An ambitious adaptation of a seemingly impossible to adapt graphic novel

Rating: 8/10 (10 March 2009)

Zack Snyder, the man behind 2004's Dawn of the Dead and 300, is a brave man. Alan Moore, who wrote the Watchmen series, created something truly original with his series and in doing so received huge acclaim and a legion of fans. This movie was always going to be hard in many ways, and I do not just mean creating an alternate world with so many characters, but pleasing fans and newcomers as well. Personally, I think he's mostly succeeded but falls just short on both fronts. Before going to see this I made sure I had read the series so I could make fair comparisons after so I did go in expecting more than some may have. Although the film runs for 163 minutes, Snyder has left a fair amount out from the novels (mainly character development) and although this is understandable to keep the running time reasonable many interesting and important parts have been left out which is a slight letdown. For the uninitiated Watchmen may seem to convoluted and complex at times but honestly, it should not prove too difficult for its target audience.
A brief rundown for those who do not know; Watchmen is set in the 80's in a different world to ours. Richard Nixon is serving another term as president and costumed superheroes are a part of everyday life. The U.S.A. is on the brink of nuclear war with the Soviets, which is kept track of by the Doomsday Clock, which is set to 5 minutes to midnight when the film starts. Amongst all this, someone is trying to kill the Watchmen, and they start with The Comedian/Edward Black (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Rorschach (Jackie Earle Hayley), another Watchmen, is determined to unravel the mystery and catch the murderer before the others are killed as well.
I will not go into anymore detail as that would spoil the intricate and layered story. David Hayter and Alex Tse have done a very good job with screenplay, mixing in many genres and great dialogue. Action, drama, romance and film-noir are blended with a mix of violence to make for a riveting cinematic experience which is entirely original and authentic. It is not often a film comes along and is so different to everything else at the time that when it does many people will rave about it. Please, do not raise your expectations at all as that will risk disappointment. Go in neutral and come out blown away as many people I know have.
For those that are worried that this will be like all the other superhero movies and follow the same formula of: good guy battles villain while chasing a love interest and facing personal demons. This is in a league of its own; all the "heroes" are normal people with their own agendas and their own way of dealing with situations. The "villains" are not paper cut-outs, they are more complicated than the other "let's destroy/rule the world" clichés. Yes, there are personal demons within all the heroes and villains, but they are much deeper and darker than any other character you will find in any other comic book. Of course, the characters are brought to life by a bunch of incredibly talented actors. Patrick Wilson (Nite Owl II) is excellent as an average guy who can't get it on with the Silk Spectre II (Malin Ackerman) unless he is costumed. He's man who longs for the days of crime-fighting. Ackerman is quite good in her role as the only female fighter who has a dark family history. Billy Crudup (Dr. Manhattan) does very well for a man who spends the movie as a naked blue man who actually has powers (teleportation, duplication) and tragic past. He brings depth to a character who could have been nothing but a "guy with powers."
Before I end the review, a word of advice, do not take the children to see this movie, because unlike X-Men, Batman or Spiderman this is not as kid-friendly. Similar to 300, Watchmen contains a LOT of stylised, brutal violence with loads of blood and gore. Think broken bones, graphic stabbings and shootings, exploding bodies and severed limbs.
Zack Snyder has created a unique and simply awesome movie in Watchmen, and although it is not going to please everyone, it is definitely one of the best movies of the year so far and the most original of the past decade. Go see this one soon! 4/5