An Excellent Adaptation of the Seminal "Cerebral" Graphic Novel

Rating: 9/10 (6 March 2009)

The packed-house midnight premiere audience I was in (amidst mostly 17- to 30-year-old fanboys) watched in reverent awe (with, of course, shouts of exclamation during the more shocking scenes) of what this "fangirl" calls one of the most well-done movie adaptations to film of ANY novel I've read to date.
Certainly no movie is perfect, but I'm not going to bother nit-picking here as I deeply feel Zack Snyder & Co. gave it their all to do proper and faithful justice to the original "Watchman" graphic novel - and for that they have my utmost respect and appreciation (are you listening, Joel Schumacher?). Another cast & crew may have done it differently and perhaps equally AS well, but I dare anyone else to try and do it better. I think Alan Moore's missing out... oh, well.
This is not going to be for everyone's taste, especially those who are expecting a smash-'em-up, explosive action film with well-known, mainstream superheroes. Oh, yes - there's literally some great "bone-crunching" action, sometimes quite disturbing, delivered with wicked intensity (and daresay occasionally a little amusement) by equal-opportunity butt-kickers. There are also some erotic scenes, and one main character is often nude (true to the original story). But what you have in total is a dark, epic emotional story of powerful but disenchanted protagonists who are still trying to do the right thing for their fellow Americans - at least in their own eyes.
For those unfamiliar with "Watchmen": before you see the film I'd recommend you either just familiarize yourself a little bit with its basic plot and characters, or at least go in with an open mind and no preconceived notions. Its "R" rating is well-deserved; "Watchmen" is no children's tale. But to me, all of the more "adult" aspects of the story were handled within good context of the characters and the storyline, not with immature, gratuitous excess for shock value alone.
My recommendation: go see this intriguing, intelligent, dark and disturbing story of fallible superheroes versus the world. Fans, if nothing else I think you'll appreciate the filmmakers' efforts to stay respectfully true to the original story - others, expect the unexpected and enjoy the ride. :-)