WATCHMEN

Maybe it was because I have never read the graphic novel, or perhaps my expectations were too high going in, or maybe it was just a bad movie. Whatever the reason, Watchmen failed to interest or impress me. Given the depth and creative premise, this movie should have been able to deliver a solid punch, but instead it meandered and failed to engage.

Set in the mid 1980's during the peak of the cold war, Watchmen centers around the idea of the escalating potential for nuclear war with one major difference. The United States possesses a group of superhero protectors that have played a part throughout the nation's history known as Watchmen. These masked avengers are dedicated to the idea of justice and protection, but some of their member's motivations, personalities and tactics are anything but innocent.

Following the death of one of the more controversial Watchmen, the Comedian, and the gradual withdraw of the other superheroes from the mainstream because of public fear and outrage, events seem to be in motion toward something sinister. As the doomsday clock ticks toward nuclear annihilation, the only stopgap is the last remaining employed Watchman Dr. Manhattan. He is the result of nuclear mishap that left him with the ability to manipulate matter and produce his own infinite supply of energy. However, as public outrage grows over his perceived dangerous risk, he is left feeling out of touch and questioning why he cares about any of these people who obviously no longer care about him.

This film travels back and forth between being a comic book movie and an attempt to be a political satirist. In its effort it fails to adequately become either as most of the movie feels unguided, disinterested and outdated. It possesses some very unique and interesting scenes and effects but as a whole it simply hits on the wrong notes. Watchmen's biggest failing is its inability to successfully incorporate all of its components into a unified, efficient machine, and instead comes across as competing against itself in a confusing, inconsistent ability to shift between action and its long drawn out sequences. Coming in at almost two and half hours, I found it unbelievable that with all of its dead and wasted time it was not edited down.

The overwhelming bright spot in the film was the impeccable acting of Jackie Earl Haley as Rorschach. The scenes that were dominated by him achieved the look and feel that I longed for from the rest of the movie. A dark character who considers his responsibility as a Watchmen as a badge of honor, he is fiercely dedicated to the idea of justice while at the same time recognizing the crumbling infrastructure of the system he is trying to enforce. This disconnect forces him to sacrifice his own ideals in the name of his ultimate responsibility. The deeds he commits strip him of his humanity as he retreats behind his mask and openly admits that the person behind it died a long time ago. Along with his excellent performance Jeffery Dean Morgan also gives a very strong turn as The Comedian. These two performances also stick out due to the very wooden and emotionally shallow performances of everyone else involved.

Overall a very disappointingly average film that I am sure will still have a strong following from its target audience of adolescent males. The levels of violence and gruesome acts of killing are on par with 300 and Sin City, but its language and displays of sexuality are above and beyond. In other words if you are easily offended this is not the film for you.

My Rating (B-)



Coming Soon:
-This Friday (March 13) Sunshine Cleaning is under limited release. While it will probably be hard to find initially , it will probably be worth seeing if you can find it. Here is a preview.