Watchmen

“It doesn’t take a genius to see the world has problems”

The Realities of Human Nature and the Mentality of a Superhero

Anticipating this film since I read the graphic novel in high school, Watchmen was high on my priority list to start of the 2009 film year. This film takes place in an alternate history of the United States during the Cold War, during which panic and fear over nuclear war is at an all-time high. The story focuses on a group of superheroes and their characteristics in the seemingly dystopian society. In particular, the film does a great job at addressing the various aspects of human nature when confronted with danger and corruption.

I will forewarn potential viewers – I would not see this film without first reading the graphic novel. The disjoined can be hard to follow without first being familiar with the characters. The adaptation of the book is fairly loyal one; not a whole lot is changed, though a few components of the story are omitted. But, I think that the novel is essential to the overall experience. In this aspect, the film complements the novel very well.

Its flaws however, are obvious. First, the very nature of the novel makes is difficult to adapt to the screen. The film at times, seemed to drag plotlines on for too long while quickly jumping to a new development. Even for someone who may have read the novel, the film may have been difficult to follow at times. At times, the film seems torn between whether it was meant to be an action film or political allegory. The two don’t really mix too well, and, on the screen, they are two components that probably shouldn’t mesh. There were also some shots in the film that were a bit too poor in taste (such as a blimp flying slowly, seemingly in the direction of the Twin Towers).

The film was visually appealing. Zach Snyder once again demonstrates that he is the master of green-screen visuals. If you’ve seen 300, then you know what I mean. Watchmen is very similar in this aspect. The acting was, generally, lackluster, with the exception of Jackie Earle Haley, who plays the masked vigilante Rorschach – the performance is very haunting, and yet, his character becomes even more sympathetic then it does in the novel.

Overall, I feel that the film had more positive points than negative. And, although it didn’t address the idea of human nature as effectively as other films, such as Lola Rennt and No Country for Old Men, I feel that the film was a success. Therefore, I give it a B+.