Blu-Ray Review: ‘Tales of the Black Freighter’ a Great Companion to ‘Watchmen’

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s influential graphic novel “Watchmen” may have not made the impact that we all expected it to in theaters, but it is a film and book that still has legions of fans. Fan of the book or the movie or both should take a look at the interesting “Tales of the Black Freighter,” a companion piece that fills in the world of “Watchmen” and is now available on Blu-Ray.

“Tales of the Black Freighter” is the name of a comic book within the world of the “Watchmen” that a young boy is reading throughout the graphic novel. Understandably, the “Freighter” had to be cut from the already over-long film, but director Zack Snyder and one of his writers on the film, Alex Tse, adapted it and turned it into a 26-minute animated film featuring voice work by Gerard Butler (“300”) and Jared Harris (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”).

Tales of the Black Freighter was released on Blu-Ray on March 24th, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers

“Black Freighter” is a highly stylized tale of a pirate trying to get home and save his family before the black freighter beats him to it. With lines like “His head burst as if pressurized by the guilt within,” “Black Freighter” is an old-fashioned pirate tale with an Alan Moore twist.

Tales of the Black Freighter was released on Blu-Ray on March 24th, 2009. Photo credit: Warner Brothers

“Freighter” served several functions in the graphic novel - breaking up the superhero action of the piece, illustrating the depth of this world in that comics still exist in a world with real caped crusaders, and thematic parallels to the action of the story, particularly the arc of Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias. As a stand-alone story, it’s interesting but not riveting storytelling. It’s truly a companion piece to “Watchmen”.

Directed by Daniel Delpurgatorio and Mike Smith, “Tales From the Black Freighter” undeniably looks amazing. The artwork is loyal to the book but is not merely a motion comics. It’s a beautiful film, especially in HD. What really elevates this “Freighter” is the fantastic voice work by Butler. He should do more.

Another break in the action in the original was Hollis Mason’s “Under the Hood,” a fictional non-fiction book about what it was like to be a superhero back when men started wearing masks. Director Eric Matthies has made a live-action/CGI version about that book with interviews with Mason (Stephen McHattie) and Silk Spectre (Carla Gugino). It’s a little cheesy and doesn’t stand on its own. “Hood” is nearly 50% longer than “Freighter” but the latter is still the draw on this release.

I hope that one day “Black Freighter” and “Under the Hood” are at least available as branching options on the film itself. They could be reinserted as act breaks, like they sort of were in the book, and add depth to a film that was lacking it.

“Tales of the Black Freighter” and “Under the Hood” may not stand on their own but they’re must-sees for fans of the book or movie. As the back of the Blu-Ray case says, “Two fan-essential stories. One place to watch the excitement.”

Special features on the Blu-Ray release include “Story Within a Story: The Books of Watchmen,” “Watchmen Motion Comic Episode 1,” and a first look at DC Universe’s animated “Green Lantern”.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com