Review of Watchmen (2001) by Joanna B — 28 Feb 2016

As a complete novice to the whole comic book subculture (I realise I am a traitor to my generation), I think it would be unjust for me to do a lone review on this film. If you are like me and have almost no grasp of the complexities that make up the genre, Watchmen comes across as explicit, over the top, self reflective, under acted and far too long.

However, as a fan, it is likely you will have a completely different slant. According to my very close friend and movie companion (no, not the same as the chick-flick partner from last week) the film genuinely captures the essence of DC comics multilayered adult comic themes. Essentially recreating the world of head spinning art, societal anarchy and satirical campiness as dictated in the original novel.

Watchmen is set in an alternate 1980's America in which costumed superheros have been exposed and outlawed, the doomsday clock which charts the cold war tension between USA and the Soviet Union is permanently set minutes away from human annihilation and tricky-dicky President Nixon is has been re-elected for a third term in office.

The scene is set when the graphic murder of The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) reverberates through the remaining superhero community. Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) a washed-up clinically insane but no less determined masked vigilante becomes obsessed with exposing the truth behind the unusual circumstances of the Comedians demise.

Uncovering a conspiracy to discredit all past and present superheros, Rorschach pays a warning visit his former crime-fighting legion. Starting with reclusive techno-gadget nerd Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson) and outed hero and business tycoon Ozymandias (Matthew Goode) Rorschach's warnings are dismissed as the incoherent ranting of a madman.

Rorschach in his plight then visits the only superhero with any real power Dr Manhattan (Billy Crudup). A scientist whose nuclear experiment went arwy was transformed into a shape-shifting, nude, electric blue super-psychic who is rapidly losing touch with the human condition and at whim could bring about the final apocalypse.

Along with his long-time partner the lycra clad Laurie, AKA Silk Spectre II (Malin Akerman) Dr Manhattan works to find a way to recreate his omnipotent power and channel it into a never ending power source for the free world.

As a novice, this is about the point where the film lost interest. With the characters already established all that seemed to be left was a montage of over the top action sequences, an unnecessary sexual encounter, a scattered interplanetary storyline and decade confused timeline all being held together with underwhelming CGI and highly inappropriate song choices. (Completely destroyed the emotional tone of Hallelujah forever).

The Watchman was creatively casted. Consisting mostly of relatively unknowns that clearly have a remarkable resemblance to Hollywood headliners mirrors the feeling of the film; Almost there but not quite. Jeffrey Dean Morgan a perfect example, so close to Robert Downy Jr I actually had a heated debate with a colleague.

The colours palette is clearly taken directly from the comics, focusing on muted dark bases accented with gold and purple to highlight the significant. The bright blue used is for Dr Manhattan clearly reinforces the importance of his powers (and needlessly exposes his over exaggerated privates).

Costuming mimics the comics with batman like rubber masks and almost painted on figure emphasizing outfits. The most unique and yet basic being Rorschach, his simple outfit of plain police inspector style clothes leads all the interest to his mask. What looks like a white hessian bag with ink blots on closer inspection is, as his character, a Rorschach (aka ink bloat test); ever changing an open to interpretation.

The storyline, although it seams weak, does cram a remarkably high percentage of plot points faithfully including the tiniest detail, classic panels, original dialogue and a checklist of characters into its 160 minute running time.

The way director Zack Snyder integrated the fact the movie was based on a comic book was strikingly skilful, recreating the storyboards by almost pausing a sequence mid stream so it looked like it had come straight from the comic to the screen. Even as a novice this was clearly apparent, especially in the pain scenes; quite graphic but still artful.

The Verdict: Adrenaline-seeking young men will be enthralled by Watchmen. Fans of the original books watch it with a critical eye and enjoy the culmination of one of the most acclaimed comic books in history. Non-fans, it is not light entertainment, perhaps try to be open minded...

Published: The Queanbeyan Age.

Date of Publication: 13/03/2009.