An incredibly loyal adaptation

Rating: 10/10 (7 March 2009)

When watching a film based on a popular book or graphic novel, there is always the expectation of how closely the producers will follow the source material. Too closely, it might not be accessible to non-fans. Not closely enough, and the loyal fans will crowd onto websites like this one and scream bloody murder.
The producers decided (rightfully) to stick close to the original except for one minor plot alteration at the end (which I will discuss later.) They were very loyal to the characters and their motivations, probably only leaving things out if there wasn't time to work them in (and I suspect that many of them will be in future director cuts or special features on the DVD.) This is a long movie. 162 minutes. Factor in previews, you are going to have about three hours.
If I have any quibble, it is that some of the violence and sex was even more over the top than Moore and Gibbon's original work. The heroes don't just beat up criminals, they kill them. (Only Rorschach did in the original novel). Even Dr. Manhatten's nudity is less subtle than the comic book. This thing has and deserves an "R" rating, so don't be fooled into bringing your kids because this is a comic book movie, you'll be answering a lot of questions afterwards you'd probably would have wanted to put off.
Now, for the plot alteration... Don't read any further if you don't want to be spoiled. Okay, here you go. In the comic, Ozymandias creates a fake crisis to bring the superpowers together by fabricating fake aliens and simulating an interdimensional invasion that forces them to work together. (Mind you, this was in the 1980's, before we discovered Reagan was "right".) The change here is that Ozymandias simulates a fake Dr. Manhatten attack on cities around the world, making him the common enemy. I don't think it worked quite as well.
Other than that, first rate acting, first rate direction, first rate CGI (not overused like some movies) etc. I can't wait for the DVD to come out!