Thursday, August 03, 2006 10:17:54 AM
DVD PICK
V for Vendetta
Reviewed by Marshall Dunn
If you are a fan of Alan Moore's graphic novel work in
the 80's (Watchmen, V for Vendetta), you may approach this film with
considerably different expectations than, say, fans of the Wachowski
Brothers and the Matrix trilogy; and most likely, both of you would
be wrong. If you've read the press surrounding the film and Alan Moore's
'displeasure' with the end result, you'll likely be biased as well.
The film adaptations of From Hell or The League of Extraordinary
Gentlemen severely undercut the notion that Moore's
work could be effectively translated to the big screen.
But, if you approach this film with an open mind and no expectations,
you just might be surprised. The unfolding of this complex tale of an
oppressive society in the near-future versus a nebulous hero/anti-hero,
terrorist/freedom fighter who aims to set things straight begs the question:
is V a hero or simply a madman? One can't be too sure. This character, played
by Hugo Weaving (the iconic Agent Smith from the Matrix series) in a Guy
Fawkes mask forms the centerpiece in an ensemble of other pretty good
characters. Stephen Rea as the detective in pursuit of V probably delivers
the most fully developed character of the film, with Natalie Portman doing
a much better job than she did performing with the cardboard cut-out of
Anakin in the Star Wars movies. And John Hurt as the fascist dictator is
superbly menacing.
To make a long story short (unlike the film, unfortunately),
we are introduced to a newly emergent enemy of the State,
code-named V. After blowing up a few buildings and high-jacking
a TV station, V has promised to come back in a year and finish
the job by blowing up the House of Parliament on November 5.
Emulating the 17th the century conspirator Guy Fawkes and his
Gunpowder Plot, the enigmatic, knife-throwing V appears capable
of making good on his word. This film covers what happens in
that year, and gives us a glimpse into the totalitarian
underbelly of the fascist state Britain has become.
The film is dark and action sparse, but what action there
is stylishly executed. But, the film, like the graphic novel,
can be a long slog through dialog heavy scenes of Shakespearean prose.
However, considering the weighty issues it explores, it actually moves
along fairly well. Of course, the aficionados of the comicâ¦I mean the
'graphic novel'â¦will surely note that the film is not nearly as
hard-hitting and detailed. And they would be right.
Plus, the ending diverted widely from the one that Alan
Moore wrote. Still, as diluted as the overall theme became
in cinema, the film worked for me.
The film received some negative criticism for its political depictions
and fear-mongering plus it was easy to draw some undeserved comparisons
between it and 1984. But, what 1984 presented as bare-bones metaphor has
been fleshed out and turned on its head in V for Vendetta. Plus,
when you consider this was actually written long before 9-11
in 1980 as a dark depiction of the Thatcher government, even
with its assorted flaws it remains a film worth viewing.
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