Watchmen descends!!!

Whew! So I finally made to the theater to see Watchmen--saved myself for the IMAX, mind you--and it was great! Awesome action sequences, great visual effects and a pretty accurate adaptation of the graphic novel. What I especially enjoyed was the inside jokes/references for those of us who have read the novel, i.e. things like the giant, floating pink elephant for the Gunga Diner, the doomsday prophet and the final moments of the newstand owner and his comic-booking reading companion. These separate storylines were just three of many that unfortunately had to be cut out of an already lengthy affair. The short cameos of each, however, allowed those of us who took the time to read the award-winning book take some pleasure in the fact that we're in on the joke!

Zach Snyder maintained his status as one of my very favorite action film directors (300 was a wonderful, bloody masterpiece of slow and constant action and motion). Several sequences stand out but the opening sequence, which concludes in the death of a primary character, is one of the most memorable with slowed down bloody punches and kicks, bodies flying through the air, broken walls and furniture. And the action just keeps on a coming from there!

One complaint? Bad makeup! However, the excessively applied makeup to Sally Jupiter seemed fitting--as though she was overcompensating for age with makeup (something not necessarily unusual for aging beauties). And Nixon just looked a bit ridiculous--I dislike prosthetics that prevent the actor from being able to move their mouths. Also, Laurie is annoying--unless she is kicking a**, then she's cool. But as soon as she opens her mouth, I'm irritated. On the other hand, I felt the same way about Laurie in the novel so--it seems appropriate that I would feel the same about her adaptation to celluloid.

I have been reading some reviews of Watchmen and was surprised to see that people complained about the bloody action sequences--I mean, what did they expect? Snyder created one of the bloodiest, most graphic films I have ever seen in 300! Watchmen the graphic novel was not devoid of violence and blood--why should the film hold back? Watchmen's world is violent and dangerous; people live in constant fear of nuclear attacks and have outlawed their protectors. It is a chaotic world on the brink of collapse and critics expect, what, flowers and sunshine? Get real!!

My verdict? See this movie--but read the book first. Not that it is necessary to have read the book to follow the film. Quite the contrary but knowing the story beforehand will simply enhance your enjoyment and understanding of the film's message. A thought-provoking line comes from the Comedian near the middle of the film that has stuck with me--and it is found in the novel as well but I believe it is relayed better in the film due to the elimination of most of the dialogue found in the same sequence of the novel--"The American dream...it came true. You're lookin' at it!" Essentially, Watchmen explores the idea of what if America had won the Vietnam War? What kind of country would we live in right now (or at least in 1985) had we come out of the war-- that, honestly, tore the country apart --victorious? Watchmen hints, or rather screams, that our defeat in Vietnam humbled America in a necessary way. Whether this is true or not, it is an interesting concept to contemplate.

Now, on to one other review before this edition of the Cineblog comes to a conclusion--Australia. It's an "epic" film...in other words, expect a long story that spends a lot of time detailing the lives of a select few. I enjoyed the film--visually, I expected more from a Baz Luhrman film but the film reveals a part of World War II (and Australian cultural) history that I was unaware of (i.e. the island for multiracial boys). And the romance between Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman is extremely believable and passionate--there is some definite and palpable chemistry between the two of them. Overall--I give it a B. A bit long but interesting.

Til next time, folks!