Watchmen

This film is brilliant and here's why.
The plot line for this film twists and turns and keeps you guessing right up to the very last moments of the film (which is brilliant), and you never know who the "bad guy" is right up until the end... and even then it's a shock!
The characters themselves have rich backgrounds that are all explained as the film goes on; the reasons they are who they are is also explained (quite brutally in one instance).
The Heroes themselves are also quite dark, which is refreshing having been fed the likes of Superman, Spiderman etc for our entire lives!
I also like the way the drap colours of the 80's and the cold war era are contrasted with the rich colours of things like Dr. Manhattan (the blue guy).
The only real bad points about this film is you have to pay attention to watch it (you can't turn your brain off as you can for other films), and it's also very slow to get going.
Overall I think it's brilliant and would happily recommend it to a friend.

Astounding is the only thing I can say. This is a film that I knew nothing about and I wanted to watch it with an open mind but secretly I was expecting to be bitterly disppointed. How wrong I was. It is by far one of the most fantastically shot, dark, disturbing yet immensely realistic movies I have ever seen. Definitely top 3 material. The alternative timeline reflects perfectly the way we humans behave and react to things and just how shallow and insecure we all really are, deep, deep down, underneath the disguises we put on to fool those around us. Without a doubt in contention for film of the year - maybe even decade!

I confess it took me a second viewing to start appreciating a lot of things in this film because I had not (and have not as yet) read the original graphic novel it originates from. The first time I saw it I definitely did not pay proper attention......but I decided to give it another go one night.

Second time around I found it totally absorbing. Although the primary story is the investigation into the murder of The Comedian - one of a group of masked 'superheroes' who once protected, even though only one ever had real abilities - by the vigilante Rorschach and the huge conspiracy that is uncovered, there is a multitude of other themes and propositions to be discovered, as so many other reviewers have well expressed in their reviews.

It's something which genuinely improves with multiple viewings. Yes, it is pretty long but at home on DVD this hardly matters. The alternate 1985 realised in the film is stunning and there are countless details present that add to the realism, not least visuals that are spellbindingly put together with music that seems odd at times, but more than not complements the visuals well.

I don't think you necessarily need to have read the novel to appreciate this film as a piece of cinema on it's own (although I can only imagine how much more it adds having read it) but it is a film that you need to devote proper time to. In years to come, I think this will age just nicely!

Watched this on, DVD as it did not appeal to me at all when released on Cinema. My expectations were pretty low.
Was badly put off by the Special Effects for the Blue Guy Mr Manhattan. It all just looked a bit tacky. Also the 2hr 30mins time didnt entice me.
But 10 mins into the Film and I was hooked. The story is fairly fast paced, and has a lot to say. The Acting is spot on and the Direction holds it altogether nicely.
The feel and setting of the 1980s is captured perfectly.
The story is VERY VIOLENT at times, sometimes justified and sometimes not so much.
My Review probably is not summing it up correctly, but I really Liked the Movie.
A Sequel seems unlikely, given the disappointment of the overall Box Office.
Special mention also has to go to the Brilliant selection of Music that goes with the move. One of the Best Soundtracks of the past Decade.

So glad I ignored the poor reviews for this DVD. If you're looking for mindless American goody-goody, high quality CGI, hero action that requires no thought then this film is not for you. Very watchable, didn't realise how long it was 'til I saw the clock when it finished. Worth watching more than once.