Stylish 'Watchmen' a triumph

Director: Zack Snyder

Cast: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Billy Crudup, Jackie Earl Haley, Patrick Wilson, Malin Akerman

Cert: 16

The now classic Alan Moore comic-book stories of fallen super-heroes was long thought to be unfilmable, but Snyder has done it with some verve and style and has brought us a film that far outshines most of the recent crop of futuristic actioners.

Though, actually, 'Watchmen' is set in an alternative 1985 when the real world hovered on the brink of disaster.

Here super-hero vigilantes have been banned by Government degree and forced into resentful retirement.

Until one of them is murdered and a former colleague, Rorschach (Haley) rounds up some old super pals to solve the case … along the way turning up an evil plan.

It’s a fast-paced and stylish film full of action but it’s also dazzlingly fresh in its approach to a well-worn genre in that it combines dark comedy with a look at the US political mentality and at the misuse of patriotism … an all-round triumph.

Star Rating: 5/5