There's this little film coming out tomorrow. You might've heard of it. Watchmen? Only the most ambitious film about superheroes ever, based on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' seminal graphic novel about an alternate reality 1985 America, where we are in the midst of a nuclear Mexican standoff with the Russians and superheroes roam the streets. Well, they used to before an act of Congress outlawed the "capes" and sent most of them either into retirement or underground. There's a riveting opening credit sequence that shows the rise and fall of the preeminent superhero team of the time, the Watchmen, that in my mind will decide for you whether you will love this film or hate it.
It's during these somewhat cheesy looking sequences, set to the tune of Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'", where we get a look at how in depth this film is going to be. This isn't going to be your typical superhero flick, full of meaningless action with minimal attention paid to fleshing out the characters within. No, the world of Watchmen is a complete one. You MUST buy in to every single detail otherwise you will be disappointed. You have to care about the pasts and lineage of these heroes, for their stories run very deep and they all have bearing on the plot. If what you're looking for is Spider-Man or dare I say it even The Dark Knight, then this is not for you. No comic book film ever has laid bare it's characters the way this one does. You will know them inside and out. Sometimes you might think it's too much, but I promise the pay off is worth it.
It's the brutal murder of ironically named The Comedian that sets the story into motion. A former vigilante turned patriotic government superhero, The Comedian is suddenly attacked in his home while watching The McGlauchlin Group on TV. After a bloody battle, The Comedian is hurled through his apartment window down to the concrete below, to be seen by all. Clearly, his murderer wanted to send a message. It's this message that brings in the terrifying underground hero Rorshach to the scene. Rorshach, who wears a version of the Rorshack ink blot test as a mask, is convinced the murder is part of a larger plan to wipeout costumed heroes. Forshach will no doubt be the most popular hero to come out of this movie, as he's uncompromising, violent by design, terse, and frankly cooler than everybody else. Some will compare him to Batman with his dogged determination to solve the mystery, but he's really more like The Question in his outlook on social corruption. Rorshach recruits his former partner Dan Dreiberg, known as the second Night Owl, to help him investigate the case. Night Owl, who in civilian guise looks like a lamer version of Clark Kent, has retired quietly and faded somewhat into obscurity, but a hint of the old fire still seems to burn within him when faced with this new mystery.
Their investigation brings in the remaining members of The Watchmen: Silk Spectre, the daughter of the original Silk Spectre and the emotional core of the film. She is currently in a relationship with the atomic powered Dr. Manhattan. Manhattan, the only character in the film with obvious superpowers, is looked upon as a god amongst men. It's his presence that tips the balance of power in the Cold War to the United States' favor. But he is also the biggest conundrum of all, as his limitless power and ability to perceive his own future cause him to withdraw from humanity at a time when they need him most. And lastly, Adrian Veidt formerly known as Ozymandias. Veidt retired from the superhero biz to run his own global enterprise and is looked upon as the smartest man on the planet. Capable of using his full mental capacity and with total control over his physical capacity as well, he is arguably the most dangerous man on the planet, but has chosen to use his gifts to help better the world.
As Rorschach and Night Owl investigate, they discover a deep, all encompassing conspiracy that touches upon each of their convoluted backstories, involving the murders of the original superhero team The Minutemen, Silk Spectre's mother and her twisted affair with The Comedian, but also involving The Comedian's involvement in a much greater plan.
Watchmen purists will be pleased to see that the film version retains most of the elements that made the comic such a beloved classic. Zack Snyder painstakingly reproduced each scene to coincide with the original artwork, much like Robert Rodriguez did with Sin City, but at no point does the film feel slavish to the source material. There is room given for the actors to breath and live their own lives, so to speak. Rorshack seems as uncomfortable around other people as I imagined he was in the comic. The same goes for Billy Crudup's portrayal of the aloof Dr. Manhattan, who's seemingly blank stare hides the emotions bubbling within. When Manhattan finds himself suddenly and publicly acccused of spreading cancer to the people he loves, it's only the most subtle of facial movements that reveal his true feelings. Snyder has created a living, breathing world just begging for further exploration.
Make no mistake, this is not a fun superhero romp you can bring the kiddies out to. This baby is Adults Only, full of superhero sex and big blue atomic packages courtesy of the always starkers Doc Manhattan. Atleast when he's giant sized they were nice enough to give the man a pair of draws. The sometimes glacial pacing and long stretches of exposition will leave most kids and action enthusiasts antsy. The beautifully orchestrated fight sequences are only there to push the story forward, as they should be. When action does occur, it's for a very good reason. For example, what might seem like a random battle between Night Owl and Silk Spectre against a group of thugs is just the spark need to draw the two characters closer together, an event that leads to some big decisions for both her and Dr. Manhattan. Clocking in at just under three hours, nothing feels like it should've been left on the cutting room floor. Every scene is crucial, vital to the story, no matter how trivial it may seem initially.
My only complaint, and it is minor, is that I wish some of the more extended origin sequences dragged a bit. Not that they weren't interesting, but I think they could've been dispersed a bit more evenly throughout the film, rather than being dropped on us all at once. Not a big deal. I perhaps could've used a bit more insight into Ozymandias, as he probably gets the least amount of attention for such an important character.
Watchmen is a work of art. It is without doubt in my mind the best comic book movie ever made. Better than Dark Knight, and I love that film, too. Better than my dearest X-men could ever hope to even with three films. Watchmen is both edge of your seat thrilling and socially relevant, a rare feat for any superhero flick. I don't think for a second that this film will be a blockbuster on the scale of the last Batman, as once word of mouth spreads that the film is really rather cerebral, it will turn some people away. Plus these are not name characters. Nobody is recognizable unless you are one of the diehards. But I do expect that this film will go down in history as the most ambitious and creatively successful comic book movie of all-time. To answer the question: Who Watches the Watchmen? That would be me, many many times over.
9/10
