Watchmen: Chapter I

I do not write many thing here anymore, mostly due to the imbecile politics and character limit.

But. But this thing is ... good. And I want people to know it.

I'm not a shill, I'm not a bot, nobody paid me to write it.

I read the comic in the last millenium. As in, in the 90's. Still Iron Curtain, that was one of my glimpses of "The West". And I was truly impressed.

Then, they made a movie. Unfortunately, with a wrong ending - but with Malin Akerman (here replaced by Katie Sackhoff from Battlestar Galactica, super nice touch).

And this, this is more than good. It just follows the comic book almost to the letter. Very, very impressed. I'd give it 8, but I'm bumping it to 9 because of fidelity.

"I am not locked here with you. You are locked here with me". I truly hope next two chapters are going to be a masterpiece. Please keep following the comic to the letter, not the simplified Snyder movie.

I'm starting to believe that DC/Warner is actively mocking the intelligence of us geeks and nerds. There's simply no logical explanation for the stark contrast between the consistently impressive output of their animation division and the abysmal quality of their live-action films and television series over the past two decades. It's as if they're either testing our patience to see when we'll finally snap, or they're conducting a grand experiment to determine just how much mediocrity we'll tolerate without complaint. Perhaps the animators at this behemoth of a company have demanded autonomy, and the executives who have repeatedly stabbed the live-action division in the back (and then twisted the knife) simply don't meddle in their affairs. Whatever the reason, I yearn for the truth behind this perplexing dichotomy.

"Watchmen: Chapter I" is a production that will undoubtedly satisfy a Watchmen reader, or even a casual fan of the film adaptation, or simply an animation enthusiast. After experiencing Chapter 1, my sole desire is for the subsequent installments to arrive in rapid succession.

Every frame of this animation has been meticulously crafted, paying homage to the source material with reverence and respect. Ah yes, the pot-bellied CEOs of DC and WB, take note: producing quality work and pleasing hardcore fans is that simple. The real challenge lies in taking beloved, culturally significant characters and stories and turning them into cinematic and televisual abominations.

The animation style is a visual feast, capturing the gritty realism and dark undertones of the Watchmen universe. The voice acting is superb, with each actor breathing life into their iconic characters. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the complex narrative to unfold at a satisfying pace. The action sequences are thrilling, the emotional beats are poignant, and the overall experience is one of pure, unadulterated satisfaction.

"Watchmen: Chapter I" is a testament to the potential of animation to tell mature and thought-provoking stories. It's a reminder that even the most beloved and well-known properties can be reimagined in fresh and exciting ways. It's a beacon of hope in a sea of mediocrity, a shining example of what can be achieved when talented creators are given the freedom to express their vision.

I wasn't even aware this movie was out, but now that I'm watching it, I'm not sure why it was made. It's impossible not to compare it to the 2009 version-whether the theatrical or ultimate cut-since this feels like a shot-by-shot recreation. However, in comparison, the new version is pale and soulless.

The voice acting is mediocre and lacks emotion, while the generic music removes any edge the original had. Though this version is supposed to be a more faithful adaptation of the graphic novel, it feels rushed and leaves too many elements unexplored.

The animation is another disappointment. I've seen The Red Aim, the first animated adaptation, which used only one voice actor and simple motion effects from the original comics. That felt more compelling. Here, the directors and animators had all the creative freedom they could wish for, yet chose to create a PG adaptation that strips away everything that made the original story interesting.

Some reviews have called this fan service, but not every comic or graphic novel needs to adhere strictly to the source material, and taking creative liberties isn't always heresy.

The 2009 Watchmen was one of the best superhero films of its era. It arrived before superhero fatigue set in and before shows like The Boys redefined the genre. This new adaptation, unfortunately, serves as an example of how not to adapt a comic.

It's okay.

If you've read the Comic or watched Snyder's adaptation, the story is pretty much the same thing, bit by bit. You could completely skip it and not lose much. But unlike the film (which has some good acting in some parts that might feel dull in this one), it does include the "Tales of the Black Freighter" section that Snyder didn't have space for. And well, the dialogue is always good to hear, and Rorschach a treat.. good enough to deserve a refresh every now and then!

As a note, this first film (of two) completes issue 5 of 12 from the comic.. which is almost half the story, and it lasts around 1 hour and 20 minutes. Second chapter is expected in 2025? For newcomers, waiting that long and needing to rewatch this sounds like a bad idea. Just wait and enjoy them together. Or read the comic, which was already great. The visuals are okay, I guess.. with 3D models and brush-stroke textures. It serves enough as a vehicle for what is the draw (story), anyway. And works well as an introductory way to consume Watchmen.

You know if you want to watch this or not.

I expected this movie to be a full unabridged comic adaptation, but instead it's just a disappointing shot by shot animated remake of the live action version of "Watchmen", albeit the director's cut. If you've already watched Zack Snyder's live action movie, you'll be extremely bored by this movie. If you have only read the comics, you'll probably enjoy this adaptation. However, if you've only read the comics, the motion comic is far more complete than this.

I'm not sure how chapter 2 expects to cover the remaining ground of the comic in less than 90 minutes. Unless there's a director's cut of these animated films, I expect that a significant amount of story was unfortunately cut out.