Superhero Movie Countdown - No. 2


We are in the home stretch. My No. 2 film might not be a conventional choice, but it's a film that's always stuck with me.

No. 2 - Watchmen (2009)
Starring: Billy Cruddup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode, and Malin Akerman
Director: Zack Snyder
Quote: "They claim their labors are to build a heaven, yet their heaven is populated by horrors. Perhaps the world is not made. Perhaps nothing is made. A clock without a craftsman. It's too late. Always has been, always will be. Too late." - Dr. Manhattan
About: Movies don't get much darker than "Watchmen." It's based on a D.C. Comics graphic novel, but it was meant to be an indictment of our fascination with superheroes and saviors, and an indictment of our culture and government. It is a Nihilistic worldview, and it is dark. It's a world of extremes, and none of those include faith, hope, and love. But in that, we get a window into a certain view of the world, and that can be illuminating. This is a heart-breaking film to watch in a lot of ways, but one I often come back to because I am fascinated by the challenging worldview that is presented. In terms of a film, there are some incredible shots in this film. Snyder is an oft criticized director of late, but his early films were beautiful adaptations of graphic novels. "Watchmen" follows the source material nearly exactly, and in that way it's a great adaptation. This is rated R for a reason, but it's worth checking out if you like deeper arguments about the nature of heroism.
Rating: R for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language. Enter with caution.

Superhero Movie Countdown:
No. 3 - X-Men: First Class (2011)
No. 4 — Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
No. 5 — The Avengers (2012)
No. 6 — Superman Returns (2006)
No. 7 — Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
No. 8 — Batman (1989)
No. 9 — Iron Man (2008)
No. 10 — Dark Knight Rises (2012)
No. 11 — X-Men (2000)
No. 12 — Spider-Man (2002)
No. 13 —Batman Begins (2005)
No. 14 — Superman II (1980)
No. 15 — Batman Returns (1992)

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