H'okay

Today, I review a movie that I thought I'd really enjoy, and is based on a popular graphic novel.

I'm sorry to say that only one of those two statements is true.

Watchmen, one of the all time best graphic novels of all time, maybe behind only The Dark Knight Returns, has been bastardized by the movie conglomerates.

Of course, I exaggerate, but still. The movie was very enjoyable for the first, maybe, two hours. It all falls to shit when Ozymandias' final plan comes to fruition. Adrian Veidt framing Dr. Manhattan for giving cancer to his loved ones... Sure, I can believe that. But framing him for the destruction of the world? First of all, who'd believe that, and second, where's the eye-squid? I can understand if they were going for realism, however, Bubastis made her way into the film. Also, I suppose explaining the back story regarding the missing artists might have taken some extra time. I guess kinda like giving the news stand vendor some characterization or Adrian's childhood.

Also, Dan's wailing on Adrian into his bitchin' T.V. collection was totally out of character, and I think it would have been more powerful if he was banging Laurie, like he was supposed to. Which brings me to another point. A lot of the symbols used in the book weren't there as much as some stuff they introduced last minute.

Instead of excessive Nostalgia commercials and violence of the top-knots, they introduced Pyramid Transnational trucks and a big pink elephant balloon advertising Gunga Diner.

The actors, for the most part, supremely fit their characters. Everyone looked spot on from their graphic counterparts.

I was especially fond of how easily I could recognize Walter Kovacs, Rorschach's former ego. Although, I think it helped that they put him everywhere that Rorschach said he was.

The effects in this movie were phenomenal. Energy explosions and teleporting to blood and flesh splatter. One of the parts I truly enjoyed in this movie was when Dr. Manhattan blows up Rorschach, leaving behind a large splatter. And when the camera pans back, everyone sees that the splatter is in the shape of a Rorschach ink blot.

I even enjoyed some of the stuff that was added in just for the movie. The jail riot was hilarious, and accurate for the most part. But, in the movie version, Rorschach goes to the psychiatrist for his mask back. When he get's it back, he exclaims "Okay doc... Your turn!" He then puts on the mask. "What do YOU see?!" This made me laugh, although unless the psychiatrist was killed off-screen, which he was not, it is out of character for Rorschach.

The very last line of the movie is spoken by Laurie, the Silk Spectre. "Nothing ends... Nothing ever ends." Great line, but it is supposed to be said by Dr. Manhattan, which makes the line more poignant because just before, Adrian would have asked "Did I do the right thing in the end?"

So, how does Watchmen stand in my own ranking system? Let's see

Plot: 6.5/10 - It's hard to ruin the plot of Watchmen when it is so iconic and so specific. Cutting corners will kill the fan's interest in the movie. Luckily though, there is not much of this evident. However, the ending of the movie really killed it for me.

Characters and Costuming: 10/10 - Everyone fit the part perfectly. Dan was an impotent, middle-aged Bruce Wayne, Rorschach was a psychotic ginger, and Dr. Manhattan was blue as ever. Hell, even Adrian Veidt had some sort of European accent, which was a very nice touch.

Special Effects: 8/10 - For the most part, everything looked very good, and everything was very movie quality. However, there was some obvious over use of effects. Also, fight scenes and action sequences seemed to take longer than necessary, and some seemed like they were just thrown in at the last minute.

Adaptation: 7/10 - For the most part, it was pretty spot on. However, putting all the characters' back story in the first five minutes of the film and giving the movie a completely different ending absolutely killed this for me. I am very disappointed in you, big movie company.

OVERALL GRADE: 7.5/10

Well, what can I say? Stellar comics don't always mean stellar movies. I feel for you Alan Moore. Please bring us more hits!

'Till next time I watch a movie. See ya!