| Everybody's favorite graphic novel comes to the screen (after years of rumors and false starts), less a roaring work of adaptation than a respectful and faithful take on a radical original. Watchmen is set in the mid-1980s, a time of increased nuclear tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, as Richard Nixon is enjoying his fifth term as president and the world's superheroes have been forcibly retired. (As you can probably tell, the mix of authentic history and alternate reality is heady.) Things begin with a bang: the mysterious high-rise murder of the Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a masked hero with a checkered past, puts the rest of the retired superhero community on alert. The credits sequence, a series of tableaux that wittily catches us up on crime-fighting backstory, actually turns out to be the high point of the movie. Thereafter we meet the other caped and hooded avengers: the furious Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley), the inexplicably naked Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup, amidst much blue-skinned, genital-swinging digital work), Silk Spectre II (Malin Akerman), Nite Owl II (Patrick Wilson), and Ozymandias (Matthew Goode). The corkscrewing storytelling, which worked well in the comic book, gives the movie the strange sense of never quite getting in gear, even as some of the episodes are arresting. Director Zack Snyder (300) doesn't try to approximate the electric impact of the original (written by Alan Moore--who declined to be credited on the movie--and illustrated by Dave Gibbons) but retains careful fidelity to his source material. That doesn't feel right, even with the generally enjoyable roll-out of anecdotes. Even less forgivable is the blah acting, excepting Jeffrey Dean Morgan (lusty) and Patrick Wilson (mellow). Watchmen certainly fills the eyes, although less so the ears: the song choices are regrettable, especially during an embarrassing mid-air coupling between Nite Owl II and Silk Spectre II as they unite their--ah--Roman numerals. In the end it feels as though a huge work of transcription has been successfully completed, which isn't the same as making a full-blooded movie experience. --Robert Horton Also on the Blu-ray disc
The extended director's cut restores 24 minutes of connective tissue to the 162-minute film, most significantly the last scene of Hollis Mason, the first Nite Owl. Other elements help restore and fill in details that had been in the graphic novel. Fans of the film will be glad for the extra footage but there's nothing momentous that will change anyone's basic like or dislike of the film. By far the most interesting Blu-ray feature (in addition to the great picture and DTS-HD Master Audio sound) is the Maximum Movie Mode, which incorporates several features into the viewing experience. Director Zack Snyder periodically appears on screen in front of two large monitors, one continuing to play the movie and the other displaying special-effects shots or scenes from the graphic novel. Snyder talks about how he shot the film and points out details in a variety of scenes: the opening with the Comedian, Dr. Manhattan's lab, the Nite Owl ship, Mars, Antarctica, and the ending (and why it was changed for the movie). This feature is much more interesting than an audio commentary or a standard picture-in-picture commentary so it'd be nice if it had been done for more scenes. Also appearing in Maximum Movie Mode is a timeline contrasting events in the Watchmen world with the "real world," occasional picture-in-picture comments by cast and crew, still galleries, and a series of 11 "focus points" that allow you to exit the film to watch these three-minute featurettes (sets, costumes, the Minutemen, etc.). Worthy of mention is how easy the Maximum Movie Mode material is to find: Snyder's footage and the focus points are very visible (even in fast-forward), and you can also access the focus points directly from the main menu. The second disc has three documentaries. The first, "The Phenomenon: The Comic That Changed Comics," 29 min.), looks at the original graphic novel and its themes, and interviews artist Dave Gibbons, DC Comics executives Jenette Kahn and Paul Levitz, and cast and crew, illustrating its points with scenes from the movie, panels from the graphic novel, and parts of the motion comic. The next two are only on the Blu-ray disc but are less interesting and of varying relevance to the movie. "Real Superheroes, Real Vigilantes" (26 min.) examines real-life vigilantes including the Guardian Angels and New York subway gunman Bernard Goetz and compares them to Rorschach. "Mechanics: Technologies of a Future World" (17 min.) spotlights a physicist who served as a consultant on the movie. He talks about his experiences then discusses whether elements from the movie, such as Dr. Manhattan, the Owl Ship, and Rorschach's mask could really work. There's also My Chemical Romance's "Desolation Row" music video , and BD-Live offers even more making-of material. A third disc with a Digital Copy of the film (compatible with both iTunes and Windows Media; download code expires July 21, 2010) was included with early shipments of the Blu-ray disc but is no longer available. --David Horiuchi |
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 WoW ToTaL TrAsH!!! |
| Review Date: March 10, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Scottie R. Vines, |
| This is one of the worst movies I have ever wasted 2 hours on in my life...It ranks up there with Open Water..Blair Witch..really bad dont waste your time... |
Psycho-babble-masochism
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| Review Date: March 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Jerry Sexton, |
| A great movie for the terminally depressed with a need to destroy the very genre called super-heroes. It wallows in counter-culture stereo-types. I could be wrong .. maybe it's a drug rehab thing. |
Excellent adaptation of the classic graphic novel
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| Review Date: March 3, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Bryan Creel, |
Who watches the Watchmen? I did, and you should too.
