Release Date: 3/6/09
Watchmen, directed by Zach Snyder (Dawn of the Dead, 300) and adapted from the beloved graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, is a superhero sci-fi action thriller that follows a group of retired costume heroes. A day after finishing the novel I went into this film expecting to be a little disappointed, but the faithful adaptation comes very close to perfectly portraying the novel as a film. Snyder shows that in this day and age no written story is unable to be made into a film. With his amazing use of green screens and fight scenes he makes the graphic novel come to life, which makes for a very entertaining film.
Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the “Doomsday Clock” – which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union – is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When The Comedian played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan is murdered, the washed up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach, played by Oscar nominee Jackie Earl Haley, sets out to uncover a plot to kill and dishonor all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion – a group of retired superheroes including Dr. Manhattan played by Billy Crudup, Night Owl II played by Patrick Wilson, Silk Spectre II played by Malin Akerman, and Ozymandias played by Matthew Goode. Rorschach glances into a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity but “who is watching the Watchmen?”
The film is long set at two hour and forty-five minutes, but it flows for the most part, at the end of the film it did start to drag a little but not enough to take me out of the story which is slightly changed from the novel’s ending but I agree with the decision wholeheartedly. What did take me out of the story at times was the music selection. I understand some of the decisions for recognizable music chosen such as Bob Dylan – Times are a Changing in the opening credits and Tears for Fears – Everyone Rules the World, but sometimes the music selection made me laugh out loud like the cliché Simon and Garfunkel – Sounds of Silence used during the funeral scene or the song Hallelujah used during a sex scene. I just don’t understand why they used some of the music they did and I wonder if it would of worked better just using the score, which was phenomenal.
The casting was unusual but I think it definitely worked. Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan is a very cool character and Jackie Earl Haley as Rorschach was amazing; he really nailed it with his portrayal. I understand this novel was nearly impossible to adapt without getting bashed by some fans, but I give Snyder credit for having the balls to try and I give him props for succeeding. Watchmen is a very cool movie and amazing to look at, especially in IMAX where the sound and special effects blow you away. I recommend everyone gives it a chance even though, reading the novel or not, you might not connect with the film. I sure did, and I can’t wait to watch Snyder’s next film because this one just got stamped!!!
IMDB: 8.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 65%
Moviewiseguys: 8.0/10
