Rio Grande Herald Movie Critic:
Gerald Salinas

Who watches the Watchmen? I did, and if you haven't, you should. The 1985, best-selling graphic novel comes to life on the big screen, thanks to Zack Synder. Watchmen, who are a group of mask wearing adventurers, face the reality of the "real" world. The world shouting out "save us" and Rorschach whispering "no". (one of my favorite lines in the story).

In 1985 the real life threat of a nuclear attack was very much possible. Richard Nixon at the time president in the film, is force to standoff against that possibility. The world, as dark as it is, now is in need of heroes. Watchmen personifies superheros, a group of individuals who dress up and patrol the night for world's evil that lurks around each corner. Although superheros are meant to protect us, not all seem too happy with the thought of vigilantes, the police go on strike, and the people riot, leaving no choice for president Nixon to enforce the Keene act, (meaning all who choose to live of life of crime fighting must work for the law or retire). Most retiring and only a few working for the government, the watchmen have been terminated.

The Watchmen starts off small and ignites an explosion. Triggered by the murder of the Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) investigates, leading him to believe someone is out for mask adventurers. Rorschach, one of the conflicted characters, warns the rest of the Watchmen, hoping to reunite the watchmen, but all seem to think he's just paranoid. After visiting his old partner Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson), the more reasonable and simpler character, who has been isolated from the world, and fails to convince him, Rorschach never gives up not even in the face of Armageddon.

Dr. Manhattan, (Billy Crudup) the only one with superpowers. Or as known to non-watchmen fans "the naked blue guy". Works for the government and lives and is lover to Silk Spectre II (Malin Akerman) who never enjoyed the life of crime fighting, due to the presure of her mom forcing her to live out the family business. After an interview with Dr. Manhattan goes terribly wrong, accusing him of givining cancer to all who have come in contact with him, leaves earth to a more understanding place, a place without people Mars.

Ozymendias (Matthew Goode), the world's smartest man. Who also quit the superhero gag and went public, and living the life of wealth. Ozymendias was the first of the bunch to try and unite all superheros to work as a team, was just laugh at by the comedian, and since then has been living the present instead of the past.

With a failed attempt to assassinate Ozymendias, the capture of Rorschachs, the exile of Dr. Manhattan, and the murder of the Comedian, the Watchmen must now reunite and fight a bigger cause, a bigger fight than usual, to figure out why all this is happening.

The Watchmen can be compared to last year's blockbuster "The Dark Knight", Batman of course winning. But both are less of an action movie and more of a thrill/political drama. The Watchmen show real life threats back in the 80's with nuclear war, gets down and dirty and hides nothing, puts a good perspective on what it'll be like to dress up as a superhero and face the challenges of life. With the exception of Dr. Manhattan, no one has any type of powers but are highly skilled, mask adventurers in the real world can fight the good fight but can't be everywhere and can't fight the big problems in the world, in the movie being nuclear war.

I don't have to tell you, but I'm going to; the book is a lot more intense and darker than the movie, going into this movie, I was expecting to come out a little disappointed, but I didn't. I was actually surprise on how well the movie was put together and told. Those who have read the novel will experience the book come to life and those who just saw the story of the watchmen will experience a brilliant piece of fiction.

Give it up to Zack Synder for taking on a big scale story and turning it into a motion picture, although some may argue it was page for page and line for line, well it was the best way to go, Zack Synder just added the stlye of the movie, and as mentioned early the book is far more impressive but the movie doesn't disappoint. A lot of critics and fans say they'll watch it again and I have to agree I will watch this again.