V FOR VENDETTA - Mania.com



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Mania Grade: B+

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Info:

  • Reviewed Format: Theatrical Release
  • Rated: R
  • Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, John Hurt, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, Tim Pigott-Smith, Sinead Cusack, Rupert Graves, Roger Allam
  • Writers: Andy Wachowski & Larry Wachowski, based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
  • Director: James McTeigue
  • Distributor: Warner Bros.

V FOR VENDETTA

V for Viva the ReVolution!

By Rachel Reitsleff     March 17, 2006


Hugo Weaving and John Hurt in V FOR VENDETTA (2006).
© Warner Bros. Pictures
You really have to hand it to the makers of V FOR VENDETTA for having surprising guts. The list of producers includes Joel Silver and THE MATRIX's Andy and Larry Wachowski, who also adapted the screenplay with fidelity from Alan Moore and David Lloyd's graphic novel, and it's being released by Warner Bros., as mainstream as studios get. On its surface, it starts out a bit like something that might be called PHANTOM OF THE REVOLUTION tragically disfigured but incredibly strong and knowledgeable masked man rescues beautiful girl and then becomes a story of a lone hero fighting evil authority. Nothing too audacious-sounding about this so far heck, that's even the plot of AEON FLUX and ULTRAVIOLET, two movies that no one in his or her right mind would consider politically controversial.

So what's so radical about V FOR VENDETTA? Well, it's not just any old totalitarian regime that V (Hugo Weaving) seeks to bring down: it's near-future England, populated by a lot of extremely contemporary types with extremely present-day concerns. The villains are nationalist Christian demagogues who violently persecute Muslims, gays and satirists, among others for conspiracy buffs out there, they also create disasters which they then blame on "terrorism" from without. Feel free to add your own subtext Americans should note that the source material is British and the story is entirely set in Britain, so it's not meant as a comment on anything in the U.S. per se.

Even so, the movie is wholeheartedly on V's side, so it's in the position of endorsing explosions and assassinations as a reasonable method of regime change, which however one feels about it is a novel point of view for a major motion picture with recognizable religions, political issues and physical structures (if one sits all the way through the closing credits, after the detonation of an extremely recognizable piece of British architecture widely seen in the film's trailer, there is a disclaimer that no resemblance to "actual buildings" should be inferred).

However one feels about that let the arguments begin! V is entertaining in its emotional roller-coaster way, with the beauty and the beast elements between V and Evie (Natalie Portman), the spunky production assistant he rescues, gaining momentum as it goes and some excellent butt-kicking martial arts action, courtesy of stunt coordinator Chad Stahelski and V double David Leitch. Stephen Rea, as the sad-eyed detective on V's tail, has a lot of detail and wit, making a compelling impression. Stephen Fry contributes an droll and touching performance as a sketch show host and John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith and Roger Allam are all on target, finding nuances in the steely nastiness of their power figures. Director James McTeigue gets very, very big in places, but because he knows what he's doing, he's generally on the right side of the precarious division between visual grandeur and camp. There's a lot of money on display here, but there's also a statement-on-the-sleeve ethos that will remind viewers either fondly or annoyingly of low-budget '70s science-fiction, when allegory was sometimes bypassed in favor of confronting the "what-if" head-on.

V FOR VENDETTA won't be for everyone. People who loves its message may find its form too blatant; people who enjoy its look and action may dislike its politics; some people may like nothing about it (for what it's worth, this reviewer liked both style and substance). But three cheers for Warner Bros. and the filmmakers all the same, for their boldness in swimming against the current.

COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

Showing items 1 - 9 of 9
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shaftboy 3/17/2006 9:26:42 AM
I think it's hard to convert a story from one media to another. Especially with something with a longer span to establish characters, plots and subplots such as a comic, graphic novel, or novel. What the audience and director have to realize is that things have to be cut, but the film has to still stay true to the roots of the original source. Characters shouldn't be drastically changed to fit a movie stereotype, and while subplots and parts have be cut or changed the overall theme, message and importance of the original material must be obeyed. A good example is X-men, Bryan Singer conveyed all the important themes, and set-up the vital characters, but he left out things like Wolverine coming in 15 years later, the age difference between Jean Grey and Cyclops, alot of things. He knew that his job was to translate the original media, not throw it on the screen. Ultimately translation may mean things get lost, or it doesn't fit the vision of the original artist, but ultimately the public has a say as to whether it was a successful translation or not. But yeah, let's hope this one is better than the previous Alan Moore tales told on the big screen. I know that League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was completely botched, and From Hell was so-so. From what I hear, if this director does a good job, he'll do Watchmen.
coldhardtruth 3/19/2006 12:29:19 PM
I really enjoyed this movie. It's a drama, not action, so don't come into it anticipating The Matrix or you'll be disappointed. Highly recommended.
coldhardtruth 3/20/2006 8:27:48 PM
If you want evidence of stupidity, how about: Bill Clinton was elected for two terms- the second term even after allowing two major terrorist attacks occur on our soil without any retaliation, and after lying before a grand jury (which is both perjury and a felony) and repeatedly lying to the American public. The West Wing is in its 7th, Law & Order is in its 16th season, Law & Order: Criminal Intent is in its 5th season, remarkably unfunny "comedies" (such as Everybody Loves Raymond- 9 seasons; Frasier- 11 seasons), and virtually all "reality" shows. Most people misquote the Constitution rather than read it for themselves, and they would rather believe uneducated loudmouths than to take the time to check the facts. ---- The Constant Gardener, I found out, is a really boring movie. How it nade $120 million is a mystery to me, but the theme of pharmeceutical companies as a villian and Rachel Weisz making stupid cheap shots in a poorly disguised attack on Bush is a very good explanation. I didn't mind either- I did mind the extremely boring last third of the movie.
coldhardtruth 3/21/2006 7:55:04 AM
He relayed information that was presented to him. That is hardly the definition of lying.
coldhardtruth 3/21/2006 7:13:39 PM
X3 is going to kick the most ass.
coldhardtruth 3/21/2006 7:14:42 PM
shooter- You're an idiot!!! Enough said.
coldhardtruth 3/21/2006 8:21:30 PM
Well put. It needed to be said.
coldhardtruth 3/22/2006 9:50:19 PM
Potential governments such as those in V for Vendetta only strengthens my view that governments should be small and accountable to the people. No one should ever be above the law. People should not be discriminated against. The people should never be completely dependant on the government. The people should never give up their rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
langer4now 4/5/2006 12:28:11 PM
for a movie i found overwhelmingly dull, i was very impressed with the cinematographer and what he did with this movie. apparently he managed to finish one more movie before his death, "an american haunting." has anyone heard or seen anything about this movie, because i sure as hell haven't and i've been looking?
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