The Blu-Ray Dissection: Watchmen – The Ultimate Cut

Posted by Chad Webb on 12.31.2009

The last Watchmen review you'll ever have to read. Step inside for 5 full discs of masked hero goodness.

Malin Akerman: Laurie Juspeczyk/Silk Spectre II
Billy Crudup: Dr. Jon Osterman/Doctor Manhattan
Matthew Goode: Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias
Jackie Earle Haley: Rorschach
Jeffrey Dean Morgan: Edward Blake/The Comedian
Patrick Wilson: Daniel Dreiberg/Nite Owl II
Carla Gugino: Sally Jupiter/Silk Spectre
Matt Frewer: Edgar Jacobi/Moloch the Mystic
Stephen McHattie: Hollis Mason/Nite Owl
Laura Mennell: Janey Slater
Robert Wisden: Richard Nixon
Directed By: Zack Snyder
Written By: David Hayter and Alex Tse
Theatrical Release Date: March 6, 2009
DVD Release Date: November 10, 2009
Running Time: 251 minutes







Rated R for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language.

The Film

Ever since I saw Watchmen in IMAX, my thoughts on the film have been drifting back and forth like a pendulum. I had watched the film once, and was prepared to wait until "The Ultimate Cut" was released. "The Director's Cut" never really crossed my mind, and I'm glad I decided to avoid it because that is the version that was incorporated with "The Ultimate Cut." Before sitting down to re-experience Zack Snyder's sweeping graphic novel adaptation, a looming question still nagged at me. Was the lack of vision good or bad? Make no mistake, all Zack Snyder did was take the pages of the Alan Moore graphic novel and transfer them to the screen. Nine times out of ten, an adaptation of any type should honor the source, but support the scope of the filmmaker. In rare cases, the adaptation should adhere almost exactly to the source. In the end, I realized that Watchmen was an example of that rare one time out of ten.

The year is 1985, but it is an alternate 1985 in America. We have won the war in Vietnam, and President Richard Nixon has just been re-elected for a third term in office. The Cold War is also heating up fast. One of the reasons behind these events is Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup), a God-like blue man with limitless powers. He was once a regular man, a scientist, but his body composition was altered after a freak accident in a lab. He was also a member of "The Watchmen", a group of heroes fighting crime until the 1970's when the Keene Act was enforced. This effectively retired masked crime fighters, and sent the team underground. Everyone but Dr. Manhattan was a normal person wearing a mask. They are actually the second generation of "Watchmen." Before them, another group of people dressed up in costumes and masks, and went out into the night to battle criminals. Some have even revealed their true identities. Things have changed.

One night, The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a member of both teams, is killed in his apartment. The masked vigilante Rorshach (Jackie Earle Haley) is determined to find out who is behind this murder and why. As he investigates the death, he chooses to warn and recruit the others for help. They are Dan Dreidberg a.k.a. Nite Owl II (Patrick Wilson), Laurie Jupiter a.k.a The Silk Spectre (Malin Ackerman), and Adrian Veidt a.k.a Ozymandias (Matthew Goode). Not all of them believe in Rorschach’s worries, but as his investigation continues, secrets about the heroes are discovered, and the planet tumbles further into chaos with a nuclear war possibly on the horizon. Meanwhile, on a corner newsstand, a young man sits and reads a comic book entitled Tales of the Black Freighter. We are sucked into this story within a story of a captain whose crew has been killed. He is desperately trying to return home to Davidstown to rescue his family from the fate of the monsters of the Black Freighter.

Viewing Watchmen a second time was like seeing a completely different film, at least for me. Part of this does have to do with the added footage. Small additions of dialogue have been integrated, many of them directly from the comic. However, the newer cuts prove that a single line of dialogue can change the meaning and impact of a scene. For instance when Rorschach and Dreidberg enter a bar looking for tips on the Pyramid company, news of Hollis Mason's death pops up on the television. Dreidberg erupts into a furious rage and attacks a member of the gang responsible right in the establishment. Rorschach pulls him away and advises him to not kill a criminal "in front of civilians." This moment not only expands upon their relationship, which is mentioned in other scenes, but it imparts a lot about Rorschach’s personal code.

