I agree, Night Owl looks like a total rip off of Nolan's Batman. All of these are rather disappointing.

You guys are just nit picky, c'mon! They don't look that bad and there's no reason to complain about the look of them or whatever... And while in this photo it looks inspired by Batman, I've seen it otherwise and it's still unique - the cape especially puts it apart.

I really don't why there is so much negativity over here on this end for these photos. I think this look incredible, absolutely stunning. They show you that Snyder definitely knows what he is doing and that this really is going to kick a lot of ass.

So please, besides the supposed "rip-off" (wah wah cry me a river) and "stuff on the edges" complaints, can you give me a REAL critique as to why these images "aren't that good"????

yeah...the costuming looks a bit hoaky. Ozymandias in the comic seemed to have more of a complexion, whereas the guy cast for his part seems a bit more scrawny and wimpy for what I expected. I still don't know exactly what I make of the whole production, but I still put a decent amount of faith in Zack Snyder as a director...

My first thought is "Cheesy" rorschach is the only one that looks cool. The Night Owl looks like a badly done superhero character like Ben Affleck's costume from Daredevil.

CHECK IT!
Ozymandias' suit has nipples on it. It's official...Zak Snyder has never seen Batman & Robin.

Rubber nipples? Seriously!? You've got to be kidding me! I thought we were over that whole deal, rubber muscles too.

However, I do like the design they were going for, and the actor looks good in the part. Nite Owl's cowl looks a tad cheesey, but so was the original, so I guess that works? And the Comedian looks PERFECT.

I gotta say though Silk Spectre and Comedian look great. Night Owl looks a bit much and Ozymandias looks like he's from the undead, Rorschach will have a morphing mask I read, so it's not all that bad though.

They need to put a picture of Dr. Manhattan up.

they definately have a newer leather feel to em, but they look cool as shit. the rorshach photo isn't really a good quality pic, but the one a week ago with the fire was great. i just cannot wait for this movie!! also, snyder is allowed to borrow from other films, because so many have borrowed from the watchmen.

@ alex i'm with you man, the nit-picking gets old.

The comedian and silk spectre look fantastic. The rest look a little extra silly because they are out of context.

I have to say whoever added the "grunge" effects to these photos appears to have downloaded photoshop yesterday. What the hell? These are essentially the most common grunge brushes on the interwebs and they are being used so poorly it hurts.

Wow, Peter..lost some serious respect for you. Added grunge and scratches to make it look cool? Good thing we got these instead of those amazing shots of them behind ag green screen!

Try learning what being an artist is about, sorry Zach Snyder didn't hand feed you the polaroid copies.

Jesus, some peoples ignorance really amazes me.

Another thing is that half of you are bitching over the costumes looking cheesy.


HAVE ANY OF YOU READ THE COMIC? All the fucking designs are hoakey!

Dan: Talk about ignorance....

Clearly we're not looking for green screen screen photos. I'm happy with the backgrounds in the photos, its the grindhouse like splatter and scratches in the foreground which seem so unneeded. It reminded me of something trying to be cool, when it actually wasn't - kinda like those old Mountain Dew "Extreme" commercials. And don't even pretend that Snyder is using the splatters and scratches to hide the characters and create some mystique. Nothing is hidden. It's clearly a style idea to give the photos more excitement.

Pete, I agree. The Grindhouse-like aesthetic is being used for cool factor, to appeal to the 300 generation, and nothing more.

look terrible. Absoloutly terrible.

what ever happened to the whole 80's vibe Synder was planning on doing? they look too 'modern-day superhero'... Definately should of left this Alan Moore classic alone.

All I've got is Yes. I was excited before, and I'm still excited now. I think Snyder's gonna knock this one outta the park, and everything that is released just keeps making it look better and better.

however, the comedian does look prettay f***** cool.

Holy shit, these look cool. I'm very happy with what im seeing here.

That looks nothing like a ripoff of Nolan's Batman. I would laugh if I saw that in a dark alley.

By the way for you guys "complaining" about the effects on these photos. These are "poster mock-ups". I don't see a problem here since it's well a poster mock-up...

Nightowl really looks like the comic version brought over into the real world. Even the markings on his head and the cowl around his upper-chest have the same linework design. The only thing that seems to be "missing" are the wing-like attachments coming off the top of his head. But since it's a front shot, they could be there and we can't see them? The more I look at these the more I like them. I can't wait to see Manhattan.

Okay Peter, checkmate on that. It's too appeal to a larger crowd, that's fine. But still, to sound like a broken record, we basically answered each other. It's for effect.

Though, I don't think everyone should chop off their Watchmen boners until they actually see footage.

These look fantastic.

The costumes needed to be "updated" and transformed into something that wont look ridiculous on screen. If, for example they literally made Night Owl's costume the way it looks in the comic, it would look something like the costumes from the Batman TV series from the 60's.

Agreed with both dan and hell oh. The other problem is even these photos are in front of still shots of some backgrounds while others look like super-imposed concepts.

Considering how gritty and dirty some of the city shots I've seen. These guys seem to look like they will meld really well into that setting. I want to see footgae, but I am happy Snyder kept to the original look in many ways from the comics and didn't "X-Menize" them with dorky, black, leather outfits with no character.

dan: I commented on the stylized markings because I think they are counter productive in the sense that they don't actually make the photos look cooler, but instead lamer for trying to look cool. Just my opinion.

Awesome: I really want to see this film, loved the comic. My big concern when this was first announced was that they would make the character look too 60's style like the old Batman tv series, or try to make the characters look like the superheroes the mainstream audiences have already seen. I believe to them, Night Owl will look like a lame knock off of Batman, and nothing more. Also, the six pack on Ozy makes him look even more ridiculous than is to be expected.

Peter,

I don't know man, the more I look at these the more they're really kicking in. Right now i'm leaving it up to these just being roughly put together mock-ups. And I look forward to just seeing them in footage. I understand the worry, but I have to say im pretty confident here. And to be honest Nightowl is suppose to be a Batman knock-off :P

But I really can't see how else his costume could have been translated without going with the spandex route and that would have been horribly garish. I like that they did keep his unique "physique" inatc :)

They could have made him more brown than the blackish gold color, which from a distance looks very Batman Begins. They also could have gone more Tim Burton Batmanish, and not used the same type of armor that the Batsuit employs. Just some ideas

I agree, I want to see footage, and am not making a complete judgement of the film right here and now. But my job is to be a critic, give my opinion on what was done right, what wasn't, and give my overall feelings on what is presented. Tonight it was some photos. This isn't directed at you Awesome, but I've noticed others making your same statement that "You should wait until you see footage before you judge it" and I think that is so ridiculous. I'm a blogger. I get paid to make judgements and give an opinion, good bad or indifferent. I'm sure if I made a negative judgment on the eventual trailer, the same people would say "Wait until you see the film before you can complain" Sorry to rant, off to bed.

I found this over at AICN and I agree with Moriarty's comments:

"The Thing To Keep In Mind...is that all the art in the books was not just Dave Gibbons drawing in a vacuum, but reacting to the "dark" trend in comics for the few years prior to the writing of that book.

What you'll see in the film is obviously based on the book, but it's also just as much a comment on the superhero films of the last few years. So these costumes should make you think of the book, but they should also be a reaction to the way all superhero movies are designed now, and a deconstruction of that."

Peter I totally understand :)

I'm a huge Watchmen sicko. So I do my best to be on the fence about this stuff. I appreciate the explanations here and well this is what this forum is for. And I can see your problems with these costumes.

But so far I like it. One thing I would like ot know is how much of the original coloring of these costumes was effected. If you notice on these mock-ups. Theres a lot of color manipulation. I hate that since i'm sure its going to look very different in film. So its more of a waiting game I guess.

Before I jet to bed, just wanted to respond to Moriarty’s comments. I would agree with the "reaction to the way all superhero movies are designed now, and a deconstruction of that" idea if the setting for the film was today, or even in the last 10 years, but isn't it set an alternative yesteryear (1985 was it?). I'm not saying that they should have stuck close to the comic book designs, because the characters would have looked just silly, but I think a good medium would have been the early 90's Burton era Batman style costumes. That would have been a good medium. Okay, I'm done, off to bed.

LOOK GREAT.

i'm sure they look better when actors are moving around. BTW these pics are awesome... i'm officially stoked for the film

What, no Dr. Manhattan?
Other than the absense of the blue fellow, the pics are badass.

They look amazing.

Eeesh. At least they got Rorschach right.

I'm not thinking Chris Nolan's Batman. One look at the Comedian's mask and I'm thinking Batman Forever. Ozymandias' duds remind me of the black and silver Batman/Robin/Batgirl uniforms from that last Schumaker piece of crap.

I actually just checked IMDB to see if the costume designer worked on those movies. Nah. He worked on The Nanny Diaries, though.

I'm not going to make any judgments yet. The poses and lighting really don't say a damn thing about how the movie's gonna look. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's wait for the trailer.

BUT REALLY GUYS, COME ON... THOSE WEATHERING EFFECTS ON THE EDGE OF THE PHOTOS ARE EXTREME, RIGHT?!

I have such a mixed feeling about this movie - I WANT to look forward to it, but I just don't know if it can be done well enough to compare to the comic. Looking at the costumes, the only one that really bugs me is Ozymandias. His design seems to completely different than his comic version and what his character is supposed to symbolize and BE.

Probably going to look better on celluloid, still photos can always be harsh. But, I think the designs are great.

Now i love the comic, always have always will. But my main gripe was the costume designs (bar Rorschach and The Comedian), can you really take Ozymandias seriously in that get up? And do you think people would have taken the film seriously if they had stuck exactly to those costumes? they would be pissing themselves laughing around about now. So i was really worrying about what they where going to do with the costumes in the film, and I'm chuffed to bits with what they have done. I'm really looking forward to this now.

they ruined ozymandias

rorschach looks great

the rest just don't look like you could take them seriously...like, he's directing alan moore - he's not in ott frank miller territory anymore, fidelity should be secondary to verisimilitude.

