September 6th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
I really liked this movie.
V for Vendetta is a movie that is an “uncompromising vision of the future” from the creators of The Matrix trilogy.
The movie is about a masked anarchist called V (Hugo Weaving), set against the futuristic landscape of totalitarian Britain where the government is cruel/ corrupt and where curfews are in place. V is a bitter, revenge-seeking, lonely and violent man driven by a personal vendetta and a quest to “free” the people of Britain by trying to unite them to fight on a very special day … November the 5th – Guy Fawkes Day.
Along the way, he rescues a young working-class woman named Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) from a life-and-death situation. She ends up befriending him and uncovering the truth about his mysterious past, where she also discovers the truth about herself.
This is a dark political thriller with a very strong message in regards to freedom and justice. It has good mixture of action scenes and deep storylines where the producers make a conscious effort to capture the essence of the relationship between V and Evey. The producers developed all the characters thoroughly, explaining their past, how they all had a link to V and why he was his bitter self.
Natalie Portman plays the part of Evey very well, with strong emotion and rage. Hugo Weaving also does a very good job playing V but at times I thought he talked a little too much. The fight scenes are excellent, they were violent but not too overboard. V had super human strength with deadly fighting skills and he certainly used it to his advantage. Other famous British actors like John Hurt (Chancellor Adam Sutler) and Stephen Fry (Gordon Deitrich) played their parts as well as expected.
One thing I must mention is that V, never takes off his “Guy Fawkes” mask in the whole film even when he was cooking in the kitchen - which was a little odd. I never read the comic book but I guess that is how the story goes. I did however hear from many V comic enthusiasts that the story was changed dramatically from the book. However, even those hardcore V enthusiasts appreciated the movie and commented on how well this movie was made.
This is a “must watch” and one that sticks in your mind for years to come because of its strong message - a “serious and deep” comic book movie. This one gets “4 Stars” in my books.
Memorable quotes from the movie:
Lewis Prothero: Did you like that? USA… Ulcered Sphincter of Ass-erica, I mean what else can you say? Here was a country that had everything, absolutely everything. And now, 20 years later, is what? The world’s biggest leper colony. Why? Godlessness. Let me say that again… Godlessness. It wasn’t the war they started. It wasn’t the plague they created. It was Judgement. No one escapes their past. No one escapes Judgement. You think he’s not up there? You think he’s not watching over this country? How else can you explain it? He tested us, but we came through. We did what we had to do. Islington. Enfield. I was there, I saw it all. Immigrants, Muslims, homosexuals, terrorists. Disease-ridden degenerates. They had to go. Strength through unity. Unity through faith. I’m a God-fearing Englishman and I’m goddamn proud of it!
V: People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.
V: …A building is a symbol, as is the act of destroying it. Symbols are given power by people. A symbol, in and of itself is powerless, but with enough people behind it, blowing up a building can change the world.
Evey Hammond: My father was a writer. You would’ve liked him. He used to say that artists use lies to tell the truth, while politicians use them to cover the truth up.
Movie Trivia:
Being huge fans of the original comic series, The Wachowski brothers (Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski) wrote a draft of the script in the ’90s before they worked on The Matrix (1999), which shares several similar themes with “V for Vendetta”.
Natalie Portman was chosen for the role of Evey over Scarlett Johansson and Bryce Dallas Howard.
V’s pseudonym, “Rookwood”, is the last name of another conspirator at the 1605 Gunpowder Plot.
The cast and crew were only allowed to shoot in the area near the British Parliament and Big Ben from midnight to 4.30 am. Furthermore, they were only allowed to stop traffic for four minutes at a time.
(Pictures courtesy of Warner Brothers. Movie quotes and trivia courtesy of IMDB)
4 Responses to “Movie Review: V for Vendetta”
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gentle slayer said: @ 5:11 am
September 7th, 2006
I enjoyed this movie too! Politically correct with a little humor but only for those who listen intently. Love it indeed! I think I’ll watch it again tonight.
Catherine Bronte said: @ 8:50 am
September 7th, 2006
I watched this movie this weekend. I really loved it!
kristarella said: @ 1:41 am
September 8th, 2006
Ooh, good review. Thanks, sounds like the sort of movie hubby and I would love. Perhaps I’ll hire it tonight.
Kavon FIENNES said: @ 7:31 am
September 10th, 2007
This movie was very good, with the best alliteration (using V’s) of a monologue i’ve ever heard in any movie