'Watchmen' Review

So this was the first movie I saw in 2009 and I must say it didn't disappoint, especially seeing it in Imax. I didn't know much about the premise of this movie until my boss of all people told me about it and told me it was a comic book series. So after we talked about it he let me read the graphic novels and I became hooked. So without further a due, my review of the masked men, 'Watchmen.'

This movie is really like that of one I've never seen. It is directed by I think the brilliant Zack Snyder, whose other major film '300' is still one of the coolest movies I've ever seen. This project was no small undertaking and Snyder's interpretation sticks so close to the comics that readers can surely point out exact details and words used in many of the movies scenes. From the opening scene involving the shady, selfish and egomaniac Comedian, till the movies closing seconds, this is a true masterpiece.

Set in a world where Superheroes once blended into everyday society like regular people, a new law is passed that outlaws the masked vigilantes. A series of events is laid in motion as one of the 'Watchmen' is murdered, or thrown through his window in a fight scene that is one of the most well done fights in recent movie history. Upon the discovery of who the murdered man is, some think it is a political killing, while one man, Rorschach, who is borderline insane thinks it is something more. So the masked man sets out to warn other costume heroes including Nite Owl, the Silk Spectre, Dr. Manhattan and Ozymandias, who is warned by the Night Owl.

As the movie starts to unfold Rorschach starts to uncover clues and kicks spirit into some of his old masked friends that being the Nite Owl and the gorgeous Silk Spectre who run into a little mugging in a dark alley but find that roughly 8 on 2 is nothing to them. The two quickly become more then just friends as Laurie(Silk Spectre) quickly falls for Danny(Nite Owl), after Laurie and Dr. Manhattan have a falling out, as she feels Dr. Manhattan is solely concerned with is work, which is rather apparent during their lovemaking scene as he can self duplicate himself and can be at more then two places at once, so imagine that if you will.

Dr. Manhattan during his first televised interview gets grilled by the press on accusations that everyone he surrounds himself with becomes ill with cancer, including his former lover, and care handler, after the incident that turned him into Dr. Manhattan. So after becoming heckled he transports off Earth and lands on Mars where we learn more about his past and how the accident shaped him into what he is in present time. We learn that he falls in love with Laurie at the first meeting of the 'Watchmen' and it is there where they form their bond.

Back on Earth, Rorschach uncovers some information and makes a second visit back to his friend Moloch, only to discover a bullet through his forehead and that it's a setup as the police are outside. Frantically searching to escape he puts up one hell of a fight but after nearly taking on the entire squad as it seems he is captured and has his mask removed not to his liking at all. We learn that his name Walter and after meeting with a Dr. we discover what drove this man Walter into becoming the demented Rorschach.

After discovering the fight is still in them, the Nite Owl and Silk Spectre set out to spring Rorschach from jail in which leads to one of the coolest fight scenes ever. After a mass breakout is engineered at the jail where inmates are at each other's throats, it is time for the heroes to have some fun, including Rorschach who runs into three people he put away. Needless to say a chainsaw is involved, electric shock and some swift fight moves are involved. Owl and Spectre make their way into the jail only to encounter two dozen inmates who start to go after the masked heroes but to no avail.

The three leave together and set out to find Adrian Veidt (Ozymandias), who we learn is involved in some sort of plot to cause chaos. The heroes go to Antarctica where Veidt has a rather nice house there on the frozen tundra. We soon discover that Veidt has been using Dr. Manhattan to engineer the same technology that cause Manhattan's accident all those years ago. Rorschach and Owl try to sneak attack Veidt who is quicker then lightning and welcomes the two into a fight in which he goes untouched. He explains his actions as that he is trying to bring peace to this world that is set out for nuclear destruction. Dr. Manhattan returns from Mars only to be lured into the machine in which Veidt thinks will disassemble him and render him powerless, wrong there.

Manhattan reappears but it is too late as a bomb is set off in New York City in which Dr. Manhattan knows the blast wasn't nuclear but somehow caused by him. Veidt explains that he did this all for peace and Dr. Manhattan is even convinced saying this was the way, while Owl, Spectre and Rorschach stand bye in disgust, saying that this is wrong. Rorschach promises they won't get away with this and proceeds to leave but is confronted by Manhattan in one of the more powerful and emotional scenes in the movie. Rorschach removes his mask and begs him to stop him, yells 'Do It' and with a wave of his hand we see Rorschach silenced once and for all.

In the end, it is the peace that Veidt set out to do but in the end there is a cost that must be paid. Dr. Manhattan returns to Mars, while Danny and Laurie set out on their new life together, putting the masked days apparently behind them


'Watchmen'.... TK's take 4/5 Stars

(While I didn't reveal every major point in the movie I tried to cover most of them.)