The Watchmen. Based on the award winning graphic novel by Alan Moore, was not the best book to film transition. While the film as a stand alone entity is pretty good, nothing written by Alan Moore has been brought to life in a way that would make the author, or a true fan, approve and happy. I'll never understand why these film companies are so afraid to go by the source material.
The story takes place in 1985 in a world where heroes used to exist. The government established a law against masked "vigilantes" which forced most of them into retirement. Then, the unexpected murder of a former mask sends an unlikely hero back into action to find his killer. This film is so dark and gritty, it gives a Gotham feel, and I love that. Also, the changed ending makes more sense for the film. You could not have had the same creature and still had the film make sense.
Superb special effects, great action, and an acceptable screenplay by David Hayter, makes the vision of Zack Snyder a very enjoyable film for all of us who can differentiate between the book and the movie. The casting was done very well with Jackie Earl Haley playing Rorschach, Malin Ackerman as Silk Spectre, Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhatten, Patrick Wilson as Night Owl, and Jeffery Dean Morgan as the Comedian. I enjoyed the soothing voice that came with Dr. Manhatten (Crudup). He developed a side to the character that I didn't anticipate. While Haley delivered a once in a lifetime performance in the dark, violent, Rorschach.
We also had the very beautiful and talented Carla Gugino as the original Silk Spectre, Matthew Goode as Ozymandias, the always great Stephen McHattie as Hollis Mason, and Max Headroom himself, Matt Fewer as Moloch. This cast was unbelievable!!! Snyder really pulled the best for this one.
While there are direct from page to screen scenes, the beauty and darkness of this film does show off, what I believe to be, the limits of Zack Snyder's directing chops. I do understand that many films have to cut sorce material for time restrictions, the final battle from the book was completely altered for the film. However, in defense of both Snyder and Hayter, the giant monster would not have made much sense in the film.
Luckily, we are at a point where Warner Brothers has released and Ultimate Cut of the film. This rarity offers lots of ingrained, previously cut footage. It also intertwines the comic book within the comic book into the movie. I do very much enjoy the character development and the interactions and conflicts which are shown more in depth in this cut of the film.
Overall I'd say this movie should definitely be in every nerds collection! There is even a great box set that inserts the Black Freighter novel into the film. This is a really a great movie. Suggested for anyone over the age of 14.
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