Very ambitious and unusual

Rating: 7/10 (13 March 2009)

Most all cultures have dreamed iconic hero figures since the dawn of time. Instead of doomsayers and bards, today we have graphic novels, comic books and movies, and this is a very thoughtful effort at the hero tale, very Greek in that all the heroes have their various flaws, some are quite despicable.
There's too much in the movie to think about. Many of these characters and their situations deserve movies of their own. The music selected is trite. I'm no great fan of Richard Nixon, but the treatment of him and his cabinet is simultaneously tired, offensive and ignorant, making his makeup a grotesque is also gamey and needlessly politicizing. There are tons of continuity/logic issues, but none of them broke through and ruined the suspension of disbelief for me.
That said, this is the best comic book hero movie I've seen. I thought Dark Knight was a snooze compared to this movie, and actually thought about issues raised in this movie's plot after viewing it, rare for such a movie. Couldn't tell you a single thing about Dark Knight other than Heath Ledger was in Dark Knight and Michael Caine sounds like Alfie. Watchmen offers more to think about.
Nothing earthshaking, but certainly didn't regret spending the time or money on this entertaining movie.