Digital News Report- After snagging $55.5 million opening weekend, it’s no doubt that Watchmen was a success. Though some note that it’s fallen below expected $79 million, that hasn’t stopped it from breaking all kinds of records. It has already become the second largest domestic IMAX opening with $5.4 million, which averages $43,863 per screen.
“We’re very happy with the overall performance of the film,” said Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. He also stated, “our expectations have been met.”
Of course, not everything has been perfect for the film. Some have reported walking out of the film due to its’ graphic violence and sex. Not to mention the fact that Dr Manhattan spends much of the film completely naked and unashamed of his nudity. This film is NOT FOR KIDS. It is rated R for a reason. But it managed to become one of the strongest openings for an R rated film in history.
I admit I have no read the Watchmen graphic novel. I have enough friends who love it that I understood the basics and I’m also a huge fan of many other superheroes and comic books. For the most part, however, I went into this blind. This means that I lacked the ability to reference the source material, which probably saved me from the “nerd rage” that seems to be spreading across the Internet. My love of the genre itself, though, let me enjoy the film for what it was.
When it comes to adapting a comic book, you can go one of two ways. You can make the film dark, gritty, and realistic like The Dark Knight or Iron Man. Or you could go completely for the “cheese factor” such as the first Batman films of the 1980’s and 1990’s. Watchmen went for the latter, but succeeded way beyond Tim Burton’s Batman films.
However, as noted, despite its’ cheesiness, this is certainly not for kids. Think of it as a treat for adults who love graphic novels. You get the silly over dramatic fights scenes right alongside a graphic sex scene that ends with a stream of fire above the city skyline. This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.