I saw the Watchmen movie a while ago, and I was thinking: This is the series that is so highly praised by the comic book fan community. Now we have a movie that is virtually a translation from panel to movie screen. You would think since it’s such a great translation, that the comics community would be praising it and it would be a blockbuster.

And this movie was, to say the least, more faithful to it’s comic book origins then any Marvel, or any other DC movie.

Well it seems that Watchmen was hardly a Hollywood Blockbuster in terms of critic reviews and box office total.

I think with making a comic book film, many comic book fans think the film should be 100% accurate to the comic book source material. (And yet when an example like this movie shows up, the general buying public is not there in full support.)

I think the comic fan base in terms of total box office, is only a small community whereas making a film for the general public is more important.

Look at films like the last few Spider-Man, Iron Man and Dark Knight films. None of them were 100% faithful to their comic book origins and their comic book stories. And those films did take creative liberties that their comic book counterparts did not have.

But what those films had was capturing the essence of their comic book properties, and translating a film that the general public could follow and accept.

I think that is the key to making a great comic book film that does well. It should capture the essence of the comic book property, and a story that can be accessed by the public.

Following the comic book material accurately is not a necessity. Creative license can and should be taken where it is appropriate.

Personally, I get tired of comic board comments of people complaining Ad nauseum why a film is not 100% comic accurate. As if a film should just be made for the comic collecting audience exclusively. Watchmen is a good example of why they should not be. I mean they were even so accurate as to include graphic scenes of Dr. Manhattan and frontal nudity. Hey director, Zack Snyder a little creative license there would not have hurt.