User reviews

I expected this movie to be a full unabridged comic adaptation, but instead it's just a disappointing shot by shot animated remake of the live action version of "Watchmen", albeit the director's cut. If you've already watched Zack Snyder's live action movie, you'll be extremely bored by this movie. If you have only read the comics, you'll probably enjoy this adaptation. However, if you've only read the comics, the motion comic is far more complete than this.

I'm not sure how chapter 2 expects to cover the remaining ground of the comic in less than 90 minutes. Unless there's a director's cut of these animated films, I expect that a significant amount of story was unfortunately cut out.

I know we're only one episode in and I know it's based on the comics but it's word for word, scene for scene an animated version of the Snyder film. They're obviously some artistic additions and perhaps more comic accurate scenes but I'm just curious as to why they blatantly copied Zack Snyder's version. Maybe it's a way to expand on what he had in mind? We all know what the executives at Warner bros are and aren't capable of. I like the animation and the voice actors, over all I don't have any complaints, I'm just sincerely confused as to why it's so similar to the live action theatrical version.

I read the novel back in the day. And after that I watched Zack Snyder's version. I loved the message of the novel and I always thought Zack did a great job with his vision ahead of time.

Now we have the animation. It is very faithful to the resource. Story, characters and even their costumes and such. The story goes how it is happening in the novel. I can say the animation is more faithful from Zack's version up until now. However, I found that Zack was able to give better emotion and message. With Jackie Earle Haley's Rorschach voice acting and Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Edward Blake voice acting the story was darker. In this adaptation it is more brutal. I am not saying one is better than the other but just different naturally.

Back in the day, because of the mindless MCU movies people treated Watchmen pretty hard. People created a hatewagon against Zack. Of course the ending of the Watchmen movie had to be different from the novel version because of the budget and technology limitations at that time, and some people had a reason to hate. But now with the different heroes versions such as The Boys and Invincible people can judge and watch with a wider perspective of an R rated adaptation.

I believe animation did a faithful adaptation for the 1st Chapter.

It's okay.

If you've read the Comic or watched Snyder's adaptation, the story is pretty much the same thing, bit by bit. You could completely skip it and not lose much. But unlike the film (which has some good acting in some parts that might feel dull in this one), it does include the "Tales of the Black Freighter" section that Snyder didn't have space for. And well, the dialogue is always good to hear, and Rorschach a treat.. good enough to deserve a refresh every now and then!

As a note, this first film (of two) completes issue 5 of 12 from the comic.. which is almost half the story, and it lasts around 1 hour and 20 minutes. Second chapter is expected in 2025? For newcomers, waiting that long and needing to rewatch this sounds like a bad idea. Just wait and enjoy them together. Or read the comic, which was already great. The visuals are okay, I guess.. with 3D models and brush-stroke textures. It serves enough as a vehicle for what is the draw (story), anyway. And works well as an introductory way to consume Watchmen.

You know if you want to watch this or not.

Watchmen is not only one of my favorite comics but also one of my favorite DC movies of all time, released in 2009 being almost 3 hours long. Seeing that it was adapted into animation very quickly grabbed my attention, and while this film wasn't bad, it definitely was lacking in a lot of what made the first one great.

This film (being one of two parts) focused a lot more on flashbacks and the story of Dr. Manhattan, with lots of the big parts of the original story not being portrayed (saved for part two). For me the campy animation style took away some of the darkness and seriousness, and it was hard to follow along with the story this time around.

Voice acting and pacing were solid, but overall this one needed some work.

B-

So, Watchmen is one of the most famous, one of the best and one of the highest valued graphic novels in the world.

So, why would we get another adaptation of it with a relatively cheap animation? It basically gets no advertising push and with little information about it (it doesn't even have a wikipedia page at time of writing this!).

Just seems like they are devaluing the IP by releasing it this way!

But that's the why, now we move on to the what - the actual product!

