DCEUdirectorZack Snyderconfirms which of his five comic book movie adaptations is his favorite.Zack Snyder launched his canceled five-movie DCEU planin 2013 with the Superman solo movieMan of Steel, which he followed up with the ambitious 2016 crossoverBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Zack Snyder had to step away from 2017’sJustice League, but he completed his vision for the team-up movie in 2021 in the form of the highly acclaimed Zack Snyder’sJustice League, also known as the Snyder Cut. Before his work in the DCEU,Zack Snyder’s filmographyalready included two comic book films: 2006’s300and 2009’sWatchmen.
Speaking toComicbook.com,Zack Snyder revealed that the comic book movie he feels the proudest of isWatchmen.Snyder explains that he seesMan of Steel,Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, andJustice Leagueas adaptations of"ideas"based on famous comic book characters, whereasWatchmenfeels like a more direct adaptation of the comic book medium. For Snyder,Watchmenis"the cleanest, and kind of most satisfying"comic book adaptation he has made. Read Snyder’s full comments below:
“Well, weirdly, I kind of look at it in two ways. Like one I think, of course, Man of Steel, BvS, Justice League, is its own thing…. I don’t know necessarily, whether it’s a comic book movie in the classic sense, for me. But I can understand how people would say that because those are comic book characters and whatever, but, that’s just based on ideas that I had about comic book characters,” Snyder said.
“I would have to say Watchmen, probably for me, just like the process of adaptation from comic book to movie design, all the things as we went from comic books to movie,” Snyder said. “I think Watchmen is like the cleanest, and kind of most satisfying, transition to adapted material.”
What It Means That Watchmen Is The Comic Book Movie Zack Snyder Is Proudest Of
Zack Snyder Values The Comic Book Medium’s Visual Aspects
Zack Snyder emphasizes the process of adapting the comic book format instead of just the characters and the events. Whereas characters like Superman and Batman have countless different stories across many continuities, Alan Moore’sWatchmenis easily distinguishable as a specific storyline starring characters with very well-defined characterizations.Snyder then approaches the word"adaptation"quite literally — not only as an interpretation of the comics, but as a live-actionreproductionof the comic book panels.
Our Take On Watchmen Being The Comic Book Movie Zack Snyder Is Proudest Of
Zack Snyder Tends To Prioritize Visuals Over Story In His Comic Book Adaptations
Zack Snyder’s comments support the idea that he is a very visual director. Snyder’s films are often praised for their breathtaking cinematography, camera work, action scenes, costume design, and editing. On the other hand, Snyder’s DCEU movies have been criticized for changing characters' personalities and motivations. For instance,Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justiceintroduced the most comic-accurate live-action Batman fight scene so far, butBatman’s disregard for his no-kill ruledidn’t sit well with most fans.
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One deleted element of Zack Snyder’s Justice League was too controversial to appear in any version of the DCEU film.
Zack Snyder’sWatchmenstays true to the complex, morally ambiguous nature of its anti-heroes, and it brings the comic book panels to life with an unprecedented audiovisual style that’s also faithful to the comics. Snyder also heightens the action scenes and adds his distinctive slow-motion in various sequences. But since there are fewer comic book and live-action iterations ofWatchmenthan there are of DC Comics characters, it’s much easier to associateZack Snyder’s adaptation to the source material.
