The naysayers will always mention the same things: the story is too complex, the theater isn't the right medium, film can't capture the awe of the story - all of these things have led to the Watchmen being labeled as the unfilmable movie, and none of this was helped by Watchmen author Alan Moore stating these very same feelings about it.

The truth is everybody wanted a Watchmen movie, but everyone was scared that it would turn out horrible. We've seen it happen to past graphic novels made for the big screen, and we've seen it happen with Alan Moore's own work. Sure movies from his past writings have been entertaining, but they also clearly missed their mark when trying to bring the majesty of Moore's stories to the big screen. In fact, many didn't even try.

Talking about a Watchmen movie was like playing Russian roulette. It would make for an epic film, but it could also be a complete disaster. With Batman Begins showing that realism in superhero films could be accomplished, it all but sealed the fate of a Watchmen big screen debut. People were worried. But when Zac Snyder stepped up and proclaimed that if anyone was going to screw up a Watchmen movie it might as well be him - a fan - you knew at the very least that it wasn't going to fall completely flat. Snyder might not make the best adaption, but it also won't turn out like a Roger Corman flick.

Zac Snyder knew that he wasn't going to make everyone happy, but in his film version of the Watchmen, if you don't come away with a sense of awe and appreciation, you're nothing more than a comic snob - nothing would have made you happy to begin with.

Snyder did his best to make one great film about the main plot of the Watchmen, while diving into the psychology of superheroes and the tensions of the cold war. The realism was incredible, despite the often Matrix-style fight scenes. From Night Owl's self-doubt to Rorschach's steely conservativism and lunacy to Ozymandias' righteousness and god-complex to Dr. Manhattan's struggles with re-asserting his humanity, these superheroes represent a very real deconstruction of their archetypes. Even Silk Spectre's familial issues and the Comedian's parody of humanity's obsession with violence will connect with even the most detached -and superhero unfriendly - viewers.

Despite some missing elements, missing sub-plots and minimal changes (and one major change with the ending), Snyder succeeds in capturing the essence of what made the Watchmen comic book great. In fact, Snyder is such a true fan of the comic book, that many of the visual pieces of the movie could have their frames frozen and you'd be able to match the scene with an almost identical panel from the graphic novel.

The acting was anchored quite well by Jeffrey Dean Morgan - in the role of the Comedian - and surprisingly enough, Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach. I was skeptical of Haley upon first seeing him. His bald head and angular face didn't seem to fit well with Rorschach's under-the-mask appearance. But with the addition of red hair and freckles, Haley pulled it off visually - not to mention pouring his soul into this once-in-a-lifetime role. He truly brought Rorschach to life. Billy Crudup, meanwhile, probably had the hardest job - creating sympathy for a character who has lost his humanity. Crudup, despite the special effects managed to show just the slight amount of emotion necessary to make his character believeable.

To add to the experience, the music for the movie was an excellence choice of songs that completely reflected the times portrayed in the film, adding a much deeper sense of realism and continuity not often felt in superhero movies.

The true test of any great film is how long the movie stays with you afterwards. This movie has stuck with me for a few days now, and has had an incredible impact on my appreciation for great cinema.

There were a lot of people in that theater with me, and I know many of them never read the graphic novel version of the Watchmen before. I'm hoping that seeing this movie encourages them to do so in order to appreciate Alan Moore's spectacular story on its many different levels.