As for the script itself, it is a strong one. From an artistic standpoint, I have no quarrel with it. There are interesting characters, an interesting world and a daring plot which, despite the hero’s pronouncement near the beginning, does not always go where you expect it to. Furthermore, the screenwriters give their scenes some unique flourishes, which are necessary in light of the fact that much of V’s work in between the two November 5ths is comprised of his revenge on individuals who have grossly wronged him. This could get very repetitive if the Wachowski Brothers let it.
My only quibbles with the script are not really artistic in nature. I find myself a bit reluctant to criticize an endeavor valiant enough to be what it is in this post-9/11 world, but there are, for those of us with a strong libertarian spirit, some problems. For one, the movie is a bit simplistic in portraying the British society as one in which the government is against the citizens. As Ludwig von Mises, the great Austrian Economist, pointed out, governments always and everywhere exist with the tacit approval of a critical mass of their citizens.
It is never simply a case of the government/slash army lording it over the poor civilians. And when revolutions occur, they are generally chaotic affairs in which each revolutionary fights for his own reasons, and many may find the decision difficult. For every man sick of paying a tax on tea, for instance, there is another who enjoys the monopoly in, say, shipping, which the government has granted him. For every woman who yearns to express her sexuality openly, there is another who is glad it is being repressed. These finer details, in a script, which, with the main characters at least, proves itself nuanced enough for these fine points, could have added much depth to a story which is after all, about a revolution.
Another complaint I had was that the movie comes from a very left/libertarian point of view, while I would have preferred a more balanced libertarianism. Rightfully so, the movie shows how police states cannot allow freedom of speech lest they start to lose the war of ideas, or control. Rightfully so, it deals with governments using fear to keep control. Rightfully so, it shows the persecution of unpopular minorities, such as homosexuals. It’s wonderful to see these themes dealt with in a major motion picture.
Article comments
1 - chromatius
Worth noting it was written in the early eighties, under Thatcher.
And you can read Alan Moore's reasons for not participating here
Basically he felt DC ripped him off for the rights to to "Watchmen" and "V for Vendetta".
Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici.
By the power of Truth I, while living, have conquered the Universe.
2 - TV Shows on DVD
V for vendetta is good action movie!natalie portman looks like GI jane here...the cast, scripts, and the story line is awesome! now i will wait for the DVD release of this movie..
3 - nogodzone
Good review. Can't wait to see it. You may not know this but the religious conservatives are calling the film a neo-Marxist plot and anti-god. I've blogged on their complaints at www.nogodzone.blogspot.com.
4 - Neil
Here is an opinion. As the previous commenter mentioned, there are those who would say that this film conveys an anti-god message. I beg to differ. What this film displays is how tyrannical governments can use religion in an unethical manner to pull the collective wool over the eyes of their society. It is frustrating to see how the religious right will often accuse Hollywood of being anti-god when the films in question are just exposing the dangers of allowing religion to permeate the fabric of our governing bodies.
Sadly I see striking parallels between this movie and our own society. I believe that it really has something to say about how we should approach our futures as a free society.
Just my 2 cents, either way you cannot dispute the fact that this film is one hell of a ride!
5 - Bob McKinlay
sorry to nitpick but the heart of the movie (& the graphic novel) is the Delia Surridge/Larkhill Detention Centre/Valerie Page thread and in the movie, the only way Inspector Finch (Stephen Rea) finds out about Larkhill is through the tax records of the key personnel (Surridge, Prothero & Lilliman) who all worked there...
good film, if you ignore the plot holes, hope it encourages people to read the book.
Ach, who am I kidding? a hollywood film that's politically dissident? rare, very rare. A mainstream hollywood film that encourages philisophical thought? Scary, Stephen King eat yer heart out...
6 - Tim
Just rented the movie & watched it on InDemand - nice... Gripping story. There was only one bit I wasn't happy with. The opening scene of the 1600's - could have just as well been a reference in the present and it added little to the film. By the end, I was still scratching my head wondering why the editors decided to leave it in at all.
Beyond that, intense and exciting and I would recommend this film to my friends.
7 - Denny O'Rork
V for Vendetta is definitely one of the best movies I have ever seen. I cannot remember when I last saw a movie that kept my interest all throughout the course of it. Hugo Weaving was the perfect V. I'm an actor myself and I do not think I could even do that role justice. This wasn't your typical mind- blowing action movie. This said so much about our own government. I will spare the details but I think you know what I mean. This movie will definitely go down in the history of movies.