Wha??

Rating: 5/10 (4 October 2009)

Will be spoilers.
Overcomplicated? For a feature film I think so. I never read the GN but I think if they had perhaps left out some of the flashbacks and focused more on one or two characters there would be enough story for me to empathise with them and enough mystery for me to be interested in the others.
It may seem long to many people. It is by no means a record breaker in terms of running time but to someone who was not engrossed in the story it does drag on.
The violence I had a real gripe with. It's not "cool" violence, neither is it necessary. Shooting a pregnant woman? Give me a break, that's just harsh! And we're supposed to be cheering on the comedian? And also the sawing off the arms in the prison was completely disgusting and out of place. Would it really have been that difficult to untie the guy before the chainsaw came out?
One person dared comparing the violence to that in A Clockwork Orange. Yes the violence is shocking in both films. It just so happens that in ACO it fits within the context! Watchmen is a damn superhero film and horror-movie violence has no place in such a thing. The gore is distracting.
Why did I feel no emotion towards any of the characters? Well the acting was lack lustre, and the characters so under-developed. To those who read the GN I suppose it would have more impact. The only one I had any interest in was the short guy in the hat and the balaclava with the name I can't spell. His end was not heart wrenching but just gave me an "oh" moment. The whole ending seemed contrived and didn't have the effect it seems to want. Kind of an ironic harmony. I was just glad it was over.
Definitely not above average. I was sometimes disgusted, sometimes bored and sometimes confused. That is what I felt like and is not subjective.