About Watchmen

Watchmen (2009) is a gritty, dark superhero film directed by Zack Snyder. An adaptation of the 1986 comic book series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, the film presents an alternate 1980s timeline, where vigilantes known as Watchmen operate outside the law. When a former colleague is murdered, the remaining "watchmen" uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As they reconnect and unravel this conspiracy, they must deal with their own personal demons and the true face of heroism.

Making / Production

The film's production journey was a tumultuous one, with rights passing through several hands before landing with Warner Bros. Snyder faced frequent comparisons with the revered source material, and, aiming to stay as faithful as possible to the comic book, he employed green screen and other extensive visual effects.

Actors

• Malin Akerman plays Laurie Jupiter / Silk Spectre II, tackling the complexities of the character's multiple identities with notable aplomb.
• Billy Crudup portrays Dr. Manhattan / Jon Osterman, offering an eerily calm voice and CGI-altered presence that effectively represents his character's disconnectedness from humanity.
• Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Edward Morgan / The Comedian, is both charismatic and horrifying, capturing the brutal nihilism of the character perfectly.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film was initially slated to open with the 'Ride of the Valkyries' scene from 'Apocalypse Now'.
• Although set in an alternate 1985, director Zack Snyder had all the cars manufactured before 1981 to give the film a more dated look.

Awards

While Watchmen didn't win any major film awards, it did garner some nominations, including a Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film and a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.

Quotes

• "Rorschach's Journal: October 12th, 1985. Tonight, a comedian died in New York."
• “We're society's only protection.” – The Comedian

Music, Soundtrack

• "The Times They Are a-Changin'" - Bob Dylan
• "All Along the Watchtower" - Jimi Hendrix
• "Sound of Silence" - Simon & Garfunkel