Don't EVER Complain About The WATCHMEN Movie In Front of Me

WATCHMEN is one of my favorite movies.  I think my obsession with this film is probably only matched by my obsession with PROMETHEUS....another film that the geek community seems to have a love/hate relationship with.  I have both personal and filmic reasons why I think WATCHMEN is an amazing, beautiful, horrific, somewhat misunderstood movie, that deserves much more credit than it has received from the world-at-large.

THE PERSONAL REASON

Blogs are all about self-disclosure.

Mine isn't.

But the other day I was looking through my movie collection and came across my DVD of WATCHMEN and was instantly taken back to March, 2009.  A month that was life-changing, traumatic, and one of the most terrifying periods in my life.

In late February 2009 I was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  It had gone undetected for many years.  Other health problems had masked its symptoms and when the doctors finally found the tumor it was beginning to seriously affect my ability to breath, stand up, and function on a day-to-day basis.  I have been through many difficult situations in my life, and I try to keep a positive attitude and humor about my problems.  However, in this situation, I found my ability to cope stretched to its limits.  Thankfully I found something to look forward to in all the chaos of that moment.

Like most comic book fans, I was already excited for WATCHMEN.  I hadn't read the graphic novel, but I'm kind of weird that way.  I'm a comic book fan who tends to just watch comic book movies.  I don't actually read comics.  However, after my diagnosis, my desire to see the film turned into an obsession.  I even shaved a smiley face into my hair to celebrate seeing the movie.  In that month before my surgery I viewed WATCHMEN as the last thing I had to look forward to during that uncertain time.  And, as a movie fan, maybe the last important movie I would ever see.

I remember at one point sitting in my room contemplating my possible death and actually thinking "Well, at least I got to see WATCHMEN...."

It's the little things that get you through, I suppose.

THE MOVIE

While I could go on and on about the acting, the directing, the set-design, the fights, and everything else that makes WATCHMEN work, I would like to focus on the most controversial aspect of the movie: the ending.  The ending of the movie adds something that I feel is lacking in the graphic novel....something every good drama needs to succeed.

Films are about sacrifice.

Sophie had to make a choice.  Schindler made a list.  Vader saved Luke.

Sacrifice is exactly what the graphic novel lacks.  Space Octopi uniting the world is an okay ending, I suppose.  However, Dr. Manhattan being used as a scapegoat and common enemy for the world to unite against means that The Watchmen have to make a real sacrifice in order to keep world peace.  Dr. Manhattan, the world's first real superhero, is now a villain.  This adds an extra level of loss that the graphic novel lacks and creates a more satisfying filmic, experience.

So, in conclusion, don't talk bad about WATCHMEN around me.  Ain't gonna fly.  Also, I'm sorry I got all dramatic.  It won't happen again.  I swear.