(NOTE – I reserve the right to change my final grade or anything in this review. I want to have time for this film to settle in and I’m taking this film very personally as I have a huge love for the graphic novel. Consider this review a work in progress.)
Watchmen Movie Review
The date is July 25, 2009. A brown-haired, medium-build punk stands in front of a microphone at the San Diego Comic Con 2009. He tells Zack Snyder he’s sorry for saying “Snyder couldn’t do it” or that “he wasn’t the right guy.” I apologize for saying he wasn’t going to be able to adapt Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ pitch perfect comic book. He then jumps at me in slow motion and beats my face in.
The comic and film take place in an alternative 1985 where Nixon is in his fifth term as president, and superheroes are as common as celebrities to the point they’re phased out of comic books. Unfortunately, due to the Keene Act of 1977, superheroes are outlawed and illegal, sans Edward Blake/The Comedian (Jeffery Dean Morgan). Poor Edward receives a visit from a hooded man who beats him to a pulp and tosses him out of a window. An ex-vigilante (and former Watchmen/Crimebuster) Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) decides to investigate the murder of Edward Blake, suspecting someone is picking off costumed heroes. What follows is a tale of deception, rape, violence, and saving the world.
Watchmen, where do I begin? First let’s get the big thing out of the way: Zack Snyder gets it and is as faithful as anyone has ever been to the source material. He understands that everything translates well and that even the appendices need to be integrated into the film, somehow. Sure, there are times when he takes liberties with the material (i.e. – Janey waltzes in while Manhattan is interviewed on the show, instead of complaining to the newspaper) and almost all of it works. To those who fear that Watchmen’s themes weren’t carried over, fret not. Take it from someone who’s read it over and over again for eight years, understands it well and is one of the world’s biggest fans… Snyder does it.
As has been obvious since the first trailer appeared, the film perfectly captures the visual look of the comic. This is a living, breathing alternative New York that feels like it existed. Major credit has to be given to Alex McDowell and his team for crafting such a desolate, beautiful version of reality. If I’m not mistaken, they only had one set for this New York that they so perfectly recreate. Every detail from the comic is treated with care and no stone is left askew. It’s truly a marvel to look it over and feel that everything is right. Larry Fong overlays these detailed sets with the stylized art of Dave Gibbons. Some shots literally look as if Fong took tracing paper and copied right from the novel.
All of this would be moot if the themes and characters weren’t retained well, which thankfully they are. Let me talk about a man who deserves an Oscar nomination as much as Heath Ledger did, maybe more. Jackie Earle Haley is Rorschach. Every line he utters and every action he performs embodies Walter Kovacs. As was the case in the comic, his most powerful scene is his origin and Haley hits every chord with precision. His “partner,” if you will, Nite Owl II/Dan Dreiberg, is played by a man who seems born for this role. Patrick Wilson already looked the part and seeing him on screen lives up to the expectations I had for him. Dan is probably the only “true” hero in the entire story. He’s Bruce Wayne mixed in with a boy scout and Wilson captures his pathetic nature perfectly. It’s unfortunate though that some of Dan’s back story was cut for time (we get it in the director’s cut) because I would have loved to see how Wilson would have handled said scenes with Hollis Mason (Stephen McHattie).
Jeffery Dean Morgan needs to be made a film star after this. Hopefully, unlike Gerard Butler, he’ll pick better roles. Like Butler did with Leonidas, Morgan shows his star power as The Comedian. It’s funny considering The Comedian is probably the most cynical and psychotic of the group, but Morgan delivers it and sends it back only to deliver it again. He’s the wise-cracking asshole he was in the book, but it never feels over-the-top or excessive. The scene where he spills his guts to Moloch came off as a man beaten, broken, and talking to who the only friend he thinks he has. In any other hands, it could have been a crazy man walking around muttering gibberish, something it wasn’t in the book.
Billy Crudup has made Dr. Manhattan his own, and by that I mean he has probably created the definitive version of the character. It’s going to be hard to imagine anyone else’s voice when picking up the book again (in fact, when reading it the other day, I could only hear his voice in my head when Manhattan came up.) A lot will be made of Haley’s Rorschach but Crudup is right there with him as far as performances go. Most readers imagine Manhattan to have an echoing, all-powerful voice and yet Crudup (and Snyder) does the opposite. We get a monotone voice that, really breaking it down, fits the character to a “T”. Dr. Manhattan doesn’t give a flying flip about anyone, which is why for the most part his facial expressions are limited to boredom. Crudup understands the difference between Jon Osterman and Dr. Manhattan – which is why we generally do feel for the guy when he’s about to be zapped to bits and become larger than life.