People complaining about the costumes looks cheesy clearly have never read the graphic novel. They're supposed to look cheesy! In the book, the costumes acted as commentaries on both of the characters and the state of superhero lore.

Just based off these pictures, I can tell that the costume department did an amazing job of keeping the message behind the costumes. It actually seems like these are based more off superhero movie trends, as opposed to superhero comics. I mean, look at Ozymandias' costume; if giving the most powerful character in the book bat-nipples isn't a mocking take off Schumacher, I don't know what is. Also, check out the smaller details in the outfits, like Silk Spectre's garters and the zipper in the middle of Nite Owl's suit. If Snyder only want the costumes to look cool, I doubt he would have let the costume department add things like that.

Silk Spectre looks great.
Comedian looks good too, except his hair is so fake looking, it looks like part of his costume.

Originally, I had faith in Snyder given his damn-faithful interpretation of Miller's 300. He got the look, the feel, and the attitude of the movie just completely perfect which, when it come to comic book movies, is difficult to say the least. But upon seeing these pictures of the costumes, I gotta say I'm a little worried. True, they're just costumes and probably meant to be a bit silly in the first place, but in the case of Watchmen, the costumes so represented to status quo and personalities of the characters indicative of the time they were portrayed in. Given that Watchmen is supposed to be set exactly as the comic, which is in a somewhat alternate version of the late 80s, the costumes designs scream late 90s and that's almost an immediate kiss of death in the eyes of a fanboy checking out the progress of such a highly anticipated movie.

My initial reaction was, "Ass."...especially considering the way-wrong look of Ozymandias. Anyone who's ever read the book knows that this guy would never develop an outfit like that. His ego, for one, wouldn't allow it. Where's all the shiny gold? The flowing regality of his purple tunic? This guy thought he was a god, not a superhero, and sorry guys, but that current outfit does not accurately reflect who Ozymandias is, which is kinda key given his ultimate role in the story.

So, bottom line: this movie, in my opinion, is going to be a mistake and won't be the flick we were all hoping Snyder would make it to be. Maybe it's the investors...I don't know, but if these guys don't have enough respect or insight or understanding of the comic to see that something as trite as costumes are as vital to the storytelling and character construction as whatever "story" they have set up in the script....then I've a sneaking suspicion that they won't have enough creative direction to make this thing anywhere near as brilliant as the comic.

I'm really sad that they're making this movie against Moore's wishes. I've never actually looked at Watchman as a typical Superhero movie. The characters that Gibbons and Moore created exposed the vulnerable nature of the Superhero. I hate to see them the way they are now all polished up and cool when the costumes are supposed to look hoaky and dorky. The only two costumes that work for me Are Rorschach and Silk Spectre. Night Owl and The Comedian lack the gruby look that thet should have. Has anyone thought about hw they're gonna potray Jon? The guy walks around in the nude half the time.

So long as Rorschach still holds it down. It's all about how the story holds together

I like them but we could have done with a little less of the rubber muscles complete with what appears to be nipples. I really don't think that you can escape nightowl looking like batman. Seems they did as much as possible to seperate the two with the "feather" look but it should be colored a little differently. The picture of rorschach would also be better if it was in color... like the original set pictures with him walking down the street... that looked awesome.

Keep in mind this thing is placed in the 1980s, which makes Comedian's costume much more believable.

Rorschach looks about perfect. When we saw one of those first caps I was a little off put by the coat being leather (I always pictured it being cloth like) but it's totally fine.

I think Ozymandias looks awesome but he sort of looks evil which might take away the surprise that he's the bad guy.

Nite Owl looks fine. Pretty awesome even.

costumes all look very Flash movie circa 1980's.

BigmanSmallMouth, you know what else might take away the surprise of Ozymandias? YOU SAYING HE'S THE DAMN BAD GUY.

Yeah, isn't Nite Owl based on Blue Beetle with a dash of Batman anyway? SO I do actually like his costume.

And about Ozy. Are people going to attack the movie gladiator because that has body armor too? Do I think it's BOSS? I need to see it in motion. It's growing on me, but I can't wait to hear the Batman & Robin comparisons. Funny at first, but with the nature of the internet, lame by the next min.

Like what someone here said, the costumes are suppose to be over-the-top, just like the comic book.

I think they look pretty cool, not too bright, but obviously Rorschach is cooler, as is his costume because its something I can put together.
Some of you might complain but realize brightly colored spandex doesn't look good on film, in the sixties yeah it looks cool but now it shouts "I'ma deranged aerobics instructor look at me!!" so get over it who knows the movie's story and acting might make up for the costumes, but I could be wrong, I actually thought Blade: Trinity was going to be great movie, nope.

Anyone who says WATCHMEN is "over the top" never read the damn book. WATCHMEN is not a campy, over-the-top comic book. Major Bummer was. Vampirella was. Frickin' the new run on Spider-man is!!

WATCHMEN is a political/social commentary using the influence of 80s-90s superheros/comics as a method to tell a story.

Read the book!!!!!