The sequence of Hollis Mason's death is also included. He is murdered by a gang called the Top Knots, a bunch if thugs that could only be found in a comic book universe, but they are amusing and fun nonetheless. It is a beautifully artsy sequence that is augmented by excerpts of Tyler Bates' score. Witnessing Hollis Mason, an old man, go down fighting is particularly moving, and speaks volumes for the impending doom that approaches the city. The other significant addition is the newsstand, which appears more frequently, and is a sign that another portion of Tales of the Black Freighter will be seen. The animation is spectacular, the voice work from Gerard Butler is perfectly grim, and causes the full experience of the graphic novel to come full circle. One of the best aspects of Tales from the Black Freighter is how it parallels with the live-action story, and this is better realized when the two are combined.

Watchmen is a blast as a purely escapist form of entertainment, and powerful as a thought-provoking fable. As far as story, character, and appearance authenticity are concerned, one could not ask for much more, aside from the altered ending, but more on that later. Some said it was too faithful, and still others said it was not faithful enough, since a few items were "tweaked" as Director Zack Snyder put it. I wrote this line in my original review: "It was as if the majority of the images from the comic were literally lifted from the pages and placed before my eyes." Regardless, this is still "Based on" the graphic novel no matter how exact a translation it might be. The intention is to evoke the feeling that one is watching a graphic novel sprung to life.

One of the first things I assumed after seeing this was that it would be compared to The Dark Knight, for whatever reason. Let me be clear, this is definitely a comic book film in scope, feel, and execution. Every nook and cranny about Watchmen encompass comic book traits and eccentricities. The Dark Knight elected for a realistic approach that elevated the story beyond its comic origins, which obviously was effective also, but Watchmen focuses more on the deconstruction of an ordinary superhero film. On occasion, an overwhelming comic atmosphere can be rendered cheesy when transmitted to the big screen, but those moments are very rare here. Instead, Zack Snyder embraces its grandiose fighting sequences and carries the symbolism, subtle nuances, and minor implications along with everything else Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons completed in hopes of introducing new audiences to the wonderment of the story.

I always go out of my way to avoid critics’ early articles, or even the Friday opening reviews because once they are in your head, that fair judgment or open mind before entering the theater is in jeopardy. After seeing the film, I was surprised to see a mixed reaction amongst critics. Metacritic has it at a 56, and Rottentomatoes has a 64%. Most of the complaints all stem from the same idea: "the film fails to establish an identity of its own." And they are correct, but I view this as a wise decision, not a poor one. By changing too much of the story or the look, it erases much of the message, which for Watchmen is impossible to overly modify considering the fictional world and number of characters. Furthermore, the book contained a bold color pallet, which was vital to copy.

I took a closer look at each one of the action and fight sequences, all of which are stylized in a very exaggerated fashion, yet this decision supports the attitude of the picture. Because of this they are memorably exhilarating and even awe-inspiring at times. Blood spills like fountains, and bodies are tossed through the air as if they weigh nothing. Laurie and Dan's fight with a gang of goons in the alley is about more than just flaunting martial arts skills. It shows two retired heroes experiencing a bit of nostalgia, revisiting their former ways, and it is an adrenaline rush for them. The attempted hit on Ozymandias is almost poetic. It is a carefully staged and slick moment on purpose as every movement counts. Whenever fire appears, such as when Laurie escapes the burning building, or when Rorschach assaults the cops, it bursts in front of the screen and slow-motion clicks into gear. This is not just for flair, but to convey how genuinely dangerous and threatening the fire can be.

In my original article, one of the flaws I cited was the soundtrack, and the manner it was integrated into the film. Not only did the music not bother me the second time around, but I grew to appreciate the adeptness with which the songs were included. Take Simon & Garfunkel's song "The Sound of Silence" during the funeral sequence. As the casket is lowered, the guitar strumming seems to fit seamlessly. Even though Jimi Hendrix’s cover of “All Along the Watchtower” has been used in numerous films, it chimes in appropriately at the end of the Mars conversation. The obvious comparison of the lyrics to the fact that Dr. Manhattan’s father was a watchmaker did not occur to me initially. The worst for me was Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”, which I felt dampened the sex scene between Dan and Laurie. Seeing it in a new light caused me to observe that the point of the camera lingering on them as they made love was to exhibit superheroes having sex. Watchmen aims to display these heroes in a more personal way than any story ever has, and that is why the sex is so important. It makes that point clearer. Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a Changing" remains one of the most masterful opening credits montages. Tyler Bates extraordinary score, combining electronica sounds with rousing orchestral work, will only strike you as increasingly complimentary.