And dammit, I thought it was pretty darn good. Clearly a straight adaptation, but they did it well. It engaged me, I thought the animation style captured the feel of the book well, and the voice acting was pretty good.

So why I don't think this should exist, given it does - I have to admit it could have been way worse.

I do not write many thing here anymore, mostly due to the imbecile politics and character limit.

But. But this thing is ... good. And I want people to know it.

I'm not a shill, I'm not a bot, nobody paid me to write it.

I read the comic in the last millenium. As in, in the 90's. Still Iron Curtain, that was one of my glimpses of "The West". And I was truly impressed.

Then, they made a movie. Unfortunately, with a wrong ending - but with Malin Akerman (here replaced by Katie Sackhoff from Battlestar Galactica, super nice touch).

And this, this is more than good. It just follows the comic book almost to the letter. Very, very impressed. I'd give it 8, but I'm bumping it to 9 because of fidelity.

"I am not locked here with you. You are locked here with me". I truly hope next two chapters are going to be a masterpiece. Please keep following the comic to the letter, not the simplified Snyder movie.

After the miserable slog of three "Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earth" movies, I was pretty sure I wouldn't bother with another DC animated effort.

Now that I've finished "Watchmen: Chapter One", I'm very glad that I went back on my earlier decision.

This was a great animated feature, which makes me wonder how on earth the same studio is able to produce animated rubbish like the Infinite Earth movies.

I loved the story, thought and really loved the superb voice cast that includes Bosch's Titus Welliver, Battlestar Galactica's Katee Sackhoff and Matthew Rhys from the Americans, amongst notable others.

The animation was good, too.

Looking forward to the sequel.

This is an excellent adaptation of the original comics & quite different from the various cuts of the film.

The reviews saying this is boring must be by very boring & bored viewers, because the basic story is intact & as exciting and enthralling as ever.

Various changes have been made , otherwise the length of this film would be several hours long as the older 'animated comic' version proved.

I've seen all the various versions so far & this is a more faithful variation on the original comics (which I read as they were being released & before collected into graphic novel format) .

I love ALL the versions, except the 'theatrical cut' of Snyder's film- I love the Directors cut even tho some serious liberties were made with the story later in the film.

I really enjoyed the several hour animated comic version , tho even that missed several moments from the comics, it was 97% there.

This version begins with a superb recreation of the actual comics pages (altered in Snyder's film versions) , tho starts changing the original flow of the comics by issue 2 (the funeral) , however it does it in an imaginative & creative way that doesn't spoil the overall story. Some of the intercutting works brilliantly & some not so, but it still works & manages to move the story on in a concise manner without disrespecting the source material.

The artwork/animation is fabulous, combining the superb original style with a more sleek & sometimes airbrushed glow, very like Dave Gibbons promotional art for the Graphic Novel Collection. I'm surprised others have criticised it, it really is well designed, devised & implemented. For several scenes I totally forgot I was viewing an animation & thought I was watching a well made CgI moment.

So why not 10/10 then you may wonder?

Well, the soundtrack, which is also excellent can be a bit too high in the mix & obscure some great lines of dialogue... and that is about it with my quibbles !

AND ONE BIG ISSUE- at the end of the credits after the film- a PREVIEW of Part2 is shown that in should really be avoided & never included, as it spoils some key moments later in the story.

Some may whinge that Laurie looks slightly different to the comic, but that is a minor issue. Others may complain that Ozymandias role is more explicit, but I imagine everyone watching this version is already familiar with the source material or Synders film.

Some may wonder what is the BEST version of Watchmen & that depends on the viewer..... but for me the COMICS were the best version (obviously!) .

The animated comic is the closest 'filmatic' version, while the Synder DIRECTORS CUT (with the Black Freighter parts included) is very well done but not as faithful to the source material as this version,.... ALL of them are are superb 'thoughtful entertainment ' that puts most modern writing to shame.

All the various versions are so different that they are all worth seeing if you love the original comics.

Note - I did not mention the HBO sequel series because I thought it was painfully bad & an insult to the original series (the comics).

