When I first saw there was going to be a Watchmen animated adaptation, it looked so similar to the Zack Snyder film, I couldn’t figure out why they’d bother. But that impression was wrong as this film more closely follows the graphic novel visually and storytelling-wise.

Watchmen tells the multi-generational story of masked heroes… and how they fall apart and/or struggle to adapt to an alternate 1985 on the cusp of nuclear war. Each hero gets his or her backstory as a new mystery of who killed one of their members unfolds.

I read the Watchmen graphic novel a couple decades ago so my memory of the Snyder film is stronger. That said, the big questions about how this new version is adapted are strong. Would this adaptation avoid Snyder’s propensity for excessive violence? Would it hew closer to the comic in that most of the heroes are just average people with average strength or would it go for the dissonance of Snyder’s vision? How would it handle the conclusion… which I can’t speak of until Chapter 2. Oh, and would it include the comic-in-a-comic Tales of the Black Freighter?

Well, this adaptation treats its heroes as folk with human limitations… though they can still kick butt when needed. Also, the violence (and blue schlong) are pared way back. They DO include the Black Freighter comic… to the film’s detriment. I’m sure diehard graphic novel fans will be happy, but I imagine its inclusion – even shortened – will baffle everyone else. It shows up half-way through the movie and just gets in the way.

I was very much into this adaptation at first… though it had a creeping sense of feeling rushed. Of hurrying the story along without any real cinematic feel, visual flair, or transitions. For all of Zack Snyder’s faults in his interpretation of the material, at least it felt like an epic film. This adaptation feels too much like a (well animated) motion comic. Not enough cinematic flair… just too matter-of-fact with little artistic eye.

The art style is clearly CG overlaid with hand-drawn filters (simile to Marvel’s What If series). The acting is mostly pretty good though some of the voice talent was rough. The writing is, to my memory, spot on to the comic with many memorable and iconic lines that the Snyder film used as well.

Being that it’s Chapter 1, this is only half the story. It ends with the capture of Rorschach, if you’re keeping score. Just an FYI.

It is currently September the 14th, 2024 as I write this and I paid full price to purchase this film. It wasn’t worth it. You are reading this in the future and I hope you watch it as either a fair-priced rental or stream it on (HBO) Max. This adaptation might be worth watching, but not at $19.99.

I really wish I was able to give this a higher rating but its adaptation choices and filmmaking style sabotaged it. But it’s still a dense and interesting story, regardless so I won’t punish it too much. I’d say it’s still worth a watch (at the right price) for fans of the comic or of the Zack Snyder film. If you are unfamiliar with either, both are better first starts. And, hey, you can also watch the excellent (HBO) Max sequel series. It’s pretty great!

Score: 82