Characters from the Zack Snyder movie, Watchmen.

In a time when the world seemed on the verge of nuclear war, and international tension was high, would the world have benefited from a Superman, or a Batman? Would superheroes, some with their own agenda, other crazed vigilantes, have made such a great impact upon the world? And if they did, would it be for the best?

Watchmen, directed by Zack Snyder and based upon the famous graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, asks these questions, and makes startling realizations based upon social stigmas and the state of society.

Set in an alternate version of our 1980s, Watchmen follows the story of five superheroes as they search for the killer of The Comedian, a fellow superhero murdered in cold blood. As the movie begins, the dark, brooding superhero, Rorschach is introduced studying the murder crime scene of The Comedian, commenting on how someone is trying to kill masked heroes.

As the movie continues on, it is revealed that lack of public reception has pushed Congress to pass a law in 1977 to outlaw masked heroes unless contracted by the government. However, Rorschach breaks the law and continues to act as a vigilante, making him a wanted criminal pursuing justice.

As a result of anti-vigilantism legislation, many superheroes were forced into retirement, including Rorschach’s former partner, Daniel Dreiberg a.k.a. Night Owl. Dreiberg is a middle-aged bachelor, who begins a romance with Laurie Juspecyk a.k.a. the Silk Spectre, another retired hero.

However, Juspecyk is married to Dr. Jon Osterman a.k.a. Dr. Manhattan, the only superhero with actual super powers. Blown to atoms by a nuclear accident, Osterman’s conscience remained, and gathered his atoms into a super being, capable of modifying atomic and molecular structure.

Finally, Adrian Veidt a.k.a. Ozymandias, known as the smartest man in the world, is also searching for The Comedian’s killer. Yet Veidt is also a lucrative business owner, and although he is wary of a masked hero killer on the loose, he is pre-occupied with his own devices.

Although Watchmen makes astute observations about life, society, and the effect of power among the weak, its heavy action-driven commercials and trailers alluded to a much more action-packed film. Though fight scenes were masterfully filmed and executed, they are so few and far between that many action movie goers would deem it a disappointment.

Watchmen’s length is also an issue, with a runtime just short of 3 hours. With dialogue filling most of those hours, Watchmen is more of a philosophical movie than a hardcore action flick.

A movie of stunning depth and revolutionary ideas, Watchmen is great movie for philosophers, but not hardcore action movie-goers. Yet one must ask themselves the question that the movie presents: in a world full of lying politicians, corrupt government officials, and censorship, who really watches the Watchmen?