Who is watching the Watchmen? No, seriously, who?

WATCHMEN: the un-filmable film, the paramount graphic novel.  Although its fan base is massive, the advertising campaign has been just as enormous.  I, for one, am tired of seeing the Robert Downey Jr. look-alike on posters portrayed as a bad ass lighting a cigar with a flame thrower - naturally, what we all strive to do at one point in our lives.

On the release date, plenty of hardcore fans flocked to the theaters (yes, some in costume) to watch the brutal, dark and ultimately downer of a "superhero" flick.  The hardcore fight sequences, impressive cinematic techniques and shocker of a twist weren't good enough to reach audiences for the second weekend, though.

Last Friday, March 6, the film brought in $25.1 million - one of the highest grossing R-rated film openings - and $55.7 million over the entire weekend.  Not only longtime fans, but also curious film-goers looking for an adrenaline rush and for what a blue, flaccid penis looks like flocked to the theatres.  

This weekend, however, the film dropped 67% to only $18 million.  So what caused this dramatic downfall that many critics had predicted?

• First, the diehards had already been there and done that, and they all seemed to complain the movie was either awful or just plain okay.
• Second, this is not a happy movie.  So in the midst of a free-fall economy, all we need from the film industry is a doomsday piece rubbed in all our faces.
• Third, this is a long movie.  Really long.  And long movies mean less showtimes at theatres.
• Fourth, and finally, I feel this movie isn't what audiences thought it was going to be.

Essentially, Watchmen is not your typical action-hero flick, but rather a film that leaves you thinking you just experienced some kind of psychological trauma along with the characters.

Some have blamed the director for staying too faithful to the graphic novel.  Well people, FYI, movies and graphic novels are entirely different mediums.  Give the film studio a break...and your money.

Are people already tired of the Watchmen?  Is their reign of, uh, watching....over?