I love how we finally get to see Watchmen in its truest animated form. Snyder's adaptation was great, but this is as close as it gets to the comics coming to life.

The characters, the slow, lingering shots, the sound design, and the intricate details of the scenes are everything I hoped for. As a huge fan of the Watchmen comics, this feels like a real treat. I didn't expect it to be this good-I thought it would be on par with other solid DC animations, but this film has its own distinct flavor.

Rorschach's voice, inspired by Snyder's film, was possibly even more satisfying than Jackie Earle Haley's portrayal. I truly believe this will be a one-of-a-kind film and an honest depiction of the comics.

Huge thanks to the artists-it was a real treat. I can't wait for Chapter 2!

Based on the famed graphic novel by Alan Moore, "Watchmen: Chapter I" sets the well-known tale of superheroes in distress in an animated format. One by one the caped and masked crusaders of yore are either being killed off or disgraced. Who or what's responsible? And why?

For one thing, this flick's a one-off. With a futuristic Manhattan nocturne illuminated by bright neons amidst a dark tone you've got a raspy-voiced thug who's supposed to be a superhero interrogating everybody; a sociopathic meathead called "The Comedian" flung out of a high-rise out of his misery; a nude man in blue who flies to Mars; an effeminate blonde whose supposed to be the smartest man in the world; and a woman dying of cancer. Throw in a love story with the usual law chase tacked in the end and you've got your adult toon in a nifty package.

I had high expectations for this being a fan of cartoons (wholesome and otherwise) for the mature crowd. Like the comic it's based on I found it satisfactory and underwhelming. While watchable with the intriguing plot and quite appealing graphics the flaws rear out early on. Aside from the somewhat crude animation the disappointing script and storyline left a lot to be desired. It's as if some dork let loose with his social shortcomings highlighted his interactional inadequacy by stymying what should have been a deep and compellingly well-rounded thriller on the proverbial battle between good and evil. Instead what you get is a fairly run-down chronology of ho-hum characters with ho-hum lives and the obligatory fistfights and beatings inserted amidst a filmful of talk. With animations like this, 6 year olds with theirs have more fun.

At the end of the film there's a preview (albeit a too lengthy one) of the sequel to this film and it seems to hold more promise: seemingly more action-packed and less talky it bodes for a punchier, more consistent view.

Who's watching "The Watchmen" ?

I wasn't even aware this movie was out, but now that I'm watching it, I'm not sure why it was made. It's impossible not to compare it to the 2009 version-whether the theatrical or ultimate cut-since this feels like a shot-by-shot recreation. However, in comparison, the new version is pale and soulless.

The voice acting is mediocre and lacks emotion, while the generic music removes any edge the original had. Though this version is supposed to be a more faithful adaptation of the graphic novel, it feels rushed and leaves too many elements unexplored.

The animation is another disappointment. I've seen The Red Aim, the first animated adaptation, which used only one voice actor and simple motion effects from the original comics. That felt more compelling. Here, the directors and animators had all the creative freedom they could wish for, yet chose to create a PG adaptation that strips away everything that made the original story interesting.

Some reviews have called this fan service, but not every comic or graphic novel needs to adhere strictly to the source material, and taking creative liberties isn't always heresy.

The 2009 Watchmen was one of the best superhero films of its era. It arrived before superhero fatigue set in and before shows like The Boys redefined the genre. This new adaptation, unfortunately, serves as an example of how not to adapt a comic.

I'm starting to believe that DC/Warner is actively mocking the intelligence of us geeks and nerds. There's simply no logical explanation for the stark contrast between the consistently impressive output of their animation division and the abysmal quality of their live-action films and television series over the past two decades. It's as if they're either testing our patience to see when we'll finally snap, or they're conducting a grand experiment to determine just how much mediocrity we'll tolerate without complaint. Perhaps the animators at this behemoth of a company have demanded autonomy, and the executives who have repeatedly stabbed the live-action division in the back (and then twisted the knife) simply don't meddle in their affairs. Whatever the reason, I yearn for the truth behind this perplexing dichotomy.

