Watchmen

Watchmen

I've read the comic. I don't recall the source material being this depressing and modernist... but then I was 12-ish... I don't recall even finishing it. Reading Watchmen again with education and experience, it's obvious though the subtexts that they draw from. They're both great in a 'modernist literature' sense, if you are into that sort of thing. I can only stomach so much frankly because I find it too disillusioning. Despite this the movie is well paced, clever, and eloquently executed. It strives, like the source material, to be more than just what it is- a mere film. It wants -begs- you to think on issues of morality. This is one of those movies that does comics justice. But unfortunately it does it too well. Like the source material it is phenomenal at rendering the credibility of comics as a legitimate form of literature - and misses the point of being a "super hero movie", or comic. Justifiably, it's not as the source is barely a superhero comic itself. It's not a movie in that league at all, rather it's more like "Shawshank Redemption" or "The House of Sand and Fog". It is as much a literary and philosphical work as it is an suspense film. It's pacing is slow and methodical, analyzing every character and plot point with poise. I highly recommend it because of it's high brow take on culture and the superhero genre. But because of all its well executed modernist themes, a sense of loss, modern sexuality, and justice, It's definately something to keep the kids from.