Watchmen: Chapter I

So, Watchmen is one of the most famous, one of the best and one of the highest valued graphic novels in the world.

So, why would we get another adaptation of it with a relatively cheap animation? It basically gets no advertising push and with little information about it (it doesn't even have a wikipedia page at time of writing this!).

Just seems like they are devaluing the IP by releasing it this way!

But that's the why, now we move on to the what - the actual product!

And dammit, I thought it was pretty darn good. Clearly a straight adaptation, but they did it well. It engaged me, I thought the animation style captured the feel of the book well, and the voice acting was pretty good.

So why I don't think this should exist, given it does - I have to admit it could have been way worse.

I expected this movie to be a full unabridged comic adaptation, but instead it's just a disappointing shot by shot animated remake of the live action version of "Watchmen", albeit the director's cut. If you've already watched Zack Snyder's live action movie, you'll be extremely bored by this movie. If you have only read the comics, you'll probably enjoy this adaptation. However, if you've only read the comics, the motion comic is far more complete than this.

I'm not sure how chapter 2 expects to cover the remaining ground of the comic in less than 90 minutes. Unless there's a director's cut of these animated films, I expect that a significant amount of story was unfortunately cut out.

I read the novel back in the day. And after that I watched Zack Snyder's version. I loved the message of the novel and I always thought Zack did a great job with his vision ahead of time.

Now we have the animation. It is very faithful to the resource. Story, characters and even their costumes and such. The story goes how it is happening in the novel. I can say the animation is more faithful from Zack's version up until now. However, I found that Zack was able to give better emotion and message. With Jackie Earle Haley's Rorschach voice acting and Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Edward Blake voice acting the story was darker. In this adaptation it is more brutal. I am not saying one is better than the other but just different naturally.

Back in the day, because of the mindless MCU movies people treated Watchmen pretty hard. People created a hatewagon against Zack. Of course the ending of the Watchmen movie had to be different from the novel version because of the budget and technology limitations at that time, and some people had a reason to hate. But now with the different heroes versions such as The Boys and Invincible people can judge and watch with a wider perspective of an R rated adaptation.

I believe animation did a faithful adaptation for the 1st Chapter.

I wasn't even aware this movie was out, but now that I'm watching it, I'm not sure why it was made. It's impossible not to compare it to the 2009 version-whether the theatrical or ultimate cut-since this feels like a shot-by-shot recreation. However, in comparison, the new version is pale and soulless.

The voice acting is mediocre and lacks emotion, while the generic music removes any edge the original had. Though this version is supposed to be a more faithful adaptation of the graphic novel, it feels rushed and leaves too many elements unexplored.

The animation is another disappointment. I've seen The Red Aim, the first animated adaptation, which used only one voice actor and simple motion effects from the original comics. That felt more compelling. Here, the directors and animators had all the creative freedom they could wish for, yet chose to create a PG adaptation that strips away everything that made the original story interesting.

Some reviews have called this fan service, but not every comic or graphic novel needs to adhere strictly to the source material, and taking creative liberties isn't always heresy.

The 2009 Watchmen was one of the best superhero films of its era. It arrived before superhero fatigue set in and before shows like The Boys redefined the genre. This new adaptation, unfortunately, serves as an example of how not to adapt a comic.

I'm starting to believe that DC/Warner is actively mocking the intelligence of us geeks and nerds. There's simply no logical explanation for the stark contrast between the consistently impressive output of their animation division and the abysmal quality of their live-action films and television series over the past two decades. It's as if they're either testing our patience to see when we'll finally snap, or they're conducting a grand experiment to determine just how much mediocrity we'll tolerate without complaint. Perhaps the animators at this behemoth of a company have demanded autonomy, and the executives who have repeatedly stabbed the live-action division in the back (and then twisted the knife) simply don't meddle in their affairs. Whatever the reason, I yearn for the truth behind this perplexing dichotomy.

"Watchmen: Chapter I" is a production that will undoubtedly satisfy a Watchmen reader, or even a casual fan of the film adaptation, or simply an animation enthusiast. After experiencing Chapter 1, my sole desire is for the subsequent installments to arrive in rapid succession.

Every frame of this animation has been meticulously crafted, paying homage to the source material with reverence and respect. Ah yes, the pot-bellied CEOs of DC and WB, take note: producing quality work and pleasing hardcore fans is that simple. The real challenge lies in taking beloved, culturally significant characters and stories and turning them into cinematic and televisual abominations.

The animation style is a visual feast, capturing the gritty realism and dark undertones of the Watchmen universe. The voice acting is superb, with each actor breathing life into their iconic characters. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the complex narrative to unfold at a satisfying pace. The action sequences are thrilling, the emotional beats are poignant, and the overall experience is one of pure, unadulterated satisfaction.

"Watchmen: Chapter I" is a testament to the potential of animation to tell mature and thought-provoking stories. It's a reminder that even the most beloved and well-known properties can be reimagined in fresh and exciting ways. It's a beacon of hope in a sea of mediocrity, a shining example of what can be achieved when talented creators are given the freedom to express their vision.