New Movies and Box Office Predictions: Watchmen

February may have closed with a whimper, but it was still a record setting month in what has been an explosive year at the box office. The economy may be terrible, but we are still going to the movies in record numbers. March looks to get the blockbuster season off to an early start with the much hyped Watchmen. To say expectations are high would be an understatement. I am really looking forward to this and truly hope not to be let down.

Watchmen. (2009, 163 minutes, R, science fiction, trailer) I have been looking forward to this from the very first moment I heard it was entering production. When it was announced that Zack Snyder was signed to direct, I was even more intrigued. The director has proven to have a good eye and I had been impressed with his prior outings, 300 and the Dawn of the Dead remake. As the film neared completion and some snips began to appear, I became even more excited over its impending release. Then the lawsuit came around and the ugliness between Fox and Warner Bros. threatened to blindside the project and put it on the shelf. Fortunately, an agreement was reached before the release date had to be changed. Now it is here and I eagerly look forward to seeing it on the IMAX screen.

The movie is an adaptation of a graphic novel said to be the greatest ever created. It was originally released in 1986 and was created by writer Alan Moore (who hates Hollywood and refuses to be associated with any of his adapted works; of course, I would not want to be associated with The League of Extraordinary Gentleman either) and Dave Gibbons. It has long been said to be unfilmable; now that notion can be put to the test. Early word seems to be split.

I admit that I do not know a lot about the novel, but plan on reading it following seeing the film. The story is set in an alternate 1985 with the world on the brink of nuclear war and where superheroes have been forced out of their spandex. However, the murder of a hero brings another hero around with some questions. I am sure that is overly simplistic, but I did not want to read too much about what happens.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

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