If Watchmen weren't the best graphic novel, then Watchmen, the movie, might have been a much better movie.

Rating: 8/10 (12 July 2009)

Watchmen was, without a doubt, the most anticipated movie of the year. It's a bit of a shame that it came out in the third month of the year, but still, it doesn't reflect on the movie. i guess they figured the fanboys and the rated R crowd would come whenever the movie did. And I'm sure they did.
We arrived at the movie forty-five minutes before the start because we weren't really planning on arriving at a certain showing. We went ahead and bought the tickets, and were going to go to a bookstore, when we noticed a line. The line for Watchmen in IMAX. So we stood in line for about twenty-five minutes, and they let us in twenty minutes before the movie. We managed to get a decent seat, but nothing choice. That's how many people were there over forty-five minutes before the start. There were six trailers attached to it.
The movie, for those unacquainted with the graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, is about a group of "costumed heroes" after their forced retirement in an alternative 1985. The graphic novel is a rumination primarily on the concept of superheroes and comic books, but the movie focuses more on the whole cold war mythology, and how the superheroes interact with that.
For those unacquainted with the graphic novel, well, it depends on what you're looking for as to what you will find when you watch this. Action, well you probably won't be too happy. It's less than the Dark Knight and it's just as long. A great movie... eh, I really don't think not so much. A story, then you might be satisfied.
For those who love the graphic novel, you should be pleased. It's exactly like watching the book come alive. It's almost exactly the same. Any changes are made completely in the spirit of the original source. It's very visual, and, well, it just feels like a graphic novel.
And yet, I think that may be its flaw. I believe that this is the best movie that could be made of Watchmen staying true to the graphic novel. But I don't think that the graphic novel makes a great movie when taken faithfully. I think it needs to be changed, formed, cut, and then it can be a truly great and amazing movie, like The Dark Knight did. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think there should be a prequel, back before the Keene (sp?) act and perhaps leading up to it. It was just too fun watching these amazing characters fight or have sex or just do this awesome things. I think that could be a great movie. Because that's something that movies are good at. Graphic novels are great for plot over visuals, movies are better when they fall on the visual side over the plot. Sin City is a great example. The comics were pretty good. The movie was a great movie. They were basically the same. If Watchmen wasn't the best graphic novel ever, it might have made the best movie ever, if that logic can be followed.
The actors and actresses aren't spectacular all the time, but it works in context. Though when stills of them were shown, I was a bit upset at how different they appeared, they completely become these characters on screen. Zack Snyder competently directs, but his penchant for slow motion can get annoying when not used correctly. But overall the movie is solid and has very striking visuals. It is a very visual movie.
I like the movie. I think the director's cut with the subplot of The Black Freighter spliced in will be spectacular. I am a fangirl, after all. Fans will love it (unless they're upset over the ending change) and I think apart from fanhood it's just a good solid movie.