The Watchmen

Never before have I seen a movie get itself in so deep. The Watchmen road the rails of its own hype and just couldn't deliver. It definitely had its moments, but after Snyder made the magic that is 300, the Watchmen paled in comparison. The climax was flat, and the film moved far too slow.

My review for the Kentucky Kernel:

As the clock neared midnight last Friday, the lobby in Lexington Movie Tavern was completely full. The man taking tickets was dressed in a Dick Tracy-esque trench coat and fedora hat, capped off with a mask covered in randomly splattered ink, not unlike a Jackson Pollock painting. Customers were being turned away as every midnight showing was sold out. What brought all of this buzz to a local theater on a Thursday night?- the premier of Zach Snyder’s latest graphic novel interpretation, The Watchmen.

While it’s clear that film certainly delivered its share of hype, the more important thing to consider is whether or not the movie lived up to its billing.

If you go into the film expecting a light plot, and constant high-octane action, you will be sorely disappointed. The film’s plot uses every second of the movie’s three hour run-time to unfold itself. Yes, the film has its share of visually stunning action sequences; however the action simply serves as a compliment to the plot, rather than the plot simply being an excuse to move from one action sequence to another.

Once the audience realizes they aren’t in for a mindless thrill ride, they are able to see that the plot is very well done. The Watchmen is a breath of fresh air with respect to its story in an age where monotonous superhero movies are a dime a dozen.

The differing characters and their contrasting personalities is another area where the Watchmen shines. Each character’s attributes and they way they clash with one another, lends a unique blend of comedy, action and tragedy to the film. Rorschach is a character that deserves particular attention because despite his ruthless behavior, there is a sense of compassion and rawness that allows the audience to root for his barbaric tendencies.

While the Watchmen has its bright spots, it is far from flawless. The film opens with an eye-candy fight sequence that has you on the edge of your seat from the get-go. The problem is that the movie can’t keep you there. It seems that the moment the film has you thirsting for more, it lulls and leaves you feeling unsatisfied.

Unfortunately, this sense of  lacking fulfillment doesn’t merely apply to a handful of scenes, but to the movie as a whole. The audience spends 3 hours becoming invested in the lives of these characters and their motives. As a result they are itching to see an explosive climax where everything is resolved and all of their questions are answered. The problem is that this moment never comes.

The Watchmen is just as visually progressive as anyone could have imagined. The problem is that the filmmakers didn’t take advantage of their capabilities, and an ultimately flat climax makes the movie feel a bit hollow despite its countless positive components. It would be unfair to call this film a complete waste of time, but it isn’t one I would recommend going out of your way to see.