The blemish (pun intended) that is still glaring is the make-up, which was completed by a team of more than 20 crew members. Take Carla Gugino's aging Sally Jupiter, Jeffrey Dean Morgan's aging Edward Blake, and President Richard Nixon, and tell me with a straight face that the make-up was not horrible. For a minute, I took into consideration that IMAX screens project images clearer, but even on a regular screen, this would have been noticeable. For some make-up blunders, one can simply shrug their shoulders and move on. In Watchmen the problem was consistent, and made it difficult to take certain characters seriously. Richard Nixon is the primary issue. Each time his face appears, I cringe. What bothered me about this was that observing these obvious faults allowed a whiff of artificiality. Granted, dismissing this as trivial was easier with a subsequent viewing, but it did not disappear. For other carping, there is also the matters of Rorschach’s mask and Ozymandias’ pet, both of which were explained in the book, are still not in this cut, but they should have been dealt with.

The performances range from superlative to merely satisfactory, but by casting off the normal grid, Snyder deserves a pat on the back. The two highlights are Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach, and Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan. Both have colorful and substantial contributions, and do not disappoint. They deliver brilliant turns, proving that no one else could have played the roles. Patrick Wilson, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Matthew Goode were almost equally as fabulous. Matthew Goode might be the least well-known name of that trio, but I am so happy to see him shine in a big budget effort. His portrayal of Adrien Veidt hits all the right notes of sophistication, astuteness, and arrogance. Wilson's likable personality meshed wonderfully with Daniel Dreidberg, a man left with a fortune, yet still possesses an undeniable aura of yearning for the past and being despondent about his current state. Jeffrey Dean Morgan epitomized the Comedian in every way possible. He is a prick, yet exposes a sense of pathos at the same time, and does this with a limited amount of time on screen. Carla Gugino, despite the make-up, was marvelous as Sally Jupiter. Malin Ackerman was bludgeoned with the bulk of the acting criticism. While I will admit that someone else probably could have nailed the part better, Ackerman was certainly sufficient, and sexy, which was crucial. If she comes off as irritating or belligerent, it is due to the nature of the persona. Remember, she did not choose her destiny, and must live up to her mother.

Rorschach and Dr. Manhattan, the two most interesting characters in the graphic novel, are still just as captivating and electrifying. Books could be written about Dr. Manhattan. I still maintain the argument that he is one of the most unforgettable characters in history. Dr. Manhattan was presented exactly as he was in the book, and to the astonishment of those unfamiliar with the source material, this includes full view of his genitals. He's naked, get over it. This is not used as a distraction. The point is that Dr. Manhattan is not just an ordinary superhero. He is a higher being, and seeing him without clothes on should not really make a difference. It's the human body, it is natural, and he is constantly compared to God, so who cares if he walks around with nothing on?

The following paragraph will involve spoilers of the graphic novel and the film. If you have not consulted both, you might want to skip this paragraph.
Most people knew the ending was going to be different before the film was released. Snyder was not secret about this, which shows that he was confident in the adjusted conclusion. The new ending was the smarter move. Having a large creature come into the situation would have greatly confused those that have not read the book, and doing this would have forced another 5-10 minutes (at least) of explanation. This was the only issue I had with the book. The reasoning given in the motion picture, that Dr. Manhattan was framed as the attacker, made more sense, and was easier to outline. End Spoilers

As with any flick over 2 hours, the "bored" detractors will whine and moan about the running time. Snyder was adept in his pacing here, and this never once felt tiresome or lengthy. “The Ultimate Cut” clocks in at 3 hours and 35 minutes. I cannot imagine that many people will sit and watch this in single sittings. Some might, but one of the many benefits of Watchmen is that you can pick up where you left off and still be transported into this thrilling universe.

