Are "Watchmen" & "Back to the Future II" in the same Alternate 1985?

Aquehonga · March 7 2009, 11:21 PM

Just wondering?

I haven't seen WATCHMEN nor read the 1980's graphic novel its based on. But I've read several reviews & some elements of WATCHMEN are the same as BTTF2 (1989).

Namely:

* Both take place in an Alternate 1985.

* Both feature Richard M. Nixon still being President in 1985.

In both, isn't Vietnam still going on?

* What else is there

WATCHMEN predates BTTF2 by about 3 or 4 years. It was published in 1985 or 1986 yes? I suspect BTTF2's having Nixon still being Prez was an allusion, or salute to "Watchmen".

Your thoughts?

Corran Horn · March 7 2009, 11:41 PM

I don't know about Vietnam and BTTF2 but in Watchmen the war is over and Vietnam is pretty much the 51st state.

ATimson · March 7 2009, 11:42 PM

No, Watchmen has Vietnam concluding roughly a week after Nixon is first elected.

Hartzilla2007 · March 8 2009, 12:15 AM

ATimson wrote:

No, Watchmen has Vietnam concluding roughly a week after Nixon is first elected.

Basically Doctor Manhattan and his amazing tank destroying and people frying mind powers had something to do with that.

Psion · March 8 2009, 12:26 AM

Hartzilla2007 wrote:

ATimson wrote:

No, Watchmen has Vietnam concluding roughly a week after Nixon is first elected.

Basically Doctor Manhattan and his amazing tank destroying and people frying mind powers had something to do with that.

One wonders how many poor "volunteers" Khrushchev and Brezhnev sent into the Soviet Union's own "intrinsic field subtractors" in a desperate effort to close the "Doctor Manhatten gap".

Ethros · March 8 2009, 12:28 AM

Yes they are.

In fact you know who there was a hoo hah over changing the ending of Watchmen, well rather than a giant squid the explosion is caused by young Jennifer meeting old Jennifer which causes a chain reaction that unravels the very fabric of the space-time continuum and destroys the entire universe

Mutenroshi · March 8 2009, 01:19 AM

Aquehonga wrote:

* Both feature Richard M. Nixon still being President in 1985.

Whut?

Mr. Laser Beam · March 8 2009, 01:42 AM

ATimson wrote:

No, Watchmen has Vietnam concluding roughly a week after Nixon is first elected.

In the alt-1985 from BTTF II, there is a newspaper headline that reads something like "Nixon To Seek 5th Term...Vows To End Vietnam War By 1985". I suppose he could have succeeded... So maybe it is possible that the film's alt-1985 is the Watchmen 'verse. That would make Biff Tannen personally responsible for all that destruction.

ATimson · March 8 2009, 02:19 AM

Hartzilla2007 wrote:

Basically Doctor Manhattan and his amazing tank destroying and people frying mind powers had something to do with that.

Well, yes, but I was trying to be conscious of people who may have not read or seen it.

ATimson · March 8 2009, 02:20 AM

Babaganoosh wrote:

In the alt-1985 from BTTF II, there is a newspaper headline that reads something like "Nixon To Seek 5th Term...Vows To End Vietnam War By 1985". I suppose he could have succeeded... So maybe it is possible that the film's alt-1985 is the Watchmen 'verse. That would make Biff Tannen personally responsible for all that destruction.

Uh... if the Vietnam War is still going on in 1984 in BTTF2, then they can't be the same. Period, end of story.

Nick Ryder · March 8 2009, 03:01 AM

And uhm... Marty told Doc in 1955 when he asked "Who's president in1985?" "Ronald Reagan." "Ronald Reagan?! The ACTOR! Who's secretary of state? Jerry Lee Lewis?"

od0_ital · March 8 2009, 07:34 AM

NickRyder wrote:

And uhm... Marty told Doc in 1955 when he asked "Who's president in1985?" "Ronald Reagan." "Ronald Reagan?! The ACTOR! Who's secretary of state? Jerry Lee Lewis?"

