Completely blew me away.

Rating: 8/10 (7 March 2009)

"Watchmen" is a visual feast from start to finish. But not just that; it is also an excellent film overall, because of a terrific screenplay, stylish direction and great acting. It is one of the VERY best superhero movies ever made.
The actors are rightly cast as their respective characters. Akerman is drop-dead beautiful as Silk Spectre, but she shows that she can act, too. Patrick Wilson, as Nite Owl, perfect for the part. Billy Crudup as the haunted and mysterious Dr. Manhattan, emotionless and chilling, is just spot on (and daring, he's naked in almost every scene he's in). Matthew Goode as the brains of the Watchmen, Ozymandias, quite right for the part. The standouts, however, are Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the Comedian. Both are the two most interesting characters in the movie, and, having such flawed backgrounds and human traits, pull off their roles perfectly.
Very rare have I seen a mainstream film having such complexity in it. It has slow moments, but they're gripping. The story is devoid of any superhero movie cliché, and (especially for newcomers to the graphic novel) steering away from audience expectations and going for surprises. Be warned, the film has several "what-if" questions presented to the audience, so it may be hard to digest for some. It is deep, it is fascinating, it is gripping from start to finish. True, it is an adaptation of the graphic novel by Alan Moore which I haven't read before. In fact, I had absolutely no idea of what "Watchmen" is all about until this film. Which is why I was completely blown away by the film.
The screenplay is brilliantly executed with style by director Snyder. This is Snyder's film, his personal project, and he really puts his heart and soul into making his dream come true. All I can say is, his hard effort paid off in full and he made the film into his own. Most of the action sequences are chock-filled with dazzling visual effects. Snyder also adds some classic songs to synchronize with what's happening on the screen, and it is done perfectly. Instead of the rapid-rock music and fast pace we got in 300, here Snyder allows us to enjoy the beautiful visuals due to the slow but absorbing pace. The film has a dark theme (thanks to the direction, the beautiful cinematography and Tyler Bates' brooding score) from start to finish, and there is graphic bloody violence (not to mention sex) in some scenes, so this film is definitely NOT for the kiddies and NOT for the squeamish. It is a full-blown movie MADE FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY.
Newcomers will have to be open minded to fully appreciate the raw power and sheer brilliance of the film. It can stand on the "podium" along with "The Dark Knight". A viewing in the local cinemas is a MUST. This film is destined to be an instant success, so skip the Satan-like Jonas Brothers 3D crap-fest and show he kids what REAL ADULTS go to see. I'm not sure whether it is loyal to Moore's graphic novel since I haven't read it, but I did read his previous "V For Vendetta" novel, and I think he would be pleased with this film. I see a huge future for all actors, with Akerman, Wilson, and Crudup getting mainstream Hollywood success, while Haley and Morgan would get Oscar-worthy roles.
Overall: 9/10