V
For Vendetta (2006)
A Warner
Bros. Pictures Film
Directed by: James McTeigue
Starring: Natalie Portman (Evey),
Hugo Weaving (V), Stephen Rea (Inspector Finch),
John Hurt (Chancellor Sutler), Stephen Fry (Dietrich)
Running Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Review written on 19 August 2007
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SPECIAL
FEATURES
Freedom! Forever!: Making V For Vendetta
Designing the Near Future
Remember, Remember: Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot
England Prevails: V For Vendetta and the New Wave in Comics
Cat Power Montage
Theatrical Trailer
Because this was based on an Alan Moore graphic novel, there's
a lot here on how they updated and translated the story on
page into what you see here. But for this being a 2-disc edition,
there's not much on the DVDs. You DO get a mini V for Vendetta
comic, with the first 40 or so pages though, which is cool.
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...the paradox of asking a masked man
who he is
Because obviously that man is wearing
a mask for a reason and doesn't want you to know who he is
- so don't ask. But as one character later in the movie reflects,
"You wear a mask for so long you forget who you were
beneath it", and those words probably ring true for everyone
in some way or another.
But I'm here to discuss this very 'incendiary'
movie, V For Vendetta. It's set in the near-future version
of London, if our society goes down the path it certainly
seems it could head. The instilling of fear in order to govern
has been perfected into an artform in this England, and in
the pretense of protecting its citizens, the English government
has turned into a fascist state where all communications are
monitored and filtered and where different equals dangerous.
Enter V. He arrives to let the citizens know that in fact
this is not an okay arrangement, and as he beautifully points
out, "People should not be afraid of their government,
the government should be afraid of its people". Through
the destruction of now-meaningless symbols of truth and justice,
V strives to wake up the populace to take back their country
and their lives from those they've willingly sacrificed their
personal freedoms to. In the midst of V's first 'musical'
act, he encounters Evey (Natalie Portman), who takes on a
role in his life that even he could never have predicted.
Evey also gets a lesson in life from V she'll never forget.
Through their interactions, we do come to learn a lot about
the man behind the mask... and some of his true motivations
for doing the things he is doing.
I warned up in the block above that
this movie definitely falls into the camp of those who love
it and those who don't. Honestly, I think this movie doesn't
appeal to those who think things are just fine in the world.
Who think that the course that our country has taken these
past years is without flaw - because it is quite obvious this
movie is a thinly veiled criticism of the United States' progression
into a country cowed by fear and ruled by those who will do
and say anything to keep the populace under control. So yes,
if you don't see things that way, you will think this movie
is an over-the-top and violent (perhaps terroristic) attack
on America. Or you can see this movie, as I do, as a wake-up
call to get educated on what is happening and not sit on the
sidelines and get funneled like cattle into a situation that
may very well render you out of control. Okay, my political
diatribe is winding down - but this movie definitely hits
a chord when you realize how easy and comfortable it is to
let your country fall apart around you when your country needs
your help more than ever.
Concerning the film itself, it is something
to behold. Not only is it beautifully shot with stunning special
effects, from the obvious and realistic destruction scenes,
but also to the subtle ways that the moviemakers updated London
to its new, secure look. But the star of this movie is definitely
V as played by Hugo Weaving. You never see Hugo Weaving's
face, but his hypnotic voice combined with the mannerisms
and movements of V are mesmerizing. I am hard pressed to believe
that the same mask is used the entire time, as you literally
can see and read various emotions in that damn mask that are
strikingly different. But it's a testament to Hugo Weaving's
talent that I see it that way.
I think what I get from my experiences
watching this movie is that we need to not be afraid. Not
be afraid of being different. Not be afraid of fear itself,
to roughly paraphrase Roosevelt, as when we surrender our
liberty for security, we deserve neither (to roughly paraphrase
Benjamin Franklin). To not be afraid of taking action. To
not be afraid of our government. And to love freedom.
Scenes to Remember:
The 'demolition' of the Old Bailey; Evey's imprisonment; V's
gentle conversation with an old Doctor acquaintance; the endgame
at Parliament.
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