Watchmen (2009)

4/5

Watchmen was not as bad as I expected. I expected another 300, but I got something much better. After seeing both, I realized that Zack Snyder does little to alter, either improve or tarnish, the source material he is given. As far as graphic novels are concerned, Frank Miller's 300 sucks and Alan Moore's Watchmen rocks. Everything I liked about this movie originated from Alan Moore--the believable story, the complex characters, the mature mood and atmosphere. Everything I didn't like originated from Zack Snyder--the incessant slow-motion, the bad special effects, the poor music choices. There is one thing I will credit Zack Snyder with adapting successfully, and that is the intro credit sequence to backdrop the story's timeline.

Still, there were a number of changes Snyder should have made to make the adaptation more successful. First, it should have been around 2 hours (instead of 2 hours 45 minutes) and more focused. Snyder allowed extraneous material to bog down the pacing and confuse the audience. Second, there was way too much nudity, especially of a certain blue penis. (Also, why does Dr. Manhattan have eyebrows but no pubic hair?) Third, the actors spoke with comic book stylings, which stood as a stark contrast to the mature mood evoked by the movie's story. Fourth, it didn't really explain the universe. Why are these superheroes stronger/faster/smarter than everyone else? How can someone just raise their daughter into a career of crime-fighting? Why does Rorschach's mask constantly change ink patterns? How is Ozymandias faster than a speeding bullet? Most of these complaints are minor, but I often think of them when I think of this movie. Still, Watchmen is an altogether enjoyable experience and one I would highly recommend to people who are curious as to what might really happen in an alternate universe of superheroes.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409459/

Righteous Kill (2008)

2/5

When I first heard Righteous Kill was getting made over two years ago, I was excited for two reasons: Russell Gewirtz was writing the screenplay (he also wrote Inside Man) and De Niro and Pacino were acting together. Both disappointed. The plot concerns two aging New York cops in pursuit of a serial killer who murders bad guys. The way the movie progressed, and the structure of the story overall, made the twist at the end obvious. There was also no build-up to the finale; you were simply watching stuff happen like it was some kind of indie slice-of-life movie. Additionally, the actions of most characters made little sense or were poorly explained. Characters' motivations were seemingly nonexistent or just plain ludicrous.

As far as the acting goes, what can I say? It's De Niro and Pacino, so it's not bad. It's just bleh. It's two old men talking about a case that needs to get solved. They're given nothing to show off their abilities. The best thing about this movie, which surprised me, was the cinematography and editing. They were far better than I expected (and better than the rest of the piece), although they were also a little out of place sometimes. Whether or not you were originally interested in this movie, just leave it behind. There's nothing here to satisfy you.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034331/