Zack Snyder was indeed the right choice for directing this. His positive attitude resulted in a film that is fun-filled no matter what, and demands to be seen more than once to soak in all that it has to offer. He chose a suitable project for himself, one where the story was already available as deep and invigorating, so he could concentrate heavier on visuals, which we all know is his biggest asset. In 300, one outweighed the other, and in the end, the film was good, but is mostly known for its utilization of green screens. Watchmen possesses the best of both worlds, and Snyder was aware of what needed to stay the same, what needed to be changed, and what needed to be dwelled upon. The theatrical version was enjoyable, but compared to “The Ultimate Cut”, one can tell it was being held down and suffocated in certain areas. This complete edition has room to breathe, and although the vision is not totally unique, Snyder’s Watchmen is daring at times, and with the extra room to distend, its full potential and energy is unchained and able to flow.

Watchmen is a mesmerizing success of visual effects and story fidelity. People forget that the writer’s strike was supposed to hit early 2009 the hardest, but this film was a splendid sign of what was to come. The cast and crew of Watchmen did a magnificent job. Screenwriters David Hayter and Alex Tse, despite basically copying the novel word for word, were intelligent in fine tuning certain sequences, and in maintaining the book's integrity, cogency, and dynamism. William Hoy's editing is amazing. He had a tough job of pleasing the studio, the director, and most importantly the moviegoers. Larry Fong's cinematography captured the relevancy of this world, in addition to the enlivening fictional facets, with spectacular use of the camera.

What many of the initial reviews did not mention was how the film would age. The multiple cuts give fans a reason to approach and experience the motion picture again, under new circumstances. Watchmen, no matter what "cut" it is, will be a comic book film that people pop into the DVD/Blu-Ray player over and over again. They will do this because it offers so much in return. It is challenging, invigorating, and reverently handled by Director Zack Snyder. If any version makes my best of the year list, it will be this one.

The Video

The disc took virtually no extra time to load, and I'm not sure that's indicative of the picture quality, but the Disney DVDs have been the best, and they take forever to load. I expected to really be blown away by the transfer, and instead I was just satisfied, if that makes any sense. Watchmen is a film that includes a lot of night scenes, hence it is a bit more difficult to discern how spectacular the picture is. On my TV, I can't really complain except to say it was not as easy for me to observe the difference between standard and Blu-Ray. Still, the costumes, CGI, and bright colors are rendered fantastic and beautiful. Of course any moment with Dr. Manhattan stands out above the rest. The darker sequences, of which there are plenty, contain wonderful shading with considerably deep black levels. At certain times the film is intentionally gritty, but this is not a huge flaw. The animated portions of the film are also a highlight as the colors really come across strong on Blu-Ray. This is a very slick, squeaky clean, and shiny picture quality, but don't expect to have an orgasm over the Blu-Ray version. It is presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.40:1. Watchmen: The Complete Motion Picture Comic exudes the finest picture quality of the package with vivid coloring, high contrast, and absolutely no grain to speak of.

The Audio

This area was a legitimate disappointment. I was not overwhelmed by the sound at any time. It was merely adequate. Watchmen is a movie with action, gunfire, explosions, loud vehicles, and much more, and one anticipates that a Blu-Ray transfer will take advantage of that. The only way to describe it is passable. I had to turn the volume up higher than normal to have a regular sounding experience. All the characters and their dialogue are lucid and understandable though. The music meshes with the film in a very smooth and polished fashion so that they are balanced effectively. For Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic, the narrator's voice is just fine. The audio department includes a DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio English track and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround in French, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.

The Packaging

Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut is distributed in Digi-Pack box case that contains 5 discs in all. Inside is a fold out card case which holds the three main discs including the feature, extras, and digital copy. Separate from that is Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic in a regular slimline blue Blu-Ray case. It is a big package, and everything is packed in rather tight. Some have voiced concern that the matte finish flakes away from wear on the box set. The menus are much simpler than I expected. The feature begins immediately and does not automatically go to the menu screen. By pressing menu, you will have three options: the two commentaries and "resume movie". That's it. But hey, all 3 hours and 35 minutes are in 1 disc, so I won't be nitpicky. Just don't insert the disc and walk out of the room. The extras disc is similar. It pops up quickly and has the bonus features listed. There is not much to navigate through anywhere here.

