Watchmen
Watchmen
Watchmen -
Overview
Positives
Negatives
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Brief Review
Although Watchmen is a mammoth of a drag at 215 minutes, the overall story is engaging and the detective "who dunnit?" angle is enough to perk interest throughout. This isn't a run-of-the-mill comic story and Watchmen breaks the traditional comic mould with a dark and mature action-driven tale. The acting overall is good and The Comedian is portrayed perfectly here too. A good superhero film overall that brings something new to the table.
Full Review
Released in 2009, Watchmen is a moody thriller that breaks the current mould of superhero stories with a dark and gory tale of revenge, murder and hatrid. At 215 minutes the story does drag somewhat and the action is scattered few and far between with the main area of the film focused on the characters' past and present actions.
The story is set in 1985 in the heart of the Cold War between America and Russia. The film opens with the tragic story of the rise and fall of the Watchmen with all the superheroes told to hang up their capes and return to normality. After the death of one of the original Watchmen, Rorschach leads the investigation by himself and sets out to warn the other members of the murder.
The story is complicated and for people unfamiliar with the source material from the comics (like myself) then the complex narrative is really difficult to pick up. That's not to say the film is unwatchable as its a very good watch and can easily be enjoyed with no knowledge of the Watchmen series at all. However, to get the most out of this film and pick up on some of the plot points, prior knowledge is really handy to know beforehand. It's a shame though as the rest of the film flows so well.
The art direction in particular is outstanding and the clever spin on the world of '85 is shown through some gorgeous lighting effects and excellent costume design. The grey and brown palette is equally as impressive and the lack of bright colours throughout really hammers home the dedication put in to making the film look as impressive as its comic cousin.
As mentioned earlier, The Comedian is the standout for me here and his adaption from the comics is startlingly good and as his past is revealed, the disgust and hatred for the character builds. As well as The Comedian, Jackie Earle plays the gruff, no-bullshit Rorschach well as the main protagonist but the scenes where he doesn't have his iconic mask are strange to watch and his voice is just weird and out of place.
Overall though, Watchmen is an interesting film in the sense it has a lot going for it but at the same time has a lot wrong with it. Fans of the series will be in their element here but the 215 minute mark is a little steep for this mature comic-adaptation. Despite some hiccups, the acting in the film is good and The Comedian really steals the show with a strong performance. The art direction and the overall feel of the film is probably one of the best felt in recent years and is well deserving of a high score.
If you're after a superhero story that's something a bit different, Watchmen is definitely you're cup of tea but the film does drag a bit at some parts which is a shame. Fans will be in their element here but the complicated narrative and structure of the film will leave many non-fans disappointed with the presentation. Having said that, Watchmen is a decent superhero film that demands attention. Unfortunately, only fans will get the most out of this film.