Berlin Day Two

Woke up this morning to terrible news. Wallowed around in that for a couple hours and then hit the road. Swallowed my pride and bought a ticket for a tour bus that drives a loop around the city and tells you about the sites. I know, so touristy. Basically, its a 60 year old city. Every single building that the tour tells you about was either built post 1990 (Berlin unification, fall of the Wall, all that), or was reconstructed from rubble after WWII. It sounds like Berlin was almost completely razed.
City is full of dramatic and striking statues. There's a huge memorial to winning a war against Denmark in the 1800's with a huge gold Roman goddess on it. I guess you have to appreciate whatever victories you have, as these guys got their asses handed to them in both of the big wars.
Tour drove by Checkpoint Charlie, and the Wall museum and the Jewish museum. Didn't feel like getting out, but probably going to check those out tomorrow.
Have yet to find a cool pub. All the bars I've found are large and very well lit. Not really what I like in a bar. This is probably because all the great dark little pubs are hidden away from tourists. Fair enough, I despise all of those idiotic tourists in Hollywood taking pictures of a fucking sidewalk and I certainly wouldn't want them in my bar. Ended up sitting at a big Lowenbrau brew house that is definitely geared toward tourists. The menu was in 8 languages, if that doesn't give it away. Terrific beer though, and served in large quantities by ridiculously clad German girls.
Went back to the Hotel, intended to take an hour nap and go to the 4:30 pm Watchmen. Ended up sleeping for 6 hours instead. Went to the 10:15 Watchmen instead. Ok, the Berlin movie experience... The theater was immaculate, cleaner than the Arclight even. The concessions were typical fare, big cups of soda (served w/o ice, though), popcorn, even nachos. But, also, a large selection of beers served in the glass bottle. Seating was assigned, the floors of the theater were fully carpeted, the seats thick and cushioned. Again, as spotless as a doctors office. The Germans were excellent theater goers, totally silent, no cell phones. While the movie was listed as starting at 10:15, actually at 10:15 commercials started and proceeded to play for 20 minutes, including the same beer commercial three times. Katy Perry was also in two commercials. I've also seen several posters of her, she must be as popular here as in the US right now. After the 20 minutes of commercials, the lights came back up for about 5 minutes, and then an usher dude talked in German for a minute or two (I suspect this was a movie intro like at the Arclight), and then started 20 minutes of trailers, a mix of American and German movies. Finally, at almost exactly 11pm, the movie started.
So, The Watchmen. I enjoyed the movie for the most part (maybe just because it was great to hear so much English being spoken), but its got big problems. Its pretty sloppily told, cutting back into flashback way too much, some for little purpose. The soundtrack, while good music, is very overbearing and way too obvious. And, like Synder's last movie 300, which I absolutely hated, the whole thing is just very juvenile, while still being absurdly violent. Its like letting a 16 year old guy direct a movie. But, this has its good point. The fights are entertaining although ridiculous, and Malin Akerman is a goddess. She's not as drop dead hot as say Megan Fox or Odetta Yustman, but shes gorgeous and buck naked, which adds several points on a 10 scale.
The biggest problem with the movie is Dr. Manhattan. I absolutely hated this character, for so many reasons. First and foremost, bad vfx follow this guy around like stink on a frenchman. I mean, really, really bad special effects. He looks like a cartoon drawn on the frame ala Tron in some scenes. Oh, and, really, do I have to look at his blue dick in every scene? I don't give a shit if this is how some nerd comic book guy drew him, this is waaaay too much cock in a movie. Its never explained, its just apparently something demi-gods do. I thought Billy Crudups performance was pretty terrible too.
There is also way too much voice over narration in the movie. Its such a cheap and shitty way for a screenwriter/director to tell a story. I mean for fucks sake you have 3 hours and apparently limitless budget and the best way you can tell me whats going on is a voice over? Fail.
But, the Rorschach character is a lot of fun. The prison stuff is great.
The end with the face off against the supervillian is surprisingly run of the mill for a movie trying to be so unique and daring. I mean, he even fully details his evil plot to take over the world to the good guys. So cheesy James Bond. Not even James Bond, really more Austin Powers.