I will preface this by saying I have not read the Graphic Novel, but travel with a circle of friends who all have. I thouroughly enjoyed WATCHMEN, a cynical tale in an alternate time. What happens when the people we trust to protect us no longer want to or feel they have to? The film asks, "What would you do if Superman got tired, gave up and grew old?" Who watches the Watchmen?  These are real people with real issues, something the superhero genre in general seems to forget sometimes. A very involved character study with minimal action but the action scenes were very good and well done. By this stage the plot seems a little “been there done that” (think the first season of HEROES) but again, this is more about the people that inhabit this world. Obviously the star here is Zak Snyder's direction (see 300) and he doesn't disappoint. It’s a visual feast that should have you debating it long after the screen has faded to black. (And as a side note, Snyder's REAL talent is directing sex scenes. The one in 300 was good, this one was like upscale porn it was so good. lol.) All in all, WATCHMEN was a visual feast and a damn good movie. It was NOT THE DARK KNIGHT, nor will any film come close to that mile stone for a while, but it does rank among the best Superhero films made. And as a side note once again necessary to all those complaining about the violence, gore, sex or whatever--especially the effect it had on their children--the film is RATED R, which last time I checked means no one under 17 admitted! Do us all a favor and pay attention to this kind of stuff before dragging your rugrats to the theater!

WATCHMEN - A