Doesn't hold a candle to the novel, but Snyder understood "The Big Joke"

Rating: 6/10 (6 March 2009)

The undeniably brilliant & beautiful graphic novel masterpiece about the archetypical conflict of the "superhero" :"saving the world", inevitable war, and the human condition is now an enjoyable, but not "perfectly" competent film adaptation.
For those who didn't read the book: "Watchmen" is set in an alternate universe where Nixon serves under a 3rd term in 1985, battling the Soviets despite impending worldwide thermonuclear holocaust...The film follows washed-up formerly-masked vigilantes who were all active until they were forced by the gov't to retire in the Keene Act of '77.
Though the film leaves out a significant amount of information & emotional scenes of certain characters that the book contains, such as,Laurie Jupiter,Rorschach & the New Yorkers surrounding the "Gunga Diner", Snyder obviously read the book & although he watered down some emotionally gripping scenes or left them out completely; he understood the *primary" point of "Watchmen" Humanity's "Big Joke"....These superheros goal is to "save the world"...But will the world let them? Is chaos inevitable? Do perfectly moral masked saviors really exist?
"Rorschach" :a mysterious, monotonous hero in a trench coat fedora & earie moving "Rorschach" blotted mask that is still "active" even after the Keen Act, therefore a much feared fugitive, merciless interrogator ; never spares evil-doers, fights viciously to punish the amoral & he never surrenders even in the face of Armageddon. He's a crusader for black & white justice. Black white forces bouncing off of each other, NEVER mixing of grey as Rorschach says, the mask is his "face".
"The Comedian" is a "superhero" "war hero" with sadistic tendencies who sets the stage for the film's themes in the beginning, as well as the very end.
He really just fights evil for something to "fight", he knows humans will inevitably kill each other off, and chooses to revel in the chaos.
Then there is "Dr. Manhattan" a REAL superhuman...An indestructible immortal nuclear force who can do virtually *anything*, manipulate basic physics that were once thought to be written in stone...He is fighting for America, yet the Soviets are not surrendering..The world is proving The Comedian right.Also due to his condition of no longer being a "normal" human,due to tragic circumstances, he becomes unmotivated to defend humanity.He no longer sees the value in humans.
The only retired hero who seems to genuinely care about the world, and promises to end all wars is the retired-hero & self-made millionaire Adrian "Ozymandias" Veidt...He is also the only retired hero with the most positive public image, selling action figures & other self-endorsing merchandise.
He's a hero we can completely trust & believe in...Or is he? This film is a rather difficult one to review...I've read the graphic novel before watching this film adaptation which is probably the BEST way to enjoy & understand the film and the movie's opening & ending are the perfect interpretations of the book.
In the middle, it meanders a bit and isn't paced too well IMO...However as adaptations go, I can tell the filmmakers truly understood the book & interpreted it accurately save for, as I mentioned earlier, the strong emotional impact the book provokes.
Even if you didn't read the book, this is definitely an enjoyable film, never a dull moment, and you may not look @ the superhero genre the same way again.
6/10