Meh it would have been better to leave Alan Moore on the cutting room floor.

Rating: 6/10 (7 March 2009)

I never liked the comic. I've always thought it was way overrated. It has some premises that are interesting and seemed innovating in 1985. But I have always thought the characters were "over the top" poor imitations of cliché super heroes. That's why I never dug it. With this film adaption I had hoped that they would "hollywoodize" it a bit and make it better. In some ways they did, all the characters in it are superior to the comic's versions, including Dr. M's wang. The film in many ways was near frame to panel with the comic. There were a few subplots dropped, like the newsstand thing, the cops chasing Rorshach just two steps behind, and the giant alien monster! However all those losses did nothing to hurt the film and honestly helped it in my opinion. I mean the new ending is actually superior to the comics ending and probably will save the film for audiences that are unfamiliar with Alan Moore's work. But the film is too close to the comic still, it frames like the comic, too tight, and follows the original plot too close which in all honesty is boring and a has long drawn out moments where it just fizzles.
The first fifteen minutes of history lessons that introduces audiences to Alan Moore's twisted world. Part of me says you could probably walk out after this and be satisfied with the price of the movie. It really is that good! Finally, and this was unexpected, but really the reason I just don't hate the movie, Night Owl... I hated this character in the comic and often times skipped over scenes with him in it... which easy to do since his relevance in the comic seems only a cliché marker to the batman like character of comics. But in this movie the actor brings him to life. I mean he shines in this. With all the fizzle points in the film I often found myself longing for the film to return to his plot. To be completely honest the movie would have been great if it has just been a Night Owl film.
What I didn't like was the sex scene in Archie (Night Owl's Airship), ugh it was a horrible awkward uncomfortable moment that was drawn out and made me and the people around me want to walk out. Sadly earlier in the film the two characters have a similar scene where they are suppose to be awkward and I found that scene cute romantic and original. Over all though the sex scenes in the film were nothing more to me than poor superhero porn. (and for god sakes that song was awful it was like they were just trying to make me hate sex.)
I HATED Dr. M in the Comic and I hate him in the movie. Period, game over. I know he is needed in order to make sense of the final plot, but I wish they would have given him less scenes and cut him back. I dreaded every scene where his blue began to shine. The actor was fine, Dr. M just annoys me to no end.
In the end, if Zack Snyder hadn't tried so hard to please Alan Moore this would have been a better movie. I honestly think Alan Moore should realize that Film is another medium for his character to live in. He should respect that film makers take him and his characters seriously and that Snyder made a masterpiece version of Moore's graphic novel that by all rights would have been better if he had left more of Alan's work on the cutting room floor.
Alan Moore should buck up, go see it, because it is eye candy, accept that it is a movie, walk over to Zack Snyder, thank him for bringing his characters to life for so many people who will fall in love with this movie (and hate my review). Then thank the guy who played Night Owl II... It is rare and unique to see a character made better by an actor and Patrick Wilson does just that. It left me wanting more Night Owl and Spectre.
Yes I will go see this movie again Monday and I will buy it when it comes out on DVD. Because for all that fizzles in this film, Patrick Wilson, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jackie Earle Haley, Malin Akerman and Zack Snyder make it Shine! Special note to Alan Moore and his loyalist: SHUT UP! You people are so lucky to see your characters brought to life with so much respect. Countless writers and their fans would kill to have people take their work as seriously as Zack Snyder took Moore's. Go pay some respect, because they have paid you all plenty with this film. And in many ways hurt their own craft trying to make you happy.
Note to Alan Moore and his loyalist: SHUT UP! You people are so lucky to see your characters brought to life with so much respect. Countless writers and their fans would kill to have people take their work as seriously as Zack Snyder took Moore's. Go pay some respect, because they have paid you all plenty with this film. And in many ways hurt their own craft trying to make you happy.