Fascinating graphic novel. movie droning and too long, but more Rorschach

Rating: 5/10 (7 March 2009)

I am a fan of graphic novels and some of the films inspired after them. I loved Sin City, 300, and yes, I enjoyed The Spirit. I never have high expectations for films but I left the film slightly disappointed. Based the graphic novel and made the filmmakers of Sin City and 300, "Watchmen" is the anti-hero comic book/graphic novel film. I don't mind lengthy films but I do mind lengthy films that drone! "Watchmen" is visually striking and action sequences are graphic but exciting however the film had too many subplots and kept jumping back and forth between stories within the main story itself which is suppose to be about solving the murder of a superhero, Edward aka The Comedian Blake (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), and the reemergence of the heroes called the Watchmen. Narrating the story (or stories) is Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) and he attempts to reunite the other Watchmen: Nightowl (Patrick Wilson), Silk Spectre (Malin Ackerman), Ozymandias (Matthew Goode), and the main hero, Dr. Manhattan (Billy Cruddup). The only saving grace this film has are the performances by Jackie Earle Haley and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Haley as the deep-throated and enigmatic Rorschach is absolutely remarkable and exciting. He became the only character in the whole film that I actually cared about. About two hours into the film I begged for the film to reach a conclusion. I think after Watchmen I will lay off the comic book inspired films until a third Batman movie comes out. This one really will wear you out and not even the stunning visuals will help except for the performance of Jackie Earle Haley. I would definitely love it if the filmmakers made a film about Rorschach only.