Watchmen

• Directed by Zack Snyder
• February 23, 2009 (Odeon Leicester Square) / March 6, 2009 (United States)
• Based on the 1986 to 1987 DC Comics limited series Watchmen co-created by Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore

In a 1985 where superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sets a still active vigilante on the trail of a conspiracy that will change everything.

Zack Snyder has increasingly become a divisive figure in entertainment. Good or bad that’s the reality the situation. I think it’s deserved for such movies as Rebel Moon Part One and Two, but for something like Watchmen not so much. It may not adhere 100% to the source material but as a film it is good. Not great nor perfect but good.

Snyder in the opening montage shows the similarities and the differences between our worlds quickly and effectively. You see the point of divergence. No need for heavy dialogue or long-winded explanations to set up the story for the audience.

You will not find many witty one liners or examples of self-referential humor that lightens the tone. It is the complete antithesis of anything found in the MCU and one of the reasons I appreciate it. It serves up something different and distinct like individual comics once did. Moon Knight was different than Captain America was different than Teen Titans was different than Action Comics.

The story covers a great deal of time. From the alternate 40s all the way to the alternate 80s. It is about more than a vast conspiracy. Watchmen is often about the scars of the past and how they inform the present. Hard choices and hard decisions have long-lasting consequences and even the bad parts can be looked upon fondly with enough time passing.

Sally Jupiter/Silk Spectre (Carla Gugino) is bitter and angry having once been a sex symbol but is now forgotten and alone in a retirement community drinking her days away. She has even made piece with being raped by fellow vigilante Edward Blake/The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) who is the father of her daughter Laurie Jupiter/Silk Spectre II (Malin Åkerman).

Following the passage of the Keene Act, costumed heroes were banned in the US and now many of them are dysfunctional people without a purpose. At least what they felt was their real purpose is now gone. It’s a mildly dystopian alternate America with Richard Nixon having had several terms and the world on the brink of nuclear Armageddon.

While Watchmen works when handling the characters and situations, it fails when it tries to make commentary. Given the setting and all, its focus of commentary is on the US and the American dream. There is some unfocused talk about energy. It is like Zack Snyder didn’t know what to do with everything he had. It doesn’t hurt the film but when you notice things that feel like they are handled with uncertainty it’s takes you out of the overall story. It just feels weak and superficial. It takes a surface view and that’s all it really requires.

Despite the presence of a character like Doctor Manhattan (Billy Crudup) for whom the future is fixed yet eventually does something unpredictable there is nothing deeper. Maybe explore freewill versus destiny. S much was just left on the table.

Even so I just couldn’t take my eyes away from it. For the purposes of this post I watched the Director’s Cut and at nearly 3 hours it didn’t bore. The story is always moving forward. Something is always happening. If this movie says anything, it’s that Zack Snyder can make a good movie when he is not 100% in control. There needs to be a “No” that can act on it.

It’s visually stunning. This is not a clean world but has some serious grime. That grunge is mixed with plenty of more expected comic book elements. I find it weird that they often show Dr. Manhattans blue member. I understand he doesn’t need clothing or anything like that but it’s still weird. It’s my understanding that’s found in the comics which begs the question why? In other words this is not for kids. 

This convincingly puts masked villains and heroes into the real world. Considering that this was to be more reality based (Manhattan aside) the explanations for how it all came out were much smoother than I had anticipated. While the source has been said to be unfilmable, Watchmen on its own is good.

The soundtrack is absolutely amazing and among my favorites. Unforgettable by Nat King Cole, The Times They Are a-Changin’ by Bob Dylan, The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel, Me and Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin, I’m Your Boogie Man by KC and the Sunshine Band, All Along the Watchtower by The Jimi Hendrix Experience among others are a great bit of great sampling of classic rock ‘n’ roll. Some do serve to accentuate the scene while others are just cool. I wish a little more care has been taken to choose the songs.

Despite Zack Snyder’s more recent efforts, Watchmen is a good film. It’s more mature than most superhero films even if falls short in some areas.