Ah, accidents of synergy. Zach Snyder set the first trailer for Watchmen to a Smashing Pumpkins song called “The Beginning is the End is the Beginning.” That song, which was originally released as part of a rarities and b-sides contract fulfiller in 2005, is currently the 75th most purchased song on iTunes. Because of this Watchman-related mini-comeback could potentially give a boost to his recently-resurrected, currently recording band, Billy Corgan says he’s hoping Warner Brothers will allow him to release the trailer as a music video, even if it might go against the interest of the Pumpkins faithful (”My fans seem to be confused when the outside world appreciates our work, so I can only imagine this terrifies them,” he told the L.A. Times.)
So, yay! Good for Billy Corgan! Bring back the 90s by any means necessary, right? Well, hold on just a minute: Snyder might have used this song by accident.
The Playlist links to a CinemaBlend report from Comic-Con, where Snyder “admits that the use of the Smashing Pumpkins song “The End is the Beginning is the End” was an ironic reference to Batman and Robin, given that it’s pretty widely considered the worst superhero movie ever.” “The End is the Beginning is the End” was used in Batman in Robin, over that film’s closing credits. But that’s not the same song as “The Beginning is the End is the Beginning,” to which Snyder set the Watchmen trailer.
Who knows how such a thing could have happened––don’t they have internal fact-checkers on staff at the studios to hold ironic musical references in trailers to some standard of accuracy?––but I guess Billy Corgan wins regardless. Not only is he making money off a forgotten three-year old track, but he managed to confuse a hot shot Hollywood filmmaker with his needlessly convoluted titling schemes! The 90s ARE back!
Originally posted on:
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