Review of Watchmen (2009) by Tiger L — 04 May 2014

This is an incredibly faithful adaptation that still manages to be innovative in its depiction of one of the best-loved and best graphic novels of all time. Much like Peter Jackson with his Lord of the Rings adaptations, Snyder remains committed to the main story, themes and spirit of the book, yet knows when to change things to suit the silver screen.

The credit sequence is a masterclass in condensing a complicated back story and setting the scene. The characters are well cast: Patrick Wilson gives Nite Owl II a bit of a Batman edge, Billy Crudup succeeds in making an all-powerful naked blue man much more sympathetic than the way he came across in the comic, and Jackie Earle Haley embodies all of Rorscarch's complexities beautifully, managing to make you root for a cold-blooded vigilante even more than in the original text.