We went and watched Watchmen yesterday. Though I absolutely loved the movie, I didn’t care much for the ending. Not because it differed from the ending in the graphic novel (because it did), but because it was flawed.

In the graphic novel, the cold war comes to an immediate end by the introduction of a giant space squid that destroys much of New York City. People realize that they must stop waging war against each other. No matter what our differences are with each other, we have much more in common with each other than we do big giant space squids. The big giant space squid unifies all of mankind.

In the movie, there is no big giant space squid. Instead, a massive bomb based on the same technology that gives Dr. Manhattan his god-like powers is detonated not only in New York City, but in major cities all over the world. Dr. Manhattan is immediately blamed for the attacks that have killed millions. The cold war still ends, but instead of mankind uniting against the threat of giant space squids, it unites against the threat posed by Dr. Manhattan.

And that is where the problem lies.

A giant space squid that destroys much of New York City is neutral. Dr. Manhattan that deploys massive bombs in the world’s major cities is not neutral.

For years Dr. Manhattan has been the poster child of American power. Not only was he once a man, he was an American. Nixon after all used Dr. Manhattan to bring an immediate and swift end to the Vietnam conflict turning it into the 51st state. I’m not so sure the rest of the world would unite with the United States. I’m not sure the the rest of the world would see the United States in the same way that it sees all the other countries attacked by Dr. Manhattan. If anything, Nixon using the power of Dr. Manhattan in Vietnam would have likely united the world against the United States.

That’s not to say that I didn’t love this movie. Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach ridiculously good. He was born to play the part of Rorschach. His portrayal of Rorschach was truly Oscar worthy.

The level of graphic violence was at the same level with directer Zack Snyder’s other graphic novel adaption, 300. I was somewhat surprised by this. This movie is definitely not a movie for children or the squeamish.

I enjoyed this movie and I’m looking forward to watching it again and again when it’s released on Blu-ray.