Watchmen | First Time Watching | Movie Reaction | Movie Review | Movie Commentary

[@eddiejravannen]

Another subtle detail, in the opening credits you see a guy getting punched while firing a 1911 pistol. The people in the background were Thomas and Martha Wayne. They unintentionally prevent Bruce Wayne from becoming Batman.

[@secondchance6603]

And the hotel room number being a reference to his other movie 300.

[@lukefallon8276]

But on the wall behind the original Night Owl there are Batman posters. So Batman existed as a comic book hero it appears.

[@RicoRaynn]

Still one of the best villain plans in cinema. Adrian wasn't one step ahead, he was thirty. The fact he let John go through his whole 'you're just a man' speech and then sent in the 'checkmate' was glorious.

[@Metzwerg74]

and then rorschachs diary blew that plan to pieces.....

[@flatebo1]

Adrian wasn't one *step* ahead. He was one hour ahead. But sometimes, that's all it takes. Veidt: "Do you seriously think I would explain my master stroke to you if there were even the slightest possibility you could affect the outcome? I triggered it 35 minutes ago." Yet Rorschach countered Veidt's "master stroke" hours earlier when he left his journal with Frontiersmen.

[@TacticusPrime]

@@flatebo1 Except that doesn't work. If Dr. Manhattan goes along with it; it still works. Serving as an outside force to make the USA and USSR work together still works.

[@flatebo1]

@@TacticusPrime Veidt knew how to manipulate Manhattan. Despite his godly powers Manhattan still has the same personality he had as a mortal. And Veidt would know that Manhattan only has access to his own personal experiences across the timeline. It's not like he's omniscient. Hell, considering that Manhattan apparently left Earth straight from Antarctica, all Veidt would have to do is fake the news he shows all of them. Once Manhattan has bought the deception and left Earth Dan and Laurie wouldn't have any way to get him to come back...so Veidt could dispose of them as he saw fit. And even then, despite Dr. Manhattan going along with it, Veidt's plot still fails. Because of Rorschach's journal. Because Veidt's plan is to get Manhattan off Earth both so he can't stop the attack and so he can bear the blame for it. Manhattan doesn't need to stick around to be a threat large enough to unite USA and USSR. The threat that he might come back is what does that. But that threat only works if everyone believes that Manhattan *is* responsible for the attacks. Rorschach's journal proves that Manhattan isn't responsible. While many may dismiss the journal as the work of a crackpot, some will start digging and verify its authenticity. And that's how Rorschach outsmarted The World's Smartest Man.

[@TacticusPrime]

@@flatebo1 Rorschach's journal doesn't prove anything. It's the ravings of a convicted criminal. How many people have read the Unibomber's manifesto? Not enough to shake the halls of Congress. Dr. Manhattan doesn't just agree to stay out of the way. He agrees to make the sacrifice of lives mean something. He agrees to maintain Veidt's charade. That doesn't mean staying away; it means confirming the threat. All he has to do is go on TV and say, "Yeah, I will fuck you people up."

[@McPh1741]

I’m glad you watched the director’s cut. Hollis’ death was cut from the theatrical version. It’s one of the saddest and most beautifully shot scenes in the movie. It was Better to go out fighting than waste away. Rorschach wanted to die. He knew That Adrian was right but he couldn’t live knowing the truth and not doing anything about it. He was the only one who was uncompromising when it came to truth and justice.

[@valashar5313]

I honestly think that if Dr. Manhattan hadn't reconnected with his humanity he wouldn't have killed Rorschach. But because he'd gotten some of it back, he understood how conflicted Rorschach was and was respectful enough to look him in the eyes and allow him his moment of weakness before granting his wish to die.

[@johnLennon255]

I don't believe rorschach believed Adrian was right. That's why he refused to compromise

[@KngOfTheBlind]

In case you didn't pick up on it Dr. Manhattan's logo is a representation of a Hydrogen atom. A symbol he respects as a physicist.

[@leok7193]

Also, looks like earrings she was wearing.

[@williamrosmer5629]

I love the whole Dr Manhattan losing his humanity plotline. Because with the level of power he has of course he loses touch with his humanity.

[@ChurchNietzsche]

"You cannot obtain the level of power he has, and still perceive the world as 'a man' would."

[@DavidMyrmidon]

All you guys are funny. If you paid attention to The Movie, you'd know that Veidt proved that Assumption Wrong. Because HE was the Source of that assessment itself. That was his Problem. He ASSUMED he was a God, because he wasn't like every other Human. But he never was A "God". He was just an Over-Powered Human... with that same volatile Weakness as everyone else. Emotion.

[@williamrosmer5629]

@@DavidMyrmidon a lot of mythology is about the gods having the same emotions as people and acting on them as such

[@DavidMyrmidon]

@@williamrosmer5629 I mean, mythology is all/mostly about attempting to explain a Helicopter to a Neanderthal. It's near impossible for the one explaining it, if they themselves don't TRULY understand.

[@secondchance6603]

@@DavidMyrmidon 'I mean, mythology is all/mostly about attempting to explain a Helicopter to a Neanderthal.' LMAO sure thing.

[@mikemeggison5084]

RE: Dr. Manhattan's nudity. We wear clothes because 1. protect ourselves from cold 2. society would laugh 3. the police would come eventually. Dr. Manhattan is indestructible, and doesn't care what people think. He can do what he wants.

