The Bell Ringer

Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: Arts & Life

I don't know about you, but I have this bad habit of driving home really fast after watching a really good action movie.

I guess it's just all the adrenaline rushing through me and part of me wants to be in the action, so I grip the wheel tight and fly through the streets. After watching "Watchmen" I drove home exactly opposite. I drove meticulously slow and didn't even have the radio on. Even though "Watchmen" was action-packed, it had a reverse effect on me. And what caused this change? Awe.

Being an astute comic book reader growing up, I had always heard of the "Watchmen" but had never really picked an issue up and investigated. Oh, how I should have! So when I saw that there was a movie in the works, I thought that I might as well read it now before I go and see it, which I knew I would eventually.

I devoured the graphic novel within a matter of days and re-read it even faster. The complex characters and depth of the plot sucked me in and wouldn't let go of me, even though I didn't have a desire for it to.

There was something about writer Alan Moore's characters that made me see a part of myself in each one of them, and that's no easy feat. And the movie does a wonderful job of capturing the spirits of every character and placing them on the silver screen. All actors were almost the spitting image of their comic book counterparts and portrayed them just as well.

The movie followed the book almost flawlessly with only a few notable differences and, of course, having to cut out a few side stories. The biggest difference between the novel and movie was that in the novel the name of the second group of heroes was the Crimebusters, and in the film they were named the Watchmen. Even bigger than that, the ending was different from the novel, as in what device is used to kill most of New York.

The film captured the angst and atmosphere of the novel and portrayed the story nearly scene-for-scene. The fight scenes were lengthened for the film but didn't lack any of the novel's graphic bloodshed.

Another of the movie's successes lies in its musical score. The music chosen for the film is perfect for the time period and feelings of the Cold War era. As Adrian and the Comedian battled in a breathtaking opening fight scene, Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable" plays in the background.

While that may sound like a strange fight scene song choice, it played perfectly into the almost operatic battle. Bob Dylan's "Times They Are A-Changing" played in perfect harmony as the film showed a montage of flashbacks to give a background to the events leading up to the movie.

For any fan of the book, the movie is a must-see and will not let you down. If you can get over the minor differences, you'll find an accurate portrayal of the novel. And for those who haven't read the book, the movie still holds plenty of action and entertainment, and on top of that, the movie holds a message.

Movies with a message are hard to come by these days, but "Watchmen" holds a powerful and less-told one. The overall theme depicts the horror of human nature and leaves the audience debating between the usage of necessary evil and the true definition of blind justice.

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