For decades, comic books have offered an insightful view on how superheroes and masked vigilantes could impact society. Yes, they help wipe out crime on the street level, but what then? What happens when the super villains emerge? What happens when countries go to war? What happens when the human race treads across the edge of oblivion, and can only be saved by making hard decisions that normal people can't make?
The Watchmen comic was published to show an alternate 1985, where history is severely altered by the presence of such heroes. A film adaptation was in the works as far back as 1986, but scriptwriting and budgeting issues would make it an unfeasible project until 2009.
To fully encapsulate the broad scope and scale of the story, this film runs for well over two and a half hours (or, a full three hours for the director's cut, three and a half for the ultimate cut). Action occurs in short sporadic bursts, but is never really the film's highlight. It's a drama for the most part, but it is a stylish and evenly-paced one. The imagery is often really fantastic and impressive. The character conflicts and discoveries drive most of the picture, building a coherent mystery and plenty of psychological dynamics. Even though this superhero movie doesn't have a whole lot of super action, it is consistently engaging.
The story follows the original comic practically word-for-word and frame-by-frame, save for a few small changes (most of which involves the ending, which some fans have criticized for "missing the point" of Alan Moore's work). The downside to adapting the story so closely is that the film doesn't really add or expand on much creatively, and the most critical of viewers would say that the filmmakers have made something flat and lifeless out of the material.
As for myself, I was always intrigued by the story, and I believe all the strengths of the comic are effectively ported over into the film. The plot gets a little random, but it all builds up to an interesting anticlimax that offers some really challenging ideas of morality and ethics, especially by superhero standards. Throughout the picture, themes of human nature permeate strongly, always hinting at the darkest, most violent, most primal, and most self-destructive aspects of society. Parts of the film are quite grisly and violent this way, and it makes for a really dark and bleak experience. This film features a plethora of interesting characters, each with their own unique characteristics, backgrounds, and issues.
This film uses very stylish photography. Slow-motion effects are used quite liberally. Other times, the film uses some really cool camera moves and angles. Editing is solid. Acting is generally good: the entire cast does their best to bring the comic's characters to life. Writing follows the comic very closely, and is generally good in spite of that. This production uses quality sets, props, costumes, and awesome special effects. Music is really distinctive too.
Aside from the theatrical cut of the film, there is a director's cut available on DVD and Blu-Ray, which offers twenty-four minutes of new scenes that are seamlessly cut into the feature, and do add a little more to the story and characters. The ultimate cut is also available, which includes the Tales of the Black Freighter cartoon cut into the film, to best represent the original comic.
This film is a very close adaptation of the Watchmen comic, and that is both the film's blessing and curse, ultimately making it a love-it-or-hate-it film. I personally love it, because I love watching the story unfold with such vivid visuals on screen. It is a dark and cerebral experience that few, if any, other superhero films can offer.
4.5/5 (Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good)
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