beckymonster | Movie review - V for Vendetta (Reply)

I first came across the works of Alan Moore back in college. I was dating a guy called Richard Johnston (unless you're into the British Comics scene that might not mean a damn thing to you - I'm just mentioning it for the sake of full disclosure/confession;)) who was a complete comic geek. As far as I know, he still is.

Anyhoo - he was responsible for introducing me to 'Sandman' and the works of Neil Gaiman. Which I loved and still do *cough* years later. Anyway... in what I quickly realised was a classic 'bait and switch' he tried to get me reading the works of Alan Moore. He lent me 'Miracleman' and an issue of 'V for Vendetta'. It didn't work.

For some reason, I couldn't grok Moore's work. Hell, I tried with 'Watchmen' too and... no dice. Like Martin Scorsese I can 'appreciate' on a cerebral level, but I can't love it. Which is what I need for it to work for me.

For those who have wandered into this review and are thinking 'What is she going on about?!' Alan Moore is the creator of 'V for Vendetta'. He asked for his credit to be removed from the whole production. It's not the first time either as at least three of his creations have hit the silver screen with varying degrees of success (both artistically and fiscally), those being 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen', 'From Hell', and 'Constantine' (which was the first movie I reviewed - nearly a year ago now;)).

It's a bloody shame because what's on the screen is an extraordinarily good film.

Then again - it was produced, written and involves at least five of the creative personnel behind 'The Matrix' (writers, director, producers, one actor, production design). So it kinda figures.

Yes, I love 'The Matrix'. It is a constant in my top ten favourite films of all time. Not because of the SFX but because of everything else. The story, the look and feel of that 'verse and Agent Smith.

Not only that but it did what a outstanding film should do. It altered my perception of 'reality'. Yes, I really did walk out of that cinema nearly seven years ago and wonder if this was all not some cybernetically implanted dream state.
Because if it is... I wanna wake up!;)

It's not much of a surprise to see the fingerprints of the Wachowski bros all over this film. The ideas are the same (dystopian future ruled by a dictatorship, lone, mysterious freedom fighter working to change the status quo) but again, same with the Matrix, they delivered.

Then again, a good story, does not a film make. It takes bloody good actors to help bring it to life. Don't believe me? Try imagining 'Pirates of the Carribean' with anotheractor in the role of Captain Jack (Sparrow). It would never have been half as successful as it was.

The same goes here - Hugo Weaving was a last minute replacement for another actor (bit like Viggo Mortensen being called in to be Aragorn during the LotR shoot - look how that turned out!) and to be bloody honest (not to mention biased) Mr Weaving makes this movie.

Yes... I have a crush on Hugo Weaving - with a voice like that, who can blame me?! For the completely confused in the audience... He was Agent Smith in the Matrix films, Elrond in the LotR movies and 'Mitzi DeLaBra/Tick' in 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' amongst others but they are the three that you'll no doubt remember him from... or at very least his voice. To say it sounds like melted chocolate is pretty close to the mark!;) Yet, that is all you see of Mr Weaving (unless you're looking really closely) as V never takes his mask off.
Weaving's performance, unlike his other performances is just movement and voice. Everything else (including those beautiful blue eyes of his) is hidden by the costume.

The story is very simple. In a dystopian version of the future; England is a facist state. Curfews, secret police, all present and correct. The people are cowered into submission by the opiate of the masses , television. The future seen onscreen does have it's basis in the world we see now, chemical and biological warfare began the world we see, or more precisely, it was used an excuse to declare martial law.... Everything is done for the good of the public, to keep them 'safe' but no one questions what is going on. To do so is to be considered 'unpatriotic' and engenders a visit from the 'secret police'
Remind you of anything?

Okay, not so much the current day, but it is more than plausible... isn't it?

Into this world, through no real fault of her own, comes Evey as played by Natalie Portman. To her credit, I didn't notice anything untoward about her accent. Thought she did a very good job of what was a very demanding role. Yes, she does spend half the film with er hair shaved off. And as well as she does, her's is not the story that will break you, nor V's (which you slowly learn over the film) but of Valerie.
To say more will dull the impact that it should have on you and that would be a very bad thing.

It's part of V's reason for vengeance and partly why he does what he does and why he inspires Evey to do what she has to do too.

This might be one of my longest reviews... as well as one of my most incomprehensible but know this. You HAVE to see this film. Even if you are not that political or caring about freedom of speech... this might be the film that gets you to think about what is currently going on out there.

And you might get your perception altered slightly too!

Just as a quick comment before I finish off... It's interesting to note the cultural imperialism imposed by LiveJournal. According to them, spelling 'favourite' like this is 'wrong'. Not according to my dictionary it's not!
Sigh.