This leads us to the final two characters: Matthew Goode (Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias) and Malin Akerman (Laurie Juspeczyk/Silk Spectre II). Veidt was the least publicized of all the characters which made me worry that he wasn’t handled as well as he should have been or perhaps that Goode gave a lackluster performance. Adrian is the character most changed (but not different) from his comic counterpart. Goode made the decision to give him a German accent when he’s out of public and it will take some getting used to, but it works once it hits full swing. There are two added scenes that actually build upon Adrian’s character rather than tarnish it. It’s not a performance that’s as instantly likable as the four mentioned already but once it settles (and I really insist you take some time to absorb this film) it’s on a par with the others. As Adrian is my favorite character of the entire story, I was proud to see him brought to life so expertly.
Malin Akerman is a different animal altogether. Firstly: in her defense, the character of Laurie was written to be a whiny, confused brat who hates the idea of being a superhero because it was forced on her, and is defined by her relationships with Manhattan and Nite Owl II. Secondly, she’s easily the weakest of the bunch. She’s not bad, but she’s sort of the equivalent of Katie Holmes in Batman Begins. Akerman does look the part and gets better as the film goes on, but before we get there she shows trouble displaying the type of emotions she should. Carla Gugino plays her mother, Sally Jupiter, and does a tremendous job at conveying that character’s sexuality and pin-up lifestyle. It’s just a shame it takes Akerman a while to get acclimated to the role of her daughter.
The biggest fear of the novel’s fans was that the themes would suffer if Snyder opted to focus on ‘cool’ and ‘awesome’. Well, I can say that the themes are in fact translated and played out perfectly on screen. These are flawed people and every idiosyncrasy is on board for the ride. The themes of “peace through sacrifice” and the moral ambiguity of right and wrong is completely left intact even with the slight tweak that more or less works better for the “free energy” subplot that’s in there. Watchmen takes its time to develop everything and yet moves along briskly. This might be the best-paced film since Seven Samurai, where the time breezes by and no scene feels like it drags or needed to be slimmed.
In fact, that’s my main complaint with the film. As well as this version works, it still feels a little incomplete. The credits were rolling and aside from being in awe of what I had just watched, I wanted more. This may be due to the fact we’re promised a director’s cut already, but I still wanted to see some scenes extended. My biggest gripe is that Hollis Mason’s scenes are trimmed down, save for one scene at the beginning. For a character who is so integral to the plot and to why Dan is who he is, it was a shame to see him so reduced. The other scene I missed in there was Rorschach’s interaction with the psychiatrist Malcom Long who digs more deeply into who Rorschach is. The scene is still there and works, but for the uninitiated the book tells it from Malcon’s point of view and how it takes its toll on his marriage. It’s a wonderful, powerful exchange that will hopefully find its way into the directors cut.
Truthfully, I’m going to need more time to digest this film. Not enough time has passed for Watchmen to be declared the greatest film anyone’s seen in their life or that AFI needs to redo their 100 Best Films list. It’s ironic this is released after The Dark Knight because it’s been said that Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns were a new kind of comic book, and Watchmen followed Batman’s release in 1986. The same compliment could be paid to both films. Watchmen furthers the notion, in some ways better than The Dark Knight did, that comic book films can hold their own. Zack Snyder already was getting some major praise just for getting the film made so closely to the novel. For him to also retain the meat that made the Watchmen book what it is has to be one of the biggest achievements in the history of the medium.
Rating: 
I saw the film last night after much anticipation-by-association. I was introduced to the novel by my rabid-fan partner over a decade ago–it was rather a test: if the girl likes Watchman, she’s a keeper. You should have seen how carefully he watched my reaction.
So I come into this film knowing the brilliancy of the novel–from an artistic point of view–and knowing something of the cult while not actually being one as only a young man initiated in the 80s can be. He was actually entering the movie “not expecting too much” and building a mental wall around a cherished alter.
Not having the emotional attachment to the book (I have other holy grails), I also found the movie to be as accurate a portrayal as I think possible and I’ll be looking forward to the director’s edition. In fact, the movie is good enough that I’ve spent the morning looking up what other people are saying and will be re-reading the novel this weekend. There were things I had “forgotten I knew” about the book and now am intrigued for another look. Given that before viewing the movie, my last reading was my first and that I’ve never sought out other viewpoints on the web regarding comics (I grew up on Archie), I would say this movie is a success just for that thought provocation alone.
