One of the 20th Century’s most celebrated pieces of literature has hit the silver screen.
It’s been pegged as genius, a masterpiece, trailblazing and groundbreaking. It’s been hailed by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 greatest novels since 1923. It’s a novel with more accolades on its covers than there are words on the Rosetta Stone.
It’s “Watchmen.”
AP PHOTOActress Malin Akerman stars as Silk Spectre II in a scene from the film, ‘Watchmen.’ The film, based of the comic book series, was released March 7.“Watchmen” is by no means standard comic book fare, and should not be treated as such. There’s no rooftop swinging, heroes gone emo or slutty blonde damsels-in-distress waiting for the next costumed paladin to fly by for a make-out session (I’m looking at you, Spider-Man). That’s not “Watchmen.”
Moore’s chef d’oeuvre probes beyond the superficial stuff of today’s cinematic comic-based drivel (apart from “The Dark Knight,” of course), exposing the conflict that a group of morally ambiguous vigilantes faces while combating the underbellies of the world without a speck of public support.
Think of “Watchmen” as an account of what superhero life would be like if superheroes actually did exist in the real world, complete with angry mobs, a big blue naked guy and lots of grit.
So why see the film?
Well, few things in the world are more satisfying than a fully realized film adaptation of a literary pièce de r&esistance.
Thankfully “Watchmen” is one of those.
After years of roadblocks and missed opportunities, Zack Snyder has delivered Alan Moore’s magnum opus to the big screen in sparkling fashion. Though “Watchmen” is not without Snyder’s trademark masturbatory cinematography and cheesily edited action scenes, “Watchmen” offers a shimmering and shrewd story that pays great respect to the infinitely dignified graphic novel on which it’s based.
While “Watchmen” might be touted as a fanboy’s film in its impudent panel-by-panel, line-for-line re-creation of the comics, its devotion to the source material is certainly not cause for complaint. Snyder’s meticulous imagining of the characters, settings and themes is more than enough to please not only the most hardened comic book fans, but also those who went to see “Watchmen” looking for a little more brains than beauty.
Apart from a laughingly embarrassing sex scene, the biggest uncut CG phallus you’ll see in movies and distracting speed ramps and slow-mo, “Watchmen” has been done definitive justice on the silver screen.
Changing gears from “300” to “Watchmen” proved worrisome, but Zack Snyder’s final product has certified itself to be more than sufficient in telling the tale that Alan Moore envisioned in 1986. Handsomely filmed and audaciously keen, “Watchmen” is an entirely apt consummation of a graphic novel that deserved nothing less.
Alex Antonetz can be reached at [email protected].
