STORY STUDY - MEDIUM: FILM - “Watchmen”

Costumed vigilantes and one “superman” exist in America. Thanks to them, the United States won the Vietnam War… and President Richard Nixon not only avoided the Watergate Scandal, but also did an amazing job as the president of the United States; so good that it saw the full repeal of the 22nd Amendment: the amendment that set the limit of terms that one could hold the presidency. Welcome to 1985.

Directed by Zack Snyder, written by David Hayter and Alex Tse, and based on the graphic novel of the same name by Dave Gibbons (& Alan Moore), Watchmen starts off with the murder of Edward Blake, a government agent and a former vigilante known as the Comedian.

During a time when vigilantes and costumed heroes are now deemed illegal, it’s up to the only rebellious vigilante, Rorschach, to find out who is responsible.

Rorschach warns his retired colleagues that someone might be “picking off costumed heroes” and that a bigger plan is in play.

The film is an ensemble piece, taking the time to explore the other characters before they eventually join in the mystery. It’s pretty clear that life has not really treated them well, but going back to vigilante life makes them feel at home again.

One character in particular, Jon Osterman, “Dr. Manhattan” feels distant from humanity and even self-exiles himself to Mars when he learns that he might be giving the people close to him cancer.

Watchmen is one of the first films that argues how being a hero, super or not, is a terrible, miserable thing. Ironically, being a hero makes them feel good and feel like they have purpose.

Then there is the revelation of why the events happened at all. I won’t say what it is; anyone going into it fresh deserves to find out on their own. I’ll only say that the story takes place during the brink of the Cold War, and the argument on whether or not it was “right” on how they resolved would make anyone cringe, feeling absolutely filthy of themselves and humanity.

There is so much story and so much plot to focus on, both with the central characters and the world around them, that it is way too much to follow. Aside from some casting problems, this is really the misstep of the film. Also, despite being a “superhero” film, you realize that there is not much action throughout. There are fight scenes and CGI spectacle, of course, but the main focus is the mystery and the characters.

Speaking of CGI spectacle, did you expect a Zack Snyder film to not be absolutely stunning to look at? Because you'd be wrong. The production and set design is so meticulously planned out, it's breathtaking.

I found out about Watchmen through the Moore/Gibbons comic, and I believe it was just about the time when the trailer for the film was released. It’s an incredible read, and really easy to follow with its (for the most part) nine-panel illustration on each page.

Watchmen is declared to be the Citizen Kane of comics, and is claimed to be un-filmable. Even this film is divided by audiences, comic fans and cinema fans. Regardless, it created talk. Even though it revolves around the merits of the film, and not the morals and themes of the film itself, this and the comic is one of the staples of their respective medium, and will hopefully continue on to be studied and discussed.

Put on the mask, and check it out.

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