one of the best, with some reservations

Rating: 10/10 (7 March 2009)

First off: I'd recommend reading the comic first, but it isn't necessary. I went to the movie with my sister and she liked and understood it just fine, though there were one or two minor points that didn't make sense (one due to a detail omitted from the movie, another just because she missed it.) From the perspective of someone who really likes, but is not overly obsessed with, the source material, I can say that it is very good, both as an adaptation and a standalone movie. The attention paid to detail by the filmmakers is appreciated, as are some of the changes they made to the story.
The changes range from tiny to massive, really. The ending (the end is the same, but not the means) is changed from the comic, and I think that while it would have been fun to see the original, the one used in the movie functions just as well and is a bit easier to swallow for most people. Something that I both liked and disliked was the omission of a certain character's death. It also slightly disappointed me (and confused my sister) that the origin of Rorschach mask and of his masked identity are never mentioned (if you haven't read the comic and don't plan to, just ask a random person who has to tell you about it. It's worth the two-minute explanation.) The quality of acting runs across a broad spectrum. On one end, we have Malin Ackerman, who barely emotes (even during intense scenes.) Patrick Wilson and Matthew Goode are solid. Also, i you've seen the trailers and Billy Crudup (the blue guy, Doctor Manhattan) seems stiff, his portrayal actually works very, very well. It's not quite what I expected, but the calm monotone really suits, and adds to, his character. And then there's Jackie Earle Haley. Wow. In the words of my sister, "that guy that played Rorschach is a damn good actor." Not only is he visually perfect for the role, his out-of-mask acting is awesome (in the most literal sense.) He really brings out the insanity, intensity, and melancholy of the character; his final moments in the movie (and readers of the comic will know what part this is) are nearly perfect in their chilling, electrifying delivery.
Of course, it's also a beautiful action movie with a great score and soundtrack (though it may make you cringe every time you hear Leonard Cohen's voice ever again in your life.) The long run-time feels just right. It's got some killer costumes and it's got gore.
The gore. Though there isn't too much more of it than in the comic, the aggressively realistic portrayal of bones breaking, mouths foaming, arms being severed and heads splitting makes it seem much more excessive. There are some scenes that have been altered to gorier situations, oddly both of them involving the same character (perhaps to make him seem crazier? I don't know.) It's not for kids or the faint of heart (and features a couple of film's most deeply, intensely awkward sex scenes,) but Watchmen is certainly worth the time and functions well both as a mildly thought-provoking story (particularly for newcomers) and a pretty blockbuster. Watch it, seriously.