Watchmen

Tonight I went to see Watchmen, the film adaptation of Alan Moore’s hugely acclaimed graphic novel (which I’m yet to read). I went in unsure of what to expect due to very mixed reviews. Some critics thought it was superb, others hated it. What follows is my most awkward review of this blog thus far.

Set in an alternative 1985 where super heroes haves been outlawed the film starts out with The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) being thrown to his death, followed by a rather fascinating title sequence, which sets up the basis for the story. Following this we are then introduced to the film’s main heroes Rorschach, Silk Spectre, Night Owl, Ozymandias and the all powerful DR. Manhattan.

The film is essential two things, first it is a film noir murder mystery with the outlawed Rorschach, who believes that someone is targeting costumed freaks. He spends the film searching for clues to uncover who the villain behind the murder is. Secondly it is the story of our heroes coping with essentially being a group of has-beens who now have no place in the world. We are also treated to a series of flashbacks revolving round the previous generation of heroes.

So what did I think of it? Well to be honest despite succeeding in some places the film really didn’t live up its potential and as writer Alan Moore claims it was rather ‘unfilmable’.
First things first; the plot. The plot had potential to be truly interesting and although it introduces a few interesting ideas (e.g a superheroes true place in society) it is largely incoherent and to be frankly honest all over the shop. The films structure is largely a mess (a la Quantum of Solace) and therefore fails to pull you into the story. Eventually we are lead to the films climax, which despite having an interesting subtext to it is executed in a very sloppy manner making the first 2 hours make even less sense whilst also over dosing on CGI. Leaving the viewer somewhat unfulfilled.

In terms of directing Zack Synder is essential an over active fan boy adapting his favourite comic. Like in his previous film 300 he completely over indulges on pointless slow motion, random musical decisions and over glamorised violence, making the action sequences less exciting. He is also being far too faithful to the comic book, so as to not disappoint the small amount of fan boys who have actually read the comic. This is the same mistake he made with 300 and the same mistake Chris Columbus made when he directed the first two Harry Potter films, desperate to fit in as much of the source material as humanly possible.

The film would have worked better had it been more loosely based around the novel as opposed to replicating it frame for frame. In fact maybe if instead of setting it in the 80’s it could have been adapted into a post 9/11 crime epic similar to what Chris Nolan did for the new Batman films.

The film does have it good points however. The cinematography here is absolutely stunning and some of the issues and ideas explored in this film make it a lot more interesting.

Character wise this film has a lot going for it, the character of Night Owl works well because he is portrayed as the every man of the film and the romantic subplot between him and Silk Spectre is fully convincing. Rorschach is also enjoyable to watch, he is portrayed as a chandler-esque film noir detective albeit one with a grudge against the harsh, ran down world that he protects.

The most interesting character however is Dr. Manhattan, the only hero in the film who appears to have genuine super powers. He is a man who has no understanding of human compassion and often questions their importance in the universe. It is not till the end of the film the he looks into Silk Spectre’s mind that he finally understands human compasion. Worth taking note is his superbly executed origin story, which is told in a flashback.

So there is my verdict on Watcmen, largely disappointing but with a hand full of good ideas that just about manage to keep it afloat. Not terrible but could have been so much better. The Phantom Menace of 2009.

Pseudo-intellectuals will love it and the sound track is impressive.

3 STARS

Gran Torino

Tonight I chose to see Gran Torino, a social commentary film written, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood in what will apparently be his acting swansong.

The film starts out with the now widowed Walt (Clint Eastwood) living at home by himself in what has become a rough Korean neighbourhood, full of crime, violence and gang culture much to Walt’s dismay as he once served in Vietnam and has had a racist stigma ever since. After Walt inadvertently save Thao, his young Korean next door neighbour from a gang of thugs he is crowned a reluctant neighbourhood hero. He soon develops an understanding for other cultures and start to teach Thao how to be a man eventually befriending him and letting him drive his 1972 Gran Torino (a car that represent an era long gone, an era when Eastwood was younger).

The thing that most appealed to me about this film was the opportunity to see Clint Eastwood acting again, this time now as a very old man and long since his heyday. Overall Eastwood nails the role, portraying Walt as a bitter, twisted, cynical, old misanthropist. A man who frowns upon the modern society, especially his good for nothing grand children and the ethnic gang culture that now plagues a once pleasant neighbourhood. Another thing notable about Clint's performance is how he manages to generates sympathy for the elderly showing how they are viewed by the younger generations as utterly dependant.

With Eastwood’s character the film successfully explore the issue of how war veterans perceive the ran down society they fought for, how they will always have to live with what they’ve been through and how they will never have a full understanding of other cultures due to this.

One thing worth pointing out is the abundance of racial slurs uttered largely by Eastwood Himself throughout. In the 2 hour running time he manages to offend blacks, Jews, Christians and most of all Chinese people. However this film succeed at making each and every slur slightly funny therefore causing no offence to any viewers. It is through the audiences understanding of Eastwood’s character that the film achieves this.

This film shares similarities with American History X (1998). Both films deal with racial intolerance and the effect that is has on society and like America History X this film end on a rather bleak note, which in all honesty may by quite shocking to an audience (in a good way).

I would highly recommend Gran Torino to someone looking to watch a film with more meaning to it, especially since the next few months will be filled with shoddy, pointless franchise cash ins (terminator 4 anyone?). Enjoy it whilst you can, this film is just like the radio advert says “It’s like Dirty Harry never went away”.

4 STARS