On the fence

Rating: 10/10 (6 March 2009)

I saw this at the midnight showing launch party. My roommate and I went into the film with no prior knowledge of the series. So this will be a review for the everyman. I honestly can't condemn or support seeing this movie.
First reactions were good. I believe it was the impact of the ending that left me happy, but that's a later paragraph. The level of maturity of the film definitely stood out. It is rated R, and it wants the audience to know it. The level of blood and nudity is beyond anything else I have seen. Although I must address the fact that Zack Snyder has a habit of making his male leads stand naked looking at stuff.
The film definitely bleeds graphic novel. Each scene does not feel like a scene. Instead it appropriately is built around images. This film may actually be loyal to a fault. It starts on a high note. The opening scene is bombastically exciting. It saddens that the level of action dips for quite a while. With the evident dip in action Snyder must rely on his storytelling skill (which 300 proved isn't his main suit).
This might actually be out of his hands. Story sections rely more heavily on the source material than directorial stamina, this isn't a bad thing). The stories are adequately good. This all seems good because it goes places the genre doesn't. The portraits of these characters are more than any Superman movie could dream of. Unfortunately this poses a problem. The whole comic book thing comes back. While it didn't bother me specifically, the flashback scenes really took a number on the pacing. At over two and a half hours, this movie feels directed straight at the fans. I fear that while compelling, these scenes will throw off the general audiences.
All that being said, I liked the film. Rorschach is now second on my list for coolest comic book characters. Nobody will ever top Deadpool. I just don't think the main audience will get it. I walked out completely satisfied. I do not need anything else about the Watchmen. All the loose ends were tied up completely. I will curse any news of a sequel. This film has been made and is now done. Few films reach the level of catharsis this did.
While not without its faults, this film did what it set out to do: create a true and uncompromising view of what the Watchmen meant. To all those who disagree, I read the forums. A giant squid would not make any sense to me, the layman. A few final notes. The costumes look hokey; that's because they are supposed to. These aren't stereotypical superheroes. Thus they didn't put way too much effort into perfecting costuming. The soundtrack is amazing. One issue; the use of the song Hallelujah, during a sex scene is only appropriate in an American Pie type movie.
See it if you are intrigued, just don't use it as a date movie.