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Set at an undisclosed time (it could be next year or
20 years from now) “V for Vendetta” focuses on Evey (Natalie
Portman) the daughter of two liberal parents who are against
the totalitarian government. Evey’s parents are kidnapped
and taken to what could be a detention center where they
are murdered. Now an orphan, Evey grows up apolitical working
for the state run TV station until she is nearly assaulted
by two government thugs that are in charge of curfew. She’s
saved by V (Hugo Weaving) a man in a Guy Fawkes mask who
wields knives like most men use guns. This vigilante disappears
as quickly as he appears. ***
Evey is quickly drawn into his world and his fight
after he appears at the television station where she works
with the threat of blowing up the station. He also televises
a videotape that essentially challenges the iron fisted
facist reign of Chancellor Sutler (John Hurt). V saves her
once again taking her into his underground lair (the film
has echoes from “Phantom of the Opera” as well). It’s soon
clear to her that V has his own personal vendetta against
the Sutler government in addition to the atrocities that
the government has committed against others. ***
V may be a bit naive (when he takes out the government
he believes that the people will take back power and the
government will fear them instead of the people fearing
the government)he's also a fascinating mixture of vigilante,
hero and villain. Stylishly directed by James McTeigue (assistant
director of "The Matrix" here helming his first film)with
beautiful cinematography by the late Adrian Bittle ("The
World is Not Enough", "Aliens" and "Thelma & Louise")"V
for Vendetta" may not perfectly capture Alan Moore and David
Lloyd's graphic novel but it certainly captures the spirit
of it. Written as a protest against Thatcher and her government
policies, "V for Vendetta" works amazingly well in this
adaptation by "The Matrix" writers Andy Wachowski and Larry
Wachowski. Featuring stunning performances and great support
work particularly by Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Stephen
Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Tim Pigoett-Smith and Rupert
Graves "V for Vendetta" takes a lot of risks for a mainstream
Hollywood movie in the post 9/11 world we live in but it's
points are intelligent and well worth noting. ***
“V for Vendetta” is a worthwhile, thought provoking
action film. Yep, it’s a walking contradiction which is
unusual for a mainstream bit of entertainment. The Wachowski
Brothers created much the same impression with “The Matrix”
before running that influential film into the ground by
making it into a franchise. They may not be faithful to
Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s classic graphic novel (which
was written about England during Thatcher’s reign) but they
do take the best elements of the graphic novel and create
a worthy film successor that squarely targets the Bush administration.
While The Wachowski Brothers do violence to Moore’s original
graphic novel they’ve managed to retain much of its political
conscience even if it is a bit confused at times. Is V a
freedom fighter, terrorist or simply a man with a grudge?
Luckily there’s no easy answer in the film and, perhaps,
that’s ultimately redeeming value. ***
“V” may not always be easy to watch with its surreal
mixtures of violence and politics but it’s compelling. The
fact that anyone in Hollywood was willing to marry a film
with a political point of view (no matter how naïve) to
a big budget entertainment is commendable. I just wish that
the political commentary and conscience portion of the film
was less muddled and riddled with gaping holes in its reasoning.
Nevertheless “V” entertains for the bulk of its 2 hour plus
running time.
Image & Sound:
I suspect some of the soft hazy look of the film is
intentional as I seem to recall it looking the same in the
theater. The skin tones are solid throughout and black levels
are very good. The overall look of the film is extremely
good with nice detail as well. The 5.1 format is used extremely
well particularly during the film’s action set pieces. ---
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