Watchmen – Not for the faint of heart

Typical superhero movies these days are about heroes vs. villains. But that’s not the case for Watchmen. In a grave and alternate 1985, the glory days of superheroes were brought to an end by the government, but after one of the masked veterans is brutally assassinated, a research on the killer is initiated. The heroes banded together to prevent their own destruction, but only to discover a deeper and diabolical plot as the story goes on.

You might as well say that this is an “anti-hero” movie once the story unveils itself in a truly magnificent setting of an alternate 1985. Watchmen is a massive tome that has characters that have layers, multi narrative threads and plots, and subplots, and side plots. You’ll probably end up pulling your hair for its deep and immersive plots, ‘cause it isn’t just about a plot. That said, the climax of the movie will probably make you feel either cheated or amazed. But I will let you judge how you feel once you watch it yourself.

The characters are very memorable except for probably Adrian Veidt (for its less screen time), and Night Owl II and Silk Spectre II (for not doing a very good job at acting, and maybe too much of the lovey-dovey). That said, Jackie Earle Haley's portrayal of Rorschach is quite chilling, both as a disembodied voiceover as well as the character in and out of the constantly pattern-changing mask.

I have never read the graphic novel, and I had no idea what to expect once I got into the theater. But after watching the movie, I have decided to pick up the graphic novel at Borders as soon as possible. I thought the Dark Knight was the darkest superhero movie, but Watchmen had certainly pushed it to the next level. Like I said in the title, this movie isn’t for the faint of heart. If you want an action superhero movie, then this is not the movie for you. But it wouldn’t hurt you if you go watch it, though.

The Good: Deep and immersive storyline, great alternate 1985 setting and characters.

The Bad: The ending could have been better.

My rating: 4/5