Warner Bros. gave some members of the press a special treat yesterday in Los Angeles by showing 26 minutes of footage from their highly anticipated superhero flick, Watchmen.

Our friend Alex from First Showing was one of the lucky few to get a sneak peak at director Zack Snyder’s adaptation of the Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons graphic novel and he reports that it was “absolutely phenomenal” and that “it’s going to be The Matrix all over again.”

Here’s some other tidbits:

• Current running time is 2 hours and 43 minutes
• Snyder said no sequel/prequel for him
• A new trailer will be attached to theatrical screenings of Quantum of Solace
• Working on a version of the film that incorporates the “Tales of the Black Freighter” (the animated side story adapted the graphic novel) into the actual movie; there are transitions that were shot and will be implemented on DVD versions of Watchmen.

Frosty and David over at Collider were also at the screening. Check out their lengthy descriptions (with audio) of the footage shown, which included the opening credits sequence, the opening from the comic having to do with The Comedian (don’t want to spoil it), the origin of Dr. Manhattan, and the rescue attempt at the prison.