Leading up to the seeing the film, I watched the motion comic, which is a word-for-word animation of the graphic novel minus some interstitial material. It had been many years since I read the comic and I really didn't remember anything. Wow, the story is so great. It puts most every other comic I've ever read to shame. I love Watchmen.
The movie is very close to the comic. Many scenes of the movie are also word-for-word with the graphic novel. There are a couple of relatively minor changes and one major change in the ending that, as you will see if you visit such forums, is hotly debated. A lot of fans of the comic hate the change that was made but I don't think it's that big a deal. The spirit of the ending remains the same - the change is in some ways more of a mechanical one, and in other ways I even think it works better than the way it was in the comic. You'll have to decide that for yourself if you are a big fan of the comic.
The movie itself is very well done. The directing is great, as are the special effects. Most of the actors are good. The guy who plays Rorschach is particularly excellent in his role and really brought the character to life. There is one particular detractor here - Malin Akerman plays Silk Spectre II and her acting is rather uneven. By uneven I mean that she's great when she is quiet and I'm looking at her, and even better when she is naked. When she starts talking, that's when we run into problems. Big parts of the plot revolve around her character and she's just not good enough to pull off the emotional scenes required. She is the sole reason for a 4 star rating instead of 5.
My recommendation is definitely to see Watchmen. |
"I'm not locked in here with you. You're locked in here with ME!" Blu ray review
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| Review Date: February 28, 2010 |
| Reviewer: A. Scultore, NY |
Based on the great graphic novel by Alan Moore. It is set in an alternate reality in 1985, where Nixon has been reelected for a 3rd term, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. are on the brink of nuclear war, and masked vigilantes are outlawed. The movie opens with the murder of one of those vigilantes and what appears as a plot to kill old superheroes turns out to be so much more. This movie is a great mystery, action, thriller disguised as a comic book movie. The story challenges you to think about society, liberalism, violence and morality as you ponder the possibilities of "what if superheroes existed?" If so, what would they be like and how would they act with all that power. The R rating is well deserved and young kids shouldn't be watching this. A great movie that makes you say "who watches the watchers?"
NOW FOR MY BLU RAY THOUGHTS: Amazing picture and ear popping sound. All the spec features are ported over with some BD exclusives. FINAL VERDICT: DEFINITELY UPGRADE! A MUST OWN! |
Very good movie especially for studying the modern period
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| Review Date: February 23, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Hector And Marlen Flores, San Francisco |
| This movie gives a epic story where the heroes tries to save the world,but realizes that their existence causes more danger. This movie makes you think, when you first finish you're confused,but with time of thinking you'll get it. Try this movie good action, funny, and should be given an Oscar. |
Really Bad Movie
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| Review Date: February 19, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Ustonz2000, Philadelphia area, USA |
I don't go to movies or watch TV. I go by buzz and reviews. I'm just really glad I got this really cheap.
It was a bad movie - I still don't know what the plot / story was supposed to be, and I doubt I'll watch it again to figure that out.
Wow, really, really bad. Don't waste your money. |
Watchmen review
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| Review Date: February 15, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Larry M. Denton, The Woodlands, Texas, USA |
The movie pulls you in right away and doesn't let go. It builds on the turmoil that the characters or their heirs are having to contend with in their later years and how society is handling their relevance. All in all, it is a very good movie that will hold your interest throughout. This is a dark story for adults about how a system of checks and balances for the superheroes has gone bad. That is why this movie is not for younger viewers.
Nothing is glossed over, the entire show is in graphic detail and the Blu-Ray makes it awesome.
