Watchmen

Seriously, is this the greatest superhero movie of all time? I would like to start off by saying that I have never read the comics that this is based on, so I am only judging the movie alone. I am sure that if I was familiar with the Watchmen comics I would have many more criticisms of the movie. Everything about this movie felt perfect. From the opening credits (which I can confidently say may be my favorite of all time) all the way to the final needle drop, I was hooked. The gritty and grainy film style captures the perfect vibe and mood that Zack Snyder was aiming for. We see the lighting and style change depending on the mood of the scene, most clearly in the ending when we finally see the world regain its color. Tyler Bates’ score perfectly encapsulates and even amplifies every emotion on screen. Every needle drop fits every scene perfectly and paired with the phenomenal sound design, you truly feel like you are a part of every moment. Even the VFX are stunning, especially for a movie almost 20 years old which was truly ahead of its time.  The acting was incredible with every emotion feeling genuine. The costume design, especially Rorschach’s mask, was one of my favorite parts.  I appreciated the change of pace from generic superhero movies in which the heroes are depicted as perfect displays of good and justice while the villains are nothing more than pure evil. Other than Dr. Manhattan, the heroes here are depicted as nothing more than mere humans who are simply above average, I mean the Minutemen were literally just cops who wore masks. We see they are separated from civilians not by their magnificence or power, but by their flaws and imperfections behind the scenes. It shows how even those who we look up to and put on this pedestal of false glory, are no more perfect and often more flawed than the average person.  Overall, I think Watchmen is more than just a superhero movie. It shows the disparity and struggle of what it means to be human and how no matter how perfect people may seem, they are always flawed in their own ways. It shows the haunting reality of what man is truly capable of and what it will turn to, or against, in times of struggle. Peace requires sacrifice. By far the hardest part about watching this is trying to decide which of my top 4 it’s going to replace. Favorite quotes: “I can change almost anything, but I can’t change human nature.” “None of you seem to understand. I’m not locked in here with you, you’re locked in here with me.” “Is this bean juice?” “Human bean juice.” “Good joke, everybody laugh.”