Far more adult fare than the traditional 'superhero' stuff

Rating: 7/10 (8 September 2009)

Over the last few months there has been enormous hype about the film adaption of Alan Moore's graphic novel 'Watchmen'. Like V for Vendetta, I have never read Watchmen but I was curious about it, having enjoyed the satire of V for Vendetta. It is a pity that Moore refuses to claim credits for either film adaptation as neither are particularly bad films.
Unlike a lot of superhero type movies, Watchmen has an intelligent subtext and alternative reality. Set in the 1980s in America, Nixon is still President and it is long before Reagan gets a look-in. America is on the brink of nuclear war with Russia as the cold war bites and there is great unease and lawlessness within American society. Out of this, comes the character Rorschah, with a voice like gravel, charting the death of superhero 'the comedian', a character of incredible sadism, despatched by an unknown assassin. Rorschah's investigations, like some masked Phil Marlowe, lead him to dig out the past of fellow superheros 'Nite Owl II', Silk Spectre II, Ozymandias and Dr Manhattan. Of the group, only the latter, Dr Manhattan, is in possession of incredible superpowers, having suffered a scientific experiment which went (in usual superhero style) horribly wrong. Now John Osterman is pretty much indestructible and capable of superman type behaviour, also glowing a rather cold shade of blue and possessing a voice like HAL from 2001. It is clear in the film that both Rorschah and Manhattan are cut of the same cloth, both struggling with society and its problems and their own grievances with it. Yet whereas Rorschah chooses to try and ignore society, Manhattan struggles to fit in.
Unlike a lot of superhero movies, there is little less action in this. There is a whole lot of plot and back story, particularly about Manhattan and how he came to be as he is and Silk Spectre II or Laurie Jupiter and her difficult relationship with her mother. Laurie is also struggling with John/Manhattan's moods as well and trying to be his lover, although he doesn't make it much of a priority. Again, unlike so many superhero movies which deal in a more childish world, Watchmen is unafraid of sex and depicting some sex and male/female nudity, a rare departure from films of this genre. Dan (Nite Owl II) and Laurie are seen enjoying each other after the rescue of some families from a burning building and Laurie is also seen earlier being 'pleasured' by Manhattan. The film also contains the most inventive use of Leonard Cohen's song 'Hallelujah' when it is being played as Dan and Laurie are having sex in Dan's superhero vehicle.
Where this film really stands out is that there is no clear supervillian, as in real life. There are just lots of questions. My only grumble of this film is that there is little opportunity for Ozymandias' character to fully come out. He is portrayed as two dimensional and quite cold. There is much to recommend this film. It has a fearless portrayal of alternative sexual relationships, such as lesbianism and it doesn't shy away from nudity, particularly male nudity.