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SuperMorons
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| Review Date: February 14, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Riccardo Audano, Chiavari, Italy |
| This abomination of a movie is a disgrace for the people who made it as well as for the retards who liked it. It' is poorly acted, poorly directed, and had a ridiculously nonsensical plot. The target audience is also undefined.. it is way to graphic and explicit for kids, and way to naive for any adult. My best guess is the target audience is "just retards". And last but not least it disgraces and perverts the whole idea and "mythology" of superheroes, it is basically the only superhero movie that does not need crazy or perverted superenemies, because the one being crazy and perverted are the heroes. Just disgusting. |
Tries too hard
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| Review Date: February 14, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Ana Mardoll, United States |
Watchmen (Blu-Ray) / B001FB55H6
Every so often I'll put in Sin City and watch it again. I enjoy the movie, despite the fact that the over-the-top violence would normally put me entirely off, because I think there's a great deal of entertainment to be had in the world presented: a world that seems to be entirely populated by good guys, bad guys, and gun-toting hookers. Since the alternate reality they inhabit is so foreign to our own (right down to the black-and-white color schema!), the deep philosophical rumblings on the nature of life that are directed at the audience can be enjoyed either as the insane ramblings of strong men who have enjoyed one too many hits to the noggin, or as a realistic portrayal of a world alien to our own. But, and this is the key: you never get the feeling that you're supposed to take it *seriously*, simply because the world is so alien to our own that any direct comparison fails from the get-go.
What is disturbing about "Watchmen" is that, even though the movie is clearly set in a reality alternate from our own, the movie seems to keep asking us to condone the actions and beliefs of the masked vigilantes on the screen. Like "Sin City", it is difficult to find a character here who isn't insane, a murderer, or offensively callous and self-indulgent (or all three), and yet unlike "Sin City", the movie seems not to be saying "Wow, look how messed up these guys are" and more, "Wow, don't these guys have a tough-yet-realistic view of humanity," and it's difficult for me to get on board with an author tract like that. Indeed, because these characters are framed within the "masked vigilante heroes" narrative, it's sometimes difficult to tell if the movie remembers that many of them *are* murderers who regularly (and illegally) take the law into their own hands.
Even if you can get past the uncomfortable feeling that the movie is preaching at you, I just found it difficult to enjoy "Watchmen" on its own merits. Perhaps because it is in color, but the violence feels more real and more gratuitous than I'm usually comfortable with - close up shots of womens hands being blown off might be 'artsy', but not necessarily entertaining. The lack of a strong female presence was also off-putting - in a movie puportedly featuring "strong" super-women, it's very vexing to realize that the three women in the movie have defining roles as victim (our lesbian masked avenger and, for my money, the most interesting character in the movie, which is why it's a shame she gets killed in the bloody credits), victim (in a brutal near-rape scene which does little to establish Silk Spectre as a hero who can handle herself on the streets), and ingénue (I'm not sure how else to define Silk Spectre Mark Two, whose defining role in the movie is largely a matter of "who is she sleeping with right now?"). It seems like a strange step backward from "Sin City" where the hookers and strippers were more tough-as-nails and paradoxically less defined by their sexuality than these supposedly empowered characters.
Too much of the plot comes down to an authorial "because I say so". Why is Nixon willing to touch off nukes (despite the truly horrible 50-50 odds of surviving the conflict) the moment Dr. Manhattan disappears, rather than attempt "weak" diplomacy? Why does the final twist result in "peace" and nuclear non-proliferation when, if anything, everyone would be clamoring for MORE nukes to go after Mars in retaliation and for self-protection? The movie just asserts that these unlikely outcomes are so, but to just assert such unrealistic things completely undermines the narrative as having any kind of relationship to our reality, despite the repeated attempts to create a parallel.
Bottom line, I could not enjoy this movie as over-the-top fun because of the repeated feeling that I was watching an author tract on the nature of humanity, but I could not enjoy it as a philosophical exercise because the events seemed to be so unrealistically asserted that I could see no relationship between this reality and my own. Having said *that*, I can see how a lot of people less squeamish than I might love this movie on its own merits, and it's easy to see that a lot of work and love went into this movie, so if you think you might like it despite the violence and alien nature of the alternate world, you might enjoy checking it out.
~ Ana Mardoll |
Enough Already!
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| Review Date: February 11, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Michele Zerbe, Indiana |
| Great movie, but I've seen it so many times now it's getting a little tired. Bought it for my boyfriend. We purchased it used from an outside seller, and it was in perfect condition, but we were a little bummed that it came in a crystal case and not its orginal box. Definitely a must have for the big fans and anyone filling out their film collection. |
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