What’s New in Watchmen: The Director’s Cut

Watchmen Director's Cut Header

Merrick over at Ain’t It Cool News has a reader named “Ulysses” who reportedly has seen Watchmen: The Director’s Cut, which is set for release on Blu-ray this month, and even a limited run in theaters.

So what’s new in Watchmen: The Director’s Cut? Keep on reading if you want to know the answer to that question, but needless to say, anything you read is going to be a SPOILER. Here are just a few of the new scenes that “Ulysses” noticed in Watchmen: The Director’s Cut [SPOILERS!!!]:

At the end of Rorschach’s search of the comedian’s apartment. Two cops enter, he knocks one of the cops out and jumps out the window as the other cop is firing his gun at him.
Rorschach has more dialogue from the comic with Dr. Malcom. Also in his story of the girl, the murder is shown as in the comic – walking outside, asking his dogs to bark, when they don’t he draws his gun and enters the building.
…Hollis talks on the phone with Sally, only to be interrupted by knocks at the door. He has a great montage death scene. They also explain why the knot heads go there at an earlier point.

That last bit about Hollis Mason’s (the first Nite Owl) death scene is good news; I really thought that moment was crucial to the story of the graphic novel and the fact that the theatrical version totally skirted over it really was disappointing.

Moreover, if you’ve watched the Tales of The Black Freighter DVD/Blu-ray, and seen the Hollis Mason Documentary included with it, actor Stephen McHattie (so underrated) really does a good job with the character of Mason – I would say (Jackie Earle Haley aside) he gave the best performance in the whole ensemble. So, IMO, McHattie deserves as much screen time available to him..until his head gets bashed-in by knot heads.

Now, those scenes mentioned above are only 3 of 10 that “Ulysses” provided. For the full list, head on over to Merrick’s post at AICN.

Sounds like Watchmen: The Director’s Cut might be worth seeing after all. Or is this all just pointless foreplay before Watchmen: The Ulimate Edition gets rolled out?

Watchmen: The Director’s Cut is coming to theaters for a 3-city weekend run. Details here.

The Blu-ray hits stores July 21, 2009.

Source: AICN

Tags: watchmen

Dudeman

July 21 man, it comes out on DVD July 21.

Kofi Outlaw

@ Dudeman

Right you are. I was still going by an old date I had for it. Thanks for the update, it's been changed in the post.

greenknight333

Looking forward to this...hopefully it will not leave me speechless like the theatrical version.

The Big Dentist

According to AICN the new running time is 3 hours (approx), so they've only added another 15 minutes. Fair enough for most Director's Cuts, but I thought they might have gone to town on this.

Just to be an tedious old stoat, in the comic Grice doesn't pull a gun before entering the building...and of course he's not the one to get a cleaver through his skull either...

On the plus side, good to know Hollis Mason gets a proper death scene + montage, and that there's more of Malcolm Long. Maybe that might even include the flashback of where Kovacs got the material for his mask.

Thing is, as much as certain aspects of the movie made me want to go and boil my head, I WILL end up owning it in some form or another, I know it. Kofi, do you know if the Ultimate Edition is going to be this new cut plus Tales Of The Black Freighter then? Still haven't seen that, so I might wait for the full packeage if that's the case.