4,100th Post Celebration: Watchmen (2019) vs. Watchmen (2009)

I always try to do something a little bit different for these.  It has to either be bigger or just odder.
In this case, it's a bit of both, maybe.

2019 brought us a really interesting TV Show that was a follow-up to Watchmen.
The logical question- how does it stack up to the Film Version?

Let me join in on the nerd debate, I guess!

 VS

Right off the bat, here are the differences...

- The 2009 Film is a direct Adaptation of the Comic Book.
- The 2019 Show is a follow-up to that Story, complete with changes and revisions.
- The former sticks strongly to the Comic beat for beat, changing little.
- The 2019 Show uses the same World, but builds a brand new story out of its foundation.
- The 2009 Film features all of the classic Characters.
- The 2019 Film does not, using new Characters in conjunction with key returning Characters.

All good?

Pros for Watchmen (2009):
- Strong visual style.
- Good action.
- Good story (not original, but you know).

Pros for Watchmen (2019):
- Strong visual style.
- Visceral action (with real consequences).

- A good (new) story.

Cons for Watchmen (2009):
- Nothing unique, since it's a straight adaptation.
- Content was cut (from the main release).

Seriously, how many different Cuts did they release?  Six?

Cons for Watchmen (2019):
- Loose narrative structure can make it hard to follow.
- Characters drop in and out of the story.
- Original story sure is weird.  Too weird for many (just not me).

A damn tough call for me to make.  I defend Zack Snyder's Film here more than, well, most of his work.  When you make a Film bad enough that a Studio fires you, you've done something wrong!  His Superhero Films sure have been controversial since this one.  I defend the Film here because it is a strong, stylistic adaptation of the most famous Maxi-Series of all time.  It works.  Having seen it in Theaters and owning the Extended Director's Cut, I stand by it.  As far as the HBO Show goes, it gets massive points for creativity.  It follows up Watchmen with an original Story and builds brand new, interesting characters around it.  It takes a while to form (see my Cons), but rewards you for watching the whole thing.  It doesn't 'feel like Watchmen' at first, but gets there soon enough.  I think the issues of mystery revealing and pacing are forgivable when it all ties together.  It is probably just me, but I think the Show will eventually stand the test of time more.  Let's find out in 10 years.  By then, we also might find out definitively what happened to Night Owl too...

As a fan of both, I try to be impartial.  One is a solid Adaptation, while another is something more creative.