Now Playing: The Watchmen (by Alan Moore)

I spent most of my Saturday off (a precious commodity, let me assure you, dear readers) waiting in line to see The Watchmen, a movie based on Alan Moore's celebrated graphic novel by the same title. I wasn't really chomping at the bit for this movie - the costumes seemed sillier than normal and, having not read the book, I just didn't get it. But, being the first major blockbuster of 2009, it seemed a logical movie choice. I read the first half of the novel while waiting in line, so that turned out quite well.

In actual fact, this was very entertaining. The casting was excellent, but the real standouts are Jackie Earle Haley (Rorschach) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Comedian) - those two sold the movie more than everyone else combined. Haley's deep bass made Bale's Batman growl sound amateur and Morgan's turn as the extremely grey-area Comedian definitively wiped away any fuzzy feelings we may have had left over from his turn as Denny Duquette on Grey's. Zack Snyder's directing is very convincing, though slow to start. I will admit to falling asleep for a few minutes in the first half hour of the film. I don't know if this is entirely his fault, as the source material is just a slow to get started (Chapter I took me forever to get through). There are some major rewrites (which is for film pacing purposes, I'm sure) and a few omissions (no sign of the Black Freighter anywhere), but if you haven't read the novel, you wouldn't notice a thing. In fact, the writers should be commended for penning such a tight and believable script and the art director is genius for actually recreating entire panels throughout the movies.

On its own merits, I'd give Watchmen 4 out of 5 stars. It's a great break from the winter blues and a nice early intro to the 2009 blockbuster season. If you have to wait in line, I recommend reading the novel as an appetiser.

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Having just finished the novel, I am still undecided as to what my reaction is to it. I have heard over and over again about how this graphic novel is the greatest of its genre and an absolute must-read. I don’t think I agree. Don’t get me wrong: it is a really written graphic fiction, capturing the undercurrents of 80's paranoia and opening up discussions of war, morality and justice. More than anything else, it takes a "real" look at the kind of personality it would take to be a superhero (or super-villain, for that matter): slightly psychotic, damaged and a subconscious yearning for the spotlight (and the implicit social acceptance that comes with it). Moore's weaving of the Black Freighter as a parallel storyline is sometimes a bit obvious, but it probably helps reluctant readers keep up with ever-darkening plot and sometimes-esoteric conversations. Finally, the plot itself is really an exercise in philosophy: what does it mean to be "good" and "evil"? What is the difference? How much value does life have - if any at all? Is the sacrifice of millions for the sake of billions ever justifiable (it is in money - if we invest a million dollars and get a billion back, wouldn't that be considered an unmitigated success?)? But the greatest graphic novel ever? I don't think so, but I do think it's in very good company in terms of quality. V for Vendetta, Gaiman's Sandman series and the new Hush (Batman) duology would all be "must-read"s in my opinion and Watchmen would be a worthy shelf-companion to all of these.