Watchmen
I see Watchmen as a movie that need to be compared to The Dark Knight. I know that in most cases that kind of comparison makes one movie looks better, but this is not my point. Just follow me for a second: The Dark Knight was a movie that was based on dark and realistic environment. Making this movie look the most realistic was director’s main idea. This way of expression was a good move. But it was just one of possible ways of making movie made on a comic hero base. Nolan chosen to adjust his hero to reality. That adjusting made Batman more complex, deeper and more real. Watchmen is a story based on different point of view. The director (Zack Snyder, known from 300) didn’t choose to adjust his heroes to reality – he adjusted the reality to costume superheroes. And he scored! He made a movie that is totally different from The Dark Knight, based on something else, with totally different point of view. But those two movies are in my opinion two best movies about masked superheroes in leather suits. So in Batman we watched how a man who’s life was destroyed become a hero. In Watchmen we observe how comic heroes arrived an when (just before Second World War). At first their costumes were just like in those old comic books – colorful and funny. In time they evolved and the world evolved with them. So we got here alternative history of 1985 where the Vietnam War was won by Americans (thanks to Dr. Manhattan (played by Billy Crudup) and and The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Richard Nixon is still running presidency and nuclear war can happen in any time. On this basics we see some heroes struggle to fight for peace ad all cost. What makes this film a good one are the characters of Watchmen. None of them is simple and obvious – they have their secrets, dark sides and not everyone of them is that good.
What can also be said, the visual side of the movie is just amazing. Also the music is great and fits the film perfectly.
I must say that Zack Snyder bought me totally with his review of superhero history. He just made a great movie.
Watchmen, 2009. Directed by Zack Snyder. Starring: Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Walter Kovacs, Malin Akerman, Patrick Wilson.
Volume: 90%