Complex and political but certainly worth a 'Watch'

Rating: 9/10 (28 March 2009)

It is hard for me to review this film. I am not a fan of the graphic novel and as such I have nothing by which to compare. All I can do here is sit and type thoughts based upon my viewing as a non affiliate.
I'm not going to bother with the story because it's already been explained and to be quite frank, politics aside I am still not entirely sure of the purpose or motivations of the group of Watchmen for which this film is so named.
What I do have to emphasise is that contrary to what the trailer might suggest, non affiliates can be forgiven for assuming that this is another super hero flick. The fact of the matter is that Dr. Manhatten aside, this is a group of costumed masked 'vigilantes' that exist to perhaps crime fight, perhaps fulfill their own political motives.
The interesting concept here is that Zack Snyder has given these individual enhanced 'Batman' esq abilities. They all seem to frequent the gym, each sporting respective black belts from which speedy and bone shattering skills emerge. Actually I'm lying, the most interesting concept is that none of these 'good guys?' are good. All seem to possess jaded and or selfish character traits. I might say that by far the most prominent character and scene stealer Rorshach is the exemption to this rule, but even him I would not care to meet in a dark alley.
In the first five minutes and opening credits we can see just what we are getting ourselves into. There is comic book brutality and adult, political themes that border on the satirical. This is a good thing, because this is the 'Q' for all the children in the theater who's parents assumed were sitting through an exciting super hero flick- to leave.
So now we know, or have an idea of things. Now, moving on to the next point I'd like to make. This film is not for the politically sensitive. There are images that might have open mouths and balled fists jabbing at the darkness. A graphic Kennedy assassination is one of these scenes that might serve up upset.
The film opens with the death of 'The Comedian' and then picks up with the resulting investigation and events that lead up to the eventual re-grouping of The Watchmen. Now I understand as a non affiliate how an intricate and complex graphic novel has been 'modulated' to the big screen here. Surely pages and character portrayals have been trimmed down and altered to fit a motion picture running time. That's OK, because though I found the plot to be heavy, I could discern sufficient within the given context presented how the world of The Watchmen was over and the political eighties climate was heated and somewhat revolutionary.
I believe where the film shines and perhaps entertains where lack of action or 'easy reading' keeps the popcorn munching is the art and cinematography. Sometimes we have to sit back and understand that much of it is theatrical satire and the somewhat 'forced' acting is in that very context. Nonethless I am happy that in place of a 'no brainer' we have a somewhat original dark sometimes noir adult film with strong characters that will intrigue if not 'entertain'. Not everything has to be understood completely. Here the characters and plot are defined enough that we can follow if we choose to. Somewhere along the lines Blade Runner meets 300 meets American Psycho with smatterings of something else that I can't put my finger on. To get to the point, I felt like I was viewing a movie in it's era without it being too theatrically obvious. I was able to suspend dis belief and live in that world for the duration of the film, and that is very important.
The adult nature is ever present, but I personally feel like it has been overly hyped as is always the case. Messaging boards were alive with 'blue penis' and pregnant lady getting shot. Well yes, it's all there but it's not as if it is all 'in your face'. The blue phallus is not an ever swinging 'horse' pendulum, it is present as part of the well sculptured statuesque Demi-God that is Dr. Manhattan. The pregnant woman is not executed with bloody violence. We see and hear the gunshot and we see her fall, but it's no Tarantino Kill Bill Bride. The 'porn' sequence is nothing more than what we see in '300', though perhaps a little out of place. It's two naked consenting adults, not an extreme close up of genitalia. Snyder is using these images to show us the weak and damaged and imperfect nature of the characters, specifically 'The Comedian'.
Essentially, I'll tie this up in a bow. First time viewers will not necessarily understand but will and might certainly appreciate and perhaps enjoy. It is aimed at a mature audience that are able to think, and not demand the blatant entertainment. Do yourself and others a favour, leave the kids at home.