So after many months of waiting, it's finally here. Did it live up to my expectations? For the most, part yes.
As a huge fan of the book, I knew from the get-go that the movie wouldn't be able to touch the graphic novel that Alan Moore has blessed us with, it just couldn't happen. I was interested however, at how Snyder would interpret the Watchmen story as a film, and damn, I think he did a good job. First, I may aswell get all of the negatives out of the way. The voices for a lot of the actors REALLY bothered me. Rorschach's voice was too rough and Christian Bale-like, Doctor Manhatten's was too whiny, and I thought that Nightowl's was just kinda weird. Also, I think the actor for Silk Spectre ruined some of the more emotional parts in the story (realizing The Comedian is her father, for example). I just think that she was a terrible actor, and I'm confused as to why she was cast (because I didn't find her that attractive really either). Another HUGE problem I had was the music. I think that it didn't fit in well at all, was synced up terribly, and just wasn't right. I also had a problem with a few of the scenes in the film. Why did Nightowl witness Rorschach's death? Why did Rorschach have to whine like a **** to be killed by Doc Manhatten? WHY oh WHY did they change Rorschach's way of killing Blaire Roche's kidnapper/murderer? These are the types of questions I was asking myself when watching the movie. That being said, the rest of the film was really, really good. The jailbreak scene was done to absolute perfection in my mind. Jackie Earle Haley could not have done a better performance for Rorschach (save his voice). When he took off his mask, I gasped at how spot on they had gotten the look down for Walter Kovacs. I think that The Comedian was also portrayed very well. I'm very pleased at how they shortened down the book for the most part. Instead of just cutting scenes out all together, they mixed some of them into one. The look and feel of the movie was spot on in my opinion. The alternate world these characters live in was translated onto the big screen, including costumes, sets, and makeup.
Now let's get to the big 'un, the new ending. When I first heard that there was an alternate ending, I was quite upset. But when I thought about it, it made sense. They wouldn't have enough time to explain the whole squi backstory without adding on another hour to the film, plus people that haven't read the book would literally yell what the **** at the idea of a giant squid. The idea of blaming the attacks on Doctor Manhatten isn't a bad one, but doesn't make as much sense as the original ending, as my friend explained to me. Throughout the whole movie/book, Doctor Manhatten is always touted as being from America, for America, and made by America. Now if an American killing machine started attacking the world, woudln't the Soviets let all hell go loose and start attacking America? Even if he did have one attack in America, I'm sure the fact that he attacked the rest of the world would make everyone go ape on their ass, still ending in a nuclear holocaust. On the surface though, it works, and that's fine.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to seeing it a second and maybe third time. The atmoshpere of the book is captured beautifully, Rorschach is perfect, and most of the important scenes were nailed spot on. I'm giving it a 9.2/10.
