I just saw V for Vendetta tonight - something I had been looking forward to ever since reading it in the mid eighties (it came out in a monthly indie magazine in the UK before DC licensed it for the book format). After a couple of mediocre movie reviews, I was less enamoured. Let me tell you, the movie is SUPERB. It really moved me in a number of ways, and made me think again. Lately I'm either thinking about how to maneuveur politics in order to move a project at work, or (more likely) how to chase down a rare toy - but this made me remember that there are actually a few more things worth fighting for. It, of course, has some unbelievabilities, but its more about ideas of rebellion, freedom and lack of freedom. Such a change from the curent climate where gangsta is the new yuppie, yuppie is cool, and the eighties feel like they are happening all over again. I know Alan Moore severed any contact with the movie -but this seems more out of his general disillusionment with the corporate machine than this version in particular. I think if he saw it, he might actually like what they did.
yeah, I saw it on Friday and thought it was good. it did have some moving scenes and some good messages. the only thing I would have liked to have been done differently is that I felt some of the more emotionally intense moments weren't wrapped up that well. you'd be hit with a lot of information or feeling and it wouldn't really have a chance to set it, it would just be like cut to next scene, the plot continues. I realize they had a lot of story to tell, and the movie was already over 2 hours, but that was my only complaint. the characters would have these heavy moments and while I was still sorta like "wow" and mulling it all over, they'd be moving on to some other plot point.
Glad u liked it Skylar. Maybe there will be time to dwell on certain things when the directors cut comes out. In the morass of fairly mindless big budget movies out there, I think they needed to walk the line between moving things along, and letting us dwell on the issues raised. I know I woke up thinking about the movie, and the last time that happened was for The Constant Gardener.
yeah, I wonder how well it will be received. I think there was a lot less action than I expected. I'm okay with that, but I can see a lot of hollywood consumers not sharing those feelings.
I saw this last night, and I thought it was very well done. The action was definitely secondary to the plot, but that's a good thing. I'd recommend it.
I'm really psyched up to see this. Super glad to hear good words about it. "V" and "Watchmen" are my most favorite comic book stories ever, and it's really great to hear that a movie version of a Moore story is worth seeing for once. It gives me hope that a film Watchmen won't suck eggs. I'm not really surprised to hear about Skylar's caveat about how the film does emotion though, the Wachowksi's talents have always seemed to me to lie in making things go boom in really creative ways as opposed to storytelling.
V was most EXCELLENT, indeed. I think it is a movie that one can enjoy on several different levels, and it depends a bit on what you personally bring to the film. As a fiction, it is quite nice. As a commentary on British conservatism, I feel it still works. (Please correct me if I'm wrong on this one...) As a commentary on current American politics, I think it works really well, too. What with concerns on the Patriot Act and governmental special powers, anti-gay rants popping up more and more, and censorship seemingly on the rise on some fronts. The fact that the polizei vans had emblazoned on them "For Your Protection" I found chilling. This is how bad things could get, conceivably. I don't want to start any political flame wars or anything, but if you take a certain mindset into the film, you get different things, I think. I noticed a couple of guys walk out. I think the film was a wee bit mis-marketed as an action movie. It has some really well coreographed action in it, but it is a more "talky" picture with focus on character and the mystery of V and some nice philosophical ideas. Now I need to re-read the book, which just came out in a bargain TPB edition. ^_^ I especially liked Hugo Weaving's performance, and his opening verbal volley at the Fingermen was beautiful. Super great, and I wanna go again...
