While it's true that the characters are based on the Charlton comics characters that DC had recently acquired on the time, and Moore's original intention was to use those characters (the Nite Owl equivalent being Blue Beetle), instead of orginal ones, the cararacters were re-worked, and I think Nite Owl definitely got some Batman-esque elements.

It's funny, because if Moore had gotten to do it the way he wanted to originally (he had to be talked into doing it with original characters), he would have none of the ownership claims that he's so upset over these days.

Who? Another obscure character? No wonder no one got the joke.

As I said, all of the characters were based on Charlton Comics characters, and originally Moore just wanted to use those characters.

Nite Owl = Blue Beetle
Dr. Manhattan = Captain Atom
Silk Spectre = Nightshade
Comedian = Peacemaker
Rorschach = The Question
Ozymandias = Thunderbolt

http://watchmen.wikia.com/wiki/Charlton_Comics

During the concept phase, Moore wanted to use the MLJ/Archie heroes with the Shield being in the Comedian's place. He also thought about using the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents from Tower Comics.

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^ that was a good listen. thanks.

That's was great. Both had valid points.

A very valid point, something that was said many years ago by several devout GN fans.

I like that Oswalt brought up Jaws as something that should NOT have been faithfully adapted.

I actually felt Watchmen (2009) was one of the greatest comic book movies I've ever seen, and is also one of the few comic movies that have actually done the original source material justice; note IMHO the director's cut is superior to the original cut.

I'm a purist when it comes to seeing any kind of film based on a book, comic, etc., and when the film follows the source material closely I am very impressed. I've been a Watchmen fan since I first read the graphic novel in the early '90's, and still feel it's one of the best comic book series/stories of all time. One of the many things I liked about the film was that they set the movie in an alternate 1980's, just like the comic. Also, the characters in the filim looked like the characters in the comics.

That being said, the film's producers did alter the ending of the movie significantly (from the comic's ending) to make it more film-friendly.

However, the film, as much as I liked it, doesn't hold a candle to the comic series.

Note that there are also three different versions of Watchmen on DVD (not sure about Blu): There is 1) the theatrical cut, 2) The Director's Cut, and 3) The Ultimate Cut which includes the "Tales of the Black Freighter" mini-story edited into the film itself ("Tales of the Black Freighter" is also included on a separate DVD if you want to see it that way). I still haven't seen the "Ultimate Cut" yet, but I'm guessing that if you want the full experience, that would be the way to go.

I'm more with Oswalt on the opinon given. Some bit's worked really well for an adaptive take while sometimes shackling himself to the comic kind of took out a soul from the source.

The Ultimate Cut has massive pace issues with the black Freighter in there. I admire it but it fails.

Good to know - I would only buy the Ultimate Cut DVD for a good sale price somewhere (i.e., $5 or under), but I doubt that will ever happen (Not sure if the Ultimate Cut is available on Blu yet). I have the "Tales from the Black Freighter" individual DVD, so I can watch that separately.

While the horrific "Tales of the Black Freighter" story worked extremely well in the Watchmen comic, I can see how including it in the film would severely mar the pace of the story - editing/knowing what parts to exclude (as well as what parts to include) is key when producing/putting together a film...

It's the same complaint people had with the first couple Potter movies -- it put the source on the screen but didn't "adapt" it into a cinematic version of the events. Watchmen was kind of like watching panels acted out on the screen without it working as a cohesive whole. IMO at least.

The Ultimate Cut is available on Blu, but interestingly enough, the theatrical cut is not.

I'll watch that clip at a some point but I will say that The Ultimate Cut is my preferred version of the film.

It's available outside the US.

Yeah, it was released through Paramount. I have an HK import of it on Blu.

I only ever found the TC passable but, if I ever got any cut of the movie on BD, that'd be it. I didn't care much for the DC. Never saw the UC.

I have a real soft spot for the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.

Yeah even though I can see both of their sides on this I still love the film. I look forward to seeing the other cuts.