Watchmen: Chapter II 4K 2024

The alterations in this variation of the Watchmen graphic novel was more extreme than in Chapter 1 & the 2009 film in some ways , taking some big liberties with the story structure & certain scenes. However it retained the basic story elements of the original source, which the film version altered notably at the end.

For me the structural changes & additions didn't improve the story at all & jarred a bit at first.

Then I began to appreciate the fact that the original source would be impossible to do justice to in such a short space of time, & the changes didn't distract from the momentum of the film.

So, maybe someone who is unfamiliar with the graphic novel may find it easier to 'work out'.

Everything about the production & design of this animation is great. The music is superb , except that it be occasionally overbearing - drowning out the actors voices a bit much for my old ears.

The animation itself is brilliant with many superb moments. Some people have complained about it, tho I imagine the same commentators wouldn't be able to watch any animation pre the CGI if their sensibilities can't appreciate the work on this. Animation is not meant to be solely 'hyper-realistic & ray traced', it is often about a 'broad stroke & impression' than seeing the texture of fabric on a CGI model. The animation should be in the service of the story, & here it does the job superbly.

It should be remembered that the graphic novels 1st animation, that told the story most faithfully to the original, was about 12 hours long , 3x longer than the combined length of these two chapter. So there is no way it could be adapted in a one-for-one manner & it would be unfair to judge it as such.

The changes in this version are noticeable, but it is also refreshing seeing how another writer (J. Michael Straczynsk -of Babylon 5 fame) would approach & handle the story without totally ruining it. Here he does a good job, that in places expands on some 'vaguer' moments in the graphic novel that are only more comprehensible after finishing the story.