Zack Snyder’s cinematic journey began with Dawn on the Dead. However, it was his 2007 film 300 that truly put him into the spotlight. His unexpected triumph with the historical drama paved the way for him to take on the daunting task of adapting Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen, a project that had stamped filmmakers like Terry Gilliam and Darren Aronofsky.
Released in 2009, the movie was known for being remarkably faithful to the source material, except for the altered ending, which has continued to be a disputable topic among fans. However, despite the criticism, it caught the attention of renowned filmmaker Christopher Nolan, who called it ahead of its time.
Christopher Nolan Praised Zack Snyder’s Watchmen
Despite being based on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ popular comic, Zack Snyder’s 2009 film Watchmen underperformed at the box office. While it was unable to get favorable reviews, infamously due to its altered ending, it has received approval from acclaimed director Christopher Nolan.
The Oppenheimer director has shared that he always believed that Watchmen was “ahead of its time,” as per The Hollywood Reporter. “The idea of a superhero team, which it so brilliantly subverts, wasn’t yet a thing in movies. It would have been fascinating to see it released post-Avengers,” he said.
While the praise seems justified to many, some fans are unable to appreciate the filmmaker’s fondness for Snyder’s Watchmen adaptation. The film has been a controversial topic among fans, mostly due to its ending, which strays far away from its source material.
While the comic features a giant squid attacking the city of New York, the movie follows Adrian Veidt triggering a series of nuclear explosions around the world, all while mimicking Dr. Manhattan as the culprit. And Nolan’s comment has further fueled the ongoing debate.
Christopher Nolan’s Statement Feuled the Ongoing Debate Surrounding Watchmen
Christopher Nolan lauded Zack Snyder’s willingness to challenge the conventional superhero tropes and explore a darker and more ambiguous side of vigilantism. However, his comments have also stirred up lingering resentment among fans who have been deeply disappointed by the film’s ending.
While some fans agreed with his opinion, others have reaffirmed their disdain for the film’s ending. Acknowledging that The Dark Knight director is not wrong, as Watchmen does an incredible job at challenging the superhero genre, fans also claimed that Snyder was not the right filmmaker for the job.
Many fans pointed out that there were no issues with the concept, but the way the Man of Steel director attempted to execute it on-screen. The criticism did not stop there, as others questioned if Nolan was even aware of the movie’s source material, stating, “Does he know that Snyder adapted an award-winning comic? and that he still decided to mess up the ending?”
Nolan does not read many comics, then
— George Alexopoulos (@GPrime85) November 29, 2023
So…he does know it was a comic for like 20 years before the movie, right?
— Chris R. (@PopPopInAttic) November 29, 2023
I just wish it was a bit more like the graphic novel pic.twitter.com/7vwulL75Zc
— Andor (@destroyboi16) November 29, 2023
I mean he’s not wrong, the source material is fantastic and does a great job at examining the superhero genre. Problem is Zack Snyder just wasn’t the man to properly adapt it (or even as a film bc of how much you have to cut to fit a film’s length)
— Sredni Vashtar (@ReignOfVashtar) November 29, 2023
He probably meant Alan Moore’s WATCHMEN graphic novel was ahead of its time.
— AGG (@agg1987) November 29, 2023
That’s the concept though, which Snyder wasn’t in any way responsible for. He would’ve been responsible for taking that vision and adapting it to the big-screen, but even there, it had some significant issues.
— WolvenOne (@Wolvenone) November 29, 2023
does he know that snyder adapted an award winning comic? and that he still decided to mess up the ending?
— Sunil Singh (@notsunil) November 29, 2023
While Christopher Nolan is right in a lot of ways, as the movie could have found a more favorable reception in a post-Avengers landscape. However, despite its criticism, Watchmen has gained a loyal following over the years, with many even calling it the best comic book adaptation.
Watchmen is available on Max.
