It was just OK, that was all

Rating: 7/10 (8 March 2009)

This is a review from yours truly and I haven't read the graphic novel WATCHMEN and the movie adaptation.. well, let's just say that it's stylish and visually breathtaking and those are its strongest points. There's too much character development, I think it could've been trimmed down and we're still fresh from having watched the great Dark Knight that all of WATCHMEN dark, gloomy profundity and depth in the complexity of its story seem like just an average attempt to do the same. I don't mind the movie's strong graphic violence, in fact, if Zack Snyder had took it down a notch, it would've took away what's left of its wow factor.
I don't deny the power of this movie's visual effects. Stunning doesn't even begin to express how amazed I am at the ability to take your sight to all kinds of exciting levels. It's as if the effects used in Zack Snyder's 300 was injected with steroid and there you have WATCHMEN. I'm also equally impressed with the cinematography and although I didn't read the book, I gotta hand it to Zack Snyder and his team for coming up with shots that you just know are comic-book like, it goes to show the extent they're willing to take to satisfy the fans. Granted, some say the ending was changed, be that as it may but it doesn't take away the fact that it is obvious that they also want to cater to those who've never read the book and that is also the downside, resulting in a running time that's just too damn long for a movie watching experience.
Having said that, the whole bullet time effects or where things get faster and slower and faster again in one single frame happens way too often, you'd get tired of it after the second hour. I'm aware that Zack Snyder wants to introduce each character's origin story especially to those not familiar with WATCHMEN but each of those stories could've been done in a much faster, less dramatic manner. The song selections for the most part are not too shabby, except for one particular sex scene and the soundtrack song 'Hallelujah'. It throws me off because they don't compliment each other. You see Patrick Wilson and Malin Akerman thrusting and moaning meanwhile the song in the background just doesn't fit the mood. It's borderline hilarious. Keeping in mind again, I've never read the book.. so I guess what makes me not want to stand up and applaud is its supposed prophetic relation to 9/11 conspiracy, of how one disaster is secretly designed and massively executed in order to unite nations. I understand that the whole storyline is covered with political messages but that one just gets a bit too obvious and too preachy.
Actingwise I think all of them give great performances, Jeffrey Dean Morgan surprisingly is excellent as a man who's done some terrible things in his life and when he figures out an even bigger more terrible masterplan, his conscience gets the better of him. Top honor goes to Jackie Earl Haley who plays Rorschach, quite possibly the most badass of all WATCHMEN characters. Before I forget, the fight choreography is amazing. When they fight, you can almost feel like the wind just got knocked out of you. Is WATCHMEN in the same level as Zack Snyder's previous movie 300? It's arguable, but WATCMEN could certainly have been much more enjoyable.
--Rama's SCREEN--