By Jack Bartholomew
I know exactly what you’re thinking, ‘oh that guy who writes rock music blogs is writing about something else!’ You caught me! Red handed! The last cupcake was eaten and the crumbs are smothered all over my face next to the plate…. Or whatever analogy you want to use. The point I’m trying to make is that this is different to my usual pieces but this is an “entertainment” blog so I can be excused… Ahem….
THE WATCHMEN IS A MASTERPIECE. I stand by that claim. I re-watched this film for the (at least I think) billionth time this morning and I sat there thinking to myself ‘how is this film not reminisced upon enough for its brilliance?’ It’s still a mystery to me. The plot follows one of the most complex and respected comic books of all time, there’s incredible visuals, characters, fantastic cast, grittiness that at times tackles realistic issues. This isn’t your common superhero film; there’s so much depth to the characters you’re always debating whether they’re good or evil. Though programs like ‘The Boys’ have took influence the heroes are purely evil, there’s a greater perspective with this… I could go on and on with a list stating how amazing it is but you can read that anywhere, I’m trying to tackle why this film is so UNDERAPPRECIATED. I’m using the caps as emphasis as this is under the superhero genre and we all love satire, am I right?
So, just to clear the air, if you have no idea what I’m raving about, I’ll give you a quick rundown on the plot… It’s 1985 in an alternate universe where Nixon is still president and America is on the verge of a nuclear war and superheroes exist. One of the vigilantes Rorschach goes on an investigation to figure out who murdered his (also superhero) colleague. The results could change the world.
That probably doesn’t give it enough JUSTICE (sorry I couldn’t resist) so if you haven’t seen it, just go watch it. After you’ve read my article obviously.
Anyways, where were we? Oh yeah, how The Watchmen doesn’t receive enough attention, especially by superhero fans, right! So, first of all lets address the elephant in the room, it is directed by Zack Snyder. Before you light your virtual pitchfork, let me just clarify, there are many people that despise Zack but adore this film. I can’t provide proof right now but IMDB probably has some of them.
Snyder’s association has somewhat limited what the film could’ve achieved. Though the comics had a cult following prior to the release in 2009, it was always a gamble releasing this as a mainstream high budget movie. It’s not similar to Iron Man or Captain America in the sense that even prior to their releases there’d be comics or action figures lying around every store in the world. It explains why the budget was $120 Million but it only grossed $55 Million in it’s opening weekend, which isn’t atrocious, but also not incredible for a film of this standard. You’d have thought that ten years down the line this would become more exposed, especially with sites like Netflix streaming it (even if it was short lived). The trouble is Snyder’s films haven’t been the most well-received. I personally enjoyed some of his work after Watchmen but Justice League… Yep, the abomination that gives you shivers like a war flashback did Snyder no favors especially with Whedon’s involvement (#ReleaseTheSnyderCut!). Most people probably saw “directed by Zack Snyder” and turned off not realising what a classic they were missing.
Let’s go back to 2009… if we’re being honest, looking at the cast, at the time they were unknowns practically. This could’ve had an impact on sales especially considering the comics weren’t mainstream and neither were the actors. It does make you wonder how this would’ve differentiated if it were released today after Jeffrey Dean Morgan was took to another level of fame by The Walking Dead. Who knows? Anyways, that’s just a side thought.
Now, here’s an issue something I’ve been itching to tackle. That Rotten Tomatoes rating. Is. Infuriating. 64%? I mean, I don’t know about you, but I often look at scores under 40% as films that are unbearably awful and scores over 70% as worth a watch. Anything that’s between that must be average so I wouldn’t rush to watch it and the film most likely gets pushed to the back of my mind. But 64? They couldn’t have even given it six more points? What a random number! Though, personally, I don’t take a site that ranked ‘La La Land’ as a 91% film, a lot of people do. It’s an influencer. Before you stream anything on Netflix or buy a DVD (if you know what that is) you’ll see if it’s worth your time. This film is liked by the majority of people so how does that warrant such an average rating? But that’s Rotten Tomatoes for you; their bias is real…. But that’s another article for another day.
Want to know what really lets this film down though? Drum roll please… It’s the comic books fans themselves! I bet you’re yelling “I would’ve gotten away with it, if it weren’t for your meddling blog!” I mean, you’re not wrong. There’s so many fans that are quick to dismiss and badmouth Watchmen. Sure (without spoiling it) Snyder took liberties with the end of the film, but in all honesty, who cares? The rest of the adaptation couldn’t have been anymore loyal to the story. There’s elements which are the same scene by scene and word for word. Yet, people still moan. You didn’t like the ending… Boo hoo! Cry me a river. These are the same people that would ask for the manager if they had the best meal of their life, revisited the restaurant a week later and had exactly the same meal except there was one gram less chicken this time. How can you win? You got the film you wanted and you’re still bitching years later? What!?
Anyways, if you’re a fan of the superhero genre and you haven’t just rage closed your tab, let me know your thoughts on this. I’m curious. Obviously I understand that some people genuinely don’t like this film – psstt…. Some of this article is tongue and cheek. If you haven’t seen The Watchmen and want to see a brilliant interpretation of superheroes in the norm, I’d recommend it. I’m sure you’ll have a great three hours in isolation WATCHing it (I know that was awful). This concludes today’s thought post, I hope you enjoyed reading it. I’m going to start posting daily if I can, so let me know if you want to see more posts like this. But for now… I hope you all stay safe and Warner Bros if you’re reading this, #ReleaseTheSnyderCut.
Earie Entertainment 