I can see where the book and movie mesh and differ and it was all very well done. I do think that the ending adaptation is acceptable but agree that one loses much of the philosophical paradox. However, as they also did not develop Adrian’s character as much, I found that to stick with the original sans that would also have left gaps. I think Snyder chose his battles wisely.
I cannot get over Jackie Earle Haley is Rorschach. His portrayal is why I want to re-aquaint myself with Rorschach in the novel. Both Jackie and Jeffery Dean Morgan as The Comedian really gave me a more human perspective on the two characters most difficult for me to relate to–I have a great affection and association for the Nite Owl and was tickled pink by Patrick Wilson’s work. I’ve seen flack on the web for the sex scenes but I swear I am so tired of amazing ethereal sex (in the middle of war) that seemingly lasts for hours in sexy half light. I loved loved loved the sex scene in the ship’s eye: cramped, sweaty, adrenalin triggered, urgent sex in blue console light i.e. real sex. Brilliant!
The woman’s groups may miss that the Watchman Universe deals in the dark what-ifs of existent extremes in our societies and may not be able to get past the violence directed at women (especially as the Comedian is rooted FOR in the theater during certain scenes). So guys, if you take your girl and she gets it–she’s a keeper.
Great review. I can’t wait to see this finally and yeah The Dark Knight was boring in some scenes without the Joker.
Super hero + Violence + Porno = the worst movie ever.
I thought we’re not supposed to look for PR juice.
Freakin sick. How is this movie a good step for us as a country? More gore and nudity in a rated R movie….wow great steps for us and the rating system. Sad day for us….to see how much nudity (male) and gore and child murder into one film….yay (not). Congrats everyone?
If you sat down and watched the movie you would have gotten the plot and themes that explain things like why did The Comedian gun down the people that he did or what was the real reason as to why Doctor Manhattan was walking around nude most of the movie. This is not The Last House On The Left where they show a teen being brutually raped only for shock value.
Great Review. Goldy needs to go back to church and leave the rest of us along. If you do not possess the capacity to understand the plot/subplot please dont spout off BS about how this movie is bad for society. Rated R does not mean “Hey this would be a good one to bring the kids!”
Goldy, You should go outside, give you’re self three hail Marys, read the book, and then see the movie. Maybe them you’ll stop being stupid.
*then*
i just got back from watching Watchmen; in retrospect, the style and feel of it is haunting — though in a good way
I read the book and watched the movie. Then I went to check what people thought of the movie. Lots of people liked it and I kind of went along. But now I have to come out and say it, Watchmen is just a bad movie. No more going along with the stupid crowd. This movie just dosn’t work. I knew that making this classic comic into a movie wouldn’t work. Lets just say that someone who’s never read the comic comes in and watches this movie…he will think it sucks or is just plain weird and I dont blame them. The story is depressing as hell and since its not the comic, we dont get much explanation and background info to understand why its so depressing. The actors playing Roschach and the Comedian were good but the rest just sucked Manhattens balls. It was way to gory even in comparison to the comic so the gore is just pointless extra to make the stupid audience who liked this movie happy. The music was just aweful and you know what scenes I’m talking about. Sex scenes were too long and were again just pointless just like the gore. Also, the story of watchmen itself and the plot twist is not that great. I also know that Snyder was trying to copy the movie almost exactly, which is something stupid to do because the reason the dark knight is good is because Nolan didnt copy the comic book and made it the way a movie is supposed to be made (people have no creativity these days), but couldnt Snyder of at least put some god damn speedoes on Manhatten. Also, I didnt like how they made Manhatten the villain instead of putting the giant squid. The reason for that is because it just dosnt work. Dr. Manhatten is known as an indestructible God to the people of earth, so if he were to try and destroy the world, I doubt that the countries would reunite and try to fight back because they know hes indestructible. The giant squid is an unknown alien species that could probably be defeated if the world unites under one. Thats why the plot twist in the movie just dosnt work. Just read the comic and you will know what I’m talking about. Wow I wrote a lot. Anyways, the movie is really disapointing and does not deserve the credit it gets. I could probably write more about why this movie sucks but I already wrote too much. All you fanboys should just stop praising it and come down to reality. I give the movie 2 stars out of five and I’m kind of being generous. The movies visuals were really good though, I’ll give it at least that.
