Deneb Kaitos (denebkaitos)

With Watchman, the superhero genre in film has taken another couple steps forward and set the bar much higher than it was before. The emotional impact towards the film and initial impression is simply that it is amazing. Every detail within the film, from the script, setting, atmosphere, special effects, character development, and narrative the film is superb. The director and writers should be given credit for understanding that material throughout. Watchman explores many issues, so many that it would probably be impractical to cover all of them with only seeing the film once. One major issue is how the movie captures the essence of the Cold War. That feeling of an inevitable end through nuclear proliferation. The struggle justice faces in light of crime and corruption. The isolation faced because you stand up for ideals other people cannot or will not understand. The director captures these aspects in explicit detail. The movie takes its time telling the story while never letting the tempo to fall. Watchman also takes some brave steps in its portrayal of the male form. It is rare that a movie takes the risk to actually show a human penis on the screen. In Watchman this was done with taste that hopefully will break the stigma that particular part of the human body holds. The scenes with sexual content are done with sensual ease that is very erotic. The director has talent with conveying the primal reality of humanity. The violence is another example of the director?s techniques. The portrayal of violence is brutal and horrifying. The point of the violence is not left in limbo to be thought about. The violence has a purpose to show the brutality of the human condition. Like the sex scenes and the depiction of the human form, the violence-laden scenes are done to portray strong themes throughout the film. The movie is more than just a superhero movie, it takes the time to tell a compelling and engaging story. It lays open the issues that the superheroes face, issues that can be found in any human relationship. The essence and futility of the Cold War has rarely been so fully explored. Watchman is a movie that should not be missed.

Neil Gaiman has a knack at telling a modern fairy tale. The visuals are fantastic. The acting is superb. It is a shame this movie didn't catch the mainstream.