[@johnLennon255]

Dr Manhattan not wearing clothes is a reference to Adam and Eve

[@thedarkwolf9423]

"Spook" nickname for a spy or intelligence agent. The writer, Allan Moore, created a comic series back in the 1980s that was the first to ask what kind of personality would actually become a costumed crimefighter.

[@flatebo1]

He wasn't the first. Various comics had addressed that issue over the years. Rick Veitch's The One was created about the same time as Watchmen but was published months earlier. Howard Chaykin had a long history or writing heroes with feet of clay. 1983's Brave and the Bold #197 delved into Bruce's motivations in becoming Batman. Frank Miller's run on Daredevil beginning in 1979 got deep into Matt's obsession with crimefighting as being born from his Catholic faith, a dive into the psychology of mystery men starting 3 years before Moore's run on Miracleman. Alan Moore did it very well, but a lot of people were exploring the psychology of superheroing and the sorts of people who would do it. Some, like Veitch and Moore, had uncomplimentary views on what superheroes in a "real" world would be like. Moore's stories are better known than Veitch's, but Moore has had DC promoting his vision big time wince publication. Veitch and Chaykin were off on the independent publisher sidelines with their more experimental work.

[@Corn_Pone_Flicks]

I could spend forever talking about this story, so I'll restrain myself to one of my favorite details: right after Adrian's rather contentious meeting with Lee Iacocca and the others, the muzak playing in the office is the song "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." That's just great.

[@stephenniehaus8635]

I like how Dan is impotent when he's Dan because he doesn't really like himself, but can perform as Night Owl because that's who he sees himself as

[@Madbandit77]

It's not self-hatred, but exterior pressure. The Keene Act outlaws masked vigilantes. So Dan abides by that law, but he knows it's wrong and stupid while Armageddon comes by. He's rendered impotent sexually and mentally. When he gets back being Nite Owl, the impotence is gone.

[@ChurchNietzsche]

@Roy Phillips or to quote Rorschach "Give me back my face!"

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

Plus he only has two hands.

[@PaulSchober]

@@dr.burtgummerfan439 Poor Laurie. Boyfriends are either omnipotent or impotent :)

[@donpietruk1517]

Also they are clearly implying that both Night Owl and Silk Spectre are sexually stimulated by excessive violence. Clear BDSM cosplay overtones to their behavior.

[@shakawhenthewallsfell8570]

This movie had one of the smartest villains ever. In the end, there was no pointless monologuing, no dancing around, no fluff, just straight to the point that his plan is already in motion and there's nothing that can be done to stop it. And as horrible a plan it may seem, as Dr. Manhattan put it "without condoning or condemning.." there was logic to it.

[@leok7193]

when you explain your plan to the guy you set up for it and he agrees to go down for it, you know you're good lol

[@Mauther]

Of course people fail to notice that Rorschach did to Ozzy what Ozzy did to them: he beat them before the fight even started. Ozzy famously unleashed his attack 30 minutes ago. Rorschach unleashed his attack hours before the fight when he left a full description of the plot with the press, Ozzy spent years and billions of dollars preparing to fight Manhattan and arrogantly ignored the crazy guy in a mask who would ultimately destroy him.

[@sithlordkaeyl21]

I saw this movie in theaters, and I remember laughing before it started because a parent had brought his very small children to watch it, not realizing that it wasn’t going to be a “typical” superhero movie.

[@Madbandit77]

I saw a mom ready to sit with her daughter in the theater. I was about to tell her that this film isn't for kids, but they left.

[@Ambaryerno]

To be fair, it came out in 2009. The Superhero genre was still trying to reestablish itself by that time.

[@boboboy8189]

​@@Ambaryerno and now every superhero movie looks the same

[@ThatGuyX2]

I had the same happen. At a different viewing a guy made it all the way to rorschach death and got up and screamed "all yall got ripped off" and left

[@Vesohag]

One of the best movies ever. Not just CBM.

[@wombat10002000]

The superheroes in Watchmen are based on characters DC Comics had acquired from Charlton Comics. Comedian is based on Peacemaker (who recently appeared in The Suicide Squad and his own TV show), Nite Owl is based on Blue Beetle (who has his own movie premiering soon), Rorschach is based on The Question, Silk Spectre was originally Nightshade, Doctor Manhattan is based on Captain Atom, and Ozymandias is based on Peter Cannon - Thunderbolt (a character DC has since lost the rights to).

[@EdmontonRealEstate01]

He believed that uniting a world through a manufactured tragedy was the lesser of two evils, the other evil being humanity destroying itself in a nuclear war.

[@lurkerrekrul]

9:40 - "What does it say?" - "Nigh", it means "near". 42:15 - "You are about to participate in a great adventure." - That's the intro to a 1963 science fiction anthology show called The Outer Limits. Each episode would be a different, hour-long story. There was also a revival of that show in 1995.

[@DeyCallMeDrama]

One of the GREATEST DC films of ALL time!!

[@GC-vi7hh]

Back to back you reacted to a couple of my favorites: Blazing Saddles and Watchmen. Both movies in their own genres are excellently put together and deal with bigger philosophical issues. Your reaction in each was fun to watch.

[@TheGoddamnBacon]

"I hate it when he teleports me." "Margarita?" "It's 2 in the afternoon." Dasha: "... Ah it's about time." Best off the wall response ever.

