08 March 2009

Watchmen Review

*Warning, some spoilers may be detailed below. If you don't want to know, don't read it!

Finally! I got to see Watchmen last night and let me tell you, I was NOT disappointed, even though they did change up the ending just a bit, and I have to agree with @Agent_M that music did play a pretty pivotal role in the film.

And in true Zach Snyder fashion a la 300, there is a minute-long (or it seemed like it) sex scene between Silk Specter and Nite Owl (played by Malin Ackerman and Patrick Wilson, respectively). Can we say O face??

...more after the jump

Here are some things worth pointing out:

- If you haven’t read the graphic novel/comics, you may be a bit confused. I can totally understand if you didn’t catch the generational gap reference if you didn’t read the book(s)

- Snyder did an excellent job in the opening cut scenes; I feel it’s a pretty accurate representation of the beginning of the novel. Additionally, that slow-mo sequence made it pretty nostalgic, and it didn’t hurt that Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’ was used

- Again, referring to my first point, when you’re watching the opening sequence, there are a couple masked crime-fighters who met their death, but you don’t know how! (e.g., Moth Man, Silhouette, Dollar Bill – again, if you read the novel, you totally would’ve caught it)

- A few details were changed or left out. For instance, in the novel it was Rorschach who came to warn Adrian Veidt (Ozymandias) about the unnerving trend that masked crime-fighters were being targeted for unknown reasons, not Dan Dreiberg (Nite Owl). However, I liked how Snyder decided to go into depth about the nuclear weapon that was masked to look like Doctor Manhattan attacked New York, Hong Kong, Moscow and Los Angeles—I didn’t quite get that in the novel

- One last thing: Laurie, a.k.a. Silk Specter, wasn’t as angry, emotionally and sexually frustrated, and as old in the film as how she was illustrated in the novel. Even though she plays a major kick-ass role in the film, in the novel she’s not as willing and forgiving to Jon (Doc Manhattan) and in the film she’s much more sympathetic and nurturing—a very typical female quality in films and entertainment in my opinion (real women get angry, too!)

Overall, I was entertained by the movie, and it’s a great representation of the novel. I highly recommend you go to the bathroom before this one too, folks—it’s 2 hours and 46 minutes long. 3.75 out of 5 stars.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

just watched this on Direct TV and think your review is dead on. I never read the novel so was a little confused just as you said.

Vickipedia said...

totally understand. I'm one of the few movie watchers who will read the book/novel first before watching the movie...most of the time I walk out disappointed. But you know, I think Snyder did a pretty good job and it was a visually awesome film. Thanks for reading my review and commenting!