DVD Review: Watchmen

*****
They said it could never be made. They were wrong.

Based on Alan Moore's bestselling graphic novel depicting the treatment of real-life superheroes by the authorities and the public in an alternate 1980s USA, Watchmen is best described as part-detective thriller, part-action movie.

While the 1940's saw the rise of masked heroes in the form of the Minutemen, present day (well, 1985) America looks down on its costume clad inhabitants. Following the death of ex-hero The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) investigates, trying to uncover those responsible for the murder.

Encountering old friends and enemies, including nuclear wonder Dr Manhatten (Billy Crudup), Rorsachach's search becomes evermore complicated as faces from the past, and unhelpful authorities, hinder him.

Dave Gibbons artwork is brought to life here while Moore's original story remains fairly intact. This does mean the story is fairly ponderous at times and there's little light amongst the darkened streets, night skies and murky motives.

With an emphasis on what being a hero does to a person's psyche, the film's dialogue-heavy script might be off-putting for younger viewers but for genre fans this an important addition to the ever-growing catalogue of superhero movies while still providing enough explosions to satisfy the hardened action junkie.