[@Eudaimonist]

The character who looks like Batman is actually based on a much earlier Superhero called the Blue Beetle. The other characters are also based on old superhero characters.

[@scottneil1187]

Much earlier?, Batman debuted March 1939, Blue Beetle debuted August 1939.

[@Eudaimonist]

@@scottneil1187 I didn't mean that Batman is based on the Blue Beetle, but that Night Owl is based on Blue Beetle, who is an early Superhero. I completely agree that Batman goes back a long way.

[@AutoPilate]

They were all based on Charlton Comics characters that DC acquired, but wouldn’t let Moore use, so he had to create these. Rorschach, for instance, was based on the Question, who eventually did become part of the DC Universe.

[@scottneil1187]

@@Eudaimonist I get you, your wording was just a bit off, was honestly a bit surprised myself that Blue Beetle is almost as old as Bats.

[@alainvachon6255]

First time I hear a reaction about this movie knowing what Rorschach test is. Great choice of movie, it blew my mind first time I saw it.

[@mmxxiii9503]

Didn't know you can send donations in comments, awesome

[@Tekkarath]

Dasha is the most intelligent reactor I've ever seen, she catches so much of what she watches, even with the slight language barrier.

[@mmxxiii9503]

@@Tekkarath that is quick thinking she is very perceptive

[@snarkus63]

It's always fascinating to see the reaction to this movie from someone clearly unfamiliar with the original graphic novel. As good as this is, it's basically an abridged version of *Watchmen* .I'm hoping someday there'll be another version, one more faithful to the source material. I really wanted to see the creature that Adrien had created (in the original story) up on the big screen. Alas, a TV miniseries would suit this better, as there's just too much for a theatrical release, even a really long one. It's what I was hoping the HBO series was going to be.

[@stephenniehaus8635]

This movie is a morality tale, with each character a different perspective. Rorschach is a grim pessimist who only sees what's wrong. Dan is the average guy, the one we most relate to, who knows what's good and bad but has no bigger agenda. John is detached and analytical and takes everything in stride, not being very invested in anything. Silk Spectre is a realist, who knows how important things can be and does what she feels is right but knows sometimes it's futile. Adrian is an end justifies the means kinda guy who feels he's more qualified to act than others. The Comedian, like Rorschach, is a pessimist; scarred and broken like him, but one who has let the darkness take over and has embraced nihilism. Inside, which are you most like?

[@evanscott9473]

Rorschach

[@Metzwerg74]

rorschach... when i watched this in cinema, one of my friends repeatedly said: " that could have been you.." on rorschach...

[@Madbandit77]

Dan.

[@samwallaceart288]

Dan and Rorschach are straightup me and my cynical younger brother. Right down to me offering to warm up his cold food and him being like "this is fine"

[@Corn_Pone_Flicks]

His politics are totally different from mine, but Rorshach...you just have to admire a man who absolutely cannot be bought.

[@mot0rhe4d40]

I believe the creator of The Watchmen was also responsible for V for Vendetta. Another movie you may enjoy. That's if you haven't seen it already.

[@carpetfluff35]

Yup Alan Moore, and she reacted to V about a year ago.

[@mot0rhe4d40]

@@carpetfluff35 Cool, will have to search that out. Thank you.

[@scottneil1187]

Co-creator along with Dave Gibbons, one of the most talented people in the industry.

[@charleswilliams4247]

Not to mention _From Hell_ and _The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen._

[@STOCKHOLM07]

34:50 "You try to have a breakup conversation with a guy and he just keeps talking about the universe." That's the best thing I've ever heard.

[@ThePhysicsPixel]

She probebly had a lot of those conversations lol

[@alexandrelachapelle4232]

Awesome reaction Dasha. Love this movie. Was psyched when it came out as I had loved the comic book mini-series. Also got my hands on some super cool promotionnal stuff. I strongly recommend you read the graphic novel. Also, there was a Watchmen gaming supplement published for DC Heroes in the 90s. It contains a lot of informations on both the Watchmen and the older team, the Minutemen. Fun fact: Rorschach's mask pattern keeps changing because it reflects his changing state of mind. It was made with very rare material created by Dr Manhattan. More info on this in the graphic novel.

[@mmxxiii9503]

The mask, is interesting

[@playerone7663]

That scene where Dr Manhattan is created/born is SO GOOD.

[@TheStreetsfinest]

This is one of my favorite movies. And Rorshach is one of my favorite characters. Obviously I think this movies is great.

[@davewhitmore1958]

It's criminal that Jackie Earle Haley didn't even get a nomination for Best Supporting Actor . . .

[@lenzu27]

Loved to see your reaction to 14:38 "Oh wow! Oh Wow! Well that's pretty cool I would say!" Pretty clever editing too to hide it for those who haven't seen the movie.

[@B_B-420]

It's not shown in the film, but when Dr. Manhattan says "maybe I'll create some" life... He teleports from the Arctic to one of the moons of Saturn and creates a new species of humans. If you watch the HBO Watchman series it goes more into it.

[@scottneil1187]

Unfortunately if you watch that rubbish your brain will melt. Made it through two episodes and I never usually give up on shows/films.