The Extras

DISC 1

Commentaries - These tracks are the new inclusions to this set. Tyhe rest has pretty much all been recycled from "The Director's Cut" and "Theatrical" DVD releases. The first commentary track is with Zack Snyder, who sounds extremely tired. After all, he has recorded many commentary tracks for this movie, so it has to be tiring on him. Still, he gets into a solid groove quick enough and keeps talking with very few dead spots. He points out all sorts of information from minor details in the opening sequences to who the pictures are of in certain apartments. He praises the actors of course and acknowledges his nods to the graphic novel. This is an enjoyable track, and well worth checking out when you get the time. The second is with Dave Gibbons, the illustrator of the original graphic novel. His point of view is obviously different, and he talks about the detail put forth into the film version a great deal. On the downside his pauses and dead spots get progressively worse. This is one where he should have had multiple people doing this with him.

DISC 2

The Phenomenon: The Comic That Changed Comics (28:46) - Each of these extras has recurring interviews with cast and crew members, so if I don't mention that each time, just assume they are there. This is basically praise for the graphic novel, and it is divided into multiple sections. They talk about how the story examined the underbelly of super heroes, and go into detail about how the novel began, and much more. We view early sketches, hear conversations on the color choices, and intricate aspects of the story. The novel broke conventions, and everyone in this featurette was happy to discuss it.

Real Super Heroes: Real Vigilantes (26:17) - This is a featurette all about vigilantism. We have interviews with Curtis Silva from the Alliance of Guardian Angels and a member of the Federal and Superior Court of Qualified Deadly Force. The Guardian Angels are organized vigilantes that have matching jackets and go around getting involved with crime in progress. Silva has gotten arrested many times. They wear red berets and look a bit ridiculous, but not compared to Eliptico and Tothian, two real humans that dress up as masked heroes/vigilantes. Seriously, whether or not you enjoy the movie, this set is worth the price just to see Eliptico and Tothian walk around. It is hilarious. Interviews with Dave Gibbons, co-author and illustrator of the graphic novel are recycled for this bonus. This is actually one of the best extras of the set because it takes an impartial view of the vigilante theme presented in the story.

Mechanics: Technology of a Fantastic World (16:19) - Clearly the "nerd" extra of this set, a physics professor takes a look at all the wild technology of the film and story and tells us what is possible and what is not. He has a thing called a "miracle exemption", which means if we accept one unbelievable strength of a character, would they be able to perform what is conveyed? Since I am a bit of a nerd, I thought this was fascinating. My fiancée however, was bored by just walking into the room and overhearing the professor speak. Oh well. I want to know about Rorschach’s mask, catching a bullet, and what makes Dr. Manhattan blue.

Story Within a Story: The Books of the Watchmen (25:01) - The title should explain what this mini-documentary is about. Initially they just show clips of Under the Hood and Tales of the Black Freighter, but they also touch on the Minutemen, which acts as a sort of prologue to the central events. They go on to explain how they put these "stories within the story" into video form. Colorist John Higgins, of the graphic novel chats about the importance of the color selection, and many divulge the subtext of the stories. This probably could have been longer, but I appreciate a whole extra devoted to these facets of Watchmen.

Under the Hood (37:36) - This portion of the graphic novel has been converted into a news program where Hollis Mason is interviewed for a show called "The Culpepper Minute." It was directed by Eric Matthies. Mason discusses his childhood, becoming a cop, and shifting his views to fight crime as a super hero. He also explains the name Nite Owl, and spills his thoughts on the various Minutemen. Parts of this are entertaining, but I am not a fan of mockumentaries that take themselves too seriously, and that is how this comes off at times. When you have a serious mockumentary, the actors flaws become apparent easier, and with William Long, the psychiatrist, this is evident. Other characters are interviewed for "The Culpepper Minute" such as Sally Jupiter, Wally Weaver (Dr. Manhattan's assistant), and so forth. The Senator Keene "controversy" was pretty intriguing as it adds depth to that part of the story. This was better left out of the main feature though. It would have dragged it down. Still, it is a welcomed bonus and worth watching once.

--Video Journals--

The Minutemen (3:34) - This just goes over the names, the time period, and the designs of the costumes.

