You may have seen the pins, a classical yellow smiley with an arrow of blood in the top left corner, or heard the phrase, “Who Watches the Watchmen.” The pin and phrase, originating from the graphic novel, recently resurfaced as viral marketing for the blockbuster, Watchmen. Zack Synder, director of 300, brought the Watchmen graphic novel to the big screen. After about a 20 year struggle, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s comic came to life.
The pin that many hold is prevalent in the story as soon as it starts. The time period is during the cold war, and with everyone’s heightened fear of nuclear annihilation, a group of vigilantes arise. There are six: Nite Owl II, Dr. Manhattan, Rorschach, Silk Spectre II, Ozymandias, The Comedian, and Dr. Manhattan, the only superhuman among the team. This team, Crimebusters of 1966, followed the original team, the Minutemen of 1939.
The events take place after the Keene Act of 1977, banning costumed heroes. Nite Owl II and The Comedian are retired, Dr. Manhattan and Silk Spectre II work for the government, Ozymandias, proclaimed world’s smartest man, enjoys life as a billionaire, and Rorshach continues his vigilante activities. The Comedian is murdered and as he lie dead, his famed pin lies next to him. Flashbacks, like in LOST, allow past events to be seen and give important back-story. The opening credits show alternate universe that of the Watchmen, where Americans easily win Vietnam War with the help of Dr. Manhattan, all overlaid with Bob Dylan’s 1964 The Times They Are a-Changin'.
It clocks in at a lengthy 162 minutes, and keeps one hooked throughout. One drag, although maybe intentional, is the music. In a flashback, Dr. Manhattan is seen annihilating Vietcong while with Ride of the Valkyries plays inappropriately. Watchmen is rated R.
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