"Watchmen: Chapter I" is a production that will undoubtedly satisfy a Watchmen reader, or even a casual fan of the film adaptation, or simply an animation enthusiast. After experiencing Chapter 1, my sole desire is for the subsequent installments to arrive in rapid succession.

Every frame of this animation has been meticulously crafted, paying homage to the source material with reverence and respect. Ah yes, the pot-bellied CEOs of DC and WB, take note: producing quality work and pleasing hardcore fans is that simple. The real challenge lies in taking beloved, culturally significant characters and stories and turning them into cinematic and televisual abominations.

The animation style is a visual feast, capturing the gritty realism and dark undertones of the Watchmen universe. The voice acting is superb, with each actor breathing life into their iconic characters. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the complex narrative to unfold at a satisfying pace. The action sequences are thrilling, the emotional beats are poignant, and the overall experience is one of pure, unadulterated satisfaction.

"Watchmen: Chapter I" is a testament to the potential of animation to tell mature and thought-provoking stories. It's a reminder that even the most beloved and well-known properties can be reimagined in fresh and exciting ways. It's a beacon of hope in a sea of mediocrity, a shining example of what can be achieved when talented creators are given the freedom to express their vision.

Synopses: The Comedian has died, Nobody knows or cares. Soon there will be war Millions will perish and burn in sickness & misery. Staring into bloody hell. Rorschachs thinking why does one death matter against so many, But even face of Armageddon. He shall not compromise on this.

Theme: The film gives a detective murder mystery vibe. From the beginning you will fell its suspense, mystery. Thriller

Animation: visual effects & color lighting looks amazing but movement looks stop motion.

Ations & Dialogue: The fights violence, brutally feature in this was brief but enough to entertain & captivate. Dialogue sometimes fells confusing or overused and doesn't create a heavy scenario.

Direction: But certain scenes & metarials takes long time or seems unnecessary. This makes it look like a direct remake of Snyder Film. If you've already seen that it may disappoint or please you. And heartfelt and sorrowful emotion arcs were reduced and sidelined. Which makes a poor Crime mystery thriller experience.

Acting: Dr Manhattan, origin, personal struggle, emotional dispatch & conservative looks was very interesting. Others like roshach able to carried out the strong narrative by himself.

Final Thought: But, also ending felt rushed which creates a gap between part 1&2. If this were directly joint into one film. It would've been much better follow. If you want to watch so good luck & make sure you have part 2 ready.

While, I haven't read the graphic novel of the same name, I love both of the previous adaptations of Watchmen more specifically Zack Snyder's Movie. So, I was excited to watch an animated version of this story and it was awesome.

Positives for Watchmen: Chapter I (2024): I really liked this unique styles of animation in this movie. It did take me awhile to get used to it, but I eventually got into it. I liked the individual story arcs for these characters in this first movie. And finally, I really enjoyed the voice cast for these characters.

Mixed for Watchmen: Chapter I (2024): While I did like the voice cast in this movie, I still prefer the cast from Zack Snyder's Movie. The character that made me realize this was Rorschach voiced by Titus Welliver and while he does a fantastic job with his voice performance in this movie, he pales in comparison to Jackie Earle Haley in the 2009 movie. And finally, the place in which this movie ends was little bit unsatisfying, but that will certainly when I watch Chapter 2.

Overall, Watchmen: Chapter I (2024) was a great animated movie and it has me pumped for when Chapter 2 eventually comes out.

We're talking about Watchmen in the present day, where strong themes that were discussed in the past have become sensitive and avoided.

This animation goes into detail about the development of the characters in strong psychological discussions, heavy scenes and an organized script. You can understand exactly what is going on and how each character is reacting to the events.

The Comedian perhaps represents the mind of a person who has lived both sides of life and found the real joke behind his narrative. He is an extremely complex character who creates the point of discussion that is carried throughout the first half of the film.

