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-Watchmen (R)
by Dr. D ~
Theater release: March 06, 2009, Directed by: Zack Snyder, Runtime: 2 hours 42 minutes
Cast: Jackie Earle Haley (Walter Kovacs/Rorschach), Patrick Wilson (Dan Dreiberg/Nite-Owl), Malin Akerman (Laurie Juspeczyk/Silk Spectre), Matthew Goode (Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias), Billy Crudup (Jon Osterman/Dr. Manhattan), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Edward Blake/The Comedian).
WARNING: This is not a family-friendly film. The ‘R’ rating doesn’t begin to explain what you will really see in this film. It is far more graphic with more nudity than the‘R’ would indicate.
That said, the quality of the film and the writing was superior. However, I can’t really say that I enjoyed the film-far more violent and than I really like. Also, not an enjoyable escapist experience-far too much to think about and consider.
The story presents you with a sort of parallel universe where super heroes helped to win WWII and the Vietnam war. Nixon is starting his 3rd term, the heroes have forcibly been retired by the government, and the world is on the brink of annihilation still in the middle of the Cold War.
The movie opens with the murder of one of the ‘heroes’- The Comedian- who is hurled out of his high-rise apartment to his death. Through the investigation we are introduced to the rest of the heroes one by one in person and through the effective use of flashbacks. All of these folks were interesting and all had major flaws– The Comedian for sure. The Nite Owl was probably the most sympathetic—the rest I really didn’t care for much.
The most interesting character of all was Dr. Manhattan who through a freak accident had gained ‘god-like’ powers. Increasingly it was becoming more difficult for Manhattan to identify with the rest of humanity as his limitless abilities increased. The major issue dealt with here—what really does separate god from humanity.
Then there was the arrogant Ozymandias who reminded one of a Greek Olympian who was also supposed to be the smartest person in the world. In the end it was Ozymandias who wanted to play god and bring an end to the ‘Cold War’—willing to sacrifice thousands in the process.
This is one of those movies where it takes 3 or more viewings before you really get everything that is offered up, though I am not sure I really want to see it again. Perhaps when the DVD comes out I’ll take it on once more.
