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This isn't a definitive list of the differences between the Watchmen graphic novel and film, but the ones that bothered me by not being Other than the obvious Black Freighter material being left out, Hollis' death, and the ending being altered, here's a list of some of the things that were left out or changed in the film:
(1)Rorschach's first trip to the criminal underworld
(2)Rorshach visiting Adrian Veidt instead of Dan Dreiberg to warn him about mask killer
(3)Captain Metropolis being at the Crimebusters meeting
(4)The Comedian's gimp mask (I actually liked this mask and was bummed it didn't make it into the movie)
(5)Rorschach jumping out of the fridge in his first visit with Moloch
(6)How Janey Slater entered the picture
(7)Dr. Manhattan returning to his private quarters to witness a man spray painting a radioactive symbol on the door
(8)Where the photograph of Jon Osterman and Janey Slater was located and its significance
(9)Laurie returning to Jon's quarters to find government officials confiscating his things and that he left Earth
(10)Rorschach's second break-in to Dan Dreiberg's place
(11)The flashback to Jon practicing watch repair with his father
(12)Hollis' discussion with Dr. Manhattan during his retirement banquet
(13)Dr. Manhattan transporting an entire mob of rioters voicing their concerns of masked superheroes back to their homes
(14)Rorschach's reponse to The Keene Act
(15)Rorschach's second Moloch visit where he locks him in the fridge (both visits were kind of blended together)
(16)Rorschach's landlady, anything concerning his apartment, and his drop box
(17)Adrian Veidt's assassin encounter (it was more brutal in the novel)
(18)Where Rorschach hides his mask during the day
(19)Everything about Walter Kovacs' psychiatrist's relationship bending and breaking while he's on the Rorschach case
(20)How and where Rorshach first got his mask
(21)How Rorschach disposed of the man who kidnapped that little girl who was fed to the dogs
(22)Dan's encounter with Detective Steven Fine
(23)Walter Kovacs getting his spare mask and outfit back at his apartment after the prison break
(24)Dan and Walter hiding under water in Archie while things blew over after the prison break
(25)The cops finding all of Dan's Nite Owl gadgets
(26)Jon bringing up Dan and Laurie sleeping together
(27)The snow globe in Laurie's flashback when her parents were fighting
(28)Anything concerning Hollis after that first scene with Hollis and Dan reminiscing about the old crimefighting days
(29)Laurie getting drunk at the banquet honoring Edward Blake
(30)Rorschach's sugar cube addiction
(31)Dan and Laurie making love after Adrian's plan is revealed (he witnesses Rorschach's death instead, in the film)
Comments
Good list. I also seem to recall two other moments that were absent from the film, though it's been 15 years since I read the graphic novel. Correct me if I'm wrong, but...
* Doesn't Dan ask Adrian why Adrian didn't try to kill him too? To which Adrian responds, "I didn't think you were much of a threat?" (For some reason, that line's been stuck in my head for years.)
* Laurie doesn't tell her mom that she knows the truth about her dad in the book, does she? But as she and Dan leave her mom's home, her mom rushes to the Minute Men photo and kisses Eddie Brock's image. I always thought that was poignant; sorry to see it was replaced in the film.
Another interesting point: In the book a newspaper headline reads "RR to run for President in '88" and the staff of the New Frontiersman says that it's "Robert Redford"... the book was written before Reagan was president and in the movie that line has been changed to Ronald Reagan.
Eddie Brock huh?
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