Watchmen…. as a view of the Old Testament.

Caution: Spoilers Ahead

I’ve just been to see the film, Watchment. It goes without saying, it was ACE. I, like most people who have a soft spot for Rochanc was really irritated when he died, but I can appreciate why it was a must. Of course, the film has that wonderful use of music that gives away the plot to those that are paying attention. You’ll find exposes on the film, and the amazing use of Camera to make it look very much comic book, the way that there is so much going on in the film for the sharp-eyed. This, however, is a little different.

It occured to me very early on in the film that there were subtle Biblical references. I was guessing that as it was a quote from the Bible that could have easily passed into common usage, especially for the time that the comic was originally written. Anoyingly, I can’t remember what the quote was, but look out for it. It’s said by the mother of Ms. Jupiter, in the first time they speak. After that, the references begin to grow.

I was very engrosed in the film, and this was my first watching. I’ve also not seen the comic, to detailed references are going to be a bit lacking, I just wanted to put forward the outline idea.

At the end of the film, we see what is a perfect way to get peace. Mr. Manhattan is thought to have blown up a few cities in the UK and the USSR. This massive attack causes the two super-powers to work together, and peace continues because both sides think that Mr. Manhattan is watching. It’s violent, it’s terrible, but it WORKS. Mr. Manhattan is occasionally referred to as being a god, though he himself doesn’t see himself that way. Millions of people die to save billions.

It occoured to me that perhaps this was a viable view of the O.T. It is one of a loving God, but only if you take the long view. The destruction of the Cities by God was meant to be a deterrent. It was meant to point out to us that while we thought He was still there, and watching us, we would rather work together, than suffer the wrath of God. Of course, this idea is still in it’s infancy.

There is also a germ of an idea about Rochank. The idea that he is some kind of saviour of this strange, utopia new-world where everything is perfect. The idea that human’s won’t be happy in the new world, in the same way that humans were not happy in the perfect Matrix. The diary that he leaves, that we guess ends up being ran in the newspaper, that will turn the world back into a place that humans are happier to live in.

It’s a wonderful commentary on Human life, the fact that we can only be happy if we think that someone is watching over us, and will come and hurt is if we do something wrong, though daily there’s no proof that he’s still watching/ever there in the first place.

And that the saviour has some very unpleasant things to say about the human condition to make us feel happy.

A little dark, isn’t it?

~BX