Alex McDowell, the production designer for the upcoming (hopefully sooner rather than later, if Fox doesn’t have their way and screw everything up) Watchmen movie gave a lecture at MIT before Thanksgiving and shared a few interesting tidbits about some set design for Watchmen. Among other things that are only of interest to Watchmen geeks, McDowell shared some pictures of Dr. Manhattan’s apartment that feature nods to David Bowie and The Man Who Fell To Earth. For instance, the table tennis room in the apartment was inspired by the same room in Thomas Jerome Newton’s house. And on top of a table in another scene lays a copy of Masterpieces in Paint and Poetry, but with the production stamped Veidt Enterprises.
After reading this article, I’ve decided that I’m only an Alan Moore purist to a certain extent. When it comes to giving a bit of character to places that aren’t fully developed, like Dr. Manhattan’s apartment, then I suppose I’m okay with it if the spirit of the story is kept. And it includes Bowie refences that only the most rabid Bowie fans will spot. But when it comes to entirely changing stories and characters, or adding new ones for that matter, like V For Steaming Pile….I mean, Vendetta or League of Extraordinary Gentlemen then I reserve a seething hatred that boils my blood whenever I think about it. Like now. **thoughts of upcoming Watchmen movie and nerdy Bowie nods** Ah, better.
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5 responses to “References to David Bowie in the Upcoming Watchmen Movie”
Are Watchmen Geeks anything like Bowie geeks? Sounds like Mr. Moore is signalling wildly to the latter.
I worked last year for a Gatchaman geek who’s rich enough to make a movie of his favorite Seventies Japanimated series. The series is a hoot – full of the kind of gender terror that Bowie was working with in the day. The main character’s parents were blown up by a group resembling the New York Dolls and the main villain is a glam queen with worse than Gary Glitter’s taste. Can’t wait to see it – did rather a lot of signalling myself but I suspect it’s all gone ’cause that’s what happens. Keeps me amused.
I think that Watchmen Geeks may in fact be worse that Bowie geeks. For example, can you see a Bowie fan writing an article like this? I mean, maybe there’s a few out there, but the majority of Watchmen geeks are serious rock ‘n’ roll bitches for Watchmen and Alan Moore. And Mr. Moore himself has pledged to spit venom all over the movie (his words, not mine). I’m really hoping that he’ll publicly invoke his snake god Glycon (which is a hoax) on Warner Bros. and Fox. Even if the movie is good, I’d still like to see that. It would rule.
Gatchaman…I’ll have to check that out. Sounds like it would be right up my alley.
I had no idea, but I got a gig at Imagi entertainment around the first of last year. It was fun drawing skinny teenagers instead of little kids, and the look of the main character only abetted my developing Bowie fandom. It will never show in the finished product but in the storyboard stage you can draw a character with mismatched eyes and no one will notice.
I know a few Watchman devotees but to me it looks like a warmed-over Justice League. Perhaps I need to give it a chance.
Yes, yes, give it a chance! Rather than waiting until the movie comes out, start with the book itself. There are many themes to the story – it is set in an alternate 1985 during Nixon’s 5th term with the central theme being the direction of society after masked vigilantes or “superheroes” have been banned by Congress.
Interesting…that’s also the premise of “The Incredibles,” without the Nixon bit. I’m surprised if the 5th term thing didn’t give our current President some ideas…maybe Mr. Cheney read it.