Well crafted. Zack Snyder at his best.

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2011)

In a nutshell, my review for this move boils down to three words- Clever, complex and complete. Fresh on the heels of his unexpected smash hit "300", director Zack Snyder outdoes himself with this comic book adaptation. Unfortunately for Snyder, Christopher Nolan had the upper-hand with 2009's box-office bomb, "The Dark Knight". Even so, Snyder's work here is a painstaking and well crafted movie that is targeted at a mature audience.
The story is adapted from Alan Moore's independent comic book by the same name with acquisition by DC Comics for a full blown screenplay. Through the opening credits, we are introduced to caped vigilantes of the 1930s and 1940s. Calling themselves the Watchmen, most of them are now retired after having helped the US government through the Vietnam War and averting the Cuban Missile Crises. Hmmm, so this is where X Men: First Class got its inspiration. After the John F Kennedy assassination and ensuing public outcry, the Watchmen are now disbanded and living on their own. With each receiving proper introductions and ample screen time, they are Edward Blake AKA the Comedian, Walter Kovacks AKA Rorschach, Daniel Dreiberg AKA Nite Owl, Adrian Veidt AKA Ozymandias, Laurie Jupiter AKA Silk Spectre II and Dr. Manhattan, the only former member with immense superpowers. Following the murder of the Comedian, Rorschach gets in touch with Nite Owl, Dr. Manhattan (now living with Silk Spectre II) and Ozymandias trying to warn each that former members of the Watchmen are being assassinated. With ties to the government and having put so many criminals behind bars, it is easy to see why anyone would want them dead. While Rorschach and Nite Owl investigate the Comedian's death, Dr. Manhattan and Silk Spectre realizes problem with their relationship with Manhattan distancing himself from humanity. In the meanwhile, the doomsday clock is ticking with the world bracing for nuclear war between the United States and the Soviets. But with the Watchmen retired, unwanted and stalked by a mysterious assassin, who will now save the world from total annihilation?
Set in 1985 with Richard Nixon running his third term as president of the United States, this film is a clever analogy to the cold war crises of the mid 1980s. The essence of the plot is seamlessly grafting historical events with fiction, resulting in a very plausible story. Once again, kudos to Snyder for breaking out a movie other directors and producers have tried and abandoned since 1986. Their failure can be vindicated by the fact that the story itself is intricate enough to adapt on screen. Then there is mandatory character development, alternate history, and the current film making technology that was lacking 25 years ago. Although this film offers ample doses of high-end visual effects and CGI, the main focus is on character development, making this a true character driven film. As such, acting is flawless from a star studded lineup. Most notable are Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian, Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl, Malin Ậkerman as Silk Spectre II and Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach. Dr. Manhattan is entirely CGI rendered but voiced by Billy Crudup. Special mention also goes to Robert Wisden as Richard Nixon and Carla Gugino as Silk Pectre.
All aspects considered, Snyder has truly cut a niche out for himself. But as I mentioned before, this film was overshadowed by "The Dark knight" because Watchmen is not intended for a teenage audience and is not your run-of-the-mill superhero caper. Yes, the story is engaging from start to finish, but it's the detail that has gone into the production. Cinematography is top notch and Snyder's frequent use of overhead angles of filming adds an extra touch to the look and feel. There is also something unique about combining slow-motion in heavy rain, and this is complemented by an excellent score. The soundtrack on the other hand takes you back to the 70s and 80s and is a perfect choice for the setting. However, be warned that violence is extreme and brutal. Like "300", Snyder is unforgiving with blood, gore and guts.
What is stopping me from rating this film with 5 stars is the unnecessary inclusion of over 20 minutes of animation, which I find has no relation to the already complex plot. Then again, my review is based on the "director's ultimate cut" available only on Blu-ray Disk. Had I watched the DVD version containing the "Director's cut", I would have rated this film with every star it deserves. I also thought the ending was a bit disappointing in comparison to the rest of the story. But overlooking this inclusion, watching this movie is an event in itself, not because of the two and half hour of engagement time, but due to its epic scale in storytelling. For a truly uninterrupted viewing experience, turn your phones silent and watch this in one sitting.
As a Zach Snyder fan, I eagerly await his next release in re-booting the Superman saga. After what he did for this film, it is just a matter of time before Snyder grabs the whole superhero genre by the horns. For what it's worth, "Man of Steel" is rumored to have both Snyder and Nolan working together. Will wonders never cease!