[@johnirving5949]

It's not shown in the film because it's not Watchmen, it's Damon Lindelof's fanfic. Which had great characters and a decent story, but it wasn't a sequel to the original. Dr Manhattan was leaving the Solar system into the universe, going to Saturn would be like saying you were moving away and shifting from the spare bedroom to the second spare bedroom. Ozymandius doesn't say "I'm not some Republic serial villain" and then brag about his actions on tape like a Republic serial villain. Dr Manhattan doesn't have a power that can be transferred, he is power. His entire ability to exist is only due to his knowledge of physics pulling himself back together, something a cop isn't going to be able to do. 100% pure fanfic, 0% canon.

[@B_B-420]

@@johnirving5949 Neither was Dr. Manhattan destroying New York, but that's in the movie instead of a giant alien octopus.

[@charleswilliams4247]

​@@B_B-420 The series kept the psychic octopus.

[@weirdtrashcinema]

As a massive fan of the graphic novel, I still maintain that this is the best comic book adaption of all time. Sure they changed a lot and cut things, but it really works. One of my favourite movies of all time.

[@scottneil1187]

It was the best adaption until Dredd.

[@boboboy8189]

did people forgot sin city are 100% panel to panel graphic novel ever exist? followed by 300, v for vendetta and this movie, i think there's another movie but I forgot the title

[@chrispeel3123]

killer sound track as well.

[@charleswilliams4247]

I put the adaptions of _Hellboy_ and _Blue is the Warmest Color_ above _Watchmen._

[@The_Bermuda_Nonagon]

My favorite superhero film - too dark in tone and ahead of it's time to be a box office success.

[@scottneil1187]

Amusing considering the graphic novel is several decades old and was celebrated from day one.

[@jannes9945]

"Agree to disagree" was perfect.

[@Ryan-bn4uc]

Criminally underrated superhero movie.

[@mikesilva3868]

Agreed 😊

[@aryzen2781]

ya, it is underrated.

[@scottneil1187]

I don't think you understand the meaning of underrated.

[@charleswilliams4247]

I disagree. It's as popular as should be. This is not a film that one would expect to have wide appeal so, if anything, it over-performed.

[@charleswilliams4247]

@@nsasupporter7557 Um, I was _agreeing_ with you here, friend. I, too, believe the word "underrated" is often misused and doesn't apply to _Watchmen_ at all. Hence, the reason I said it's as popular as it should be.

[@spidersj12]

Rorschach is the best character in this movie. The PS3 Watchmen video game was poetry fun too. Always played Rorschach.

[@Ambaryerno]

This may be one of the most depressing movies I've ever seen. I walked out of the theater so emotionally drained. Spook = Spy "I want to know more about Dr. Manhattan." Get ready for about 3 hours of Big Blue Dong. "End Is Nigh" = "End Is Near." Pretty much everyone in this movie is SERIOUSLY messed up in the head one way or another. The central premise of the story is that's what kind of person would actually dress up and go out and beat up criminals. "I'm not locked in here with you, you're locked in here with ME!" is one of the best lines in Superhero Film (and comics). They changed Ozymandias's plan a bit from the original comic. In the books he faked an attack by an alien life form, rather than framing Dr. Manhattan. Silk Spectre I was played by Gina Gershon, who absolutely IS gorgeous. Sadly, this movie probably came out about 10 years too early. It was released in 2009, only a year after Iron Man, and before MCU really established itself. Because it's famous for deconstructing superheroes, as you noted in your final thoughts, a lot of people didn't really understand what the film was doing, and it failed to find an audience. Had it come out after the Avengers I think it would have had SIGNIFICANTLY better reception from audiences. The reason you probably hadn't heard of the characters themselves is that they were created specifically for this story, though they were based on other characters created by Steve Ditko for a company called Charlton, which was purchased by DC in 1983. Alan Moore wanted to use the characters themselves, but this was rejected because his story would prevent DC from integrating them into the main DC universe. So Moore created expies of them instead. The characters are: Dr. Manhattan = Captain Atom Ozymandias = Thunderbolt Rorschach = The Question (who was himself inspired by a character co-created by Steve Ditko and Ayn Rand, of all people, called Mr. A) Nite-Owl = Blue Beetle Silk Spectre = A combination of Nightshade, The Phantom Lady, and mainstream DC's Black Canary The Comedian = Peacemaker

[@ChurchNietzsche]

I remember this in theatres. I walked out of there like, "WTF did I just watch?" I must have seen five times!!

[@Madbandit77]

Watchmen is one of those films you can't watch once because it has a lot of say. It's a satire, a sci-fi adventure, a neo-noir, a love letter to comic books and a deconstruction of the superhero genre.

[@Ambaryerno]

I walked out of there INCREDIBLY depressed. Good lord is it a bleak movie.

[@ChurchNietzsche]

@@Ambaryerno I think it took three times to notice the Comedian on the Grassy Knoll ...

[@boomieboo]

Thanks for your reaction to one of my top 2 superhero movies of all time (and what my avatar is from). I always loved it for its more realistic take on superheroes and the genre. The Boys seems to have taken inspiration from it even with the name Vought in homage to Veight. And ofc it also has the same real-world take on who superheroes would most likely be if they actually existed in our world. Flawed, exploitative (sexually and otherwise), corrupt, murderous, etc. Not too many of its kind exists in the genre where although the vulnerabilities of heroes are sometimes shown, the depth of their faults aren't nearly as explored as they are in Watchmen.

[@scottneil1187]

The Boys seems to share a connection as the creators of it and the Watchmen came from 2000ad, the greatest comic ever.

[@tonyrossell832]

Great job Dasha! This is a good movie. A darker and I always felt more realistic take on what it would be like if there were superheroes. Keep up the great work.

[@YouHaventSeenMeRight]

HBO created a short series that takes place after the events in the comic book (the movie follows the events in the comic book fairly closely, apart from the plan that Veight has. In the comic book, he creates a psychic squid that he drops in New York that kills millions, and that is the unifying event as it is seen as an Alien or interdimensional threat. Dr Manhattan just walks away from humanity if I remember correctly). It runs for 9 episodes.

[@scottneil1187]

It's utterly awful.

[@charleswilliams4247]

​@@scottneil1187 I thought it was better than the film. Not to mention, they were brave enough to keep the squid creature from the graphic novel.

[@AbrorXayrullayev]

Here we go! One of the best comic book movies

[@DavidLopez-qi8hb]

Adrian had to be some kind of metahuman. He threw The Comedian through a plate glass window, wiped the floor with Nite Owl and Rorschach, caught a bullet with his hand, and took 7-8 haymakers to the face with out anything but a scratch.

[@technopirate304]

Nah just the power of clean living and a positive attitude. Course with his money maybe he is on some type of super steroid cocktail.

[@nomorerepublicans825]

The watchmen miniseries comic book was written by a guy who's gone a bit nuts, Alan Moore, who also did v for vendetta and swamp thing among others. Also wrote a very cool final issue of superman before the 1986 relaunch called "whatever happened to the man of tomorrow?" At the end when Manhattan is talking to spectre about creating life, he's not hinting at sex, he's referring to literally going out in the universe and creating life as he's essentially a God. If memory serves, in the comics he creates the entire dc universe.

[@Ambaryerno]

The DC universe has been created and recreated so many times it's hard to keep track. I honestly don't know which universe is more frustrating to follow; DC with its constant reboots, or Marvel's increasingly infuriating adherence to the Sliding Time Scale, where none of the heroes are allowed to age (Cyclops is only about his late-20s to early-30s according to Jordan D. White, because apparently comic readers can't relate to characters over 40).

[@nomorerepublicans825]

@@Ambaryerno none of the comic book characters are allowed to age, certainly not realistically anyway. Consider dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne, lois lane, and hal Jordan as extreme examples. Comic fans overwhelmingly do not want them to age. They want the same primary cast all the time. Think of fan outrage over Bruce Wayne or Peter Parker replacement attempts in the past. It does make it hard to follow a timeline long term though. For example, are Reed Richards and ben Grimm still ww2 vets? For a long time they were. I'm guessing they're not considering to be anymore though.

[@scottneil1187]

​@@nomorerepublicans825 Never heard of Judge Dredd huh?, he ages naturally, each year that passes in the comic is a year of his life.

[@scottneil1187]

He never went nuts, he's always been nuts, been following his career for three decades plus.

[@chrispeel3123]

@@scottneil1187 He's had a rejuve or two. As well as some replacement bits. An acid skin peel in there as well. He's mellowed a little from his early days, but that may just be the tight boots.

[@jamesdodds9407]

you saw a panda 🐼 😮 Great reaction and glad you enjoyed the film. You were worried it would be too long in the end did you feel it was too long? I have seen all the versions and in cinema and at home and really don't thing it seems a long film it passes quite quickly it so good and there little that needs removing to shorten the story.

[@joaosantos5503]

Best superhero film out there. And I'm not a fan of those, but this one's an exception. Masterpiece on all fronts; mature, gritty, not too unnecessarily comedic, beautifully shot, and of course, not conventional in the slightest. Marvel shit can only dream of being as good as this.

[@traydevon]

You, Dasha, are like turning air into gold…a miracle. I love that Dr. Manhattan monologue.

[@o0pinkdino0o]

So dark. So Alan Moore (V For Vendetta and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen are both well worth a READ also).

[@beesmitty3435]

The philosophical decision to kill in order to save is often represented in a train scenario: if multiple people are tied down on one track set to be run over and only a single on another would you pull the lever to doom one to save multiple. How many need to be tied down on one track before your willing to step in. Often the bad guy using this ideology also "built the tracks and tied people to them" but Adrian works so well because the whole movie is establishing 'the tracks', humanity's inevitable self destructive tendencies coming to a head w nuclear ramifications, that you get the rarest of story telling. Not only does the bad guy 'win' but he looks at the 'good guy' he has framed for it and asks 'you understand don't you?' And he replies 'i understand'

[@GregorySnipe]

Best reaction to this movie I've ever seen. Thank you for following the plot. ❤. Thank you.

[@sumonjamal1653]

Alan Moore was the writer who created 'Watchmen' in the 80's as a graphic novel. He also wrote 'V for Vendetta'. The plot of the story was in 1985, but an alternate history where the superheroes intervened in the Vietnam War and the USA won that war... President Richard Nixon was not forced out of office (he resigned in disgrace in 1974) because his Watergate scandal was never exposed, and he basically remained president in 1985 after winning several consecutive elections (US presidents can only hold 2 terms in office). But because the US won Vietnam in the superhero world, the USSR became more emboldened to ramp up the nuclear arms race during the Cold War and the world was on the brink of nuclear war by 1985 w/ Dr. Manhattan being the US deterrent. The superheroes were vilified by the public in the late 70's as 'masked vigilantes' and the US Congress banned the superheroes and forced them into retirement... except for Rorschach. So, Ozymandias came up w/ a plot to bring the world back from nuclear war, but it involved creating the same mass casualties of a full-scale nuclear attack... He used Dr. Manhattan's power signature to block his powers, manipulated him to leave Earth once he was convinced that he had killed his friends & associates by giving them cancer... and then used his absence to launch an attack on the world's major cities and framed Dr. Manhattan for the attacks, knowing that the US and USSR would unite in the face of the 'threat' of Dr. Manhattan. The Comedian was working for the US Government as a spy... and he found out the gist of the plot that Ozymandias was planning to execute, and the scale of death & devastation was truly shocking to him. He fell apart and went to his arch enemy Molloch and broke down, warning him that he was part of the plot. Of course, Ozymandias killed him before he could report what he had discovered to his superiors. In the end, Ozymandias pulled off his plot and achieved world peace... the superheroes had no choice but to remain silent.

