I got a phone call from Sid, and on the other line, my lovely wife asked, “So, I have 2 passes to go see Watchmen tonight, do you want to go?” I didn’t even let her finish, “YES!!” And it began…the REAL anticipation of the realization of a 3 year dream: to see Watchmen, the movie. I have read , by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, at least 3 times in the past 2 years alone…it is far and away one of the greatest graphic novels/comic books of all time!
I cannot even begin to give you a complete synopsis of the plot, it is way too grand to even attempt to. That’s one reason why, for many years, Watchmen was considered too grand a scale to put on to film. It was even deemed, “un-filmable” by many. I believe that Zack Snyder has truly pulled it off.
In a SMALL nutshell, we are immersed in to an alternate 1985, the world is mere seconds from nuclear war. A band of everyday people-turned masked crime fighters, the Watchmen, are being incapacitated. And when the mystery is completely unfolded, an enigma arises that compels one to ask, who watches the watchmen?
There are some solid performances from the actors, although Jackie Earl Haley who plays Walter Kovacs/Rorschach, is the films standout performer. His transformation into the psychotic arbiter of justice is as compelling as it is frightening.
But it’s the effects and the look of this film that is the real showstopper. This movie is lush in it’s landscapes and grand in it’s scope. It is a beautiful film to watch. The attention to details from the graphic novel are a nod to the fanboys, like me, who can recall the pages from the book itself being brought to life, but even a non-Watchmen fan, like Sid, can appreciate the visual symphony that Zack and his team have created. It’s just a gorgeous film to behold.
There are some very difficult scenes to watch: an interrupted rape, a vicious dog attack, and a few VERY realistic fight scenes, so be warned. And there is harsh reality woven in the fabric of this film. Please don’t expect this to be Spiderman or even Dark Knight, light the source material, this is a world fleshed out in reality, it is brutal and cruel, but honest in its depiction of real life…with people running around in masks and capes.
I will watch this movie again, several times, and I hope to uncover more of the layers of complexity that made Watchmen a great comic book, and now, a great movie experience.
