V for Vendetta

Terry: It definitely is a must see! Don't miss it!

Kathleen: The similarities to current events in the movie is what really did it for me. I'm surprised it didn't get better reviews.

I'm also suprised it didn't get better reviews...great flick! I thought the story was absolutely beautiful and like you said...depressing but hopeful!

I heard it was banned at certain cinemas in the UK. I wonder if there's any truth to that.

Zenith, if I've convinced even one person to go see it, I'm happy. :)

Millions will be picking this one up on DVD, myself included. Great anecdote, Jihaan!

I enjoyed V for Vendetta. It was better than I had expected it to be. I had heard mixed reviews, but found the story and dialogue very enjoyable. Not the normal action flick, in my opinion, which I liked. I thought Natalie Portman was great in the movie, and had to be considering V is wearing a mask and expressionless. What I didn't like is though we learn about V's past, we really don't learn much about him - even in comparison to other people's backstories. Yes, we see events that fashioned him into who he is, but as complex a character as he is, he's largely underdeveloped. The character cites Count of Monte Cristo as one of his favorite movies, and could have used more story instead of screen time for erroneous characters. Not an ecstatic, must see this movie review. But it's an entertaining and engrossing movie to watch.

Charles,
I'm hoping they'll release a director's cut dvd that will have more character background on V. I think there just wasn't enough time to address everything about him. Reading the comic series it was based on may shed light on the Count of Monte Cristo reference, etc. I will probably read it now just to satisfy my curiosity.
I honestly don't think more character development would be essential to the plotline. I sorta thought V's character was just a metaphor for the dissillusionment that society as a whole was feeling. They discussed enough of his past, that we understood what his struggle represented. To me the movie was more of a social criticism than a story about people.

Yes, I agree with you that the movie was commenting on society, but doesn't that mean it's also a story about people? I'm not sure you can comment on society without getting its people involved. I think the movie also dealt with the subject of a symbol and how powerful a symbol for the people can be. V was that symbol, yet he is very linear and one dimensional, a character motivated by revenge, whereas the Count, also motivated by revenge, had a personal story. Don't you think the scene where Natialie Portman's character reads a person's story while in prison would have been much more powerful had it tied with V other than he reading the same story? There are all these characters with personal stories, yet nothing for V other than his disfigurement. Perhaps the writers wanted him to represent the people, to be everyone and everyone's story, but this never comes across in the movie to me. Then again, perhaps the finale could argue against this as everyone removes their mask, but from a movie point of view, i think the audience never has the oppurtunity to connect with V, other than the idea he represents. I think the most powerful symbols and figureheads had depth to them, something that people relate to and build a connection with.

A good movie though, in my opinion. And on a subject worth discussing. Some good thoughts Jihaan. I'd be midly interested in what they deleted as well. Sometimes you find scenes and wonder why they deleted them, they add so much to the story.

AMAZING movie! Definitely one to add to the dvd collection!

Jihaan,

I admit, I loved the movie - I loved the premise -- it was so "They came for the jews, but I wasn't a jew...they came for the muslims, but I wasn't a muslim, they came for the ..." kind of experience.

Constructively, I wish Hugo "V" hadn't rushed some of his monologues so much -- he has some great lyrical lines - which he seemed to just buzz right through.
Natalie seemed to restless, and was often stepping on other people's lines - I noticed that she looked as if she wasn't listening to people, but just waiting to speak... " or is that what my major complaint about my exgirlfriend... I'm confused. But the torture scenes - that's were she really came out into her own.
I think the count of monte cristo were a bit over-the-top. People could have gotton the allusions without the blatent references -- in fact they was a lot of places were smart people could have figured out what was going on, but the Wachowski brothers, as great as they are - sometimes dummy down their scripts, either because they have to, or the executive producer/money people in hollywood make them - clasic example: everyone knows the blatent references to postmodernism and baudrillard in matrix 1, there is no need to quote directly from Simulacra and Simulations. But thats for a different day, different discussion.