[@kaojinn]

Rorschach is hands down my favorite character. Hes like if Batman were brutal all the time, totally fine with killing, and unwavering on uncovering the truth. He absolutely steals the scenes hes in. In the graphic novel of this, Ozymandias instead secretly invests in bioengineering to create an alien looking creature, and unleashes it on a major city. The world assumes that aliens are invading, and that results in them banding together against that threat. Ozy's plan was brilliant. But I respect Rorschach more for not trying to build something on a lie.

[@technopirate304]

Yeah I was disappointed that we wouldn't get to see the alien squid.

[@mmxxiii9503]

The intro of this movie tells a lot of things 10:45 Maybe he was but he was the only one who knew the truth about his fellow co-workers, like that hooded guy. 17:26 one of the best sequence in the movie, "The birth of Dr Manhattan, everything is pre ordained "

[@flatebo1]

The intro sets up the ending. "I have seen its true face. The streets are extended gutters and the gutters are full of blood and when the drains finally scab over, all the vermin will drown. The accumulated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout "Save us!"... and I'll whisper "no."" Rorschach described Laurie as a whore earlier in the movie. Dan and Manhattan - even Blake - are essentially politicians, bending to the political realities of their world, succumbing to the political implications of Adrian's plot (as does Laurie), even working for the government enforcing the political desires of their employer. They all agree that, to "save" humanity they'll have to remain silent about Adrian's crimes. Adrian's massacre of the world essentially fills the world's gutters with blood, a deluge that threatens to drown them all. They implore Rorschach to save them, to save humanity, by sacrificing his morality as they have sacrificed theirs. And Rorschach says "No."

[@mmxxiii9503]

@@flatebo1 you understand the concept of the graphic novel, interesting. It takes a while to see it

[@flatebo1]

@@mmxxiii9503 It's Rorschach's story. So the end is a mirror image of the beginning. Just like the Rorschach issue of the comics is itself a Rorschach with the first page mirroring the last, the second page mirroring the second to last, etc. Kinda hard to pull off in a movie, though.

[@mmxxiii9503]

@@flatebo1 only in the comic books can be seen, that's even cooler

[@flatebo1]

@@mmxxiii9503 The Dr. Manhattan issue showcased Manhattan's perception of time by having a conversation early in the issue where his pose on the panel looks a little odd and what he's saying is both appropriate to the conversation, but also a little off. Then later in the issue we have another page where Manhattan is in exactly the same poses saying exactly the same things, but it perfectly matches what's happening at *that* time. But you have to be able to flip back to the earlier pages to really see that in the first conversation Manhattan was actually having the later conversation. It's a way of showing Manhattan's "all time is simultaneous" perspective that, again, can only work on a comics page.

[@RagingRaygun]

A major criticism die hard fans of the comic have is that the fight scenes make it seem like the powerless heros have super strength, when in reality they don't have ANY powers. This is a sore spot for fans since alot of the story hinges on how Dr. Manhattan is supposed to be the only one in the world with superpowers. Personally I don't mind since nothing is really taken away from the story since even if everyone else did have super abilities Dr. Manhattan is in a league of his own, as he's practically a god.

[@Zombiesnyder13]

This is the first hardcore R-Rated movie I've ever seen. I couldn't even finish watching the first time It forever changed my life and the way I used to see the world

[@seraph6758]

Oo neat one.. lol I was 11 years old when I watched Akria at my best friends house 😳🤷‍♂️🤣👍

[@o0pinkdino0o]

Think my first was John Carpenter's The Thing when I was 13. Got to the dogs exploding and was like "Nah... I'm out !"

[@apatternedhorizon]

Watchmen takes place in an alternate timeline where Nixon was elected 4 times. The comedian represents the depravity of humanity. Rorschach is the best character.

[@JohnnyXoz]

Dasha at the start: My butt is already getting numb Me: 🤐

[@terrylandess6072]

I never noticed 'Max Headroom' was in this. Last time I saw him was as the neighbor in Honey, I shrunk the Kids. In war, many die in hopes of saving many more. Oz took it upon himself to orchestrate a 'controlled event' as a gambit with innocents instead of mostly soldiers. The villainous action was lack of consent on the part of those sacrificed to this end. The fact many of the same types would die in the event of nuclear conflict was the way Oz was able to justify his actions.

[@TornSoul062473]

I gotta say, your views on people with perfect bodies just going naked all the time and 2pm being a perfectly legitimate time for cocktails is making a lot of sense to me, right now.

[@GaijinGuy36]

The sign of "The end is nigh" means "The end is near". The streetcorner doomsday prophet is an old stereotype in America.

