Spring Break
From graphic novel to super-movie
Marie Williams
Issue date: 3/19/09 Section: Features
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In the midst of the Cold War, another war begins as a former Watchmen known as the "Comedian" (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), is murdered. The New York Police are baffled and it's "Rorschach" (Jackie Earle Haley), an ex-Watchmen, who is truly on the case.
Rorschach fears that the Comedian, whose real name was Edward Blake, wasn't murdered at random, but planned by an unknown source. He begins to seek out his fellow Watchmen, such as "Nite-Owl" (Patrick Wilson) and "Silk Spectre II" (Malin Akerman), to warn them of the potential conspiracy against masked superheroes.
His warning is met with skepticism and his lack of substantial evidence and long-standing history as a sociopath doesn't help his case.
But skepticism soon turns to fear when Rorschach is framed for a murder and Adrian Veidt (Matthew Goode), formally known as "Ozymandias," narrowly escapes an assassination attempt. Meanwhile, "Dr. Manhattan" (Billy Crudup), the only superhero in the bunch with powers that can be considered super human, is attempting to provide humanity with a new source of unlimited energy in an effort to promote world peace.
This murder mystery soon turns extra violent as the remaining Watchmen search for Blake's murderer and the truth behind it.
Some argue that it is extremely difficult to translate such a landmark of literature into a different medium, but Zack Snyder, director of the movie "300," does his best with 163 minutes worth of film. For dedicated fans of the 1980s graphic novel, the film attempts to follow it as closely as possible.
Snyder uses green screen tricks to produce a film that is visually stunning. There is an abundance of bone-crunching action and no lack of sexual tension, both graphic and disturbing.
But the big hoorah of the movie tends to revolve around each character's question of humanity and what justice really means. What kind of world do we live in when humanity is called into question by those meant to save it?
The underlying message is delivered, but sometimes feels hard to connect to all the big cinematic elements taking up most of the screen.
"Watchmen" has been hailed as the first highly-anticipated film of 2009, and whether you agree with the hype or not, this film packs a cinematic punch.
This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.
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