Watchmen
Starring Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson, and Jackie Earle Haley
Directed by Zack Snyder (300)
Rated R for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language
Appropriate for ages 18+
Based on the award-winning graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, Watchmen follows a group of super heroes that are no longer wanted around by the citizens they are there to save. With the world on the brink of nuclear war, the heroes must decide whether to try to help, or just let the planet burn.
As expected, this is a visually stunning film filled that looks very much like the source material. 300 director Zack Snyder does a terrific job with the look and pace of the film. The actors all took their roles seriously and did a great job bringing their characters to vivid life. Stealing the show was Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach. He turned in an inspired an inspired performance that actually brought the audience to cheers on more than one occasion.
If you haven’t read the novel, you won’t miss the original ending, but I have, and I did. I couldn’t wait to see the giant monster killing off New York City, and was sorely disappointed when it didn’t happen. I can understand many of the changes made in the script, and what went in works logically, but that’s a massive difference that shifted the tone of the movie.
I was also disappointed in the overall soundtrack of the film. I thought it to be too playful and out of place. It sounded more like the music from Forest Gump then what should be in an intense superhero movie such as this. A more modern soundtrack could have elevated this film greatly.
I also want to put in an extra warning for parents. This is a film meant for adults, not young children or even teens. Not only is it incredibly violent, but very sexually graphic as well. B
Sorry, but your review fails to do it’s job as a review for me. You talk about a tonal shift, but you don’t explain from what and to what, but then dedicate an entire paragraph to a lengthy, yet trivial critique of the soundtrack.
Also, isn’t your comment about Watchmen’s unsuitability for children redundant, considering it’s R rating?
I agree very much with your review. Especially the comments about the sound track, it was too playful. This movie deserved an epic score.
Ok so, I agree with you to a point but i think you missed alot of the details that made this movie work as well as it did. Snyder’s soundtrack worked really well, with the exception of about one or two songs. About half of the songs were references to parts in the novel. (I.E. Veidt’s Nostalgia add, and the first chapter title). The ending, I felt, also worked incredibly well and was very well suited for the theatrical version. This is because originally, the monster did not “Attack the town” Veidt simply teleported the monster into all the major citys, it died on arrival. It essentially had the same effect as the “nuclear explosions” in the movie. (spolier) It actually made more sense (at least on a theatrically level) to place the blame on Dr. Manhattan, because throughout the film there is such a focus on him being americas only weapon ex.