Project Text Homework One: Compare & Contrast - Book vs. Film Adaptation

In the graphic novel Watchmen, words on the page go so far in giving the characters personalities; as oppose to the version in the film seeming less nuanced, because the characters are missing bits of back story. The film version by Zack Snyder, is constantly in motion, and a lot of the subtleties get lost; especially considering the time constraints of the film. With that in mind, the Watchmen graphic novel, created by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons, give more history, more complexity, and more of Moore’s patented insane cleverness. Ultimately, the Watchmen graphic novel, gives characters more of a personality, a tone, and an overall nature; while the version in the film removes the majority of the psychology, because of the lack of character background.

It’s said that Alan Moore, creator and writer of Watchmen, has distanced himself from watching any movie adaptations of his books, and specifically of Watchmen, because of his long-held assertion that it is impossible to make movies out of his work (Rose NP). When interviewed by Steve Rose, writer for The Guardian newspaper, Moore said that he designed Watchmen as a comic book to explore the medium, and that this would not translate to film (Rose NP). That, to my mind, says a lot, because he was perhaps right. Simply put, each character, from the sociopath Rorschach to the conflicted Nite Owl to the inhuman Dr. Manhattan, has such a detailed back story and course of action that any cuts would undermine from the characters. In essence, while the film adaptation did translate the story and images to the screen; it was not able to translate the ideas and depth quite as well.

For instance, the character of Rorschach, a violent anti-hero who wears a constantly shifting inkblot mask which he considers to be his true face, is modestly described and perhaps misunderstood in the film version. Throughout the film, someone new to Watchmen would feel that Rorschach is simply a character that is mentally ill, morally uncompromising, and filled with immoral behavior. Such as in the way he is awfully resourceful, adapting everyday household objects into tools or weapons, such as pepper spray to blind a police officer and the use of hairspray in combination with a match to set fire to a different police officer. He’s portrayed as a good for nothing, wreaking havoc criminal. In my opinion, he is made out to seem like a character whose actions couldn’t possibly be justified; because there’s a lack of his past background - which makes it seem unimportant. In the sense that the film doesn’t necessarily give a background story to why Rorschach turned out the way he is. Its quite difficult in the film to pinpoint why Rorschach has taken on the persona of Rorschach in every part of his life and hates being referred to by his birth name. Also, why he has profound levels of hatred for immoral behavior and is openly disapproving of any other vigilante who does not share his steadfast views. In the long run, the film was not able to translate the background, ideas, and depth quite as well.

In chorus, the graphic novel version of Watchmen, paints a clearer picture of Rorschach’s background, ideas, and depth quite well; as oppose to the film version. Throughout the book you get into Rorschach’s psychology, and why he considers his mask his true "face" and his unmasked persona to be his "disguise.” Also the explanation of Rorschach's life and his justifications for his uncompromising worldview in the book help explain a lot. From the film a viewer might get the impression that Rorschach has always been good for nothing, but reeking havoc. Contrary to that, during his childhood he was described as bright, and excelled in literature, mathematics, and religious education. In this sense, Rorschach must not be completely “mentally ill” as he’s portrayed, but moreover just isolated from the rest of society. Also, as a young boy his mother was frequently abusive and condescending towards him; perhaps initiating his low tolerance for immorality. It might have also in a way triggered the continuation of his one-man battle against crime long after superheroes have become both detested and illegal. His views on right and wrong are starkly black and white with no room for compromise or exception. Ultimately, he has taken on the persona of Rorschach in every part of his life and hates being referred to by his birth name for many reasons, which are near impossible to depict in film.

In the end, the book is complete with inside references that would never survive the book to film transition, and recurring themes that demand multiple readings that a three-hour film couldn’t possibly replicate. One must only consider an example like the one I stated above. Rorschach at times seems to be two different characters; whether you’re looking at him through the book or through the film. One could argue that the film version drags his name through a dark-mixture of mud, ultimately giving him a bad standing. In essence, the graphic novel version of Watchmen touched on ethics and human nature of characters that are seized in a subtle way, as oppose to the film version that loses some of the ethics and nature because of the lack of background that the book provides.

Works Cited:

Moore, Alan, and Dave Gibbons. Watchmen. New York: Warner Books, 1987. Print.

Rose, Steve. "Alan Moore: An Extraordinary Gentleman." The Guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media, 16 Mar. 2009. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. .

Watchmen. Dir. Zack Snyder. Prod. Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin, and Deborah Snyder. Warner Bros., 2009. DVD.