So I recently watched the movie WATCHMEN (I know the movie came out a while ago, but whatever). I never read the graphic novel, so I really didn't know what all the hype was about. All I knew was that it had something to do with flawed superheroes, a guy with a mask that changed its appearance constantly, and a big glowing blue guy who was basically god. All of this sounded pretty cool (minus the Doctor's lower Manhattan, if you know what I mean) so I decided to give it a go. Oh and before I go on, I have to say that I watched the Director's Cut, and not the original theatrical version. The Director's cut is a whole 3 hours, while the theatrical version is around 2 and a half hours.
I watched it and I thought it was a pretty good movie. Some parts were awe-inspiring (most of the visuals were amazing), some were very interesting, and some had me saying what?.
The story of the movie is kind of complicated. It takes place in an alternate history, where the USA and the Soviet Union are inching towards a nuclear war and masked vigilantes fight crime. The movie does an amazing job by putting the audience in that time period, and the set pieces and scenery are very suited for a film like this. Now that I've seen the movie, I get why some fans were upset by Zack Snyder's adaptation. I can't speak for the fans who read the graphic novel, but the story is something that would probably be better in a comic book than a movie. The story incorporates many (many) flashbacks to shed some light on each of the characters (seriously, there is like an hour full of flashbacks). All are interesting, but at some point, the story seems to go no where. Then suddenly, after the major flashbacks, the story picks itself up again. As a person who didn't know anything about the comic, I think I did understand the major parts, so it was understandable. The ending (which I hear is much different than graphic novel), does leave something to be desired.
There are more than a dozen or so characters in this film, but the main ones (and the ones you'll actually care about) are, obviously, the Watchmen, or the superheroes. Rorschach is probably the most memorable character in this film. Played by a superb Jackie Earle Haley, Rorschach is a hero, insisting on wearing his shape shifting mask all the time, who basically, along with the audience, tries to solve the mystery of the death of The Comedian. Rorschach's rough voice overs of his journals really cultivate an interest in the character's thinking. And the mask are a work of art. The constant shifting of the shapes on his mask are a really cool effect. I think we know what this year's favorite costume is going to be. Then, Dr. Manhattan. Well, he is basically a glowing nude blue guy, who happens to be God-like. The voice provided by Billy Crudup is perfect, showing his detachment to the world and his intelligence. He is also practically nude the whole movie. I mean, the movie never really focuses on his, uh, area, but it is present. He is probably the second most interesting character, right after Rorschach. Silk Spectre II (played by Malin Akerman) is very easy on the eyes, but her performance is strictly average. Nite Owl (played by Patrick Wilson) is also okay. He does fit the role of a pudgy ex-hero though. Matthew Goode as Ozymandias is stylish, with his suave European accent, and The Comedian (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) dies in the first scene itself (Oops, sorry! But you should know this by now.) The flashbacks show how cruel he was and he is a perfect example of a superhero who takes advantage of his position.
Overall, the film takes off quickly, then slows down quite a bit in the middle, and then again picks up again. This makes for a mildly uneven experience. But the climax, even if it isn't on of the best superhero movie climax ever, still is a revelation and it is rather interesting how the story turns out.
The movie isn't perfect. But at the same time, it is very different and I think it does deserve the hype it was getting. Comic book fans might be disappointed, but people who haven't read the graphic novel (like me) won't be.
If I was to give this movie a rating out of 5 stars, I would probably give it 3 ½ out of 5 stars.
On a side note, there have been many comic book adaptations, including Batman, Spider-man, Superman, Iron Man, and the list goes on. All these movies follow a similar formula: the main character gets powers, fights a bad guy, and good triumphs evil. But Watchmen sets itself apart for being a dark and mature story of human beings who are given the responsibility of saving other human beings. The movie shows that these heroes still do have feelings and have their own problems. None of the characters, except for Dr. Manhattan, have real super powers, so the story is more realistic in a way.
As Dr. Manhattan says, “I can change many things, but I can't change human nature.”