Nostromo, I really agree with everything u say. At the time it was written Britain was (as I recall) still in the Thatcher years, and this was one of ALan Moore's reaction to that. Late 70's early 80's the British Movement was rife, and the possibility of violent right wingers having a huge voice seemed very real. I came from Yorkshire where we had lived with miners strike, and dialy TV news coverage where the police would break up protestors (see Billy Elliott) -s o it all seemed normal yet scarey at the same time...especially if you thought about. Meanwhile bombs were going off in Nortern Ireland, and carried on doing so from time to time in London as well. (Aside: I remember wandering onto a deserted tube platform (as seen in V) and finding the station had been evacuated due to a suspect package - but somehow I came thru a back way and ended up on that very platform....or the time a huge bomb went off in the city and I was trying to get in that night but everything was cordoned off. A friend working right next to the blast site went into an inner room to collect a fax, which saved his life. The huge window he was sat near blew in and would probably have sliced him up. My ex used to work near Harrods, and caught the tail end of the Harrods bomb. Her usual lunch spot was blown in, and she came across the injured cashier sat in shock covered in blodd and constantly counting and recouting his money. Man, it just seemed like we got on with it and didn't worry though at the time.) And, as you say, it is almost allegorical for what is going on today here as well. A huge act of terrorism in the film creates a fear of terror that is used to fuel losses of freedom, and everyone is too scared or too busy to notice. (I know I use up my spare time chasing sneakers and toys, so I suck as well). If anything it is more applicable now than when it was written. Nice to see something that is enjoyable, spectacular and makes u think. Check out the Constant Gardener if u haven't already as well - tense, and thought provoking thriller.
i wanted to see it, but i read an article where the author of the story refuses to have his name even associated with the film. from his point of view hollywood totally butchered the film...watering it down and making it too much about american politics. but if you guys really loved it that much, maybe i'll go see it anyway.
See it. Alan Moore has a thing about corporations in general and his decision to dis-associate from it seems more to do with that than the actual movie in this case. Must say I respect his decision, and the fact he donated his money to the artist/s (David LLoyd I would guess) involved in the comic book.
interesting. Everyone else I had heard said the film was "C for Crappy". Maybe I will give it a shot after all.
Yeah, give it a shot, and let us know what u think. I'm a bit of an armchair idealist sometimes so thats one of the reasons I liked it - feel like I have to kick against the pricks once in a while ( errrr.... even if its just fairly passively from my stadium seat in a multiplex watching a big budget major motion picture) And Moongirl, its around 20 years since I read it, so I couldn't even remember how close it stucj to the comic version - so shouldn't make a bit of difference whether you've read it or not!
My local comic store guy said that reading the book will only enhance the experience. I asked him about the V book because I just bought a copy a couple of weeks ago, and it was on sale to promote the movie. The reason I inquired as to whether or not to read it first was my fear of movies based on books now. It started with Jurassic Park. I saw the movie, and my lifelong love of dinos propelled me into being quite enamored with the film. Then I read the book. The film was pretty much in the toliet for me after that, because of all the changes and edits. So now I am wary of reading the source first when encountering new films. I read some of V a while back when it was more or less new, but it has been a bit of an interval. Tho I must say the Guy Fawkes mask image and V's character design has stuck with me, so much so that I now realize, upon seeing the movie, that the major character in something I've been writing off and on for a few years now is damn near a rip-off, design wise. In any event, as I am now re-reading the book, I must say that the changes I've noticed so far are not bad ones -- in fact, it is these changes that make things a bit more culturally and politically relevant for today's audiences, should they be of a mind to really think about the film presented them. The film focuses a lot on the media, TV, in particular, which updates things a bit. I don't think having the "Voice of Fate" on the radio is as powerful in a film as the "Voice of London" as a Limbaugh/O'Reilly style TV commentator. This allows the audience to think a bit about the media saturation we live in. It has a lot of impact. Well met, Mr. Muton. I'm glad my comments were relevant and appropos. I was a little nervous that some political shouting might start like I've seen happen on some boards. I'm glad we can discuss this as civilized individuals. Well, mostly anyways... It is a powerful film with powerful ideas, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has had a passing thought to go. Tho it is not for everyone, I will grant. Speaking on Mr. Moore, I was more than a bit angry with all of this "from the creators of The Matrix" business in the trailers. This is Alan Moore's work, you asshats! Then I discovered that he did not want his name placed on it -- he is even giving his royalties to Lloyd, the illustrator, from what I've heard(in Wizard magazine, methinks) . It is part of his anti-corporate stance, as well as his backlash over how the League movie was handled. Wild story there, Mr. Muton, thanks for sharing the more direct impact of unrest that perhaps most of us don't get to see. I totally agree with that sentiment, my friend. ^_^ I suppose I too, am a major consumer and escapist, so I guess I fall into a bit of the "suck" category as well as far as that goes... One day, tho, I hope to have my home look like the Shadow Gallery... (I'm well on the way with all my toys and books...) ^_^
