Movie Review - The Watchmen (2009)
Watching the Watchmen
DC Comics strikes again. If you are looking for Superman or Batman flavored movies, this isn't it.
The first important thing you need is a working familiarity with the comic book universe of the Watchmen. Unfortunately I wasn't so blessed. So with that being said, I came into the movie a little ignorant. I did enjoy it, however.
It is a rather dark movie set in a dark alternate reality. The fact that Nixon in a third term is deeply disturbing on many levels. For the most part the attempt to make the actors look like historical figures was poorly done. Even on a 26" television, Nixon obviously had a fake nose. He was a cartoon character. The same with Henry Kissinger and other historical figures.
The special effects were lovely, but over shadowed the rather weak story. Dr. Manhattan was gorgeously rendered but was rather two dimensional in personality. He reminded me of the Silver Surfer as presented in Fantastic Four. Phenomenal Cosmic power and the personality of a bar of soap. He comes across as outside humanity. It makes one wonder what he was like before he was changed.
The rest of the characters were rather predictable. The heroes were ordinary people with a few toys, a bunch of guns and the love of beating the crap out of any random stuntman who showed up. The women beating I thought was a bit over the top and did little for the plot other than to add another depressing dimension t an already depressing world. The reason these people became 'heroes' is still questionable and unclear. The Comedian for example doesn't even come across as a sympathetic anti-hero. Rorshak was in desperate need of therapy.
Personally I would like Nite Owls costume. It had incredible slimming properties. The actor was slightly overweight and soft looking, but the when he worn the costume his hunk factor rose rather unrealistically. Either that or he gave up breathing to be a hero.
On a scale of five stars, I would give this a two. It's watchable but unless you're a fan of the comics and a diehard Watchmanphile it might be a moral imperative to own.
Would I rent it again? Yes. Would I recommend it? Already did to Diehard Comic Fan friends.
