note is that digital copy has too much limitations, just one activation and I didn't manage to put film on my windows mobile pda.

I won't review the movie here as that's done by many on this product as well as the 2-disc version. Needless to say the pictures and audio are quite good. The director cut makes the movie approximately 3 hours long!

The Nite Owl ship has a rustic color which mimics the ship in the movie well. Once the battery is installed, one can depress on the big round hatch on the top of the ship. The sound of the ship taking off will be played, and the lights stay on for a while. The front view has three vertical round white lights, and 2 pairs of white round lights beneath each eye-shaped windows. The bottom lights are blue in accent, reflecting on the white crystal (snow?)

The digital copy expired for me (at the time of my purchase in late November, 2010).

If you are a fan, then this collector's item maybe worth getting. The ship is a standout and great to show case. Also great to put in bedroom in place of other night lights. The whole thing weights about 1.5lbs (24oz). It's about 9 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 6.5 inches tall.

This item varies in price. I picked it up when it was $75. I read the comic when it first came out, and still feel the movie is better. No giant squid and the outcome carries so much more impact. Not that the comic was bad, it was an incredible diversion from the usual, but in a day and age where everyone ups the antie, kicks things up a notch, this movie accomplished just that.

Okay, I won't go into spoilers.

I know what you are thinking, "The Niv, why would I spend seventy five cabbages on something I can get for $20...with a game?" Well true believer, the answer is simple, Archie. Yes, there are hours of video extras and a digital copy of the movie included with this package, but really, this movie should have been entitled, "Archie." The Owl Ship rocks. Yeah, there's an all-powerful blue guy and someone who can catch bullets, but Archie is it; all that and a picnic basket, a bag of chips while supermodels are feeding you grapes picked freshly off pesticide-free gardens from a mountain top. If you liked Watchmen, if your mouth dropped open when you first saw the trailer for the movie, then this is a wonderful addition to your collection.
Now I am off to watch it again, hoping this time Rorshack doesn't die.

I Impotered this edition to the UK and it arrived (although a little late) in perfect condition, thankyou WB for having region free blu-ray! anyway, the display is awesome, the fact that "Archie" comes off the stand and has lights is awesome, do not listen to anyone who says that it low quality because it is not, it is very sturdy and feels solid enough for kids to play with!

as far as the DC movie with MMM goes, it's also awesome! and if you cannot afford or want the "Archie" version, please get the regular BD version, do not even bother with the theatrical cut.

Well acted and possibly the best comic adaptation of recent years. At times however it feels like Snyder overused action sequences and gore too much. The overall message from the graphic novel was there, middle aged vigilantism, and at times kept the same brooding nature. Some scenes were altered for continuity and to make the story line look like it happened in a a matter of days. Changing the ending, though it may appear as heresy to the fans of the graphic novel, made the Watchmen acessable to a new audience while allowing for the Film to be shorter, The music adds to the moment and some of the montages are fantastic. The Film ignored many of the sub-plots and tiny relationships built up in Moore's work however if you look the relationships are there; they are just not as explicitly pointed out. All in all a very good translation only stopped from being truly fantastic by the insistence of fight sequences and gore that adds nothing to the plot and seem to be there just so those who wish to see violence do not get bored