By: Joel Owens
Started in 1986, writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons formulate a mystery based on the Cold War, wherein the threat of nuclear warfare is an imminent fear. The story explores the possibility that superheroes existed in the 1940s. Thus, in the setting of the Watchmen graphic novel, superheroes are roughly classified into two. They are either working for the government, donning their suits while on retainer by people’s taxes, or they are outlawed. Most superheroes not working for the government have decided to embark on other productive endeavors like business, leaving crime-fighting and costume-wearing behind. Some continue to be heroes, but are considered as fugitives, thanks to the law that was passed outlawing superheroes.
Creator Alan Moore cannot be blamed for wanting his art to remain in the chosen medium it was created. Not only due to the huge differences between perusing a comic book and watching a film, but undeniably also because of the harrowing experiences he had with his publisher and the process of converting his work from paper to film. Initially, he thought that separating himself from the process of converting his work to a movie would turn out fine. Moore admits that he was wrong about distancing himself. The latest of his work to be released as a movie is the Watchmen graphic novel.
“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,” one of Moore’s works, was adapted into film. He distanced himself, feeling that as long as he didn’t see any of the film and had nothing to do with it, everything will be fine. He was fairly surprised when producer Martin Poll and writer Larry Cohen filed a law suit against 20th Century Fox for alleged plagiarism. They claim that their script yet to be produced was copied. Indeed, the two scripts bore many similarities, but these are elements added to the film and were not in any way found in Moore’s comics. Due to the lawsuit, Alan Moore had to testify in a deposition. The experience, he described, is incomparable and shockingly painful. As if the misery was not enough, Fox settled the case, signaling to Moore that it was an admission of guilt, something he was very sure he has no involvement.
When “V for Vendetta” was made into a film, producer Joel Silver stated to the press that fellow producer Larry Wachowski had talked with Alan Moore, and that Moore was excited about the project. But according to Moore, he adamantly refused to be part of anything with films, and still wasn’t interested in Hollywood. Alan Moore wanted a public retraction and an apology. While he got an apology from Silver, who appears also been deceived by Wachowski, there never was a public retraction. Aside from this, Moore claims that the comic book was specifically about anarchy and fascism. Nowhere in the movie was these two things even seen or mentioned. Clearly, the adaptation of the comic book into a film reinvents Moore’s work into something totally different, something Moore would have not created and would definitely not want to be credited with.
The Watchmen graphic novel is being adapted into a film, and is set for release this 2009. Everybody can understand the reluctance and displeasure by Alan Moore. It is bad enough that he doesn’t get paid for his work, now he gets his name attached to work inherently at odds with what and who Alan Moore is.
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