I have to re-read the book, because it's been years, but I like the film's treatment of Rorschach's death, perhaps more, because it does drive home the relationship between him and Night Owl.
The other thing that I was thinking about and forgot to mention yesterday, was Greg's thing about Dr. Manhattan being compelled to leave Earth by the ending of the film. I think he was compelled in the book as well, because if he stuck around, he would be forced to do something about the "aliens" which would more or less unravel the whole scam. Everybody knows ho powerful he is, and if he just fixes things, it ruins it, and if he can't just fix it, than what hope does Earth have?
I think either way the end is basically the same for Manhattan, and I agree that the whole alien thing is kind of head-scratch inducing, whereas the film ending works well for it.
I still don't agree that Dr. Manhattan is ever, under any circumstances, compelled to do anything. Even if the entire fucking planet were to raise their collective arsenals up against him, they wouldn't be able to make a dent in him, they would be less effective than mosquitos. They can't force him to do anything, and they can't destroy him if they tried.
In BOTH versions Dr. Manhattan's choice to leave is his and his alone, he is not subject to anyone, anyone's will or whim. He leaves because he feels like it, not because he is compelled.
I only feel the original comic ending is head-scratching if you just explain it to someone second-hand. It just sounds too wildly out of left field when taken out of context. In the comic itself it's properly foreshadowed and explained in a way that makes sense, it just doesn't translate to being re-told by someone else.
Maybe compelled isn't the best word. But I think he realizes that his staying on Earth would only make it harder to pull off this scam to trick people into being nice to each other. He could just as easily stick around, but the stakes are too high for him to risk it, and I think weighs into his decision to leave. At least it seems that way to me.
I can see that point of view, but I don't think it's something he factored into his decision in choosing to leave. It was enough that he played a role in uncovering this mystery and playing his part in averting imminent nuclear war. The aftermath and how well Adrian's conspiracy holds up was not his concern. He left merely because it is in his nature to become weary of things that fascinate him and move on to new discoveries.
I know for the story Rorschach has to die, but they made it seem possible he didn't have to in the movie. As soon as he starts coming back to society, BAM. :C
The thing about Rorschach is not that he "had to die", it's that he's an idealist, in a dark way. He cares only about punishing the guilty, and is utterly inflexible in this cause, even if it means the deaths of more innocents. He's been so utterly and psychologically broken by this that he knows there's no turning back. It's why he takes his mask off before demanding, begging, possibly both, that Dr. Manhattan kill him. Because the human in him, Walter Kovacs, is able to for a moment usurp this personality and admit that this idealist position isn't necessarily "right".
To be honest, even though Dr. Manhatten said he couldn't let Rorschach go, I have a feeling that if Rorschach didn't ask for it, he wouldn't have killed him. After all, he told the Comedian not to shoot the pregnant woman, and he didn't stop him either. Or even try to punish him. But Walter Kovacs knew that Rorschach would never stop, and he just wanted it to be over, so Dr. Manhattan only gave him what he wanted.
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The other thing that I was thinking about and forgot to mention yesterday, was Greg's thing about Dr. Manhattan being compelled to leave Earth by the ending of the film. I think he was compelled in the book as well, because if he stuck around, he would be forced to do something about the "aliens" which would more or less unravel the whole scam. Everybody knows ho powerful he is, and if he just fixes things, it ruins it, and if he can't just fix it, than what hope does Earth have?
I think either way the end is basically the same for Manhattan, and I agree that the whole alien thing is kind of head-scratch inducing, whereas the film ending works well for it.
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In BOTH versions Dr. Manhattan's choice to leave is his and his alone, he is not subject to anyone, anyone's will or whim. He leaves because he feels like it, not because he is compelled.
I only feel the original comic ending is head-scratching if you just explain it to someone second-hand. It just sounds too wildly out of left field when taken out of context. In the comic itself it's properly foreshadowed and explained in a way that makes sense, it just doesn't translate to being re-told by someone else.
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To be honest, even though Dr. Manhatten said he couldn't let Rorschach go, I have a feeling that if Rorschach didn't ask for it, he wouldn't have killed him. After all, he told the Comedian not to shoot the pregnant woman, and he didn't stop him either. Or even try to punish him. But Walter Kovacs knew that Rorschach would never stop, and he just wanted it to be over, so Dr. Manhattan only gave him what he wanted.
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