In recent discussions concerning the quality of plot development in the new blockbuster movie, The Watchmen, many viewers who have not read the comic felt that there was a lack of coherence throughout, and a lack of resolution at the end of the movie. This discussion has brought about a controversial issue. The issue has been whether the alteration of the climax and end of the movie had anything to do with it's audiences' reaction. On one hand, some would argue that the detonation of a psychically transported squid would have been too much for mainstream viewers. From this perspective, non-Watchmen enthusiasts would find it too ridiculous. On the other hand, others argue that the change in the ending obligated the writers to leave out Doctor Manhattan's famous dialogue with Ozymandias; consequently leaving out the subliminal message through their dialogue. According to this view the content of the ending dialogue is too important to leave out.
In conclusion, the issue is whether to sacrifice content for style or style for preserving the intended message of the novel.