10 Biggest Mistakes Zack Snyder Has Made In His Movies (So Far)

6. Too Much Slow Motion - Watchmen

Slow motion is one of Zack Snyder's directorial signatures. He uses it more stylishly than most directors in Hollywood (often jumping back and forth from slow motion to regular speed in the same shot), but there are some instances in his own movies where it just doesn't work. Case in point; Watchmen. This is a film that has every reason to be gritty and realistic, but Zack Snyder chooses to shoot every action sequence in heavily stylized super slow motion, which grows tiresome after a while. This isn't to say that there aren't moments in Watchmen where the slow motion does work - the concluding shot of the opening fight scene comes to mind (with the comedian's signature smiley-face pin suspended in midair), as well as the entire opening credits sequence, which is one of the standout moments of Snyder's entire filmography. But the action sequences in Watchmen use slow motion to the point of abuse, making the fight scenes clash harshly with the tone of the script and original graphic novel. Both the graphic novel and film of Watchmen are intended to be (at least partially) a postmodern reflection on what type of sociopathic behavior glorified vigilantism can encourage and a reflexive look at the whole superhero genre in that more harsh light. The excessive slow motion in Watchmen has the worst possible effect in continuing to glorify the genre in a way that is plainly not self aware.