The opening credits to Bob Dylan’s tune, “The Times They Are A-Changing” is priceless. I watched it a dozen times when I first rented the DVD.
It’s the best five minutes in film history, bar none.
My favorite Watchman is “The Comedian.” He’s real, and he typifies the American attitude and all that is best with this great country. Life is great, life is fun, and all the best things in life are free. He has a classic superhero flaw, he knows it, and he accepts it, but he keeps on trucking — and smiling.
Speaking of changing times, I see the ominous influence of the modern “Age of Narcissism,” in the characters of Dr. Manhattan and Ozymandias. They are both super perfect, super influential, and super wealthy.
The implication is that they are both gay — and gays are, we all know, the purest, finest, most noble creatures in the Universe. They live above the filth of humanity. They are supremely intelligent, infinitely dignified, and more Godlike than the Divinity himself.
In the end, they even save humanity — or do they condemn us, doom us??
“Straight” people are, if you believe this film, clumsy, inept, dorky, incompetent, not artistic or creative, selfish and base. They wear masks and costumes to emulate gays a la Mardi Gras and to appear more Godlike.
Give me the crude, dirty, incestuous, abusive, sick, demented, corrupt Watchmen any day of the week. They have character, personality, angst, and a tragic guilt. They wear their costumes out of a true wish to do good and a sincere desire to get absolutely no credit for their noble deeds.
Ozymandias and Dr. Manhattan do good to further their own personal agendas, to be worshiped, to control all. Granted, this is the “New American,” but in my book they are still the “Ugly American.” Sure, the “Times Are A Changing,” but in the wrong direction…
I may be old fashioned, but I like my heroes with a side dish of humility and tap water on the rocks, stirred not shaken.
