I got the awesome opportunity to see Watchmen at the theater last night, thanks to my wonderful friend Cassie. We arrived two hours early to wait in line, because we knew this one would be big. And it was.
I don't even know where to start. This was definitely an actors movie. There was some really, and I mean really good acting in this movie, and some really good talent too. Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Morgan, Jackie Earle Haley, Carla Gugino...there aren't words to describe how much I loved (and in Jeffrey Morgan's case, hated) their characters. There was just the right amount of action, as well, and these scenes were very entertaining and well orchestrated. The film makers even found a way to make the beginning credits a part of the story, as they were integrated into flashbacks.
Of course, I came into this movie with a blank slate, not knowing anything about the comics, so the story was new to me, and it was very well developed, taking place in an alternate world in which Nixon was elected for President many terms in a row, and the world is on the brink of nuclear war. Most of the film was narrated by Rorschach, and a bit was narrated by Dr. Manhattan, and while sometimes I don't like narration because it sounds forced, that was not the case here. Since the movie starts off in sort of the mid story, the voice of Rorschach fills us in on the important stuff, and Rorschach himself was pretty awesome. As were all of the other costumed heroes. Though it did come to my attention that none of them, except Dr. Manhattan of course, had super powers. At all. Except maybe super strength, and the ability to kick ass really hard. But that's neither here nor there.
And to give it a little something extra, there was a bit of romance thrown in. Yes, romance. Not to mention some pretty nice sex scenes - or at least one long one that was pretty graphic. In a good way. And Dr. Manhattan didn't like to...well, you'll see.
So, overall, a pretty awesome movie, where the acting and cohesive storyline made this alternate universe believable. And it wasn't stilted by any un-witty one liners and horrible or prolonged dialogue, which I say makes it a win win situation. I didn't know what I went in there expecting, but I came out completely satisfied, and entertained, and maybe wanting to be a superhero myself. Maybe. I would've actually paid money to see it, and I can't say that about a lot of movies. Definitely worth the sore ass I got for sitting in that seat for almost three hours. Yes, three hours.
Go see it! It hits theaters in the U.S. on March 6. I leave you with my favorite:
