"Watchmen" -- a review and warnings

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I went to see Watchmen this afternoon after work. I'm going to try to write this review without spoiling too much, but I can't promise anything.

Okay, first things first -- the warnings. Parents, this movie is rated R for a reason. I wouldn't recommend it for young teens. A 16 year old, maybe. The violence is a bit graphic, there are a couple of sex scenes that may be pushing it for younger viewers, and the two scenes that I was most concerned about that could be shockers are pretty rough. If you'd like details, PM me and I can let you know.

Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about this movie. It didn't blow me away, not like "The Dark Knight", "Iron Man", or the first "Spider-Man" movie. On the other hand, I didn't think it was bad. I've seen worse comic book to movie adaptations ("Batman and Robin", anyone?). It was decent, I liked it, ....

... but, I keep comparing it in my mind to the graphic novel. Like many movies, the book is usually better. One complaint has been that "Watchmen" would be a hard work to adapt and keep true to the source without ticking off the fans. In that light, Zach Snyder did very well. There are whole pieces of dialogue taken directly from the book, and many scenes look like they are panels of the book come to life. Scarily so, in fact.

The casting was well done, especially Rorschach and the Comedian, who nailed the characters. Silk Spectre II had a couple of rough moments but overall also well done, the same with Ozymandias, and Nite Owl II was done better than how I was afraid he would be. Actually, I liked the portrayal of her mom, the first Silk Spectre, better than I liked her portrayal in the book.

The big complaint I have is that there didn't seem to be enough time to really get a good connection with the characters. Yes, I know it's a 2 1/2 hour movie, but there were many good scenes left out. The phone call between the first Nite Owl and Silk Spectre; the build-up to what sent Rorschach over the edge; the first Nite Owl's fate; a couple of the second Silk Spectre's flashbacks (one in particular I really wanted to see). Most disappointing was that EVERYTHING involving the newsvendor was cut. Those were some of THE best scenes in the book, but the only thing that really made it was a scene near the end. I do hope that some (or a lot) (okay, all) of these make it into the director's cut (reported to be nearly 4 hours).

Maybe it's because I've read the book and I know what happens is why I didn't come out with the same awe and excitement that I did with many other superhero movies. I think they did a good job overall, better than what I was afraid of, but not spectacular. I definitely want to see how the director's cut turns out.

 

[ms1031]

I too wasn't wowed like I was with Ironman or The Dark Knight, but I did enjoy Watchmen. I didn't read it, so I can't say I fully understood everything they were trying to portray, but I think I got more than enough of the story to follow along well for the most part.

Your Rated R WARNING is also worth noting. One of the main characters is nude throughout most of the movie, and we are talking full frontal male nudity. There's also several steamy sex scenes with plenty of female nudity to go around. This movie absolutely deserves its rating!

I'll be buying the dvd when it comes out.

 

[3doodlebugsmom]

I also went to see Watchmen today. I agree completely with Obi-wan about the graphic violence, two scenes in particular. I didn’t like the movie all that much, kind of slow and a little boring. I actually thought about leaving, but decided to stay. It did get a little more interesting toward the end. Since I‘ve never read the book, I had nothing to compare it to. I would follow the R rating. It’s not a movie for younger teens. If your 16 yr old has read the book, and is a fan, it’s probably okay for them.

 

[Robinrs]

Wow, I just want to go to see Dr. Manhattan's abs!

 

[java]

Thanks for that review. I have a 14 and a half(he keeps reminding me) year old son that wanted to see this. I think it's a no go.

 

[yeartolate]

I took my son (15) and it was a smidge awkward.

I think in the future, he needs to sneak into movies like this with his friends...just like my friends and I did over 30 years ago. Thank God we had multplexes back then. Makes the sneaking easier. Just sneak, behave, and you are good to go.

Now, seeing Mr. Manhattan prance all over the screen all gussied up in blue and danging in the wind gives a girl a flush......

 

[DisMN]

We went to a matinee this afternoon and HAD planned to bring our 12 yr old granddaughter with us.........OBVIOUSLY neither of us adults had read the previews and were sooooooooooooooooooooo so so so glad she didn't come along on this one. LOL Yowsa!! Talk about your *full on nekkid!*

er....um I mean .........

We've been discussing our thoughts on the movie all evening. I guess maybe we're just too easy to please because we LOVED it and thought the characters and their backgrounds were adequately explained so we were rarely lost, something that seems to happen all too often with some movies these days. ( mah gawd I sounded old just now. )

Neither of us had read the book so we really went into this cold. I was simply planning to enjoy the time spent with DH and am so glad I went....got the time with hubby AND a great movie to boot.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I have to agree with the majority on this one. Was not wowed at all, was actually quite disappointed.

First wayyy to long for this type of movie. Now I didn't read the novel, so I really didn't know too much about the background. I also was going to leave at one point because there was too much going on that I couldn't follow it.

I actually thought it was boring and while the effects are good, they aren't great like when I first saw the trailer and was in awe. It didn't move me at all like the Dark Knight or Ironman which were FANTASTIC.

I think there was too much character development and I hate to say it I didn't get it.

As far as violence and a bit on the gory side (at least for me) that turned me off. Also lots and lots of nudity. The acting was decent but I have to say that my favorite was Royshack, especially when I realized who it was! Good for him, he really did a great job.

I am intrigued though b/c I think there is ALOT of back story so I probably will buy the book and check it out.

It also sort of depressed me as well, like what we are going through in today's world and what was going on then.

