The Watchmen's Conclusion

Don't worry, I won't spoil the film for anyone.

After the climax, the Watchmen (and the villain(s)) come to a conclusion that I did not quite understand. Or, I understood it, but I disagreed with on such a basic level that I was left wondering why none of them, including the villain(s) took possible actions X,Y or Z that I considered in my mind after the final unfolding of events. Even Rorschach who, because of his unique moral compass, decides to take a different course of action than the others, his choice and thinking is still guided and is derived from the same conclusion that everyone else came to.

I am too verbose. Here is the heart of the matter. The conclusion everyone came to only makes sense if one basic assumption is accepted. The author apparently accepted it so fully that none of his characters ever questioned it, even at the end.

It is that the nuclear capabilities of the US and USSR (and the destructive potential of Doctor Manhattan) are the cause of the Cold War. The implication at the end of the film is that had there been no nukes, nor any Dr. Manhattan, the Cold War would never be, nor would it continue if the nukes and Dr. Manhattan go away.

I find this assumption quite absurd. When the credits were rolling I was expected to believe that if nuclear power were as possible as cold fusion is today, then there would have been no standoff between Nato and the Warsaw Pact. That if only conventional arms existed, the free democracies and the communist world dominated by the Soviets would get along fine.

I can accept that nukes defined the nature of the Cold War and that they created idiosyncratic and intense situations and dynamics for it, but not that they are the cause of the "conflict" themselves.

One has to only consider that both the US and Russia have nukes today to see that this assumption is bogus. Why are we not scared of Russia now? Oh yeah, because they aren't an evil totalitarian state. Now they're just corrupt.

Camouflage: Less than meets the Eye

In watching last year’s multi-gazillion dollar film “Transformers” I made a startling discovery.

In the scenes with US troops in Iraq (or Afganistan?) fighting the giant decepticon, the soldiers are wearing Vietnam era uniforms (green camouflage). It was strange.

Not only have US troops been wearing the desert-colored camouflage in every conflict that I know of since 1991, but they’re in a desert! If they’re wearing camouflage, shouldn’t it not be green!?

I have come up with four possibilities as to why a gigantic blockbuster which could have made any number of uniforms they wanted used a uniform that no active US soldier has worn in years:

1. The film makers preferred the Vietnam era uniforms.

This is far-fetched, but perhaps the director really liked those old colors. Doubtful.

2. The film makers thought that their audience prefers Vietnam era uniforms

I don’t see what this could possibly be based upon. Perhaps they feel that since no one likes the current conflict they don’t like the current uniforms? Bizarre and even more far-fetched than the idea that the film makers preferred the old uniforms.

My friend Joseph actually claims he would never join any branch of the US military based entirely upon the fact that he believes their uniforms have terrible fashion. Although he is no friend to their ideology, he loves the Nazi SS uniforms with a passion.

While my buddy Joseph has strong opinions on the subject, I don’t think the masses somehow prefer one type of uniform over another, and if they did, who cares?

3. The film makers did not know what US uniforms look like.

This is even more extremely doubtful. The producer, director, screenwriter, set director, photographer, choreographer, line producer, costume designers, hair stylists, gaffers, no one knew that our troops haven’t used green camo in years? Give me a break.

4. The film makers thought Americans would not recognize US troops without green uniforms.

This, although also far-fetched, seems to me the most likely. Did the film makers believe that the majority of their viewers have not seen even one photo or newscast or anything of even one US soldier in America or abroad since 1991? Do they think that Americans are that stupid?

What does this all mean?

Probably that I spent way too much time thinking about something that doesn’t matter.

But at least I didn’t spend time reading it – which is what you did.