Rorschach is a methodical investigator who respects his own rules, but shows a confused empathy for his former colleagues before the anti-vigilante law was passed in 1977. The character seeks to develop a line of investigation to understand the cause of so many murders.

The animation is a detail that may be uncomfortable for some people, but the content is very good.

When historians of the far future look back at human behavior in our current age, their comments will be less than flattering. The original story, a "graphic novel," deservedly made TIME's list of the 100 best novels (!) of all time. Think about that. The 2009 adaption by Snyder is on my own IMDb list of the best films of all time. This two-part adaptation had the resources and the budget (and the length) to stay faithful to the original. And is technically perfect. So what were the fans expecting? My guess is that even the fans themselves don't know the answer to that one. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

"The Watchmen Part 1" is an incredibly disappointing attempt at revisiting the iconic story. Instead of bringing any new vision or creative interpretation, the film lazily mimics the 2009 version, replicating scenes almost shot for shot. This approach strips away any potential for innovation, making the film feel like a soulless, uninspired rehash rather than a fresh adaptation. The animation, which could have been a saving grace, is shockingly poor. It's riddled with technical flaws, lifeless character designs, and lacklustre movements that fail to convey any emotional depth. The overall result is a project that feels like a cheap cash grab, offering nothing to fans of the original graphic novel or the 2009 film. Instead of enhancing the legacy of "Watchmen," this adaptation diminishes it, leaving viewers frustrated and disappointed. It's hard to find anything redeeming about this film, which feels more like a missed opportunity than a worthy continuation of the franchise.

Amazing movie I have ever watched. As a kid, i remember watching the other Watchmen movie in 2009. That made me be a big Watchmen fan. I decided to watch this because I remember this was one of my favorite childhood movies I used to watch back in 2009. I wished the movie was longer. I also liked that Dr Manhattan can teleport when there's so many problems in this world that involves politics. Doomsday. Nuclear weapons. So on lol. I wish I can teleport and be away from politics. If you liked other watchmen movies or the show, watch this currently new animated movie. It's definitely good. Good story writing. 10/10.

Rorschach voice lacks his distinctive cadence present in both Snyder's and Motion Comic adaptation. This voice doesn't fit the character in my opinion and took me out of it. He seems like he was rushing the lines.

That being said, other voice actors also seems like they are rushing the lines, but to a lesser extent. I even had to check I haven't accidentally increased the playback speed. Maybe that was a production mandate, direction decision or something like that, and on Rorschach is more evident due to not fitting the specific voice of the character.

Other than that this adaptation was spot on. Beautifully follows the source material.

But I still missed Snyder's amazing soundtrack choices at the intro and funeral scenes.

Watchmen Chapter 1 is a masterclass in storytelling, setting the tone for a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of the superhero genre. Alan Moore's writing is superb, weaving a complex narrative that defies comparison to more mainstream superhero fare.

From the opening pages, it's clear that Watchmen is geared towards a mature audience. The themes of morality, mortality, and the human condition are tackled head-on, with no punches pulled. The characters are multidimensional and flawed, making them relatable and fascinating.

The artwork by Dave Gibbons is perfectly complemented by Moore's narrative. The moody and immersive atmosphere draws the reader in, making it impossible to look away. The pacing is deliberate and measured, building tension and anticipation for what's to come.

One of the standout aspects of Watchmen is its deconstruction of the superhero genre. Moore pulls no punches in his critique of the notion of heroes and villains, instead offering a nuanced exploration of the gray areas in between.

The characters of Rorschach and Nite Owl are particularly compelling, offering contrasting views on the nature of heroism. Rorschach's brutal and unflinching worldview is both captivating and terrifying, while Nite Owl's more measured approach offers a glimmer of hope.

The cliffhanger ending of Chapter 1 has left me eager to dive into Chapter 2. I'm invested in the characters and their stories, and I'm excited to see how the plot unfolds.

