The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) has been murdered. While the police investigate the case Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) is certain that the hero turned government agent was undone by a “Cape Killer” and warns his former hero friends to stay alert while he conducts his own search for the killer.

Since the Keene Act was passed banning vigilante crime fighting nationwide most of the Watchmen members have retired to civilian life. Nite Owl II (Patrick Wilson) just goes by the name “Dan Dreiberg” now as his suit, gear and flying vessel gather dust in his basement. Ozymandias (Matthew Goode) revealed his true identity to the public and now uses his vast corporate empire instead of a cape and mask to improve the world. Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup) has taken residence at a top-secret government facility where he works on an assortment of experiments. He shares this space with his girlfriend, Silk Spectre II (Malin Akerman).

The presence of the Cape Killer and the looming threat of World War III seem like a good reason for a Watchmen reunion. But who will answer the call when the heroes have moved on to lead their own lives and the very people they swore to protect have made it clear they want “cops not capes”?

Watchmen is as rich and textured a tapestry as the legendary graphic novel it’s based on. The main plot takes place in an alternate version of 1985 where President Nixon is preparing for a nuclear showdown with Russia. As the Doomsday Clock tick, tick, ticks closer to Armageddon the individual members of the now defunct Watchmen team take some time to reflect on the past before deciding what to do about their grim and seemingly shortened futures.

As someone that read the graphic novel I knew Zack Snyder (director) wouldn’t be able to fit everything from the book into the film but I was impressed at how much he did manage to squeeze in. Some might feel derailed by the constant flashbacks but I loved the breaks in the story that allowed the complicated pasts of the Watchmen to be fully realized. Who they were plays a very important part in the actions they take in the present.

The director’s cut of Watchmen, running at 186 minutes, includes all the stuff from the theatrical run with some extended and deleted scenes spliced in to present an even bigger window into the Watchmen world. Some of the characters benefit from the increased exposure. Laurie’s plot is expanded to show that her relationship with Dr. Manhattan / Jon is also a matter of public security. The restored scenes show government agents constantly monitoring Laurie’s activities to make sure she doesn’t offend Nixon’s resident superhero. These scenes also answer the “Where did Laurie get the gun from?” question that bugged me when I watched the theatrical version.

More quips from Rorschach are added along with an extended scene between the masked man and his prison therapist. Some of the fight scenes are given more screen time including The Comedian’s attempted rape of Sally Jupiter and the final brawl in “New Karnak”. Secondary characters such as Hollis, the newsstand owner, the comic book kid, President Nixon and Henry Kissinger get a boost from the director’s cut. Most of the new footage makes the movie even more spectacular but there were a few scenes I felt should’ve stayed deleted.

The cast should also be commended for giving 110% in their efforts to make the film characters as captivating and memorable as the original inked and painted icons. Jackie Earle Haley has been getting a lot of hot press for his portrayal of Walter “Rorschach” Kovacs and rightly so. Haley made Rorschach more than “the cool guy in the mask”. He brought the inner turmoil, righteous indignation and mild insanity and transmitted it through the vigilante’s ever-changing shroud. Billy Crudup vocally nailed Dr. Manhattan’s loosening grip on humanity while the CG artists produced an extremely fluid and vibrant character that seemed almost more alive than the people around him at times.

I was already pleased with Malin Akerman’s performance in the original cut. In the extended version Akerman is even more stunning thanks to the restoration of scenes that give Silk Spectre II / Laurie even more depth and action than in the first film. Those who thought Laurie was a little flat in the theaters might change their tunes when they bring the uncut version home to roost.

I could be mistaken but I swear that some of Dr. Manhattan’s frontal nudity footage was reduced. Perhaps the near deafening whining from “penis-phobic” fanboys forced Snyder to give Manhattan a little “snip-snip”? For those who were awed by the doctor’s swaying blue genitalia please don’t fret because there are plenty of opportunities to view, playback, slo-mo, and zoom in on Jon’s flaccid blue rod.

The special features for the 2 disc special edition DVD include an in-depth look at the history of Watchmen from its conceptual designs to the printing of the fully realized comic and then to the 2009 film adaptation. Look forward to reflections and insights from fans, industry insiders, and film crewmembers including Dan Gibbons (illustrator) and John Higgins (colorist) who worked on the original comic turned graphic novel.

Then go behind the scenes of the Watchmen film through a collection of featurettes that cover stunts, characters, set designs, props and costumes. Strangely, there was no “Play All” option so I had to select every chapter separately; a minor inconvenience that instantly vanished once the filming secrets were revealed. The third and final special feature is My Chemical Romance’s music video for “Desolation Row” from the Watchmen soundtrack.

I know what you’re thinking and I agree. Where the heck is the director’s commentary? Why do the Special Features seem so paltry? Sorry, y’all, but that’s being reserved for The Watchmen Ultimate Collector’s Edition due to release in December 2009. This 5-disc set will include commentary from Dave Gibbons and Zack Snyder, over two hours of bonus footage, Watchmen motion comics, and yet another version of the film that splices The Director’s Cut with Tales of the Black Freighter. If you’re like me and had no idea this was happening and bought the special edition DVD thinking this was the ultimate home version Warner Brothers has included a $10 coupon that you can put towards the December release. Honestly, the coupon is nice and I will definitely use it for the 5-disc set but I’m still pleased to have Watchmen home and I will thoroughly enjoy it until the next special edition rolls around.

However, if you own a Blu-Ray system then you’re in luck because you won't have to wait until December for some insights from the director. Zack Snyder will watch the director’s cut with you via BD Live. This one time event is slated to happen on 7/25/09 at 9:30 PST. See the official Watchmen DVD / Blu-Ray link below for more details.

After viewing Watchmen again in the comfort of my own home I have to admit that I loved it even more even at three plus hours. Zack Snyder and his crew did an outstanding job translating the pages to the screen. My geek side was thrilled at the opportunity to pause and slo-mo certain scenes so I could study every little detail to my heart’s desire. Overall, Watchmen is a visually stunning adventure that preserves the wit and excitement of the graphic novel that spawned it. If you were skeptical about seeing the film in theaters now you can try it with less risk from your favored and much more comfortable easy chair or couch.