I watched the WATCHMEN

I’ve read countless reviews, talked with everyone who cared, and spent a lot of time thinking about how I feel about this film. I went back and forth on whether or not I should review the film on its own terms or review in light of its history and the graphic novel on which it is based. I chose the latter, partially because I can’t ignore the book and partially because I don’t know if I have anything objective to say about it because of my love of the book.

Before you go through this “ramble” that I am calling a review, if you don’t want to go any further, here is the one thing you need to know. THEY GOT RORSCHACH RIGHT! Jackie Earle Haley takes what is already brilliant material and realizes it, and frankly in many cases, even somehow elevates it. If he’d been given about 15 more minutes of screen time, this would have clearly been an Oscar-worthy performance. It’s that good folks. From the genius voice-over which was practically what every person heard in their head as they read the book to the “bring down the house” prison scenes. My tow complaints are that there was pure gold here (what I hear is in the director’s cut) doesn’t make to the screen with one of my favorite parts of the book as Rorschach deconstructs the psychiatrist that hoped to make a career on him. The other missed opportunity is the rewrite that changed the girl killer that Rorschach tracks down from being chained and given a saw before the house burns down to outright cold-blooded murder. That one killed me because the book is so much better about that scene is handled but I think I understand, we have SAW to thank for the change.

In full disclosure, let me first just say that “the WATCHMEN graphic novel / comic book series changed my life.” I know that probably sounds pretty sad to most of you. But here’s why I say that. I had read many comics, many books before that in the text with pictures genre but this book (as so many have said before) redefined the entire medium for me. I had no idea there were people taking risks like that (there still are very few). The reason it changed my life is this is the book that inspired me to start writing graphic novels myself. It drew me into the genre from which I have now amassed a substantial collection of everything from super heroes to MAUS and everything in between. I know many agree with my views on how important this book is but it’s also personal. I see how it redefined the comic book genre, how it is a watershed moment in comic book history, but the book also touches on many of my own personal feelings about humanity. It is as personal a story for me as it is a great work of true literary importance.

So how does this film compare to the book? Well, I am flat out amazed at how the film is put together. Sure, there are parts I don’t like but I really always felt this book was unfilmable. I have to give huge credit to Zack Snyder here. I liked 300. For what it was, remember it was based on a ridiculously fun graphic novel, just great. I remember walking out of the theatre the first time I saw it and the only word I had was “visceral.” It was like nothing I had ever seen before. WATCHMEN has a decidedly different feel but just as different a movie experience. It is like no other movie you’ve seen.

Is this a redefinition of comic book films similar to how the book redefined comic books? I’m not sure but after a first viewing, I’d say no. One reason may be that WATCHMEN just hit a bit late. What I mean by that is that DARK KNIGHT beat Zack to the punch in terms of redefining the super hero movie. But WATCHMEN stands on its own quite well and is twice the film most super hero movies turn out to be, even with its flaws.

What worked:

As I said earlier, Rorschach is perfect. Part of me wonders if Snyder ever saw the fan film my brother’s made on youtube about 3 years ago. It really is uncanny how similar, even the voice work is here. Check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w14DoxRIXW4.

Jeff Morgan’s depiction of the Comedian is solid and strikes just the right tone. He does all the worst things but there is something you just can’t shake about him and you truly feel bad for the guy in the end when he finally “gets” his own joke. It was an important role to get right and it was solid.

Billy Crudup (this guy is totally underrated) does such a great job. He has about 5 minutes of actual screen time and then his CG counterpart (Dr. Manhattan) is in 1/3 of the total film at least. But his voice over work provides that right tone of the “detached” and drawn out inner conflict that Manhattan has within himself. I have to say that I wasn’t sure about the CG character and despite my criticisms below, the work is amazing looking here and provides a somewhat eerie touch to all of the scenes he is in.

It really is amazing how most of the story is here. I shudder to think how this would have turned out in other hands instead of Snyder’s. It really is as close as you could get to a great adaptation of the book. The one big exception as noted below is the ending but even that is probably exactly the way it should be for the film.

The opening credits telling the back story of the Watchmen is perfect. With Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin' playing to shot by shot comic pages and a cool zooming effect with the camera, you can’t help but smile and appreciate what Snyder was able to pull off here.

What didn’t work:

The “aged” make-up for the characters was an udder disaster. Whereas the costume design and special effects look very high budget and quality, the make-up, especially for Silk Spectre I, is bad beyond belief. I mean, we are talking BACK TO THE FUTURE 2 – Lea Thompson bad here. What happened? I mean I wasn’t expecting BENJAMIN BUTTON here but come on!

When I first saw it, I was going nuts over the ending. Why spend 90% of the running time remaking the book almost exactly frame for frame and striking the perfect tone just to change the ending and railroad everything? But later, thinking about it, I just don’t see how the squid translates to the big screen. The ending of the book is already weird and esoteric. How do you adapt that for the masses? It is so dense. So the more I think about it, although I just hate the ending because it is so different than the book, I at least understand it and honestly, I really don’t have a better suggestion.

The music falls apart in many places. I understand that Zack tried to use the same songs that are mentioned in the book with short lyrics at the end of each chapter / comic. I get that. Maybe instead of using the real songs, he should have done some cool orchestrated version of the songs or remade them with different artists? Specifically uncomfortable were the Simon & Garfunkel funeral music, the out of place All Along the Watchtower and a few others. I just can’t help thinking a more orchestrated score would have added to the film noir design of the sets and mood.

Now, I have to put in my 2 cents about Alan Moore. I love Moore’s writing. He is my favorite all time writer in the comic book genre. I can totally understand his disgust for the film industry. FROM HELL is a travesty. LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN is depressing. But this is the first film that I think comes as close as is probably possible to hitting the right tone and adaptation of his books. I really appreciate Dave Gibbons attitude here. He worked with Snyder. I have to wonder if this couldn’t even have been improved by Moore being involved as well. Moore refuses to give any involvement into the film and is outright viscous in his criticism of it. He even forced his name to be removed from the film and rejects any money for it. Extremely honorable in his actions and follows his conscious.

The one thing I have to say to Moore after seeing this is, if a film does a good job of adapting your art, why not support it? Why not reserve judgment until the final product? Sure, it is not perfect but (I did a quick check on Amazon) think of how many NEW people this has brought to the book. The book is selling like crazy over the past few months. Moore is an artist, first and foremost, and like any artist, it is gratifying to have others experience your art and evoke that esthetic emotion in others. If anything, a great adaptation of the book brings more to the original art which is what Moore wants in the end anyways. He’s a genius so I defer to whatever emotional shenanigans he wants to go through, but I just wish he had a little more even hand in dealing with Hollywood because I WANT more people to find and experience the joy I’ve experienced in reading Moore writing and art.

All things considered, I don’t know how this plays out for people who have not read the book but for me, who has read it countless times, it was a joy to see it brought to life and despite my misgivings, I have to recommend this wholeheartedly to new comers as well as true WATCHMEN fans. I can’t wait to see it again.