Overall, Watchmen Chapter 1 is a captivating and thought-provoking introduction to a seminal work in the graphic novel genre. If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and dive in - but be prepared for a complex and mature reading experience.

With its complex characters, nuanced themes, and gripping narrative, Watchmen is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the deeper side of the superhero genre. It's a work that will challenge your assumptions and leave you questioning the very nature of heroism.

So, if you're ready to have your mind expanded and your perceptions challenged, then join me on this journey into the world of Watchmen. I promise you, it's a ride you won't soon forget.

I've accused both the Zack Snyder adaptation and the HBO continuation of Alan Moore's Watchmen of missing the point. You may be wondering what exactly it is I'm looking for. The answer is nothing. Pretty much any attempt to adapt this novel is to miss the point (although some adaptations miss the point more than others by trying to make Moore's characters, which serve the argument that IRL masked crimefighters would be a piteous bunch, into legitimately "cool" heroes).

Its cinematic presentation was remarkable precisely because it was a graphic novel -- with angles, match cuts, and "shots" that aren't as striking when they're in, well, an actual film. Moreover, the comic book format was thematically relevant; it allowed you to spend any amount of time on a given page and read the panels in any order you please even as the ending remains the same, not unlike the way the godlike, ultra-powerful nudist Dr. Manhattan perceives time.

Watchmen Chapter 1 translates the intent of the images instead of just their basic appearance -- meaning it's better than the Snyder film in that regard -- but the What If...?-esque cel-shading makes them less than stellar to look at. They're too expressionless to convey either the tragedy of the panels or the "omg so cool and sexy"-ness of Snyder. Even when the images are successful/potent, they're never as creative or purposeful with the colors and framing as Dave Gibbons' artworks.

Last but not least is the voice work, which is good, but as a gigantic fan of the source material, it's hard not to imagine how you "want" these voices to sound.

I know this sort of thing doesn't make a film worse, but this is the kind of movie that you're not gonna watch unless you are, indeed, a gigantic fan of the source material (and likely have those same nitpicks while viewing it). I never got the impression that this film was aiming to introduce new fans to the IP; too many key moments are breezed past. (To put things in perspective: This one crams in more elements from the novel than even the Ultimate Cut of Snyder's Watchmen, yet the full two-parter will be shorter than that film.)

I always thought Watchmen was a comic book, or THE comic book, and I was fine with that. Didn't need an adaptation. I could anytime grab it back and lose myself in reading, and discovering every detail.

I like Snider, and I appreciate his views and his gamble at adapting it. I thought it was entertaining and nice to see a live version. But it wasn't quite Watchmen.

This animated adaptation gave me the atmospheric emotion of revisiting an old friend. I don't know what first comers might think about it. But I came across it, without planing to watch anything nor knowing it was coming in advance, and decided to check it out, and sat throught the whole thing. It was, in my humble view, simply perfect as it delivers what exactly I would expect from an animated adaptation of Watchmen, no more, no less.

I don't understand why people say it's "cheap" animation. I find it deligtful, made with love and respect for Dave Gibbons (now iconic) art. The lighting is flawless, and so, the flat colors of the pages come to live.

The pace is slow, this is not a Tik Tok era piece of media. It's supposed to be slow. But at the same time, every frame and sentence is packed with information and details you can miss.

In 2024, we are living a decay of the succcess of superheroes, after being a huge thing. But also superheroes have a nostalgic past, that only outcast nerds (like myself) care about and miss. Perhaps today is a good time to revisit Watchmen because of this. Why we liked them? Why we got tired of them? Why some people hate them?

I haven't read the comic in some years, and my memory is not what it used to, so I can't tell if this is a frame by frame adaptation. But it rang true. Nothing sounded out of place. I'm perfectly happy with it not bringing anything new (It ain't broke...). I'm glad this exists and I've had a great time watching it. I hope it brings a new generation to reading Moore's work.

Very pleasantly surprised, Thanks Warner.