V For Vendetta

Posted by admin on Mar 23, 2006 in Volume 14 Issue 1 | 0 comments

Going into the theatre opening night I had already read several reviews praising the quality of ideas expressed by the makers of the Matrix trilogy, the Wachowski Brothers, in their latest project. Sure enough, V For Vendetta succeeds not only as a powerful action film, but one with a message that has you leaving the theatre questioning preconceived notions of the definitions of terrorism and counterterrorism.

The polar forces of good and evil have always driven strong narratives over the years. But with recent world issues like mediated fear and the war on terrorism, V For Vendetta presents the good guy vs. bad guy, only this time, the good guy plays the bad guy’s terrorism games.

The mysterious man (played by Hugo Weaving, The Matrix’s Agent Smith), hides behind a Guy Fawkes mask(17th century vigilant, famous for plotting to destroy the Parliament building). He is known to the audience only as V, a bandit out to expose his government’s crimes. Evey (Natalie Portman) gets caught up in V’s counterattacks.

While intelligent viewers might label V For Vendetta another modern political propaganda film in narrative form, the story is taken from the graphic novel written nearly 25 years ago, in response to Margaret Thatcher’s reign in England. This film will raise eyebrows. Even though the acting is only average, the ideas have been so sophistically presented that everyone will be watching to see what impact this film has on little brother, and little brother’s response to big brother. See this movie now.