Undecided? Here's why to watch Watchmen

If you're one of the frenzied masses eagerly awaiting tonight's showing of Watchmen, keep snoozing ~ you're going to need the sleep and have already decided to attend.

I'm speaking now to those who might be thinking, "I thought it opened tomorrow...?" and are on the fence as to whether or not it's worth braving the crowds.

First, you're right, it does open tomorrow (Fri) ~ at 12:01am to packed theaters across the country! Second, it's probably worth it for the surrounding drama alone. Even if you're not a fan of the genre, seeing it will keep you in the know around the water cooler (like why I occasionally watch the Superbowl).

Let's start with the popularity and critical acclaim of the source material, hence the [good-natured] rabidity of the fanbase. The most popular graphic novel of all time, the Hugo Award-winning Watchmen is also on TIME's list of the 100 greatest novels since 1923, transforming its status from comic book to literary fiction (I've added a few links at the end that explain why).

Then there's the legal battle ~ a bitter copyright infringement suit between 20th Century Fox and Warners that threatened to delay or even derail its release (choose formal or informal explanations). So incensed was the aforementioned fanbase upon Fox's victory and resulting authority to quash production that it threatened widespread boycotting and pirating of Fox's productions in perpetuity. Fox's response: "Of course we are concerned about the fans; however, any disappointment from the core fans should not be directed toward Fox." Yeah, good luck with that. (Fortunately for all of us, Fox kept its priorities in order.)

Watchmen Add to the mix the technological challenges. Author Alan Moore and Director Zack Snyder both thought it to be "unfilmable" (that's what was said about Perfume until Tywker got his hands on it...). Says Snyder, "I mean, it's a weird movie. There's [sic] no two ways about it." Happily, computer generated imagery ("cgi") and visual effects have advanced to the point they can now keep up with the artist's pen. And illustrator Dave Gibbons is happy with the result, so Snyder obviously overcame any doubts!

An added spark is the author's disdain of the film ~ hinting that he actually put a curse on the film version. Still, Moore eschews Hollywood in general has never seen the adaptations of any of his other works, so perhaps it's not necessary to put too much stock in this.

And finally, there's the sheer exhilaration of it all. My friend H., already in love with the book and IMAX ticket in hand since last week, describes the "ridiculous level of excitement" surrounding such premieres. Indeed ~ IMAX's web site has already crashed four times this week due to traffic surges by fans seeking ticket information, and IMAX Filmed Entertainment president Greg Foster reports, "If there weren't midnight shows, there would be a riot. The demand is very, very strong." As of this writing, the Midnight showing at the Marq*E is sold out, but you can still catch the 3:20.

Aside: Word has it that while the fans already know what to expect, the trailers may be creating a false impression for the uninitiated. Be aware ~ Watchmen is serious, heavy drama not for the squeamish and is essentially a psychological and thematic exploration vs. an action flick. This is not Spider Man: Watchmen is Rated R, as in not for minors.

Having said that, Watchmen is already being called "perfectly realized" by virtually all early reports. (Some are even saying it's "too faithful to the novel" ~ ??) For a variety of reasons, I never watched The Sopranos ~ but I tuned into the finale because I wanted to understand the next day's hubbub. Speaking to those on the fence, I'd be willing to bet that if you have the fortitude to withstand some of the content, the overall experience will be well worth it.

Here are a few links to help with the decision: