Should be Billed as a Horror Film

Based on the popular highly creative 1985 comic book series of the same name this is ‘the film’ that has been highly anticipated by its devoted fans. “Watchmen” the movie has its flaws and regrettably there are many. The director is Zach Snyder who brought us the incredible “300” film and introduced us to Gerard Butler. First and foremost the bone breaking and blood smattering/slashing violence is ‘over– the–top’ gore. Secondly, the film is too long–almost 2 hrs. and 40 minutes. Thirdly, the script is thin and somewhat of a mess. What stands out are the visual effects, music andJackie Earle Haley’s acting as ‘Rorschach’ the ink blot faced character.

If you need a quick refresher course in Watchmen the comic book series or just have an interest in knowing more about the characters before you read the review; I’d suggest you skim the cliff notes version and photos I’ve researched. Click on Watchmen 101 to familiarize yourself with the main characters and production notes: Watchmen 101

This science fiction film’s time frame is 1985 in an unusual America, one in which superheroes roam the streets amongst everyday citizens. The New York City setting is a grimy, graffiti filled place where violence runs rampant. Doomsday is near as the threat of nuclear war with Russia is ever pending. A symbolic clock that is ever-ticking till the dreaded hour of midnight serves as a constant reminder. And that’s just the beginning; the rest of the film jumps from one setting to another as countless flashbacks are intermixed.

The Comedian, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the 5 o’clock shadow guy also (Katherine Higel’s heart patient in the TV series Grey’s Anatomy) is thrown out of his high rise apartment building window to his death. Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) discovers the crime scene and fears that all of the former masked crime fighters are in danger. He sets out to alert everyone.

Rorschach ink blot’s actually move and change their shape on his face. It really is a cool visual effect. He’s also the gravelly voiced storyteller as his diary is used as the vehicle to relay the back story. And do these characters have a back story! Starting in 1939 to be exact, this group of masked crime fighters was once known as the Minutemen group. Mom–Carla Gugino was (Silk Spectre) and later daughter Malin Akerman is (Silk Spectre II), Billy Crudup is (Dr. Manhattan), Patrick Wilson is (Nite Owl II) and lastly we have Matthew Goode as (Ozymandias). See Watchmen 101for further details and photos.

The film attempts to go through each character’s history and its sad and shocking. I’ll fill you in on two of them. Rorschach suffers from an unloved and unwanted childhood. He learns quickly to defend himself against school bullies and takes out his frustrations upon them in wicked ways. His masked character has a vendetta against all evil doers and he seeks out the most despicable type of all; a child molester in Russia. Rorschach discovers that the vile guy has just fed the  remains of his captive little girl to his German Sheppard dogs. We actually see them fighting over her leg. It’s an unwatchable scene, and frankly one in which did not need to be included. The characters and storyline of Watchmen have enough creative material to work with. It’s too bad the adaptation had to go ‘this dark’. All you can do is close your eyes and cover your ears, but the damage is done and this scene ruined the entire movie for me. Don’t even get me started on the circular power saw tool used in the prison scenes, the movie clearly is a ‘slasher- horror’ film.

The Comedian has all kinds of despicable issues as well, particularly with women. He brutally attacks Silk Specter and tries to molest her on a pool table. He also shoots and kills his Vietnam pregnant lover as she pleads with him not to leave her.

The remainder of the story centers on Silk Specter II’s tangled love interest with the ever glowing ‘blue man group guy’ Dr. Manhattan and Nite Owl II. Unfortunately, Akerman is not a very convincing actress; she’s way over her head in this film. Her real father is revealed near the end. Matthew Goode–the pretty boy has a strange and creepy role. He was great in, “Brideshead Revisited” although his ‘Ozzy’ character is not developed enough and rather boring. Actually that’s a good thing because the film could have been over 3 hours long!

I enjoyed the incredible special effects particularly the Mars scenes as they are mesmerizing and engaging. Dr. Manhattan was fun; however because we can’t see his eyes, it’s hard to know what he’s really all about. We do see him totally nude toward the middle of the film as in the book.

The music is a special treat in the film. Bob Dylan’s, ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’ and Jimmy Hendricks, ‘All Along the Watchtower’ provide us with the perfect tone and much needed comfort for this messy tale.

Bottom line- Who will watch the Watchmen? Without a doubt–the comic book fans. Another question, “Who’s the intended audience for this movie?” Without a doubt, the comic book readers. The comic book is violent, bloody and dark. So there you have it. 

I predict a record breaking box office. The producers are hoping the same as they wanted a 150 million budget and received 120, and that’s not counting the massive advertising.

To the rest of the readers: If I, like you had just finished reading this review, my choice would be to stay home and ‘watch’ a DVD or read the comic book series. At least you can skip over the gore if you choose to.

Sarah Adamson © 2009