Remember: Strength Through Unity, Unity Through Faith!

Thanks, Jihaan for the review and everybody else for the follow-up. I'm looking forward to seeing this -- but it'll probably have to wait for DVD release.

"V was that symbol, yet he is very linear and one dimensional, a character motivated by revenge" ...sounds familiar - maybe this is symbolic? Thanks for the review. I seldom go to a theater, but might try it after reading this.

Since you posted to the constructive criticism group, I expected more than a personal endorsement of the movie (which by the way I really, really liked also). This is not a critical review. A critical review states reasons a movie is good or bad. And--except for a few exceptions--the phrase "friggen awesome" is not found in a critical review. To top it off, you punctuated it with three exclamation marks. A personal pet peave of mine is more than one exclamation mark in a row in formal writing. It looks silly and unprofessional.

Charles: You misunderstood me. I didn't mean that this story was not about people... I think I meant more that this story was not about specific people but more about an idea that brought about a revolution. And I still think that it was important for V to not be an overtly developed character because he was meant to broadly represent an idea.

Will: I didn't think the monologues were rushed. I figured that the delivery was just supposed to be excentric. You could be right though. As for the blatant reference, I think you and I and our fellow well read gatherers get them but what about the average high school student that goes to see these movies. I think they miss a lot and with out the blatant references to the count of monte cristo and the such, they'd miss even more.

Matthew: I think nice action sequences, beautiful storyline, and good character development are quite constructive critiques without actually giving away the whole storyline. Also, I think the thread developed in a very nice critique of the movie as it progressed.
I only used "friggin awesome" because "two thumbs up" was taken. I think either one works well though. And next time I'll make sure to check with you so I'll know your pet peeves before posting anything. K?

PS. I wasn't aware that personal blogs were considered formal writing.

I found the movie both uber-cool and profoundly disturbing at the same time. Some of it was disturbing in a good way, but I was also concerned at the seeming implication of violence as a solution to political oppression. I don't think I'd want to live in the "what happens next?" after blowing up and assassinating the entire oppressive government. (Research has shown that societies which lack a widespread non-violent resistance movement do not successfully create a non-oppressive government after overthrowing the previous tyrant. Case in point: __(fill in the blank with your favorite foreign policy disaster)___)

I also felt there were some sweeping generalizations -- along the lines of "all homosexuals are good and all religious people are bad" (which obviously doesn't reflect the complexities of human character and life in the real world).

That said, it's a great flick for provoking thought. I wish a lot of my theocratically-minded religious conservative friends would watch it.

V was a movie. But revolution in reality is a lot more diffiicult and a lot less dramatic. I liked the movie because it was intertaining. But it is clear that political theatre will not alter the status quo in reality. The Quran tells us that all we really have to do is disobey them (Suratul Alaq... The Clot... last ayah). We don't have to blow them up, stab them in the back, or poison them in their sleep. When the masses of people wake up and realize that they can only be led if they allow themselves to be led, things change. The question that goes unanswered is how does a society go from theory to reality. It usually takes some legendary, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Ghandi, MLK-like charismatic person to become a living symbol and move the people to flip the scrip. Will it happen here before the Visicgoths do a number on The Republic? What do you think, sister Jihan. Ma'salam.

Abu,
Thanks for the comment. I agree completely. Violence certainly isn't the answer. And you're right, what we really need is someone to lead this country out of the hole it's fallen into. A good presidential candidate maybe? Unfortunately, no one comes to mind. :( However, times of adversity tend to generate great leaders. Lets just keep our fingers crossed.

I really want to see this movie.
BTW, did you know that this is based on an adult graphic novel. I haven't read it, but my son tells me that the character of V is never really fully fleshed out, as yet, and that he is sort of a mysterious guy like Batman.
Thanks for the heads up Jihaan.

