Re: Who watches the Watchman? ME!
I haven't read the comic in about 20 years, but I have to admit I wasn't expecting much. I don't think this material can be done in one film. Unless it's really, really long and thus unmarketable.
*************SPOILERS! Don't say i didn't warn you!*************************
The Good:
Fight choreography. Awesome. I have yet to see a supers film with better action scenes. This is how I always imagined battles between supers would look. The graphic violence was OK too, even if it was turned up a notch from the comic. I felt it helped create the dark nihilistic feel that was needed.
Naked Silk Spectre II.
The portrayals of Dr. Manhattan and Rorshach (sp?) were quite good. The Rorshach backstory was great, as was the backstory surrounding the Comedian and Dr. Manhattan. I also like the ernest nerdiness of Night Owl II, especially when Spectre jumped his bones the first time.
CGI. Top notch. Again, Dr. Manhattan was a standout. Nice facial expressions and eye movement. I wonder whose decision it was to give him so much "pipe"? Billy Crudup needs to send someone a thank you note. Lol.
Naked Silk Spectre II. Am I repeating myself?
The Bad:
The first commandment for any director making a move about supers: thou shalt not use the term "arch nemesis". Ever. This is especially true when the person saying it is in the midst of having a guilt-ridden emotional breakdown. Totally destroys the moment.
The love triangle. There was no real lead up to Spectre dumping Dr. Manhattan. It just made her look like a petty attention seeker, especially when she was jumping Night Owl two scenes later. Also, Malin Ackerman was pretty wooden and showed very little emotional range.
The ending. Ozzymandias' plot for world peace is a stretch, but that's OK. The theme of humanity coming together in the face of a common threat was the whole point, so I'll let it go.
However, it seemed that everything went from "OMG! Nuclear warz!" to peace pretty quick. I mean, they illustrated all of the history that lead up to the war pretty clearly (Cuban Missile Crisis, Russia in Afghanistan, Vietnam), only to have it all brushed away in what seemed like a few days.
In all fairness I don't think they could have done it any better without making the movie over 3 hours long, so I guess I'll have to wait and see if a director's cut will be released.
There was a thinly veiled cheap shot at Dubya at the end that I felt was unnecessary, but whatever, it got a few laughs.
Overall, not a bad movie. I don't know if it will create any new Watchmen fans, but I think the true blue will be pleased, for the most part. I think this whole project must have been like trying to stuff 10 pounds of flour into a 5 pound bag.
Just my 2 cents.
