Thanks for recommending "V for Vendetta." Remarkable film.

[Mike 03]

I have to conceede, I misjudged Natalie Portman's abilities. She is fantastic in this film, as well as her sequence in "Cold Mountain."

But even more than that, "V for Vendetta" is a sensational film. I just wanted to assure those of you who recommended I see the film that I indeed did order it and was enormously impressed by every aspect of the film. On the box it says, "From the creators of The Matrix Trilogy." I have to say, "Vedetta", IMO, is a million times better than the Matrix films.

Thanks again. This is a keeper. I'll also be passing it on to my sisters and mother, who I know will love this film.

[Swede]

1. Next up "W"?

:shrug:

[Mike 03]

4. I LOVED "W." Already saw that one. But "V" made me tear up, and "W." didn't quite

do that.

:cry:

Er, well, "W." made me cry, but for other reasons.

And you know what comes before "V"?

I guess "U.2.: Rattle and Hum," another great one.

[XemaSab]

7. But you'd better skip T:2

:scared:

[Aristus]

18. Is "X" next? Why?

:boring:

[TheBigotBasher]

2. A very different film

but on a similar vein - try Children of Men. I have posted in my journal about how at the moment the UK is a "friendly" fascist State. The scary part of this film is that it is one Authoritarian Leader away from being true and no legislation needs to be changed to achieve it.

[Aqaba]

3. Ditto on Children of Men

...here's a YouTube link on the advertising seen in the movie...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VnIrXmdYhY

[FloridaJudy]

16. Agreed.

I wound up buying both "V" and "Children of Men" to watch over and over. I found "V" - oddly enough - on the rack at Bealls, a local discount store that mainly sells clothing and household tchotchkes. A sweet little old Southern lady behind me exclaimed "That's a great movie! You're going to love it!" I had to revise my opinions about little old Southern ladies.

[abq e streeter]

5. Moving, thought-provoking and inspiring isn't it ?

When it first came out, I thought it was just some action movie of the type I have no interest in...It was at least a couple of years later that someone told me it was good and I should check it out. I still don't think they told me of the political aspect, but I finally rented it one night when I was bored and had nothing else to do, and needless to say ,was blown away. And yes, Natalie Portman, who I'm not sure I've ever seen except in this , was magnificent. Seems to me I recently saw a post from someone who recommended the book; saying the character of V ,for one thing, is a much more complex intermingling of good and evil . After all, he certainly is a murderer; the question becoming at what point does that become necessary and justified...but that's really a different thread; I may have to see if I can find a copy of the book...but back to the reason for your post, yes, it was an absolutely inspirational movie; reminding us that fighting back against the most oppressive forms of fascism is a possibility, and ultimately, sometimes a duty.

[Mike 03]

9. Yes, yes and yes, You are right on all counts.

Like you, I had no knowledge of this film whatsoever before seeing it. The only thing I knew about it was that it took place in the U.K.

You absolutely raise valid points. Having just seen the film, I need to synthesize all the complicated thoughts and reactions I have to it.

It was essentially "Phantom of the Opera" meets "Batman," or at least that is how I perceived it.

This is a film that needs to be watched more than once, and what I am posting here are my initial reactions.

One thing: I'm so glad they did not show his face. I was so worried they were going to do that as part of the climax.

I don't know if this mitigates V's actions or not--because as you say, he does kill a lot of people, in particular law enforcement--but he does give ample warning about his intentions to attack the Parliament, and he blows up the other building in the middle of the night, so he seems cautious about who he kills.

Does he kill any civilians? I've only seen the film once. I don't recall him killing any "innocent" bystanders.

[TheBigotBasher]

10. The lesson from comics like V

is that people do not fight back against fascist legislation until it is too late. A lot of what is suggested in films like V for Vendetta and Children of Men is already in place, at least here in the UK.

We are the most spied upon Nation on Earth, by our own Government. In fact the Government claims to not even know how spied upon we are.

http://thebigotbasher.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/which-country/

Benign Elected Dictatorships are fine, provided you are not the one being picked on.

[abq e streeter]

6. Accidental dupe...didn't look I had posted successfully...

[AlCzervik]

8. I was in London when that was coming out and there was a building across the street

from Parliament that was covered in a giant ad for that film, it was pretty sweet, it was like parachute fabric and it was gigantic.

[TheBigotBasher]

11. There are now quite a few of those ads now.

CK are a major distraction, especially as I dated one of the male models. Hard to explain that to the car insurance.

[Mike 03]

12. One Question: Maybe I missed it, but how did, or why is, V so wealthy?

Maybe there is some clue in the film but, if so, I missed it. The guy must have a bloody fortune.

For example, in the "Batman" films, it is clear it is an inheritance.

Just curious.

[TheBigotBasher]

13. I'm not sure that is explained.

Maybe he is an MP and claimed it all on expenses.

[Orsino]

19. He's half-ninja, and "liberates" many treasures that would otherwise be destroyed.

Having control of the government's computer system is a big help, no doubt.

[MilesColtrane]

14. The book gives you more to think about than the movie.

The Wachowskis altered some important aspects of the book and ended up cheesing out the ending.

In the original version the hero is less sympathetic and more ruthless in this methods, while the villains are given more human qualities.
Evey's character in the beginning of the book is totally different than the movie.
Plus the love between Evey and V is strictly of the platonic variety.
The government in the book is more blatantly fascist and interested in racial purity.
Another big difference is that the government in the book is in power because they were voted into power by a scared and apathetic populace.

V is more of a true anarchist then some caped super hero.

[Mike 03]

15. Thank you. The points you make definitely did not come through in the movie.

The fascism of the goverment came through, at least for me. It was like Pink Floyd The Wall, with the montage that included glorification of the swastika.

[AwakeAtLast]

17. That is one movie that both my husband and I could watch over and over

We watched it when it came out on DVD, which was when the BushCo rhetoric was at its zenith. So many parallels.

Glad you got to see it!

:hi: