Watchmen

Rated: R

Director: Zack Snyder

Cast: Billy Crudup, Malin Akerman, Jackie Haley, Mathew Goode, Patrick Wilson

I confess that I have read the book, therefore this is a biased review.  I did, however, watch it with a friend in high school who has not read it.  If you are thinking about seeing Watchmen, I might read a summary on IMDB or Moviefone - don't read the spoilers, but you might get confused by the very strange montage of dead and dying "superheroes" from the last 40 years.  Essentially what you need to know is that the first generation (which includes Hooded Justice, the Comedian, Silk Spectre I, etc.) is set around the 40's, the movie is set in the mid-80's, and in the 70's the Super-heroes had to go under ground.

Watchmen is an enjoyable movie.  Funny when you are not expecting it, true to the book but without losing everyone by including all details.  There is a big difference between the book and movie in regards to the end of the film, but the movie's end made more sense relative to 2009 and some of the holes in the characterization.  

Did you like Sin City?  If you did, I think you will love Watchmen.  Do Super-hero movies annoy you because they don't have to deal with their collateral damage?  If so, I think will love Watchmen .  If you don't like violence...  Um...  This is not the movie for you!  My friend wants to read the graphic novel now.  

Watchmen follows a couple of superheroes who were working full time in the 70's - Silk Spectre/Lauri Jupiter, Rohrshack/Walter Kovacs (still active, name is not just a clever one, his face moves at all times), Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias, Dan Drieberg/Nite Owl, Jon Osterman/Dr. Manhattan - and are now in different places in their life.  The movie begins with the murder of one of their number.  The movie then expands in complexity until the credits roll.  This is why the graphic novel was so successful.  The story is intriguing, the characterization is robust and ever-expanding (even with characters we do not expect, i.e. all of them), and the violence and humor are enjoyable and well-timed. 

3.5/5 stars (5/5 for the book).