Will America Watch The Watchmen?

Clocking in at three hours, with a director's cut of 4 and a half already planned for DVD, is Zack Snyder's (300) upcoming adaption of The Watchmen; a comic book adaption based on a limited series by Alan Moore, of "V for Vendetta" notoriety. Films passing the mark of 2 hours and 45 minutes are tough enough to market to audiences and pack into booked multiplexes, so a 180 minute adaption of a politically-minded team of superheroes in the midst of The Cold War seems like something of an ego trip from a director who drew in millions of viewers by flaunting Gerald Butler's enhanced abs onscreen. 

Watchmen doesn't arrive in theatres until March of 2009, but it is already the hottest property in geek-cinema. For those of you who haven't picked up a copy of the original book, the plot revolves around a team of contemporary heroes (only one of whom has powers), who have disbanded in the wake of a bills outlawing "vigilantes" like themselves. As one of the legion, Rorschach, slowly uncovers a government conspiracy, he attempts to reunite his team members for a last stand. The whole concept may sound noble (and a tad cliche), yet the methods these "heroes" use to meet their ends are questionable- including cop-killing, rape and civilian execution. 

Watchmen has the potential to be influential on an epic scale; forever impacting the cultural relevance of action and superhero movies. However, between it's marathon running time and easily objectionable content, Snyder may have a somewhat tougher sell on his hands then he did with Spartans in togas.