WATCHMEN: TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER trailer online! by COOP

For those of you unfamiliar with the “Watchmen” comic, you probably don’t know anything about “Tales of the Black Freighter.”

“Tales” was a parallel comic book story told episodically throughout the “Watchmen” graphic novel. As I recall, a kid in “Watchmen” was reading the “Tales” story as the bigger superhero story unfolded around him. “Tales” was meant as an allegory to punctuate the theme and plot points of the bigger “Watchmen” arc.

“Tales of the Black Freighter” concerns a marooned sailor in the 17th century who must go through with frightening, sometimes disgusting actions in order escape his exile and save his family from being slaughtered by vengeful pirates.

Zack Snyder originally wanted “Tales” told within the “Watchmen” film as intended, but of course the studio wouldn’t allow that type of experimental, narrative breech in a such a mainstream Hollywood film. Instead, Snyder had it made as a short film to be released separately on DVD in order to please the fans. I can’t imagine fairweather fans or newbies to the material to appreciate “Tales of the Black Freighter” as a companion piece to “Watchmen,” but a film version would not be complete without it. Plus “300’s” Gerard Butler voices the part of the Sailor if that sweetens the deal for you.

Also included in the DVD is a live-action faux documentary about the original Nite Owl (a Batman-type character in “Watchmen”), played my character actor Stephen McHattie, presenting and explaining the advanced technology that aided him during his crime fighting days. The mockumentary also stars Carla Gugino, Matt (Max Headroom) Frewer and Jeffery Dean Morgan.

Click below to watch the DVD/Blu Ray trailer for “Tales of the Black Freighter”…