the buzz log

"Watchmen" has taken the Buzz Multiplex hostage. Fans are seeking out reviews and soundtrack information, refreshing themselves on the characters, and studying the cast ... but the first blockbuster of 2009 may not fare so easily in its ambitions. Follow the rundown—and the reservations—on this cult classic:

Who's Watching the Watchmen. Yes, this is the male bonding-nostalgia-passing-on-a-tradition movie of the week. Guys through age 54 make up 72% of the online followers. Nearly every state in the union save six are looking into the phenomenon. The longest lines? Tucscon, Ariz, followed by Flint (Mich.), Harlingen (Tex.), Los Angeles and New York City.

The Fathers of the Watchmen. Alan Moore wrote about them, Dave Gibbons drew them, and John Higgins colored them. Big interviews in Buzz: Moore discusses education through comics to Salon, Gibbons talks technique to Wired, and Higgins stays quiet.

Character Studies. The Star Ledger sums up the primary six characters. The most sought-after character in searches on Yahoo! from the past 7 days: Dr. Manhattan, closely followed by Rorschach and Silk Spectre.

All About Akerman. Malin Akerman, who plays Silk Spectre II, doesn't just have double the searches of the movie's title: She has received more Web look-ups than the movie, cast, and character combined.

Box Office Projections. The take may bust this weekend's box ofice, but "Watchmen" isn't likely to break any records. Business Insider offers five reasons why the film will be a bust in the long run. Here's some data to back up the reasoning: The movie landed in the top 400 searches from the past 7 days, but films like "Spider-Man" have had stronger and longer lead-in Web activity. Considering the high number of "reviews" searches, fanboys (or men, considering the graphic novel came out in 1986) may be looking to save themselves from seeing Hollywood ruin some Moore.

Review Round-Up. Moore's boycotting it, but that's just based on personal principle and past experience. For those who have seen it, critical reaction ranges from grade As (Roger Ebert, E! Online) to Cs (USA Today, LA Times). What's good: The "superhero-noir murder mystery" boasts "visceral" graphics with characters that have "surprising conviction." Naysayers find the nearly three-hour exercise "plodding, convoluted and forgettable," a both "nihilistic and campy ... soap opera" absent the graphic novel's "cerebral tone," and with heroes in "silly Halloween get-ups."