It Isn't Just The Dark Knight that Transcends the Superhero Genre

Rating: 8/10 (29 July 2017)

I was surprised at the way Watchmen viewed its superheroes. It makes them seem more human than the usual idealistic superheroes. Even the idealistic, uncompromising superhero, Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley), isn't your average "idealistic superhero."
It's 1985, and superheroes are banned from society by law. However, one veteran superhero, The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), attempts to bring the superheroes back together to fight crime. His intentions become known and he is quickly assassinated. Rorschach, "uncompromising" as he is, takes it upon himself to investigate The Comedian's assassination. What's interesting here though is the plot's revelation, which is more concerned with its characters and their actions as they face certain dilemmas rather than the story itself. Through this new display of superheroes we become attached and caring for the characters here more than in most other superhero movies. Each superhero has their own morale, and to a large degree we are able to at least understand, if not relate or agree, their reasoning, and when you have at least 4 superheroes with their ideals presented so well and comprehensively, you know this is brilliant screenplay.
The action sequences are decent, there's nothing superb about them nor anything flawed. The filming and the costumes are notable for giving the movie a comic book feel with its lighting and CGI. While this does compromise the movie's potential by limiting our emotional attachment (we're constantly reminded that they are "comic book characters") it does satisfy comic book fans and movie savvies alike.
The character whom I found most fascinating was Dr. Manhattan. Even though he seems godlike and other-worldly, he's more like how a human would be if he became godlike (which is what Dr. Manhattan is). I've always believed that it's pointless to view our world (Earth, or more specifically our social circle, family etc.) from the perspective of "the grand scheme of things" because by doing that you undermine the value of everything that means everything to you, you betray relativity and that's what matters to you. But when you're like Dr. Manhattan, the grand scheme of things becomes your relativity, and knowing this makes you very understanding of his view of our world.
Lastly, I'd like to talk about the last scene of the film. Here is where the film does not compromise, here the film does not attempt to please the audience and allows the characters to truly come alive and deal with the circumstances by their moral codes. I believe (and this may be an over analysis) that the ending shows that there is no ultimate "right and wrong" but it is those with the power to force their beliefs and ideals on the world who make the right and wrong.