Review by Fat Jack
My Rating 4.5 stars out of 5
Now available on DVD
Rated R
Directed by: James McTeigue
Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry and John Hurt.
Rotten Tomatoes: 75% fresh
Netflix: 4.2 stars out of 5
IMDb: 8.2 stars out of 10
Roger Ebert: 3 stars out of 4
Entertain Me: B+
“V for Vendetta” is a comic book adaptation from a graphic novel of the same name published in the 1980’s. That’s right. The 1980’s. If you knew nothing, nothing at all, you might think that “V for Vendetta” was some kind of liberal attempt to brainwash the American public against the current government administration. But it’s not.
Like all good literature the storyline goes beyond it’s published decade, transcending any current political figure or event. “V For Vendetta” is about the dangers of a totalitarian government hell-bent on controlling every aspect in the lives of the people it pretends to govern. It is about how government, any government, uses fear and faith to control the populous and maintain power.
After enduring torture from that protective government a man known only as “V,” fights back. He does this with violence, blowing up a building in the futuristic Britain. Viewed by the people as a freedom fighter, he takes over the airwaves and opens the vault of government, exposing the lies and corruption. His techniques implicate an innocent bystander, whose family were early patriots permanently detained by the government when she was young. Together, they fight to give the government back to the people.
I find it interesting that V wears a mask, hiding his identity from the people and the audience. It’s very hard to act without seeing the actor’s face, but Hugo Weaving does an excellent job acting behind the mask. Evey tells it straight when she says to V: “My father was a writer. You would’ve liked him. He used to say that artists use lies to tell the truth, while politicians use them to cover the truth up.”
I know of no reason why “V for Vendetta” should ever be forgot.
My Rating 4.5 stars out of 5
Now available on DVD
Rated R
Directed by: James McTeigue
Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry and John Hurt.
Rotten Tomatoes: 75% fresh
Netflix: 4.2 stars out of 5
IMDb: 8.2 stars out of 10
Roger Ebert: 3 stars out of 4
Entertain Me: B+
“V for Vendetta” is a comic book adaptation from a graphic novel of the same name published in the 1980’s. That’s right. The 1980’s. If you knew nothing, nothing at all, you might think that “V for Vendetta” was some kind of liberal attempt to brainwash the American public against the current government administration. But it’s not.
Like all good literature the storyline goes beyond it’s published decade, transcending any current political figure or event. “V For Vendetta” is about the dangers of a totalitarian government hell-bent on controlling every aspect in the lives of the people it pretends to govern. It is about how government, any government, uses fear and faith to control the populous and maintain power.
After enduring torture from that protective government a man known only as “V,” fights back. He does this with violence, blowing up a building in the futuristic Britain. Viewed by the people as a freedom fighter, he takes over the airwaves and opens the vault of government, exposing the lies and corruption. His techniques implicate an innocent bystander, whose family were early patriots permanently detained by the government when she was young. Together, they fight to give the government back to the people.
I find it interesting that V wears a mask, hiding his identity from the people and the audience. It’s very hard to act without seeing the actor’s face, but Hugo Weaving does an excellent job acting behind the mask. Evey tells it straight when she says to V: “My father was a writer. You would’ve liked him. He used to say that artists use lies to tell the truth, while politicians use them to cover the truth up.”
I know of no reason why “V for Vendetta” should ever be forgot.
EVEY: “My father was a writer. You would've liked him. He used to say that artists use lies to tell the truth, while politicians use them to cover the truth up.”
V: “People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.”
V: “Remember, remember, the fifth of November, gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.”
V: “What was done to me was monstrous.”
EVEY: “Then they created a monster.”
1 comment:
I recently posted some comments about this movie on on my blog related to the issue of fear and terror in case you are interested.
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