[@NumeroSystem]

Distinguishing DC from Marvel, with nothing more to go on than the poster, legit impressive. Well done.

[@scottneil1187]

Not hard, dark and grim looking?, DC. Colourful and bright?, Marvel, simple.

[@charleswilliams4247]

​@@scottneil1187 Superman is colorful and bright and is DC. Daredevil and Punisher are dark and are Marvel.

[@SalvableRuin]

"I'm not locked in here with you; you're locked in here with me!"

[@AlexSeverinski]

One of my friends is in this movie. She played Rorschach's mom.

[@Madbandit77]

Cool. She was pretty good working with Zack Snyder's son Eli.

[@AlexSeverinski]

​@@Madbandit77 She enjoyed working with him.

[@portland-182]

This takes place in an alternative timeline to our Earth. Superheroes existing means that superhero comics never catch on, Pirate comics are the popular thing. Lots of tiny details. If you look closely during the opening titles, Bruce Wayne and his parents are saved by a Hero, so Batman is never created. You might like to try the dark sci fi movie '12 Monkeys'

[@ojar91]

Love that zack made the characters more real and flawed, which makes them relatable.

[@mikemeggison5084]

Dr. Manhattan's name comes from The Manhattan Project that built the first A-Bomb. The book mentions that, the movie doesn't.

[@BoSmith7045]

I always wondered how Lee Iaccoa ( sp. Chairman of Ford who created the Mustang and later chairman of Chrysler who created the mini van ) felt about seeing himself shot in the head in both the comic and the movie.

[@LiveFromThePorcelainPalace]

You should read the graphic novel. One of the greatest stories ever put to paper! A bit different than the movie.. more in depth.. with a "comic book within the comic book" that parallells one of the characters stories.. and a different endgame for the villain. It's better than the movie. And it's filled with panels that you'll be like "OH MY GOD I SAW THAT EXACT SHOT IN THE MOVIE!!!" ... first time I watched this movie I had a similar reaction.. but I read the book first

[@samwallaceart288]

Agreed. The book is way better

[@Augustus_Imperator]

This movie is so good, even after seeing it times and times again it never loses its appeal to me.

[@joaopauloadlergomesdacosta282]

37:57 - "...thirty-five minutes ago." My dear Dasha, this is why I clicked your reaction. You did not disapoint

[@Higsby100]

The two guys who hugged befthey died had a whole storyline in the comic. I rwad this when I was a kid then later had friends who studied this in their college class

[@tonyantonellis9983]

Zack Snyder's Watchmen inspired me into being fond of well made DC projects as well as being a fan of the well made DC source materials. Watchmen along with Joker 2019, The Batman, V for Vendetta and Blue Beetle inspire me into wanting to make my own 3D DC animated franchise, one that will respect the source material and what the hardcore fans deserve.

[@alexandershaw5603]

I don't usually watch your reactions, BUT this is my favourite movie!!

[@tonyrossell832]

So maybe you should watch her reactions more often then

[@gutspraygore]

"Listen to Russian radio." In the early 80's, while we were in Korea my sister and I would listen to radio Vladivostok on the AM radio. It wasn't music, it was just constant talking and we didn't understand anything. Sounds strange, but we would fall asleep to it. heh

[@sunnyvegas2778]

"hes so ripped" LMAO 8:20

[@ChaosAC24]

Great reaction! Watchmen is such a great film. I personally have it 2nd for greatest comic book movies

[@dname1802]

Great reaction to one of my favorite superhero movies ever!

[@williamkerner3758]

OK, a better movie showing a dark side of "superheroes" is called "Mystery Men". It has way more of a sense of humor on this subject and is less gruesome, but still interesting.

[@charleswilliams4247]

Classic.

[@neil2444]

What I love about this movie is that the superheroes all seem to have their own sense of morality. Nightowl appreciates justice and would never do a wrong thing to right a bigger wrong. Rorschach is vigilante justice and any wrong deed is justifiable if the ends justifies the means. Dr. Manhattan is at the point where he questions the usefulness of a sense of morality at all. Oxymandias believes in the greater good. And the comedian believes in moral relativism, believing that anything he can get away with is the greater good.

[@mr44mag]

Aww, you cut out that great line he said to the child killer. What was it, something like "Men get arrested, animals get put down."

[@Ihad9eyes]

Great reaction video Dasha. You ROCK!

[@Vesohag]

So cool you watched the Director's Cut!!

[@danielhurlston7384]

Glad you enjoyed it. The Director's Cut is director Zack Snyder's preferred cut. Honestly this adaptation is better than the comic it is based on. Since you have now watched 2 of Snyder's DC film adaptations(Man of Steel, Watchmen) you have to check out the next two films both sequels to Man of Steel: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition(2016) - The Ultimate Edition is the Director's Cut and is 3 hours long. Worth the watch! Zack Snyder's Justice League(2021) - Avoid the 2017 Theatrical Cut as that is the bucthered studio version. ZSJL is the only version to watch. It is 4 hours long.

[@brucebezold2714]

Dasha The tv showing those wavy lines Was from a tv show called the Outer Limits. A 60's sci fi show that air a different story every week. One story titled The Arichitcts of Fear. Has the same plot as the watchmen. Scientest get together to creat a fake Alien to convince the world earth is being invaded so the super powers work together for the common good. Stars Robert Culp. Found out that story was taken from a comic written by Stan Lee a year before he created marvel heroes. It goes full circle.