Sets & Sensibility (3:05) - This is about the construction of the over 200 sets, and how they strove for faithfulness.

Dressed for Success (3:04) - Costume designer Michael Wilkinson leads this one and says his starting point was the graphic novel. Well duh.

The Ship Has Eyes (4:21) - Jack Gauvrea, the head sculptor, and Zack Snyder chat about the owl ship, and we get a glimpse of the wooden skeleton.

Dave Gibbons (3:22) - This shows clips of Dave visiting the set and being happy about the film. Alan Moore’s reaction is not mentioned to no one's surprise.

Burn Baby Burn (2:13) - This has footage of the prison scene where one man is lit on fire. The stuntman has a protective gel placed over his body so he can catch on fire and have it look real. Crazy stuff. This guy deserves a medal.

Shoot to Thrill (3:15) - This one discusses Zack Snyder's approach in comparison with the colors of the novel and how they were secondary color choices compared to what most comics displayed.

Blue Monday (3:00) - One guess on who this covers. Billy Crudup is seen in his Tron like suit with fancy lights and we observe test footage so he could get acquainted with the feel.

Attention to Detail (2:54) - The "attention to detail" refers to being faithful to the graphic novel and how even the short shots meant something in regards to this.

Girls Kick Ass (3:04) - This is an odd one that analyzes the relationship of Sally and Laurie, complete with opinions of the characters from Malin Ackerman and Carla Gugino.

Rorschach’s Mask (3:39) - This could have been longer, but it covers how the mask changes with his mood changes. They also briefly touch on his physique and bad childhood.

DISC 3

This is the digital copy of the film, and normally I wouldn't care about this, but a digital copy of "The Ultimate Cut" is certainly a nice bonus. Buyers should carry it with them everywhere, and if anyone is ever bored, you can whip it out at a moment's notice and save the day.

DISCs 4 & 5

Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic

Narrator: Tom Stechschulte
Directed By: Jake S. Hughes
Running Time: 325 minutes

Well, you already know the plot, so I’ll just give some brief thoughts on this. Watching this is the equivalent of listening to a book on CD with one person doing all the voices. That person is Tom Stechschulte in this case. The difference is that this contains animation, and we know that at least 2 of the originals creators supervised the project. The animation is very minimalist and plain, but is still neat to observe. I’m not going to write a full review of the graphic novel, which is what this would turn into, but since I love the book, I thoroughly enjoyed this. This is like a cartoon strip you would see in the newspaper coming to life. This is not the same mind-blowing experience you’d have from reading the graphic novel at your own speed because it is on a TV screen, and someone is performing the voices, but if you buy this entire package, you won’t feel the need to buy the book on top of everything else.

Watchmen Production Diaries #4: Dave Gibbons (2:47) – This is a recycled interview from the separate extras on the disc above, but since this was meant to be released on its own initially, I can give that a pass. He just talks about visiting the set and observing how faithful they were.

Wonder Woman Sneak Peek (10:26) – This is a bit outdated since this movie was released long ago, but again, this DVD was released long ago as well. The actors contributing their voice talents talk about the characters and their feelings on Wonder Woman, while other comic book nuts chat about the history of the character and so forth. In the meantime, the film adaptation is discussed and we see some clips. I saw the film. It was ok. Take that as you will.

The Film: 9.0/10.0
The Video: 8.0/10.0
The Audio: 7.0/10.0
The Packaging: 9.0/10.0
The Extras: 10.0/10.0

The 411: Whew. This was a long and full experience, but an entertaining one nonetheless. I certainly hope fans waited for this version because you get everything you could ask for in this set. This "Ultimate Cut" is superior to the other two versions as characters are better developed, themes are more clearly expressed, and the flow has room to stretch. The extras are very involving and in depth, which is a rarity for DVDs. I greatly enjoyed watching them, and the commentaries were also quite good, especially the Zack Snyder one. The technical specifications act as the only area of disappointment. The video is definitely satisfactory, but not out of this world. This package would be a great addition to anyone's DVD collection. You would be wise to use those holiday gift cards on this. Considering the price and the hours of enjoyment, it is worth the money.

Final Score:  8.5   [ Very Good ]