"Watchmen" ***

I went and saw Watchmen this morning.  I read the graphic novel for the first time about five months ago to see what the big deal was, and after I finished I was blown away with it.  I finally understood the nerdy excitement over the release of this movie.  Kind of like how I geeked out over LOTR and couldn't wait to see the films. Anyway, as good as the graphic novel was, the movie fell flat.  Zach Snyder directed the film, and he did a great job overall of being faithful to the book.  I felt like the graphic novel was unfolding before my eyes.  The casting was spot on, and the effects were great.  I really loved all the actors, especially Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the Comedian and Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach.  The end was different, but my boyfriend and I agreed it was actually a better ending than what the graphic novel had.  The problem I had with the movie was it lacked that magic "spark" you feel when you watch a really good movie.  With the LOTR films, I was sucked in and enjoying it as much as the books and I could really feel for the characters.  I didn't really have any emotion or attachment to "Watchmen" because everything is at a distance.  It's visually spectacular but it doesn't go beyond that.  "Watchmen" is also almost three hours long, so I kind of wanted my morning back after seeing it.  Needless to say I won't be buying the blu-ray for the 3 1/2 hour version!  I give watchmen 3 out of 5 stars.