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Watchmen (2009) 7.6
Ratings:
7.6/10 from 253,589 users
Metascore: 56/100
Reviews: 1,159 user | 435 critic | 39 from Metacritic.com In an alternate 1985 where former superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach into his own sprawling investigation, uncovering something that could completely change the course of history as we know it. Director:Zack Snyder |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Malin Akerman | ... | ||
| Billy Crudup | ... | ||
| Matthew Goode | ... | ||
| Jackie Earle Haley | ... | ||
| Jeffrey Dean Morgan | ... |
Edward Blake /
Comedian
|
|
| Patrick Wilson | ... |
Dan Dreiberg /
Nite Owl
|
|
| Carla Gugino | ... | ||
| Matt Frewer | ... | ||
| Stephen McHattie | ... | ||
| Laura Mennell | ... | ||
| Rob LaBelle | ... | ||
| Gary Houston | ... | ||
| James M. Connor | ... |
Pat Buchanan
(as James Micheal Connor)
|
|
 |
Mary Ann Burger | ... | |
| John Shaw | ... | ||
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
In a gritty and alternate 1985 the glory days of costumed vigilantes have been brought to a close by a government crackdown, but after one of the masked veterans is brutally murdered an investigation into the killer is initiated. The reunited heroes set out to prevent their own destruction, but in doing so discover a deeper and far more diabolical plot. Written by evan murphy
Taglines:
Who will save us now? (DVD tagline) See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
6 March 2009 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Watchmen: The IMAX Experience See more »Box Office
Budget:
$130,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
£3,243,001 (UK) (6 March 2009)Gross:
$107,503,316 (USA) (22 May 2009)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (Director's Cut) | (Ultimate Cut)Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Written and Performed by Leonard Cohen
Courtesy of Columbia Records and Sony Music Entertainment (Canada)
By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The Hustler magazine on The Comedian's table is from August 1985 and contains the headline "Comic Relief". See more »Goofs
While maintaining order in New York, The Comedian and Night Owl are in Archie. The exit of Night Owl's ship is in the base. When The Comedian jumps out however, he leaps from the window in front of the driver. The top hatch is used later but The Comedian wouldn't have gone through there and cling to the ship to shimmy down to a window to jump off. See more »Crazy Credits
The opening credits themselves often cast shadows in the frame that correspond with the flashes from photographer's bulbs. See more »Soundtracks
"Hallelujah"Written and Performed by Leonard Cohen
Courtesy of Columbia Records and Sony Music Entertainment (Canada)
By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment
See more »
I recently saw a free (oh yes) early showing of Watchmen and have to say that it was very good. There have been few movies that I have been this excited for. Some disappointed horribly (Spiderman 3), and some far exceeded my expectations (Dark Knight). This movie falls somewhere in between, leaning closer to exceeded what I thought was going to be a hard book to turn into a movie.
The first half of the film is extremely accurate to the book and very well done. While there are some differences from the book (for example, Dan Dreiberg goes to warn Viedt about the "masked killer", not Rorschach) but almost all of them are excusable and didn't effect the flow of the movie or my ability to enjoy it. Even as far as dialog goes, the movie stays true to the book. Towards the middle, some of the differences begin to effect the film. The best example I can think of is how Dr. Manhattan acts during his live interview (I'll restrain from giving away any scenes). Not only did the course of events change from the book (which I can understand, given there must be some sort of time limit for a film), but some of what he says was pretty much copy and pasted from other scenes in the book. Nevertheless, I was able to oversee these differences and enjoy the film.
The ending of the movie was the biggest change from the book that I noticed. I think they did this for 2 reasons. 1, I had heard that they were going to include an aspect of energy and where we get it into the film, making it more topical. Secondly, I think the ending of the book would have been too out there for most viewers and would have required a lot more explaining (which the book gives) then would have been feasible for the length of the film (it was about 2 and a half hours long).
I think if you have read the book, you will enjoy the movie. You'll probably spend a lot of time making sure the movie stays true to the book (like I did), but then you'll stop and just enjoy it for being a good movie. I think if you haven't read the book, you might enjoy the movie even more. As most readers know, it is unlike any comic book and actually answers the question, what would the world be like with superheroes? We see even the ones we like have dark sides and the ones we don't have the best intentions.
On a closing note, there are some things I would have changed, had I been to art school and had a gazillion dollar budget for a movie of this magnitude. For one, I think making Dr. Manhattan appear nude, while keeping true to the book, takes away from the movie. I heard a lot of snickers whenever you could see his penis, and I even think they may have showed it more than they do in the book (if you've read the book, take note of the scene were Rorschach comes to visit him and Laurie). I think while it was done with good intentions, covering him up would have been acceptable and not have changed anything about the movie. Also, while I really enjoyed 300 and all the fight scenes in it, the style of slowing down a punch or kick and then speeding it up to real time, I felt, didn't work for this movie and sort of made it seem corny. 300 the book is written like a comic book. Watchmen isn't. The fight scenes, as gritty as they were, still felt like I as watching 300 again. Besides these small points, I thought the movie was awesome and I recommend it to reader and non- reader of Watchmen alike.