I feel that the kind of spiritual/spiritual, spiritual/social, spiritual/economic, and spiritual/political reform that needs to take place in our homeland will have to come from the grass roots, up. Our country is rife with examples of grass roots movement changing the zeitgeist of this nation so drastically that the ruling elite had to get in line. I think we're going to have to do more than keep our fingers crossed my young friend. We're going to have to make individual revolutions of conscience, consciousness, and behavior. We're going to not only have to get more religious. We're going to have to get a whole lot more spiritual. The folks that strive to be the best humans they can be. The better more people become, the more likely it is that our environment will become auspicious enough so that God Will Allow The Universe to usher in a vanguard who will support, protect, follow, and assist a prophetic type leader and his family. At least that's what I believe. What do you think, sister Jihan? Ma'Salam

I must disagree Abu. I actually believe organized religion is what causes the feelings of apartheid between people. Muslim fanatics, Christian fanatics, Zionists, Hindu fanatics? All they do is mislead people and twist religion. So becoming more religious is definitely not the way I would go.
You say we need to become the best humans that we can. That I can agree with. It would be nice if we could all educate ourselves more about the world, if we could show compassion for everyone without discrimination, if it wasn't always about money, power, oil, etc. But to me that is just an ideal, a Utopia if you will. Humans by nature are self centered. You and I can recognize this and strive to better ourselves but it doesn't seem that there are enough people willing to do that, that will cause the "system" to change. This doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

I agree that fanatism is the root of all evil. But what about political fanatics. Communists, capitalists. The worst wars that have ever been fought are the secular wars to end all wars... which haven't been accomplished yet. The human being needs organization, Jihaan. Religion is the most fundamental organizational unit outside the family. It was the church that ended the slave trade. It was the Quakers that started and maintained the white end of the underground rail road. It was the church that launched the civil rights movement. It was the Hindu temples, and the Muslim Masjids that took the boot of oppression and exploitation off the necks of India. It was The Mosque that initiated the liberation of Women, asserting their rights to own property, be educated, and have a say in civil affairs.

My dear young friend. Religion is a thing is just like a gun. If you use a gun wisely, it can feed you, protect you and bring Justice to your life. But in the hands of fools and criminals it is a tool for evil. But if you take away the people's weapons, the right to self protection is forfeit, and the repercussion are predictable if history is a teacher of lessons. Look what happened to a defenseless, West Africa, and Asia. Without strong religious principle, all except the spiritually strongest members of society will fall into to the world of vice, and their human potential is stunted tragically.

Jihan, look at some of our societies best people were, and are very religious. Scientists, actors, captains of industry, politicians, and grass roots leaders like Ghandi and King. So please take another look at religion. I think you will find the utilitarian nature of religion is undeniable.

Hm, I'm not sure how the conversation of comments flowed into religion..
But! I just wanted to say that I REALLY loved this movie with all the delicious words V used in such an enthusiastic way! And his wonderful voice only helped. I don't know why, but I tend to find it sexy when men use big words. I wish my boyfriend used more big words in his regular speech. =(
Uh, but anyways. I thought the story was great, too! It makes you think.
I so want to buy the DVD the day it comes out. I only wish we could have seen V's face!

Thanks to this movie no one will forget my birthday (finally).

I used to have the comic book series (put out by DC Comics' Vertigo line, I believe), and remember anxiously awaiting each issue to see what would happen next in the series. It makes more of an impact to read it in installments, so if you do read the graphic novel collection, take your time with it and don't read it all at once.

If you want to praise someone for the "delicious words," thank Alan Moore who wrote the comix script in the first place. Some do speculate why he took his name off this (and other) projects made from his work, but I like to rest on his own explanation that he doesn't even want the money from adaptations of work he considers to be "impossible to be reproduced as cinema." He also considers "V for Vendetta" to be the "final straw."

You can see the relevant part of his BBC2 interview at youtube.com