Movie Review: Watchmen

Well after months of anticipation the Watchmen film has finally been released. From the crowds that were at the movie tonight I believe I was not the only one looking forward to the movie. Which is shocking as I have never seen such a crowd for any film in 5 years.

But opening day crowds are not a guarantee of a good movie. So what did I think of it?

Visually the film is awesome. The sets are highly detailed, with everything you might expect to see on a New York City street, plus a few subliminal messages here and there. It's dirty and crowded, in fact you get the impression that the city, like the world of the Watchmen's 1985, is angry and chaotic. The images of Mars are breath-taking (and a bit of commedy if you pay attention to the last scene there).

The soundtrack though leave a bit to be desired. Honestly much of the music is annoying. Perhaps the only song that felt like a good fit for what was happening was Jimi Hendrix's Watchtower. Beyond that, the music can be jarring at times.

The plot can be summed up as roughly 80 - 90% of that found in the graphic novel. Huge portions of the film are exact translations of panels. Often the dialogue is a direct quote. So at times this is great, and at others it's a little awkward as it's just slightly out of touch with what you might expect.

A couple of other things that are important to keep in mind is that this is not a film for kids. This film lives up to every reason a R rating exists. Frontal nudity, of male and female characters occurs more than just once. Full on sex, virtually what you might expect from a porn movie is shown. I mean it. Naked bumping and pumping, everything but penetration for an extended 2 - 5 minute scene.

And violence. Lots of it. Against men, women, kids - in fact everyone in this world seems to have suffered and then doled out their own portion of pain.

But is the long film good? Yes it is. It keeps yur attention at virtually every step. In fact a friend that saw the movie with me stated that except for the length of the introduction (that gives a pretty clear background on how the superheroes rose and fell)the film felt like it wasn't overly long.

The acting was particularly good too. The casting was well done, as there seemed a natural affinity among our heroes. They may disagree from time to time, but its like an old friend that you forgive even when they are dead wrong and you are angry.

I felt that The Comedian, and Rorschach were the best done of all the characters. In both characters the wrongs of society shone the brightest. The Comedian with his jokes that won't make you laugh, and Rorsach with his intense and absolute belief in every wrong being punished absolutely. One line I particularly liked was the statement of Rorsshach in Prison

"You all don't seem to understand. I'm not locked up in here with you. You're locked in here with me!"

But no movie is perfect. And like any translation there are changes made. Some are good, but others just don't work. One of the key changes was to the ending. An alteration of how things happen and how various characters react. It's just too simplistic and empty. It beguiles the imagination. Truely it annoyed me.

Still a couple of minutes after the climax of the film is no great lost, except if you are more of a purist about the graphic novel.

Be warned, this is not a fun film. By comparison the Dark Knight movies are a Charlie Brown special. As bad as the Joker might be (a sociopath to be sure) it's nothing compared to watching the Comedian shoot a pregnant woman. Or the attempted rape scene in the film. Or the cold blooded passionate murder of a criminal (not to mention the crime he commited to cause the event). That's just a few of the scenes that will change the opinion of what is justice, and what makes a hero.

Overall I recommend this film. It's not for everyone. Especially if you want to feel uplifted about your heroes. But if you want to be taken through a trip of human flaws and the shades of grey that is right and wrong, this movie will take you there.

Secrets in the Watchmen movie

How could I not be a fan of the Watchmen graphic novel and not mention some of the extras that will be filling the movie screens this week? I am not talking about the action of the story, nor the conversion of scenes from picture to live-action. There is more going on than what you may first notice.

Like the plot of the story, what you see at first glance is not all that is happening. There are messages hidden in the whole film. If you know to look for them. And if you find everything you need Rorschach’s mask as much as he does (hell, I want that too).

They are little things, like with the Comedian. Pay close attention to the lighter he uses for his cigars. The lighter is more than just a plain zippo. There is an image of the Silk Spectre. Kind of says a lot about their past and relationship, or does it hint at something else? A flame burning but never revealed?

And speaking of the Comedian, let’s not pass up the answer to who shot JFK. Yes, we get the answer with absolute certainty. The only question is how good the good guys are. What is really the greatest good. And do you get the joke?

But then there is Ozymandias watching television. Actually watching every television program at once. What might the smartest man in the world watch if he could watch it all? How about porn? Yes it’s up there. So is the original 300 (a good movie I recommend), the Road Warrior, and Marvin the Martian destroying the world for a bit of cartoon play on action. In fact the theme of the movie is hit upon with scenes from the Day The Earth Stood Still and Fail Safe (a true must see film). And just for a touch of the real world, you can also see a few Youtube videos as well.

Of course the blend of our world and that of the Watchmen does not end at Youtube. If you keep a sharp eye out you will find that one of the super heroes has a copy of the Watchmen graphic novel tucked away. Talk about bending space and time, or a Nostradomus style prediction of the future.

These are just a few of the things awaiting in the world of the Watchmen. There are far more. You don’t need to be a uber-fan of the graphic novel to enjoy the extra bits placed throughout the film. Though that doesn’t hurt either.

This is a movie based on a graphic novel unlike any most have ever scene. It’s dark, and not the ‘justice wins eventually’ fun of the Dark Knight movies. There are messages and meanings everywhere.

Perhaps the question is are you more akin to the Comedian, Dr. Manhattan, Ozymandias, or Rorschach in your world view? Obviously these are my favorite characters. And I expect that Rorschach, who is the curiosity and almost the guide for the audience through the story, will have more to say in his mask than just the random movements it makes.

By the way, after you see the movie, try not to give away the ending to those that don’t know the story. Let them get put in awe too.