Film Review: Reviewed By Jamie Russell; 3 out of 5

This long-awaited adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's seminal comic-book mini-series is less faithful than totally obsessive - a fanboy's love letter to a complex, adult work that deconstructed the American superhero myth on its original publication in 1986. Lifting whole frames from the source material, director Zack Snyder (300) delivers a dark, violent epic set in an alternative 1980s in which America was victorious in Vietnam, Nixon remains president and masked crime-fighters have been outlawed by legislation. It's here that brutal and obsessive mystery man Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) investigates the murder of former "mask" The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and unravels a complex conspiracy involving quantum superman Dr Manhattan (Billy Crudup). Hyper-stylised visuals capture the noir-style seediness of Moore's world brilliantly; less convincing are the latex costumes and ill-judged deviations from the text. Those unfamiliar with the work will probably be completely bewildered, while reaction from fans to this bold but flawed take on one of the genre's sacred cows is likely to be divided.

Plot Summary

Adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's superhero graphic novel, starring Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson and Jackie Earle Haley. In an alternative 1985, America is on the brink of nuclear war with Russia and costumed superheroes have been outlawed, forcing most into retirement. When one of their own is murdered, the former crime-fighting vigilantes come together once again but they uncover a plot far bigger than they ever imagined.