Snackula's Review

Summary - Very Good 3.5

This seminal, and perhaps best, graphic novel has finally arrived on the big screen. No small amount of effort has been put forth over the last twenty years to bring these odd “heroes” to our movie theaters, as some of the biggest names in Hollywood have been attached at one time or another. But none managed bring the goods to the table until Zack Snyder and his team, and their “true to the material” sensibilities.

Much admiration and awe go to Snyder for even attempting to deal with the complexities and overall bulk of material. The film itself is something of a marvel, laying down a story that time shifts, mood shifts, and character shifts several times during its course and somehow remains focused on its goals. The heavy layering of special effects both helps and hinders telling the story, as there are several times when the “Hollywood magic” distracts from the story being told.

The story does get in its own way from time to time. I think it is because Snyder failed to realize some ideas that work on the comic page don’t necessarily translate to the screen. With the breadth of material available, more trimming needed to be done to sync the plot elements into a cohesive sum. The main set pieces from the comic are in place, as they should be, but some of the more mundane or perfunctory elements, such as the tidal wave of exposition at Ozymandias’ lair, could have been done away with or trimmed to it essential elments and few would have noticed.

All in all, a terrific effort. But the end result is a bit pulpy and mashed, as if a giant squid were laying on top of it.

Acting - Good 3.0

Good cast for the most part. Jackie Earle Haley is almost great as Rorshach, the tireless, relentless pursuer of scum and villainy. He falls short of great when conveying some of his character’s quieter moments. Billy Crudup gives a solid effort as Dr. Manhattan, the only Watchman with genuine super powers. Could have done without so many shots of blue wang. Patrick Wison is quite good as Nite Owl II, and possibly the only character that has any real growth in the film. Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the Comedian is very good, though it would have been nice for him to have more screen time. Matthew Goode as Ozymandias “the smartest man in the world” has a bit too much melodrama going on in pretty much all his scenes. Malin Ackerman, as Silk Spectre II, is probably the weak link in the movie acting-wise. She doesn’t seem to pull out all the stops like the other actors, and doesn’t always look comfortable when delivering her lines. She does look comfortable when she’s “gettin’ down” in the owl ship.

Film - Good 3.0

As stated, the film has a few shortcomings in its path of storytelling. It also has a few in the overall look of the production. While there some tremendous visual moments (Dr. Manhattan in Vietnam, Mars), there are several scenes that look like we’re on a film stage and not in a real world environment. I know it’s odd to use the term “real world” in regards to a comicbook movie, but it’s hard to suspend our disbelief if that disbelief is compromised and we are taken out of the world of the film. But quite a bit of care and effort has obviously been given to this production, and that effort should be applauded.

Edge - Obscene 5.0

About as violent as a comicbook movie can get, yet somehow it manages to feel organic to the material and not just tacked on for shock value. The same thing can kind of be said for the sex, though it is a bit more gratuitous than it should be.

Reality - Fantasy 5.0

The film plays to its own reality, and for the most part we believe that reality.

7 Comments

• MJ5K Mar 3, 2010 6:11PM

  Regarding Wick’s Review
  You thought the visuals were bad, Wick? Visually, this film was amazing, IMO. Sure, some of the costumes looked a little cheesy but the CGI on Nite Owl’s ship, the Vietnam war scene, and Dr. Manhattan’s Mars fortress were pretty cool, at least I thought.

• Spaceghost Mar 22, 2009 8:38AM

  Regarding Wick’s Review
  The more I talk to people about this movie, the more I wonder if my love of it comes from knowing the source material so well. Those who have read the comic seem to love the movie, those who have not seem to dislike or not even understand what happens. Wick talks about the adolescent nature of the ideas, but in my head that’s a good thing. The large point of Watchmen is to dissect the adolescent nature of comics and superheroes in general.

  Wish I could separate my head from the comic on this one and be a bit more objective.

• Wick Mar 15, 2009 1:57PM

  Regarding Wick’s Review
  Sorry for the buzzkill dudes, but I found the movie as flawed as its heroes. Happy I saw it though. Sure was interesting.

• Wick Mar 10, 2009 9:19PM

  Regarding Snackula’s Review
  Best review line yet: “the end result is a bit pulpy and mashed, as if a giant squid were laying on top of it.”

• Fire at Will! Mar 7, 2009 10:59PM

  Thanks Spaceghost – I had been waiting for this film for a while, so I felt it justified a good one! Yours is brilliant though – especially your points regarding adaptation at the start. We disagree on the music, but then reviews are subjective! It’s excellent that we’ve been able to see a film such as this and feel so passionate about it.

• Spaceghost Mar 7, 2009 7:31AM

  Regarding willjros’s Review
  Fantastic review on this one Willjros. I disagree to an extent on the music, but otherwise very good descriptions all around.

• Wick Mar 6, 2009 7:26AM

  Regarding John A Massie’s Review
  Congrats to Massie for posting the first review of Watchmen. As someone who hasn’t read the comik, I’m very much looking forward to the seeing the movie, especially after reading this review.

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