If we don't find aliens soon, someone needs to send up a secret satellite, that randomly broadcasts messages about the imminent arrival of the most evil aliens in the galaxy.
Actually I thought the film had the better ending. A giant fish like monster that could be sold as an alien invasion is less plausible than a radiation signature that matches Dr. Manhattan.
The way I see it, it comes down to external vs. internal threat. As campy as the terrible interdimensional creepy things are, they are a clear external threat to the people of Earth. Making Dr. Manhattan the fall guy internalizes the threat as he is-was "of us".
With Dr. Manhattan as the patsy you get some superficial solidarity while every nation tries their hardest to recreate him--to obtain their own WMD+/God. With the terrible interdimensional creepy things humanity faces a clear external threat; Unite, people of Earth, for the Universe will fucking eat you.
Maybe the monsters could've been done in a way that wouldn't have people laughing at their implausibility. Using Dr. Manhattan destroyed the message. The film's ending wasn't worth the sacrifice, IMHO.
If we don't find aliens soon, someone needs to send up a secret satellite, that randomly broadcasts messages about the imminent arrival of the most evil aliens in the galaxy.