Review of Watchmen (2009) by Trailesque — 28 May 2021

The original Watchmen comic is an enduring classic, and it has its passionate fans. Many of them were not pleased with this adaptation. Maybe because the extended DVD version was my first exposure to it, I am not in agreement with this view.

(The DVD I had came with a video version of the comic, something which comic book purists probably also dislike, but I thought it was very cool.) Contrary to what the Alan Moore worshippers think, I thought this was excellent.

This is up there among the weirdest and most visually exciting flicks ever. The story mixes both a dark, semi-realistic take on the super hero genre with alternate history. The tale is built up around 4 unforgettable characters: the Comedian (imagine if the Joker was one of the good guys, but retained his nasty nature), Dr.

Manhattan (a super-superman created in a radioactive accident), Rorschach (an uncompromising crime fighter with a mask made up of ever shifting Rorschach ink blots), and Adrian Veidt (a cold genius who comes up with a unique and horrible way to save the human race from itself).

One could complain about some unnecessary violence and the treatment of a couple of the female characters - point taken there - but this is still a festival of stunning imagery and unique storytelling.