Having never read the Watchmen comics, I'm probably either the most suitable or the least suitable person to review it, depending on your point of view. On the one hand, I lack any and all background information on the characters, the story, and so on, and all I know is what I am told in the film. And it may be a long film, but it's still a mighty short window to try and convey an entire alternative world in. But on the other hand, this also means I am not weighted down with any pre-conceived notions of what to expect, nor am I hindered by scenes that are not like they are in the comics. So I'll leave you to decide for yourself if I'm a good-willing but ill-informed amateur, or an ideal objective observer.
I'm sure everybody is aware of the story, at least to a degree, so I'll do the briefest of summaries on that, just for completion's sake. The whole thing takes place in a world where Nixon never resigned over Watergate, and a band of disgruntled lawmen turn to vigilantes in order to restore law and order in a world where criminality seems to have free reign. However, after their initial success, the world's admiration turns to distrust, and the Watchmen, as they are dubbed, are forced to stop their watchmanning duties.
Visually, Watchmen is a magnificent film. The Watchmen's outfits look fantastic, the fights are incredibly well done, the scenery is convincing in every way, and all in all, despite its inherent absurdism, it all feels like it could well be real. This sense of realism is something not many (super)hero films possess, save maybe the new Batman films.
The characters are all well scripted and well acted, but personally, I couldn't help but like the bastards best. Rorschach may be a sociopath and a murderer, but his black-and-white sense of justice just holds a certain appeal. Plus, that mask of his is the coolest thing ever. Similarly, the Comedian may be an immoral, violent bastard, but man, has the dude got charisma.
Another thing I loved about Watchmen is the massive difference between on the one hand the cheerful, comic book-esque settings and characters, and on the other the stark, gritty violence that is a main theme throughout the film. No "Pow! Ka-zing! KABLOOEY!" here, no sir-ee! What we do get is people getting their hands chopped off with a power saw, and people exploding into little clouds of gore.
The music used in Watchmen is also deserving of a mention. It's not often you encounter a soundtrack that works so well as here. And that opening scene, with Bob Dylan's The Times Are a-Changin'? Fantastic, and not just because it's a good song (which it is), but also because they are quite possibly the best opening credits I have ever seen.
I'll start wrapping this up now, don't want to end up with a 15 page monologue here. And not only that, I've gotten through an entire review of Watchmen, and I haven't mentioned Dr. Manhattan's penis once!
...shit.