Ya never bothered to watch Back to the Future II?

captcalhoun · March 8 2009, 08:16 AM

NickRyder wrote:

And uhm... Marty told Doc in 1955 when he asked "Who's president in1985?" "Ronald Reagan." "Ronald Reagan?! The ACTOR! Who's secretary of state? Jerry Lee Lewis?"

actually he says JERRY LEWIS. someone COMPLETELY different...

Mr. Laser Beam · March 8 2009, 08:30 AM

ATimson wrote:

Babaganoosh wrote:

In the alt-1985 from BTTF II, there is a newspaper headline that reads something like "Nixon To Seek 5th Term...Vows To End Vietnam War By 1985". I suppose he could have succeeded... So maybe it is possible that the film's alt-1985 is the Watchmen 'verse. That would make Biff Tannen personally responsible for all that destruction.

Uh... if the Vietnam War is still going on in 1984 in BTTF2, then they can't be the same. Period, end of story.

I don't get it.

Watchmen took place in 1985, the same year as most of BTTF2 does.

ITL · March 8 2009, 08:31 AM

In Watchmen, The Vietnam War was won by the USA in the early 70's.

March 7 2009, 11:21 PM	#1
Aquehonga Fleet Captain Location: nuSpringville Transbus Hub: there be Yukon deers on them buses!	Are "Watchmen" & "Back to the Future II" in the same Alternate 1985? Just wondering? I haven't seen WATCHMEN nor read the 1980's graphic novel its based on. But I've read several reviews & some elements of WATCHMEN are the same as BTTF2 (1989). Namely: * Both take place in an Alternate 1985. * Both feature Richard M. Nixon still being President in 1985. In both, isn't Vietnam still going on? * What else is there WATCHMEN predates BTTF2 by about 3 or 4 years. It was published in 1985 or 1986 yes? I suspect BTTF2's having Nixon still being Prez was an allusion, or salute to "Watchmen". Your thoughts?

March 7 2009, 11:41 PM	#2
Corran Horn Vice Admiral Location: I-L	Re: Are "Watchmen" & "Back to the Future II" in the same Alternate 198 I don't know about Vietnam and BTTF2 but in Watchmen the war is over and Vietnam is pretty much the 51st state. __________________ "I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs. I play video games, which I think is a far superior addiction to any of those other ones. "

March 7 2009, 11:42 PM	#3
ATimson Rear Admiral Location: Andrew Timson	Re: Are "Watchmen" & "Back to the Future II" in the same Alternate 198 No, Watchmen has Vietnam concluding roughly a week after Nixon is first elected. __________________ Andrew Timson =============== "Niceness is the greatest human flaw, except for all the others." - Brendan Moody "...don't mistake a few fans bitching on the Internet for any kind of trend." - Keith R.A. DeCandido

March 8 2009, 12:28 AM	#6
Ethros Vice Admiral Location: 1123 6536 5321	Re: Are "Watchmen" & "Back to the Future II" in the same Alternate 198 Yes they are. In fact you know who there was a hoo hah over changing the ending of Watchmen, well rather than a giant squid the explosion is caused by young Jennifer meeting old Jennifer which causes a chain reaction that unravels the very fabric of the space-time continuum and destroys the entire universe

March 8 2009, 03:01 AM	#11
Nick Ryder Fleet Captain Location: Milwaukee, WI Da Brew City	Re: Are "Watchmen" & "Back to the Future II" in the same Alternate 198 And uhm... Marty told Doc in 1955 when he asked "Who's president in1985?" "Ronald Reagan." "Ronald Reagan?! The ACTOR! Who's secretary of state? Jerry Lee Lewis?"

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

March 8 2009, 08:31 AM	#15
ITL Vice Admiral Location: Palace Of The Brine	Re: Are "Watchmen" & "Back to the Future II" in the same Alternate 198 In Watchmen, The Vietnam War was won by the USA in the early 70's.