Of flawed superheroes and inevitable apocalypse

Rating: 8/10 (15 March 2009)

Zack Snyder's passion for graphic novels was remarkably portrayed in the visually stunning '300' and now he takes upon the comic book that redefined the superhero genre. 'Watchmen' is a dark and gruesome tale of retired superheroes, masked vigilantes, a cosmic powered naked man, morals, society's hypocrisy, humanity's bane and of course, apocalypse resulting from the Cold War. In an alternate 1985 era, masked superheroes have been banished by law, President Nixon wins the Vietnam War in a week with the aid of The Comedian and Dr. Manhattan whose superpowers made him a God of War and when mankind is fearing inevitable apocalypse resulting from the nuclear armament of two most powerful nations that seek to destroy each other. Meanwhile, a mysterious avenger is trying to eliminate retired costume heroes that formed 'the Watchmen', beginning with the brutal murder of the Comedian. Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley), whose notebook entries form the cold narrative that also delineates the philosophy of heroism and ineptitude in the wake of more powerful forces.
While the film often meanders around former Silk Spectre's sub- plot and some cheesy love story between NightOwl and Laurie, it gains elevation from two strong characters that not only make this film worth watching but also re-define heroes and superheroes in the comic book genre. Dr. Manhattan, a blue CGI naked body that resulted from an atomic scientist being involved in a lab accident, gained a new cosmic powered form after the disintegration. He now has the ability to teleport himself and people around him as well as destroy and create matter as he can toy with it at the atomic level. His superpowers make the rest of the Watchmen inept and thus, it eventually leads to the disbanding of the superhero league. What is remarkable about Dr. Manhattan's character is his lack of understanding of human nature while he seeks solace in celestial forms of matter. Billy Crudup's soft voice for this larger than life character is just the opposite of what we would expect and that truly forms the beauty of the characterization. Alan Moore would be mighty proud if he would've approved of the film in the first place.
Rorschach refused to hang his ever-evolving mask. This cynical, absurd and violent hero whose brutal tactics made the entire prison thirst for his blood, is the ambiguously symbolic character of 'Watchmen'. True that Rorschach's diary is where the original graphic novel's deep philosophies had evolved, it plays well with Haley's gritty voice. Sharp as a detective and brutal as a psychopath, Rorschach investigates the Comedian's killing and the attack on the other 'Watchmen'. The unveiling of his mask and flashback to his past when he transformed from Walter Kovacs to Rorschach take the character to a maddening height.
'Watchmen' is not your typical superhero movie where costumed vigilantes save the day just as you expect them to. It doesn't shock you with heroic entries over rooftops and in incredible vehicles. In fact, Watchmen's superheroes are deeply flawed and the realization of their flaws led to their ineptitude and disbanding. It is serious, gruesome, political and philosophical in its preaching of the thin membrane that separates morality from immoral actions by the proclaimed 'heroes' which are purposeful towards a brighter end. Vanity of powers, insecurity of the future, fragility of the world and an ever-approaching doom are the mythological ideas brought to life in Alan Moore's book.
Zack Snyder's adaptation picks up from almost every page in the book. The flashback sequences are well scripted and flow seamlessly without causing much confusion and headache. Almost as if the writers of 'LOST' had offered some assistance on that. While Rorschach narrates from his diary, Snyder shoots many scenes in rainy nights to capture the eeriness of the events while avoiding clichÃ©s and redundancy that would cause any digression. The opening credits put pages and pages of the book into outstanding snapshots of the past events that lead to today, 1985 in the film. The graphics are spectacular and the action, simply breath-taking, even though it may be gruesome for kids and therefore the 'R' rating of the film. The background score draws inspiration from erstwhile hits and suits all moods very well. Performances by Haley as Rorschach, Matthew Goode as Adrian Veidt and Jeffrey Morgan as Edward Blake-The Comedian are outstanding while the rest are just mediocre.
The legendary source material and its great adaptation in screenplay give 'Watchmen' its strengths of strong characterization, philosophical depth, breath taking action, shockingly gruesome sequences, outstanding narration that made the film comprehensible even without reference to the book and spectacular visual effects. Zack Snyder has not redefined comic book adaptations on screen but he sure has depicted Moore's graphic novel with almost fanatic devotion.

8.222 on a scale of 1-10.