WATCHMEN: "Non-Squid" Pre-Screening Was a Test of Fan Tolerance

WATCHMEN: "Non-Squid" Pre-Screening Was a Test of Fan Tolerance

A new report claims that the guinea pigs who were chosen to see an advanced screening of the Watchmen movie in Portland Oregon a couple weeks ago may have NOT been quite so "randomly chosen," and that the whole thing was a carefully orchestrated test to see if hardcore fans would tolerate the alternate ending they made for "mainstream" movie-goers.

News
By ComicBookMovie - Oct 28, 2008 04:10 PM EST
Filed Under: Watchmen
Source: CBR

SPOILER ALERT! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

CBR's Rich Johnston is saying that preview's climactic ending was filmed two ways: The true to comic book ending complete with a giant alien squid transporter accident; and the Dr. Manhattan inspired nuclear explosion, and that the latter version may indeed have been a test by the moviemakers to see whether or not they could get away with deviating from the comic book.

Here's the quote:

"I'm told that this screening was intentionally leaked to the fan press - with the exact time and place posted online with details of how to evade the security. The intent is to gauge fan reaction to a squidless ending for Watchmen and see what they can get away with, believing it to be more suitable for a more mainstream audience. The FX for the squid has been completed however."

If this is true, then pop-culture website Collider was in on it, since they originally leaked the info and instructions...

AND, if Zack Snyder or anybody at Warner Bros. wants the final word on changing the ending straight from hardcore comic book movie fans. Just check out our poll HERE.

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jordomac
jordomac - 10/28/2008, 5:41 PM
what a relief. I would have loved the movie either way but I would always wonder what the squid ending would have been like
CrookedJaw
CrookedJaw - 10/28/2008, 7:29 PM
Yeah...I kinda figured that the Doc Manhattan ending was a hoax...It would totally alternate the true ending of the novel...I got faith in Zach Snyder that he'll make this movie right
SGA
SGA - 10/28/2008, 7:52 PM
sweet :D

even if the non squid ending was true, i would've seen it anyway

but this just makes me THAT much more stoked XD
Jib7z
Jib7z - 10/28/2008, 8:29 PM
Dude, that is SUCH a relief. I mean really, without the giant...lets go with squid... the movie would have probably been worthless to me.
ThisFan
ThisFan - 10/28/2008, 8:46 PM
im just gonna say
OH THANK GOD
but yah i think i would of loved it either way
potatosacker71
potatosacker71 - 10/28/2008, 8:50 PM
any person who would accept any other ending then the original is not a true fan. you understand that the person who wrote that ending thought Allen Moore's was not the best way to finish this amazing story.
tjdr59
tjdr59 - 10/28/2008, 10:16 PM
"any person who would accept any other ending then the original is not a true fan"

DAMN RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!1!11!!!!!
sunsetcracker
sunsetcracker - 10/29/2008, 11:20 AM
i don't that it's really going matter. either way this is going to be a great movie!!!
BuckyB7588
BuckyB7588 - 10/29/2008, 9:40 PM
The entire purpose of the squid was to show that there was a greater threat to mankind and we have to unite to stop it, without the squid, the whole point is lost.
warpath15
warpath15 - 10/29/2008, 10:05 PM
First, of you're going to do a Watchmen movie, you need to start from the premise that it's NOT going to be popular. The book wasn't that popular. A lot of people hated it. Don't expect to make money, just expect to do a good movie.

Second of all, almost nothing in the book should be changed, everything is integral to the plot and changing the ending would be like taking a dump on it.

Third of all, don't piss off Watchmen fans. We're the kind of people that will burn down your movie headquarters or start a riot in the theatre. We've been waiting for this a long time now and the mere mention of an alternate ending ever possibly eeking its way into existence somehow makes us want to go on a rampage. JUST GET IT RIGHT, DAMMIT! And if you're wonderin what "getting it right means" then try reading the book.
warpath15
warpath15 - 10/29/2008, 10:09 PM
By the way, the fact that 26% of people don't want the squid ending shows that at least 26% of the people who voted in this poll have never read Watchmen. Anyone who ever read the book would KNOW why the squid ending has to happen and would laugh their ass off at the very idea of changing the ending.
UberGeek
UberGeek - 10/30/2008, 5:27 PM
personaly i don't see the big deal about some giant alien thing - it looks like a great movie and kept faithful to the look and feel. Seems like they just wanted it kept grounded in reality as much as possible.
Spike47
Spike47 - 11/1/2008, 11:47 AM
While I have always thought that The Watchmen is absolutely the best superhero graphic novel yet done -- I have always hated that ending as much as I hated Stephen King's ending to The Stand.

That said -- I feel even more strongly about Hollywood (producers, directors, writers) making large changes to properties they are adapting. It's true that some changes usually need to be made for time, pacing etc. However, it also happens that the most successful adaptations are those that stick more closely to the source material (i.e, The Maltese Falcon, The Godfather, The Silence of the Lambs, and The Lord of the Rings).

Therefore, I say bring on the squid.
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