I completely agree with your review. My husband and I went to see this movie on last night and I absolutely HATED IT!!! We went into this movie at 8:00pm and it was like 10:50 when we left – ALMOST 3(THREE) WHOLE HOURS!!! I think I dozed off about three times. It was not at all what I had expected and anticipated!! I summed it up to be a horribly gory porno!! In fact all of the ticket windows had a sign in them WARNING the parents about the SEVERITY of the content in this movie and how it was so not for young kids. It is a movie I wouldn’t even allow my 19-year-old to watch. The trailer for this movie was COMPLETELY MISLEADING TO SAY THE LEAST!!! I really wish I could get my MONEY BACK!!!!
Well said, finally a good review on this film
Read the graphic novel several years ago. Loved it.
Watched the movie.
Reread the graphic novel.
And the novel is still better.
The graphic novel tells a story about normal people who put on capes and spandex, and go out to fight the bad guys.
It tells the story of their problems beeing “super”, and about the problems in their personal lifes in an alternate 1980′s.
The movie is just another “batman-movie”. “Look at all the great gadgets I have”. “Look at my super powers”.
In the movie, Rorschach seems to be a superhero with cool gadgets. He gets pulled up the outside of a building using his “whateverhook”. In the comic you can see him climbing the outside of the building like just anoter mortal man.
In the movie he jumps higher than anyone I have ever seen, and fights off a dozen or more cops before beeing overpowered. In the comic, he falls flat on his face and is arrested.
Prison sceene: In the movie, they fight everybody. In the comic, they fight two guards.
Nite Owl: In the comic he climbs down the ladder from his ship. In the movie, he jumps, and his costume breaks the fall.
The comic was violent. And graphic.
The movie is violent. And graphic. But it seems to be telling a story about superheroes.
The comic told a story about people pretending to be superheroes. The comic told the story of what the world would look like if somebody actually pulled on masks and spandex and said “Hey, I’ll start beating up the bad guys”.
I would actually go as far as to say “the director didn’t understand the comic”.
The movie is great, if you want to watch a movie about superheroes. But if you want to watch a movie about Watchmen, stay away. The movie about Watchmen is yet to be made.
Spredo
The movie is not the novel.
Say it again.
The movie is not the novel.
One more time.
The movie is not the novel.
When you finally realize this, and judge it on it’s own, then talk to me.
The movie is not the novel.
The movie is not the novel.
But that was the point, wasn’t it? They said “you cannot make a movie of Watchmen”.
And in my opinion, this movie just proves that fact.
I know movies and novels tend to differ. Sometimes the movie is better, sometimes the novel. That is OK.
In this case, the novel is way better, and actually tells a whole different story.
This movie is like taking a Batman comic and make some small changes before turning it into a movie: Keep the name Bruce Wayne, make him an astronaut out looking for the aliens that abducted his wife and kids into space, add some simple time travel and call it “Batman VI”
Spredo
Wanted to see it, but will have to wait for Blu-Ray now
The movie is the novel.
Say it again.
The movie IS the novel.
One more time.
The movie IS the novel.
When you finally realize this you'll understand why it fails as a film on its own and why you pretty much NEED to read and be a fan of the novel to enjoy it fully. And even then (since I HAD read it before watching the movie), it still doesn't work for this very reason. It tries too hard to directly translate the material from the graphic novel to the screen, and thats where its fatal flaw is. You can't do a carbon copy of one medium to another, especially from a written work to a visual work because they're still ultimately two very different modes of storytelling, but that's what Snyder attempted to do. The best book-to-movie adaptations are those that are able to gracefully translate the atmosphere and dialogue from the original work into that which fits the movie model better, and Watchmen failed to do this.
The movie is the novel.
Say it again.
The movie IS the novel.
One more time.
The movie IS the novel.
When you finally realize this you'll understand why it fails as a film on its own and why you pretty much NEED to read and be a fan of the novel to enjoy it fully. And even then (since I HAD read it before watching the movie), it still doesn't work for this very reason. It tries too hard to directly translate the material from the graphic novel to the screen, and thats where its fatal flaw is. You can't do a carbon copy of one medium to another, especially from a written work to a visual work because they're still ultimately two very different modes of storytelling, but that's what Snyder attempted to do. The best book-to-movie adaptations are those that are able to gracefully translate the atmosphere and dialogue from the original work into that which fits the movie model better, and Watchmen failed to do this.