Watchmen Review -- Some Slight Spoileration

I watch(ed) the Watchmen. 

Okay, pardon my corn. 

Really, though. I watched it last night at the midnight plus two minutes showing. I was dead tired afterwards. It ended at three a.m. I had woke up at 3 am the previous morning to go see the new baby in the extended family. So, it was reasonable that I was sleepy as hell. 

So anyway, on to the review, which may or may not contain SPOILERS*******************: 

Faithfullness to the comic book: A+ 

There were some noticeable changes from the original material, not just ommisisions, but real changes. Overall though, the rumored shot-for-shot, word-for-word adherement was true. It was amazingly true to the book. The thing to remember is that this is a relative grade. Given that many movies, and even comic movies (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) don't stay true to some basic history and plot points, this was basically the graphic novel on screen. 

Effects: B-

Looking at Doc Manhattan talk was weird. His lips looked really fake. Other than that, the effects were cool, but not groundbreaking a la 300 or the Matrix. The biggest drawback was the hair. Everyone was noticeably wearing a wig. I thought it was mostly noticeable on Veidt and Ed Blake. I had a problem with it in the previews. It kind of threw me out of the movie because I was distracted by the fakeness. Rorshach sans mask has a problem with it too. Plus his huge head made Rorschach's hat look really tiny towards the end. Maybe that is just me though. 

Story: B

I have struggled with this. On one hand I want to review the movie without comparing it the book. It is impossible to do so without even some subconcious bias. I will always compare it to the movie that played in my head when I read it. So, I have to evaluate the movie with that in mind. 

So, how did it compare to the movie in my brain? Fairly good. I thought it was a little too quick and left out some of the cooler parts, or just went through them too fast. One of my favorite parts- if not THE favorite part- is the Rorschach chapter. Given that so many people think he is badass I don't think I am alone. They touched on it some, but really didn't get into the character. They really didn't get much into any character save for Doc Manhattan. 

That is why, although I enjoyed the movie, I realize why it would have worked much better as a really long movie, or a serialized five-part style movie. There is simply too much packed into the novel for any 3 hour movie to explore. So, I think it is really awesome that we got to see Watchmen on screen, but I don't think that it replaces the GN. Not that it was supposed to, mind you, but I don't think movie was an all time classic movie. A milestone movie? Yes. So was The Jazz Singer with Al Jolson, though, and that movie sucked ass cheeks. 

Overall: A

I was entertained even if I was sleepy. Again, I think the GN was better, but books will always be better because you can imagine them however you want. We watched Zack Snyders' Watchmen. It was'nt aztecskin's Watchmen so I don't like it as much. 

To be fair though, I never really was all that crazy about the Watchmen. I liked it. I think it was ground-breaking, a unique, dense story that used up every ounce of flavor that the comic book form can pack. I never liked Dr. Manhattan though. I always thought he was stupidly powerful. I realize he was the Superman of the thing, but I don't like Superman either for the same reason. The original ending was kind of stupid too. A squid-alien? Really? I thought it messed up an otherwise shocking ending. So eh. 

I can't wait for Y: The Last Man. Now that is an awesome comic. I can't wait for the movies. Yes, they are going to do multiple to tell the story better, although they plan on changing the original plot some.