Watch It

Films based on hotly loved source material will always divide the audience once they hit theaters. But rarely is a film made specifically for the fans of the material with uncompromising precision that still finds itself on the end of major hate.

“Watchmen” is that type of film.

Based on the 1985-86 graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, “Watchmen” is set in alternate-reality 1985 where Richard Nixon is still president, the threat of nuclear war is unbelievably high, and costumed heroes have been banned by the government after saving lives since the 1930s.

When one masked hero, The Comedian, is murdered, another named Rorschach makes it his mission to find out who’s behind it all.

As a longtime fan of the graphic novel that for years has been called unfilmable, it is amazing to see this story on screen – and even more so to see it be nearly as good.

Some fanboys will complain of small details missing, and unaware viewers might be confused with the constant flashbacks.

But no one can dispute the care and effort director Zack Snyder and his team put into this film to make it as faithful to the graphic novel as possible.

The controversial alterations of the story for its film adaptation worked just fine (Matthew Goode’s more capitalistic Adrian Veidt, the endgame), and issues most people are bringing up are wrong (Malin Akerman is fine as Laurie; the character is annoying in the book too).

There are simply too many awesome elements to get bogged down by minor things.  

Though powered by gorgeous cinematography, great music selection, a non-linear structure that demands attention and outstanding performances from Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffery Dean Morgan and Patrick Wilson, “Watchmen” is not for everyone.
It is, however, a successful and uncompromising adaptation of one of the most interesting tales of all time.