When a movie character says that the gutters run with blood, it's usually hyperbole. In "Watchmen," the gutters really do run with blood.
Dark, brutal and long (two hours and 42 minutes), "Watchmen" has a considerable fan base — built on the classic 1987 graphic novel once considered unfilmable — pumped to storm theaters this weekend. It's easily the most buzzed/hyped movie so far this year.
"Watchmen" looks and feels like a superhero movie, but it's more of an apocalyptic dystopia with cool threads. Even more than Marvel Comics' stable of misfits, these superheroes are messed up and sometimes far from heroic. And the political setting — Dr. Strangelove called, and he wants his war room back — is as important as anyone's tights.
Early reviews have been all over the map. On the heels of the movie's only Atlanta advance screening Monday night, here are some guesses on what audiences may talk about.
• The hard R rating. Director Zack Snyder ("300") pours on the gore. Arms are cut off with a power saw, heads split by cleavers. There's also an ugly rape scene, and more explicit nudity than usual for an R. Audiences weaned on the usual PG and PG-13 superhero flicks, even "The Dark Knight," may be shocked. It is not for kids.
• The costumes. Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman), the only female, dominates during her screen time more than she did in the book; credit the latex look. All the main characters seem to have stepped right off the page: The Comedian, Nite Owl, Rorschach and naked, blue Dr. Manhattan.
• The possible split reaction between fans and newcomers. Fans will be geeked seeing exact frames from the comic on screen but may lament story details that were dropped; newcomers may furrow their brows trying to keep track of it all.
• The ending. It's no secret the movie tweaks the ending a bit. It remains true to the cynical thrust of the book, but purists may debate whether the change should have been made.
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