A Serious, Stunning and Complex Film

Rating: 9/10 (5 March 2009)

Watchmen is an adaptation of the renowned comic book series by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons and John Higgins. Besides being a stunning film it is a fine advertisement to the depth, sophistication and maturity of quality comics.
The film justly decided upon a long length film of 2 hours and 43 minutes and an R rating; both facilitate the quality of the production. The themes of the movie include human nature, love, justice, power and, of course, good and evil. A galaxy of rich superhero content from the esteemed comics comprise the plot, as they confront an altered late 20th century history which is near human annihilation. Watchmen manages to portray depth in its characters via narrative which follows individuals whilst also following their complex relations. They are not 'do-gooders', but understandable humans with a spectrum of emotions and thoughts.
Complementary camera and editing effects also help the tempo of the film; this movie wasn't rushed. Action throughout the film is well proportioned, with the violent and fighting scenes being enjoyable. Some violence is severe yet it aids the story and doesn't feel superfluous. There are also a few intimate sex scenes that cohere with the experience of Watchmen with none feeling like cheap pandering.
Overall, I found Watchmen to be a very satisfying experience and feel the movie comes together as a success. I expect it's integrity will stand out and not waver in time to come.
p.s. I am not a comics connoisseur and this review is not a comparison between the comics and movie. Though after watching this film I intend to checkout a few comics.
Hot_Ice