[@sabin97]

"if you have a perfect body like that you should always be naked" she said....while not naked.....

[@GuitarGod2112xx]

If you think about it, Rorschach died being true to his principles because they knew if they told the public the world would turn on each other after attaining world peace. But he ultimately got the last laugh because he left his journal which details Adrian’s entire plot and the events leading up to it within his words at a local newspaper to be run after his death. THAT’S checkmate.

[@MaoKatz]

33:56 Ozymandias is the name of the hero. But Ozymandias was also the name of pharaoh Ramses II. That's why the password was easy to guess.

[@station7thedoor]

The best written villains believe they are the good guy, but I would still say Adrian is a villain. In fact, the twist at the end implies that Adrian's whole plan will ultimately be undone by Rorschach's journal. Adrian claims John can't be everywhere at once, but we see that he CAN be in multiple places at the same time, and can see the future when Adrian is not blocking his powers. So, it seems to me that John is a better bet for keeping the peace than Adrian's plan, which assumes a lot, and kills millions based on that assumption. If you ask me, the smartest man in the world wasn't smart enough, and is ultimately undone by his own hubris.

[@jessediaz1293]

12:18 “cops say…and..I couldn’t finish.😕” Lol 😂

[@timboxall8936]

Watchmen was a game-changer in the graphic novel genre, a truly incredible work by Alan Moore, plus unique art by Dave Gibbons - I really recommend you read this source materiel. The end is extremely different while still achieving the US/Soviet detente Couple of fun facts for you - look closely at the computer in Veidts office and you'll see a file titled "Boys", implying he may be homo- or bi-sexual. Also, a lot of the foley work for crunching bones in movies is made by recording celery stalks being cracked in half. Try it next time you have a salad and you'll see! Thanks for a great reaction, Dasha - you're a star!

[@boboboy8189]

80's is where comic book revolutionize the genre. it's cot coincidence because those people who read heavy metal/twisted metal magazine give influenced to american comic

[@Lia-uf1ir]

9:39 "The end is nigh". Nigh is another word for near. So the end is coming soon.

[@scottvanhille5688]

Priviet Dasha. This was such an interesting DC film, dark, brooding, full of action, mystery, suspense, drama, it had everything in it and the actors all did such a good job in their roles. I remember seeing this in the theater and wondered why I've never heard of it. Nice reaction.

[@rozzie101]

A dear friend recommended this movie to me. I knew there was a Watchman comic, but I wasn't into it. It is an interesting movie, it's not afraid to be different. I kinda wish there was a 2nd Watchman movie...

[@somthingbrutal]

there is a TV series sequel

[@HeeBeeGeeBee392]

​@@somthingbrutal It's more a sequel to the comic as it uses the squid plot. Alan Moore wasn't impressed, although I'm not sure what impresses him.

[@somthingbrutal]

@@HeeBeeGeeBee392 not much ;)

[@mizrolist]

There is no need of a second Watchmen movie, since this one covers the entire original graphic novel.

[@Paul_1971]

Fantastic movie - probably Snyders best movie/adaption IMO...

[@mizrolist]

And it is changed just enough to not be a masterpiece. The original didn't make the "heroes" good people, but the movie redeemed some of them just enough. The graphic novel may be way too dark - but it's intended. The movie version of the Minutemen are cool heroes - the comic versions are definitely not.

[@stephenniehaus8635]

'The end is nigh' is an old saying, meaning the end is almost upon us

[@mehim2893]

43:57 I'm impressed. Lots of people aren't smart enough to admit when they can't answer a question. And I agree, who can truly say that the many are more important than the few. That the ends justify the means.

[@lazyperfectionist1]

7:12 "If we make resources _infinite,_ we make war _obsolete."_ 🤔 Well now, first, I don't know that I agree with your reasoning. Human beings sometimes seem to have a downright _fiendish_ genius for getting into violent conflict. But second, I would say that it's not humanly _possible_ to make resources infinite. That's why _economics_ exists. All human existence depends on how we cope with resources that exist in unavoidably limited supply. The science of how we do that is economics. All other considerations aside, it's true, the amount of space in the Universe is vast, but it's not infinite. And human _awareness_ is vast, but it too has its limits.

[@KDog2264]

It was raining all the time because it was filmed in Vancouver and it was film during the rainy season.

[@reynaldolorenzo8409]

None of the Watchmen and Minutemen have superhuman abilities, they are super strong because they train their body to peak human condition. In comic book human characters they train their bodies to peak human condition and that’s why they can do unrealistic shit. Bruce Wayne and all the Bat family, Matt Murdock, Frank Castle, Wilson Fisk, Sam Wilson, Arrow, etc. The only person in this universe that has superhuman abilities is Dr Manhattan.

[@StupidMoniker]

The original Watchmen comics were based on DC characters. They were going to be DC characters, but the company would not allow the story that was proposed to use their characters, so Batman became Night Owl, Question (or Blue Beetle, I can't remember) became Rorshach, etc.

[@scottneil1187]

Nite owl is an analogue of Blue Beetle not Batman.

[@StupidMoniker]

@@scottneil1187 I knew Blue Beetle was in there somewhere.

[@camelboy1223]

Can you please react to 1994 The Crow staring Brandon Lee. R.I.P... Epic graphic novel that got made into an awesome gothic action movie. With a tragic history.