Don't know if anyone saw the preview for the new Johnny Depp movie... Can't wait for that one!!!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Well...I didn't see it, but I'm relieved to hear that no one hated it. I'm checking it out ASAP...

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Watchmen was the first graphic novel I ever read and I am eagerly awaiting seeing it tomorrow in IMAX. It defined the term graphic novel. It is not a comic book. It does not have traditional comic book heroes. It is a socio-political thriller that just happens to take place around a bunch of psychotics who like to dress up in funny clothes a beat up bad guys instead of calling the police. No one has Miranda rights in this story. It is serious stuff. It is a novel. It is violent and sexy and not for children...but if those 'children' have already read the book then they have already had their fill of naked blue...ummm...everything...and have yet to be scarred by it.

I knew the newspaper vendor was cut and it made me sad. Personally, I believed the story was really about the vendor and his patrons and what happens to them, and not to these weirdos in suits. But I think they'll put him back in a bit in the extended version when they add the Tales of the Black Freighter.


The fact that people who never read the book and had no idea what they were going to see liked it makes me very excited to see this film. If it can inspire those with no preconceptions, I can't imagine it will disappoint me.

 

[VickiVM]

Thanks so much for your warning - it's spring break here and I was thinking of taking the kids to see this, but definitely won't.

Note to Hollywood - leave out the sex in these types of movies and you will get more pre-teens to go see them. You tout this movie in the previews before IronMan and Dark Knight, but it doesn't seem to be appropriate for all of the same audience!

 

[JEmaryland]

Thanks so much for your warning - it's spring break here and I was thinking of taking the kids to see this, but definitely won't.

Note to Hollywood - leave out the sex in these types of movies and you will get more pre-teens to go see them. You tout this movie in the previews before IronMan and Dark Knight, but it doesn't seem to be appropriate for all of the same audience!

I disagree. I can't stand it when a movie is dumbed down for the sake of the children.

 

[VickiVM]

I disagree. I can't stand it when a movie is dumbed down for the sake of the children.

Granted I didn't see the movie, but Sex is often used in a movie to sell it, but does not support the story line one bit. That to me defines more, "dumbing down a movie".

Vicky Christina Barcelona comes to mind - a story about sex and romance that actually had a very brief scene of lovemaking, but never used a moment of "flesh" to enhance the movie. Yet the movie was sizzling.

 

[JEmaryland]

Granted I didn't see the movie, but Sex is often used in a movie to sell it, but does not support the story line one bit. That to me defines more, "dumbing down a movie".

Vicky Christina Barcelona comes to mind - a story about sex and romance that actually had a very brief scene of lovemaking, but never used a moment of "flesh" to enhance the movie. Yet the movie was sizzling.

I haven't read the comic, but as I understand it, a couple of the very graphic scenes are critical to the plot.

 

[mybabesuz]

My DS (20) took his GF(18) last night...
He said she covered her face through half of it.
She doesn't scare too easily.
He said she was very upset on the verge of crying....
Even he said it was one of the most gory movies he has see...
BEWARE...

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I disagree. I can't stand it when a movie is dumbed down for the sake of the children.

Agreed. It's NOT a children't movie, and it's not a children's book.

 

[VickiVM]

I haven't read the comic, but as I understand it, a couple of the very graphic scenes are critical to the plot.

I guess my point really is - it was not portayed in the previews as dark or sexy.

 

[soupy11]

I guess my point really is - it was not portayed in the previews as dark or sexy.

It is rated R for a reason though and that should hopefully suffice.

Just re-read the novel and am really excited to see it. Have heard mixed reviews though so my anticipation is tempered, and I hope that is a good thing!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Note to Hollywood - leave out the sex in these types of movies and you will get more pre-teens to go see them. You tout this movie in the previews before IronMan and Dark Knight, but it doesn't seem to be appropriate for all of the same audience!

Thats like saying you should leave the paedophilia out of Lolita.

 

[metalis4ever]

Thanks so much for your warning - it's spring break here and I was thinking of taking the kids to see this, but definitely won't.

Note to Hollywood - leave out the sex in these types of movies and you will get more pre-teens to go see them. You tout this movie in the previews before IronMan and Dark Knight, but it doesn't seem to be appropriate for all of the same audience!

First of all to the OP great review, very well written and an enjoyable read.....

As others have noted the "Sex Scenes" are crucial to include in order to keep in line with the Graphic Novel. In this case "Sex" is not the main selling point as proven by the trailers that have been released in promotion of the film. Plus I saw more R rated movies in my pre-teen years than I can count I snuck in to see "Natural Born Killers" at least 6 times when it was in theaters, I think I was the only 13 year old boy in America who bought 6 tickets to see "Milk Money" If it is good or shocking pre-teens will always find a way in to see it whether they paid for that particular R rated movie or not.

One cannot compare The Watchmen to the likes of Iron Man and Batman because as dark as the Dark Night storyline is, it is nothing compared to The Watchmen as the core audience for both the Graphic Novel and the Movie are adults hence the R rating. I remember when I first picked the Graphic Novel when I was 12 I didn't quite grasp the storyline, however having read it 20 -30 times since then I have decided that it is a timeless classic and the greatest Graphic Novel ever written Having said that if I had children around the ages of 12 to 15 and they were interested in comic books I would allow them to see it after all it is art and has a great plot and moral lesson regarding how we view our heroes both in the fictional world as well as the real world despite the "sex scenes" and subsequent R rating.

Bottom line: this isn't your grandfather's super hero story and that my friends is what makes it brilliant.