With a star-studded cast and stunning visuals (lavish interiors, gloriously green (sigh) British countryside), this film is one of Edwardian snobbery and strange intrigue. This witty, intelligent and funny film is based on a story by Lord Dunsany (an acclaimed writer of fantasy ((ndash)) for example, 'The King of Elfland's Daughter' ((ndash)) whose life spanned the late 19th and early 20th centuries).

Jeremy Northam plays Henslowe Fisk, the long-suffering son of O'Toole's character. Northam carries a lot of this film ((ndash)) his enormous talent intensifies both the humour and pathos. Peter O'Toole's performance as the elder Fiske also proves the breadth and depth of his acting abilities: it's good to see such a capable actor continuing to be offered such interesting and challenging roles.

Sam Neill as Dean Spanley shows that he too is capable of a broad range of roles ((ndash)) and this one is indeed unusual. Some scenes require Neill's skill and experience as an actor to carry them off and prevent them from descending into farce and silliness.

I for one will be adding this movie to my DVD collection when it becomes available in that format.

In the mid-1980s, well after the foundation of the clich((eacute))d comic book superhero had been defined by the masters of the industry, a twelve part comic series was released by DC Comics. Written by one Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, the comic completely redefined the costumed hero genre and turned heads in the industry and its audience alike: the series took the idea of costumed vigilantes to an entirely new level. Set in a satirical world where Nixon was still in office, and costumed heroes have been outlawed by society, 'Watchmen' not only gave comic readers an engrossing and fantastic story, but gave the industry a new way to approach storytelling in comics.

Following the success of his movies Dawn of the Dead and 300, director Zack Snyder has attempted the 'Watchmen' adaptation. Whilst there are many who are reluctant to accept that Watchmen should have been made at all, the early footage and media releases have caused mainly curiosity and excitement rather than cries of "this is a disgrace!".

Of course the movie cannot be as good as the comic, but considering it is in the hands of Snyder (a self-confessed fan who lobbied to direct the film in order for it to have a chance of being a just adaptation), it is certain to be a worthy candidate for inclusion in the list of 2009's big movies of the year.

This movie is a definite must-see - but before you see it, go out and read the original comic (now published as a convenient one-volume graphic novel). You'll hate yourself forever if you see Watchmen and love it (as you inevitably will; it will crap all over what people think the new Batman movies have done for the comic book hero - yes, that's right, I'm making that bold call) and then find you've missed out because you didn't read the original comic first.