Movie-Holic

To truly be a great movie, one that will be remembered for decades to come, is a feat that most directors have in mind when beginning a project. Zack Snyder, the director of Watchmen, must have had that thought ingrained in him when he was first born.

Following up on his highly acclaimed, and downright awesome movie, 300, Snyder went to bring to movie life the events, characters, and story of the graphic novel by the same name. While true fans of the novel, and comics, will have some mixed feelings about the adaptation from novel to screenplay, the fact remains that Watchmen is one BIG movie. With BIG meaning both in scope and time.

Clocking in at a butt flattening 2 hours and 48 minutes, the movie will have to be good to carry people through to the end without having them doze off or having their mind distracted by other thoughts. Fortunately, Watchmen delivers with heart pounding success!

First, The Review

Reviews are funny. Because really it’s all in the eye of the beholder whether or not a movie is good, great, or worthy of legendary status. For instance, The Dark Knight. While my review of The Dark Knight is not overly rosey, a lot of people think it’s the greatest movie ever made. The same can be said for Watchmen. There are those that like it and those that don’t, the reviews are mixed.

That being said… I loved this movie.

I need to say from the outset two things. First, I’ve never read the novel, or any of the comic book issues. When the news was first announced that this movie was being made I had never heard of the Watchmen. Pathetic I know. Second, I wasn’t all that excited to see it. I figured it was just another over-hyped movie that isn’t going to live up to the hype. So, I went into watching this movie from the perspective of someone who didn’t know who these superheros were and wanted to hate it anyway. I really kept trying to find things I didn’t like about the movie.

But, I loved it.

Watchmen is exactly what a truly great movie should be. Compelling story, engaging characters, depth of emotions, and great action what carries you from scene to scene. Everything comes together for an exhilarating movie watching experience.

Set in 1985, Watchmen takes you into the lives of some rather obscure superheros who have been forced into retirement because of a Presidential Order from President Nixon. Yeah, he’s still president. Anyway, a murder happens, and one by one they come back together to stop the two superpowers (US and Soviet Union) from entering into a nuclear war. That’s the quick synopsis.

Throughout the movie, though, there are several other plots that do not distract from the overall plot and actually help you understand where the characters are going and why they do what they do. The flashbacks, even to the 1940′s, are integral and create a sense of knowing the main characters in a much better way. I actually started to feel sorry for Mr. Manhattan and sympathized with his feelings. Rarely has a movie drawn me in so much that I had feelings for some of the characters.

The Things I Loved

Watchmen had so many great little moments in it that I would be able to write novels of them, but I will only focus on the larger aspects of why I loved this movie.

1. Amazing, gripping characters. One of the most complex, but truly magnificent characters to come along in a long time is the vigilante superhero Rorschach played by Jackie Earle Haley. Everytime he was on the screen you were just pulled into him and couldn’t wait to see what he would do next. Great character.

2. Fight scenes galore! And they weren’t that bad. A whole lot better than Chun Li. Each fight scene was full of an abundance of bone-crunching hits and kicks, some hacking off of limbs, torching, skull bashing, and even vaporizing. Yes, the violence was a little extreme, but when they take place in prison, Vietnam war, involving a child rapist and murderer… I can see the extreme use of force.

3. The story didn’t have any dead spots. Even though the movie clocked in at almost three hours it didn’t feel like it. It went by pretty fast simply because the movie didn’t let up. Each part just drew you in. You wanted to see it. You didn’t want to turn away… (well, maybe during the almost porn like sex scene).

4. Love the slo-mo. Snyder has a love for slowing down the action so you can see it happening instead of flashing from one camera angle to another so quickly you’re left with a sense of nausea. Instead, you can see the action and have a great appreciation for what is actually happening.

5. Even though some of it was far-fetched… it was also a little realistic. To me, a great movie, one that pulls me in, is relevant to me. Or real. It is something that I can relate to and can possibly think can happen. (Which is probably why I hated War of the Worlds). Anyway, Watchmen, while a superhero movie and has some pretty weird stuff (Nixon president in 1985 for a fifth term, Dr. Manhattan glowing in blue and naked, walking around on mars) it didn’t feel weird. It felt like it could possibly happen.

6. Definitely a movie I would watch over and over again. In fact, I’m going again tonight to see it at the theater.

Some Warnings

While a truly great movie, Watchmen has received its R rating for a reason. This is not a movie for kids. As much as my own kids love superhero movies, they will not be seeing this until they are of age.

There is a lot of language and a pretty graphic sex scene between Nite Owl and Silk Spectre. The violence is also quite graphic and there is a lot of blood in some places.

You Should Go See Watchmen

Even if you don’t like superhero, science fiction, action, or just plain man type movies… go see Watchmen. It is a movie experience that only comes along once in awhile (Armageddon would be another such experience) and, no matter your movie preference, is one of those must sees.

There isn’t really one major standout from the movie. The entire package is what makes it a great time and thrilling movie experience.

One question that has been pondered lately is whether or not you need to have read the novel or not to fully understand the movie. I don’t think so. If you’ve never even heard of the Watchmen this movie will still get you excited. As stated at the beginning of this review, I’ve never heard of the Watchmen. But, that didn’t stop me from truly enjoying the movie. In fact, it probably released me from the sense of having to compare it like people did with their Twilight reviews.

If you get a chance, go check it out. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Watchmen Movie Trailer