The Watchmen (2009)

***Stolen Summary***

An adaptation of Alan Moore's landmark comic book series, Watchmen is a story set in an alternative 1985, where the world is ticking closer to the brink of nuclear war, and a plot to eliminate a band of ex-crimefighters is instigated, but why? and by whom? It is up to two of those ex-crimefighters to investigate the plot that seems to go beyond the unthinkable. imdb

***Rant***

Great movie. I read the graphic novel a while back, so the exact details aren't sitting in my brain, but this movie was generally well-done. The editing, direction, visuals, cast...it was tight. Awesome opening credits showed the history of the heroes in freeze-frame style. Gory scenes and a disturbing/unsettling ending. Some philosophical debates will crop up amongst you and you friends about the whole "ends justifying the means" argument, I will promise you that. This movie has an intelligent story, thanks to Alan Moore and enough action scenes to get your motor running.

The only thing I'm annoyed about is some of the comments I've been reading on the message boards on imdb. There are quite a few fan-boys and girls booing this movie on Alan Moore's behalf. I think that's a load of crock.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Alan Moore himself sell the rights to his graphic novels? They way I'm reading some of his responses is that like he's making himself out to be some kind of victim, the artist who's been taken advantage of...

But if he was not satisfied with the contracts/negotiations and screenplay adaptations that the movie producers presented to him, he could've pulled out...isn't that the case? He could've said "Fuck you, this isn't my vision" and left. However, he decided to sell. If that was me, I'd be more pissed at myself more than anything. It's like closing the barn door after letting all the cows out. His umbrage is starting to wear thin on me.

I actually liked the movie quite a bit. It was well-done. And I liked The Watchmen novel. What is there to complain about? The nitpicky details comparing the movie to the novel? And they were minor, I believe. Look at adaptations like Max Payne (granted that was a video game, not a graphic novel adaptation). That was a train wreck. I thought I was watching Constantine. The errors were glaringly obvious.

The Watchmen movie was a very good modern adaptation of Alan Moore's creation. It was the type of movie that I actually had to go looking for errors and look HARD for them (if that makes any sense). I did the same with The Dark Knight. I find fanboys and girls do this quite a bit, but attach more importance to them as Errors and Mistakes. But for generally well-done movies, these things are of minor importance.

***Judgement***

Go see it now! And by the way, Dr. Manhattan's penis was perfectly acceptable. Though not as ginormous as some people are saying.