Watch Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter & Under the Hood

Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter & Under the Hood is a 2009 animated feature based on the critically acclaimed graphic novel Watchmen. The movie is a two-part story that centers around a pirate tale, Tales of the Black Freighter, and a behind-the-scenes look at the heroes of the Watchmen universe, Under the Hood. The first part of the movie, Tales of the Black Freighter, follows a marooned sailor named William who is trying to make his way back home to warn his village about an impending attack by a group of pirates known as the Black Freighter. As he travels across the ocean, William's sanity begins to fray, and he becomes more desperate and reckless in his quest to save his people. The story is dark and violent, with plenty of gore and disturbing imagery.

The animation style of Tales of the Black Freighter is impressive, with a mix of traditional 2D animation and 3D computer-generated graphics. The overall look is gritty and stylized, with muted colors and heavy shadows adding to the ominous tone of the story. Gerard Butler provides the voice of William, bringing a gravitas and depth to the character that helps to anchor the tale.

The second part of Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter & Under the Hood is Under the Hood, a mockumentary-style exploration of the Watchmen universe. Set in the 1970s, Under the Hood takes the form of an interview with Hollis Mason, the first hero to take on the mantle of Nite Owl. Through interviews with Mason and other Watchmen characters, as well as footage of Mason's crimefighting exploits, we get a glimpse into the history of the Watchmen and their role in shaping the world they inhabit.

The tone of Under the Hood is markedly different from Tales of the Black Freighter, with a lighter, more tongue-in-cheek feel. The humor is mostly subtle, with the characters playing their roles with a kind of earnestness that borders on the absurd. Jared Harris is excellent as Hollis Mason, bringing a warmth and charm to the character that makes it easy to root for him, even as he reveals some of the darker aspects of his superhero career.

One of the things that makes Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter & Under the Hood so interesting and unique is the way it blends genres, styles, and mediums. The juxtaposition of the dark, violent pirate tale with the tongue-in-cheek superhero interviews creates a dynamic that keeps the viewer engaged and invested in the story. The use of computer-generated graphics alongside traditional animation techniques adds a layer of visual depth and texture that makes the movie feel like a living, breathing entity.

Overall, Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter & Under the Hood is a striking, engaging movie that pays tribute to the source material while also carving out its own unique place in the Watchmen universe. Whether you're a fan of the graphic novel or just looking for an interesting, offbeat animated feature to check out, this movie is definitely worth a watch.

Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter & Under the Hood is a 2009 animated movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 4 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.