Who Watches the Watchmen?

Here's a spoiler-free review of Watchmen that I wrote for the Ramapo News. I'm going to post more reactions on Saturday or so after I see it again, but for now, here's part of it:

Zach Snyder’s Watchmen is many things to many people. For those who have read the book, it is may be the long-awaited adaptation of one of Time Magazine’s Top 100 Novels and the most-anticipated film since The Dark Knight, while for others it may be nothing more than a blip on the radar.

The first I’d heard of the graphic novel was when I saw the first trailer for the film, and that two-minute clip made me know that I’d be seeing it the day it came out. I read it for the first time recently, which only increased my already-frenzied anticipation.

Clocking in just shy of three hours, Watchmen takes place in an alternate universe where the United States won the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon is still President, Russia has invaded Afghanistan and there is an overwhelming threat of full-blown nuclear war.

The film begins as an unknown assailant murders the Comedian, a former masked hero. His death causes a ripple only among heroes, primarily because masked heroes are looked down upon after reaching rock star-esque status in the 1950s. However, this public contempt is only briefly touched on in the film.

This is not the only element in the novel that was not included in the film. A good deal of dread regarding the impending annihilation of humankind is removed, which seems odd. Removing these pieces allows Snyder to maintain the focus on the heroes, though, which isn’t a bad thing. Most of the hero-related material is left intact, which should please most fans of the novel.

The biggest difference between the two forms of the story is the ending. Purists will complain about the new ending, but the intent is the same and is, perhaps, more frightening due to the increased realism and likelihood that something similar could happen. None of these changes truly serve as a detriment to the movie, though. Watchmen is tremendously entertaining and still tells a masterful story, even if sometimes there’s too much happening on the screen.

One thing I can say is that Snyder definitely knows how to make cool movies. Watchmen follows in the path that he has set with 300 and his remade Dawn of the Dead. His trademark stylized violence and vivid colors are extremely effective and entertaining, which, when added to maybe the coolest opening credits sequence I’ve ever seen, form a very beautiful and entertaining package.

The novel’s biggest fans have undoubtedly seen the film already or decided they never will. For everyone who hasn’t, it’s definitely worth checking out. Reading the novel first may allow for an easier understanding as to what’s going on, but it is in no way necessary to enjoy or appreciate the story. It will, however, only add to the appreciation and enjoyment of the world that Alan Moore and David Gibbons created back in the 1980s.

One final note: I was lucky enough to see the midnight release in IMAX. Both of these factors definitely contributed to my enjoyment – there was definitely an immense level of anticipation in the air, and seeing it in IMAX provided the very best in both video and sound.

If you’re looking for a new movie to go see, definitely check Watchmen out. It isn’t a perfectly constructed film, but it’s very enjoyable and tells a top-rate story.