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Imagine a world where the president is drunk with the power of his military arsenal, the world is constantly on the brink of nuclear war and anyone who speaks out against the government is a victim of character assassination.
While this world may ring true to recent events, it is also the alternate universe that is the setting of Alan Moore's classic graphic novel "Watchmen."
One of the most revered titles in comics has been passed around Hollywood for 21 years, with several filmmakers trying their hands at adapting a story that most thought was unfilmable. Even Moore thought the novel couldn't translate to the silver screen.
However, Zack "the visionary director of '300'" Snyder was finally able to bring the masterpiece to fruition.
Unfortunately, it appears that everyone was right and "Watchmen" should never have been put on film.
The story takes place in an Orwellian 1985 where superheroes live out in the open and the Doomsday clock is set at five minutes to midnight, meaning nuclear war with the Soviet Union can happen anytime.
The Watchmen are a group of retired superheroes who are thrust back together when a member of their crew, The Comedian, is murdered.
From that starting point, viewers are taken on a journey with the other Watchmen as they try to find out who killed him.
Snyder uses his talents to produce a visually stunning film, but he also produces a bloated, self-indulgent movie that falls short of its over-hyped expectations.
"Watchmen" opens with a masterfully executed title sequence that distorts popular historical images to introduce audiences to its alternate reality.
Sadly, the film goes downhill from there, dragging the audience on a meandering trip through the land of unnecessary exposition.
Viewers are also treated to a never ending stream of gratuitous, over-the-top violence. Snyder is known for making violent films, so this wasn't a surprise. However, at a certain point the exploding limbs and brutal attacks become a distraction to the plot.
While this world may ring true to recent events, it is also the alternate universe that is the setting of Alan Moore's classic graphic novel "Watchmen."
One of the most revered titles in comics has been passed around Hollywood for 21 years, with several filmmakers trying their hands at adapting a story that most thought was unfilmable. Even Moore thought the novel couldn't translate to the silver screen.
However, Zack "the visionary director of '300'" Snyder was finally able to bring the masterpiece to fruition.
Unfortunately, it appears that everyone was right and "Watchmen" should never have been put on film.
The story takes place in an Orwellian 1985 where superheroes live out in the open and the Doomsday clock is set at five minutes to midnight, meaning nuclear war with the Soviet Union can happen anytime.
The Watchmen are a group of retired superheroes who are thrust back together when a member of their crew, The Comedian, is murdered.
From that starting point, viewers are taken on a journey with the other Watchmen as they try to find out who killed him.
Snyder uses his talents to produce a visually stunning film, but he also produces a bloated, self-indulgent movie that falls short of its over-hyped expectations.
"Watchmen" opens with a masterfully executed title sequence that distorts popular historical images to introduce audiences to its alternate reality.
Sadly, the film goes downhill from there, dragging the audience on a meandering trip through the land of unnecessary exposition.
Viewers are also treated to a never ending stream of gratuitous, over-the-top violence. Snyder is known for making violent films, so this wasn't a surprise. However, at a certain point the exploding limbs and brutal attacks become a distraction to the plot.
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