Watchmen Review

2009 will be jam-packed with amazing comic book movies: “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” “Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen,” ” G.I. Joe”, and” Dragon Ball Evolution.” What better way to start things off than with one of this year’s most anticipated films: Watchmen. Directed by Zack Synder (director of 300), Watchmen-released on March 7-nearly doubled Snyder’s first comic book-to-movie adaptation, 300. The film debuted at #1 in the box office, an amazing feat considering the lack of an “A-list” cast.”Watchmen” takes the viewer to the Cold War era in an alternate timeline-a time where there are super heroes and heroines, where the U.S. has won the Vietnam War, and where Richard Nixon is president in 1985. The film begins with a montage of historical events and the likely outcome if superheroes had been present. It also attempts to explain mysteries that have plagued American history for centuries (e.g. who shot JFK? ) The montage eventually shows the banning of masked vigilantes and mounting apprehension of nuclear war.After the montage, viewers are transported to 1985 where an assailant breaks into the apartment of Edward Blake (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), who is also known as The Comedian, and kills him. The assassination of The Comedian, a former, covert, superhero operative for the U.S. government, sparks a conspiracy theory amongst the remaining retired masked-crusaders. Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley), one of the only vigilantes who has remained active, pursues his own investigation and quickly uncovers a diabolical scheme threatening all masked-heroes and the world.Meanwhile, Dr. Manhattan (Jon Osterman), a scientist transformed by an experiment gone wrong, utilizes his powers (ability to disassemble matter at the subatomic level, and the ability see time as non-linear) to keep the Soviets at bay. Manhattan’s heightened understanding of the universe loosens his relationship with humanity and, Laurie Jupiter (Malin Akerman), also known as Silk Spectre II, a second-generation heroine and Manhattan’s lover.In an effort to maintain his compassion for the human race, Manhattan works with Adrian Viedt (Matthew Goode), a retired hero who went by he moniker Ozymandias. Known to be “the smartest man in the world,” Viedt, with Manhattan’s help, tries to create a machine that will provide free energy for everyone in the world. A dizzying series of events puts the United States and the Soviet Union on an imminent course to nuclear holocaust.This film cleverly incorporates historically defining moments to stimulate the viewers’ intellect. Though many viewers complain that the movie is too long, the lengthiness is subdued by the lure of the plot. The approaching nuclear apocalypse combined with the complexity and depth of characters and their situations keep the movie enticing. Even at the film’s ultimate revelation, the characters’ qualities drive the movie beyond an average “twist”.Watchmen proves to be one of the better, more realistic graphic novel adaptations of our time. The captivating plot and ingenious direction of the film reels viewers eerily into the past and asks “What if…?” This masterpiece is definitely a must-see for all comic book lovers out there.