1 Thank goodness for that, though I can't say I'm really surprised.  This seems to be a regular occurrence with properties that take forever to adapt and go through multiple studios.  Often the studio in Fox's position brings up the claim before production begins, which effectively kills the production... hence Fox waiting until the film was in the can before launching their lawsuit...  In any case, I'm just glad it'll be coming out on schedule.  It's a tough enough sell as it is without having to endure delayed release dates.

2 As long as they change the ending, I'm happy.

...

[exit pursued by a bear]

3 Not yet known, but I've seen hints that they did make some changes, which would have affected the ending.

4 That will be entertaining.  There are some aspects of the original comic that don't thrill me - the ending being one of them - but if they've actually changed it in any significant way, O tempora!  O mores!*

* Fried eel in batter.

5

What we do know for sure is that the whole "Tales of the Black Ships" business was cut out entirely. Probably all the characters near or around the newsstand are gone (such as the butch cab driver).

Rumor is that Ozymandias's grand plan was changed for the film; it isn't a giant telepathic monster.

But I expect that the final confrontation will still take place, and the same death(s). But that's just my guesses.

6

I read the original Sam Hamm script a while back and the major difference was the ending.  They scrapped that script though... Spoiler ending below (again, this wasn't the script used for the movie)

In that script, Ozymandias/Veidt figures out time travel and parallel universes, and after examination, he realizes that the only timelines where the human race survives are the ones where Dr. Manhattan never existed.  So he attempts to change the past by assassinating  Osterman before he becomes Dr. Manhattan.

I didn't care much for that ending, so I was glad when I heard they scrapped that script.  I'm a little anxious to see what they do to the ending though.

7 No kidding; that version totally undermines pretty much the entire story, vis a vis Veidt.

8 The Japanese trailer has a lot of scenes in it that weren't from the comic, or were altered.  A lot of political stuff.  I think the reason they haven't been showing that trailer here is that they don't want the fans annoyed, so they've cherry-picked the scenes that are closest to the comic for the domestic trailer.
I had been really pleased with what I had seen so far, but the Japanese trailer gave me a sinking feeling.....

9 The first trailer, I have to say, was visually stunning.  It was the Watchmen come to life.

What that means for the movie?  Well, at least it will be pretty.

10 Oh, yeah, the Japanese trailer definitely looks like a different movie.

-j

11

Now, I've had no exposure to the graphic novel, so this is coming from someone completely outside the loop.

From what I've seen in both trailers (and given Japan's unique history), I'm not surprised they'd put more emphasis on the apparent alt-history and nuclear war aspects.

OTOH, the US has seen a recent run of fairly successful superhero movies, so of course they're going to put that front and center domestically.