Valorous V Victorious; No Valediction Suffices for Vaticinal, Vulpine Vizier
March 19, 2006
11:26 p.m., MT

I did not think it possible for another film to move me as much as Serenity did. I read some early reviews of V for Vendetta, and of course I saw the trailer, but still, I was afraid to hope for much. I read the book several years ago, and while I didn't recall many of the details, I did remember that it was a powerful book.

In some ways the movie was even better.

The one thing I missed from the book — which, I am very pleased to see, is #6 on Amazon's top-selling list as I write this — is the explicit pro-anarchy ideas. But that's all, and while I can understand Alan Moore not wanting his name on the film because of the changes, I think that overall, they serve the movie very well. The loss of the anarchy ideas is regrettable, but somewhat understandable; this is, after all, still a Hollywood product. The special effects are understated but effective (my favorite after just one viewing is the knife sequence near the end), and the actors intense. Who knew Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) could act? And Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith in the Matrix movies, and Elrond in the Lord of the Rings movies) is absolutely amazing as V. He not only gives life to a character whose face is always hidden behind a mask, he conveys the complexity of the character brilliantly.

The film is rife with terrific quotes, in addition to the promotional ones. Some of the more memorable ones include:
A revolution without dancing is not worth having.
Fear became the ultimate tool of the government.
Those who are responsible will be held accountable.
[I]deas are bulletproof!

More random thoughts that bubble up in response ... While not strictly true to the book, the film is nonetheless an ideological bull's-eye. There's no politically correct sophistry, no tidy, clean ending where Evey wakes up from her bad dream and the world is safe and pretty still. I absolutely loved the use of the masks, and would love to have one, and a hat, myself — for some of the same reasons V wore them.

Will V for Vendetta make a difference? I'm not sure ... I'd like to think so, but two things temper my optimism: 1] the iron grip of tyranny isn't tight enough yet here for many individuals to take its message to heart, and I'm not sanguine that many Americans have sufficient memory to retain the message until it's needed; and 2] many Americans tend to believe the mythology of this country, and therefore think that such action isn't necessary, as we're already free — even as the nooses of Homeland Security, the surveillance corporo-state, and Real ID tighten around their necks.

Others might think that V's tactics won't work outside of the realm of fiction, but I think that's misguided. First, civil disobedience and guerrilla tactics have shown themselves to be very effective against tyrannical leaders and states. Gandhi in India, Solidarity in Poland, anyone? Those are but two examples (see the excellent book A Force More Powerful for more examples). Second, as my friend Butler Shaffer is fond of pointing out, anarchy is already inherent in our daily lives. The state as a powerful, directing, controlling entity is a myth, with life breathed into it by individuals who give it the power it has over them. Killing that myth is a fearful proposition for many, many individuals, including some liberty-loving ones. But it must be done if we are to live truly civilized, free lives.

At the end of the movie, Evey is asked, Who was V? She replies something like, He's you ... he's all of us ... he's me. And she's right. It's our responsibility, each and every one of us, to help throw off the tyranny that years of complacency and obedience have allowed to grow. Freedom is the most bulletproof idea around.

In sum: V for Vendetta is a venerable vision of vengeance. I will be seeing it again.

Sunni

Comments: 4 people have contributed to the conversation

On Monday, March 20th, at approximately 8:14 a.m. Mountain time, putrimalu said:

I also loved "V for Vendetta". It was quite a powerful movie.

However my wife didn't "get it" and thought it glorified terrorism. Roger Ebert gave it thumbs up, but he expressed the same sentiment...

The film had a lot of excellent touches that couldn't have been in the graphic novel. For example, references to the practice of "renditioning". And the references to avian flu, and the virus cure being sold exclusively by a member of the Chancellor's cabinet (IE Rummy & Tamiflu).

One thing I'm curious about. If I recall correctly, in the movie, the terrorist events that caused the fascism to arise were blamed on Muslims extremists. Was this too in the graphic novel? I liked how they later tried to connect V to the virus, not unlike how the administration tried to connect 9/11 to Saddam Hussein.

On Monday, March 20th, at approximately 9:38 a.m. Mountain time, Sunni said:

Hey, putrimalu, thanks for dropping by. Have you tried to explain to your wife that in today's lexicon, this country's founding fathers would be considered terrorists? Depending on which side of the action one's on, terrorism is either a horrible tactic or an effective tool.

You pegged some of the improved touches I was referring to. I honestly don't remember the details of the graphic novel enough to answer your question, though; perhaps someone else does and will enlighten us. I'm itching to re-read it, but have tons of work to do!

On Monday, March 20th, at approximately 3:11 p.m. Mountain time, Jac said:

In the book, the fascists rise in power due to the chaos that came after nuclear war. Europe and the US were pretty much wiped out.

On Tuesday, March 21st, at approximately 10:12 a.m. Mountain time, kbi said:

Sunny said: "Will V for Vendetta make a difference? I'm not sure ... I'd like to think so, but two things temper my optimism: 1] the iron grip of tyranny isn't tight enough yet here for many individuals to take its message to heart, and I'm not sanguine that many Americans have sufficient memory to retain the message until it's needed..."

The irony is when the movie is needed; it can't see the light of day. Only now, before that point, can it hope to be made and seen… I wonder if there's another way to do it?

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