For what it's worth, it's astonishing.

Rating: 8/10 (7 March 2009)

Prior to going to see this film last night, I was overlooking some critic reviews ans was rather surprised to hear their response. A good bit of them were panning the film calling it superfluous and plodding. Going into this picture, I knew I had to take some of these elements very lightly as this is based on a graphic novel with not a real sense of reality along with the 160 minute running time. Still, based solely as a piece of film making, which is how I viewed it without comparing it to its original material at all, I found it to be visually stunning as well as occupying a heart, something usually lacking in superhero flicks.
To surmise the plot, the year is 1985 in an alternate universe where Richard Nixon is president for a fifth term, the US and Russia are on the brink of nuclear destruction, and superheroes are a part of everyday life and culture. Here, they have been around since the 1940s and continue to evolve and fit into the society that changes constantly. Now, one of their own as been viciously murdered and the most mysterious of the Watchmen, Rorschach is on his own manhunt to find the killer. He comes across his old pals including Nite Owl II, Silk Spectre II and Dr. Manhattan. Together again, they now must fight the world that will end without them, their own personal demons and each other amidst a nearing apocalypse.
Again, going only on the film aspects, this does triumph in more ways than I think people are giving it credit for. Despite the running time, director Zack Snyder gives adequate insight to each superhero showing their past in flashback as well as what has led them to this point. This is wondrous to behold as we get to see a variety of people who have been called upon to save the world when they need saving from themselves or the situation they find themselves in. The acting is mostly great with Jackie Earl Hayley as Rorschach, the narrator, perfectly capturing his brutal manner and grisly voice. Patrick Wilson is also terrific as an overweight, mild-mannered geek Dan Dreiberg who once masqueraded as a superhero but now is reduced to working in his basement. Malin Akerman, I can't really say is that convincing as an actress but she does look good in tights. Perhaps the most sympathetic character is Jon Otterman, also known as Dr. Manhattan, a glowing blue superman who is almost like a demi-god in the fact that he isn't limited by time and space. Because of this, caused by and accident in the lab, he is also in his own world and unable to connect to really anyone outside of himself.
I know why some people would really not like this film as the tone is incredibly grim and the plot is sometimes convoluted. Still, there is not doubt in the visual effects, which are ground-breaking and beautiful at the same time. As I said before, the acting is mostly great with some characters not cast for talent as much as for looks. Director Snyder handles this material, which I am told is unfilmable, with a deft hand and is mostly successful, save for a completely unnecessary sex scene in the middle set to the song "Hallelujah." Of course, no one else will complain about that, but despite that and several plot holes, Watchmen is astonishing and although it's much too early, is probably the best film of 2009. Enjoy it for what it is and understand the movies are headed in this direction. Change is coming to all of us, no matter what we do.