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Created Mar 10, 2009 01:02AM PST • Edited Mar 10, 2009 01:07AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   This seminal, and perhaps best, graphic novel has finally arrived on the big screen. No small amount of effort has been put forth over the last twenty years to bring these odd “heroes” to our movie theaters, as some of the biggest names in Hollywood have been attached at one time or another. But none managed bring the goods to the table until Zack Snyder and his team, and their “true to the material” sensibilities.

   Much admiration and awe go to Snyder for even attempting to deal with the complexities and overall bulk of material. The film itself is something of a marvel, laying down a story that time shifts, mood shifts, and character shifts several times during its course and somehow remains focused on its goals. The heavy layering of special effects both helps and hinders telling the story, as there are several times when the “Hollywood magic” distracts from the story being told.

   The story does get in its own way from time to time. I think it is because Snyder failed to realize some ideas that work on the comic page don’t necessarily translate to the screen. With the breadth of material available, more trimming needed to be done to sync the plot elements into a cohesive sum. The main set pieces from the comic are in place, as they should be, but some of the more mundane or perfunctory elements, such as the tidal wave of exposition at Ozymandias’ lair, could have been done away with or trimmed to it essential elments and few would have noticed.

   All in all, a terrific effort. But the end result is a bit pulpy and mashed, as if a giant squid were laying on top of it.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Good cast for the most part. Jackie Earle Haley is almost great as Rorshach, the tireless, relentless pursuer of scum and villainy. He falls short of great when conveying some of his character’s quieter moments. Billy Crudup gives a solid effort as Dr. Manhattan, the only Watchman with genuine super powers. Could have done without so many shots of blue wang. Patrick Wison is quite good as Nite Owl II, and possibly the only character that has any real growth in the film. Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the Comedian is very good, though it would have been nice for him to have more screen time. Matthew Goode as Ozymandias “the smartest man in the world” has a bit too much melodrama going on in pretty much all his scenes. Malin Ackerman, as Silk Spectre II, is probably the weak link in the movie acting-wise. She doesn’t seem to pull out all the stops like the other actors, and doesn’t always look comfortable when delivering her lines. She does look comfortable when she’s “gettin’ down” in the owl ship.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    Good 3.0

    As stated, the film has a few shortcomings in its path of storytelling. It also has a few in the overall look of the production. While there some tremendous visual moments (Dr. Manhattan in Vietnam, Mars), there are several scenes that look like we’re on a film stage and not in a real world environment. I know it’s odd to use the term “real world” in regards to a comicbook movie, but it’s hard to suspend our disbelief if that disbelief is compromised and we are taken out of the world of the film. But quite a bit of care and effort has obviously been given to this production, and that effort should be applauded.

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play Good 3.0

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals Good 3.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Obscene 5.0

    About as violent as a comicbook movie can get, yet somehow it manages to feel organic to the material and not just tacked on for shock value. The same thing can kind of be said for the sex, though it is a bit more gratuitous than it should be.

17. Sex Explicit 5.0

18. Violence Monstrous 5.0

19. Rudeness Vile 5.0

21. Reality

    Fantasy 5.0

    The film plays to its own reality, and for the most part we believe that reality.

22. Circumstantial Fantasy 5.0

23. Biological Fantasy 5.0

24. Physical Fantasy 5.0