Post by BIGFANBOY on Mar 5, 2009 23:54:30 GMT -5
WATCHMEN
Review by Gary Dean Murray
There should be this huge banner above the box office of every theater where Watchmen is playing that reads WARNING: Watchmen earns its R rating. I feel sorry for those uninformed parents who see the previews with all the costumes and think this is going to be another superhero romp, full of fun heroes and villains. Much like The Batman film from last summer, this is such an adult feature that children should be banned from attending.
Watchmen is a graphic novel that has been called one of the most important stories told in any medium. Though it has been around for years, the tale was almost impossible to helm. But Zack Snyder, the director of another graphic novel 300, takes on this task in much the same manner. That is, he throws very little away from the source material. And like 300, Watchmen is a display of style over substance.
The story takes place in a future 1985 where Richard Nixon has won a fifth term as President. Through explication, we get the idea that since criminals in the 1940's began to take on masks, it only made sense that the police should do the same. So was born the Watchmen a group more along the line of Batman--meaning that they have no superpowers, just the ability to do good.
But an accident turns a scientist into Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup), a true superhero who has other world abilities like Superman. He is a true fish out of water with the power to materialize himself and others to different planets. Being a scientist, he still has the innate curiosity of discovery.
The movie starts with the death of The Comedian (Jeffery Dean Morgan), a Sgt. York/Sgt. Slaughter type of commando hero. While most think of it as a 'wrong place at the wrong time' event, Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) believes that someone is trying to kill off all the Watchmen. In the world of 1985, masked men are not considered anything more than vigilante justice and most of the Watchmen have retired. We also find out that the Vietnam war only lasted a week because The Comedian and Dr. Manhattan delivered a death blow against the Viet Cong.
Dr. Manhattan has a girlfriend Silk Spectre II ( Malin Akerman), who is our more conflicted character. She loves her man but has a different superhero who loves her, the Batman clone Night Owl II (Patrick Wilson), a man who yearns to don the rubber suit once again. He has a cool flying machine that has been used in the pursuit of justice.
Also in the mix is Ozymandias (Mathew Goode), a former superhero who has turned his status into an empire of science and promotions. He and Dr. Manhattan are working on a power source that will change the world for the better. The film is a 'rally the troops' flick where retired men and women have to look into themselves and find the true power of unity.
While there are elements that are amazing, the overall effect is overwhelming. If it were either cut up into two separate movies or trimmed into a shorter more compact story, the result would have been better. Director Zack Snyder had so much to work with here that he probably felt that he couldn't throw anything away. This beast twists and turns and turns again, wrestling against any constraints. Without an edit feature, this becomes very overblown in every sense of the word.
Out of all the Watchmen, I found that Jackie Earle Haley was note on perfect as Rorschach. With his graveled voice and morphing cloth mask, he was equal parts menacing and creepy. One gets an 1930's Invisible Man vibe as his character has to perform using just a voice to give off all his emotions. His bitter but hopeful sarcasm gives an almost human quality to the proceedings.
The biggest find is Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II. Her conflicted tale of childhood issues and confused affections could have been a feature by itself. She, more than any other Watchman hero, is our soul of the piece. Giving a true spark to the proceedings, Malin Akerman should build a fan base beyond the fanboys that will race to the film.
But Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan was past being a bore. His 'stranger in a strange land' feel he gives the character just doesn't work. One has to wonder what current girlfriend Silk Spectre II has to do with this dullard. Then we get the pan down his naked torso and are given the answer. Almost as bad is Nite Owl II, Patrick Wilson. He is another superhero way past his prime but still clinging on to the crime fighting memory. To be honest, Mr. Incredible has more credibility as a hero than does our Nite Owl II.
Fanboys will flock to see Watchmen, no matter what anyone says. Blood splatters all over the screen and we are awash in a sea of naked bodies. On a 'cool level' is does deliver the goods. But for an average movie patron, this entire exercise may bee too much. It is an entertaining diversion and a well-made film, but is is not on par with the two big comic book releases from 2008.
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