Comments on: Movie Review – Watchmen (2009)

By: Jeff Faulkner

Jeff Faulkner — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:20:25 +0000

To Helen, Ozymandias’ back story is in the graphic novel and would have benefited the film more than just a statement. The film is flawed way too heavily to consider a masterpiece. Nixon should have been more obscured than in plain sight with that awful makeup job. Dr. Manhattan didn’t have to be full frontal, especially since the reason wasn’t fully fleshed in the theatrical cut. Cheapening, in my opinion, due to the sorry state of movie going in this country comedic laughs. You could be built like a linebacker like The Comedian but you can’t bust walls like a superhuman and leap flawlessly like Night Owl 2 did without requiring some medical attention. I did admire how faithful they kept Night Owl 2 and Silk Spectre 2 like an 80′s romantic comedy because it was indeed intended. Rorschach seemed to be the only thing completely spot on from the novel, as well as Dr. Manhattan to a degree. i liked the ending more than the book, but it was ultimately a lose = lose when a subject, even from a comic book source, has so much depth and not enough to fulfill in the long run. An admirable effort indeed, but could still have been done a lot better. Zach Snyder was not the correct choice in making this movie and I also though 300 was overrated. I believe it was the right time to make this movie, however the wrong people to make it.

By: Helen

Helen — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:50:38 +0000

I enjoyed Watchmen quite a lot, but the ending fell flat. It’s not the resolution per se that doesn’t work so much as the way it’s arrived at; the Antarctic-set scenes aren’t particularly dramatic or, in several key instances, at all logical. In addition, Ozymandias alone among the principal characters has no backstory scenes and the ending – depending so heavily as it does on his motivation and personality – suffers for the absence.

I was interested to read in your review that the costumed heroes have no special powers in the graphic novel. The second generation heroes (Ozymandias, Silk Spectre 2, Nite Owl 2, Rorschach) of the film clearly do possess superhuman speed and strength, although to varying degrees. I have not read the novel, but it strikes me that this may well be the most significant change in the adaptation to the screen.

In a film of many impressive special effects, I was most impressed by Rorschach’s “face.” The shifting inkblot patterns are an amazing technical achievement and contribute greatly to the creepily compelling characterization.

By: Doc

Doc — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:32:22 +0000

The ensemble cast is indeed strong. There is a second supporting cast who are responsible for presenting a number of the personalities of that alternative 1985 America. Some, such as the Henry Kissinger role, are spot-on characterizations; others are less successful at supporting the overall dystopian vision of the prospects, and the price, of world peace.