One of the most unexpectedly pleasant movie surprises I've had this year was the Wachowski Brothers’ brilliant screen adaptation of the DC Comics graphic novel, V For Vendetta.
It's not often you find yourself somewhat moved by something advertised as a Hollywood popcorn action movie, but V For Vendetta had that exact effect on me. After seeing the movie (twice), I bought the graphic novel and devoured it in about a day.
You see, even if it has been somewhat cleverly dressed up as a Hollywood popcorn movie, V For Vendetta is clearly a movie with a point to make. It's a story that has been told numerous times before (though not nearly enough lately given the times we live in) of the people rising up against an oppressive government. The closest comparison you would find in literature would be something like George Orwell's 1984.
The paradox of V For Vendetta lies in it's hero and central character, the mysterious (and sympathetic) masked terrorist known only as "V," expertly played beneath the mask by Hugo Weaving.
V is something of a cross between the masked serial killers of slasher fare, like Friday the 13th and Halloween, and the avenging angels of Reagan-era action movies like RoboCop and The Terminator. But in between blowing up government buildings to symphonic soundtracks and slicing and dicing his enemies with his ever so trusty knives, V is also something of a renaissance man.
He quotes Shakespeare, lives in a crypt like underground "Shadow Gallery" filled with priceless artifacts banned by the government, and dances alone to the torchy slow jazz songs on his own personal jukebox.
But "V" is no angel.
Make no mistake about it. "V" is a terrorist who has a vendetta with an agenda, which is what makes this such a fascinating film. You see, "V" is a sympathetic terrorist. Remember that scene in the movie "Independence Day" when the aliens blew up the White House? That scene actually had movie audiences cheering in the theatres. When V blows up the British Parliament, you likewise actually find yourself cheering him on, which is no small accomplishment given the post 9/11 era in which we live.
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Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
thanx for publishing this Diana. Viva la Revolution.
-Glen
2 - Neo
they left a lot of the graphic novel out in the movie. it would've been cool to see more of the inter-party politicking and power jockeying that goes on in the book. still, v makes its point powerfully and is a hell of a lotta fun to watch. look forward to the dvd.
3 - Guppusmaximus
It was so hard for me to take it down a notch after just getting over one of the best trilogies in film history(Matrix)but this movie was amazing. I do think I need to watch it a second time because it just seemed to encapsulate so much about resistance and passion. I don't care what anyone says Hugo Weaving is brilliant!!
Way to go, Great Review Glen!
4 - Glen Boyd
Neo,
I think the producers were actually wise to leave the backroom poilticking out of the movie. It's already long, and that part of the story isn't really that crucial to the message I think the movie makes quite nicely without it.
Guppus,
Personally I think the Matrix series sort of tanked after the first movie...which I loved. Both V and Matrix tell similiar stories of how people rise against their oppressors. Matrix does it with a messianic sort of character, where V does it with a synpathetic, masked vigilante. Both are clearly portrayed as revolutionaries though.
I'd love to sit down over a few beers with the Wachowskis and get into a good and greezy political discussion with them.
Thanks to both you guys for the comments.
-Glen