The graphic novel on which Watchmen is based has been revered for more than two decades as one of the greatest works of its form. Not only has it enjoyed cult worship from a league of fanboys, it's also crossed over to receive critical acclaim from those who enjoy "real books". Famously, it's the only graphic novel to have appeared in Time magazine's "All Time 100 Greatest Novels" (2005).

It's not surprising, then, that Zack Snyder's film adaptation stirred a bit of excitement. It polarised audiences, being loved and hated in equal measures.

If you skipped it at the cinemas, don't make the same mistake with the DVD and Blu-ray release. It is violent and yes, some of the plot can lean a little towards the operatic at times, but Snyder creates a world so intoxicating, so visually engrossing, that, as you watch you can't help but feel that you've slipped into the inky world of the graphic novel.

Don't mistake this release for Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic , though, which is released a day earlier and offers the full 12 chapters of the novel with limited motion, voice and sound over five hours of digital goodness. Also, be warned that a 5-disc-set will be released later in the year and will include the film interwoven with the mini-story, Tales of the Black Freighter.

Consensus: Gritty and visually striking, Watchmen is a faithful adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novel, but its complex narrative structure may make it difficult for it to appeal to viewers not already familiar with the source material.

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