Visual Splendor+Plot=Success!

Rating: 9/10 (24 March 2009)

I had never read the graphic novel by Alan Moore so I did not know what to expect. It piqued my interest, particularly being directed by Zack Snyder. I knew this movie was going to be a feast for the eyes.
Yes, this film has a lot of excellent visual effects, probably the best I've seen since "Transformers", but the grand CGI does not make this movie, but the plot. I enjoyed "300" for the visual splendor, but it lacked a great plot. "Watchmen" makes up for it. Since the graphic novel was written in the 1980s, the story revolves around the Cold War. It almost makes the statement, what would have happened if we had superheroes on our side? How would the world be? Rather, how would the Cold War turn out? For one, it takes a historical event like the Vietnam War and combines it with the advantage of the superheroes (primarily Dr. Manhattan, who helps the U.S. take over Vietnam in a week with his super powers).
Despite the fact that there are superheroes on the American side, the film depicts the nation as a dystopia, the masses are driven by violence, and the politicians are corrupt and power- hungry (I personally love how the movie portrays Nixon-who has been in office for 5 terms) who use the superheroes to their advantage, such as muscle work on the rioting population and the production of weapons of mass destruction to use against the Soviets.
But when one of the superheroes is brutally murdered, hell breaks lose and the heroes wonder who is targeting them while trying to maintain some form of stability in the world. Without giving too much more of the plot away, the movie almost holds an anti-war message. It is understandable that this wasn't released some 20 years ago (for one the visual effects issue), but also the fact that it depicts the world what it was back in such a time, as well as what it could have led up to. This film could also be considered a satire on the Cold War, the fact that it exaggerates certain things, specifically the depictions of the politicians.
As with the cast members, all of them added diligence to their roles. Even though Billy Crudup was probably in a green suit for the majority of the movie as Dr. Manhattan, he delivers his lines fluently. But the real genius in acting is Jackie Earle Haley. I cannot recall in seeing him in any other film, but he makes himself into the mysterious character Rorschach. If I were the academy, I would definitely consider him for a nomination in the actor in supporting role.
His acting though isn't the only driving force about his character, but how the director portrays him. By his clothing, with the hat and heavy coat, Rorschach is a pure superhero image of the incorruptible film noir detective. The use of the deep shadows and unique camera angles (as well as Haley's voice-over narration) adds more to the film noir genre. The only thing missing is the dramatic music. Snyder also squeezes in other genres and their elements into the particular characters in the film such as science-fiction for Dr. Manhattan, romance with Silk Spectre II, and drama with Nite Owl II. Each character also has their own unique story, which add layers to themselves as well as how they play their part in the plot, leading to the big finale.
The other works such as: photography, editing, sound design, costume and set decoration were all well-crafted and taken into considerable care to make such a unique film. These talents are perfectly shown during the opening titles, in which there is little dialog, shown through visuals that illustrate the events that happened from the 1940s to the 1980s, including: archive footage of the Vietnam War, and a reenactment of the J.F.K assassination. There is so much told in this opening that it is both incredible by its visual splendor but also of reminding us what had happened in the twentieth century.
There was one thing though that I did not anticipate in this movie, and that was its depiction of violence. It does say rated R for "strong graphic violence" but I only shrugged thinking that it'll be stylized and unrealistic like in "300". Yes, some of it is very cartoonish and even at times comical and over exaggerated, but also much of it is quite disturbing such as: a graphic rape scene, beatings and killings of innocent people (including a pregnant woman- though off screen) and other forms of brutality.
Such material may have been in the comic book or thrown in for shock value, but in either case, it seemed random to me, and did not benefit to the story. If anything, it seemed to distract from it. I am not a squeamish person, but some of the stuff in this film bothered me. "Watchmen" is a great movie, and I would see it again, but it's not for kids nor is it for those who can't handle violence. Because of this, I give this movie a solid 9/10.