V For Vendetta

[ocvictor]

Alan Moore was wrong to disavow the film. It's oversimplified a bit (neccesary for the comic-to-film format) and it's a tad ham-fisted at the end, but really, "V For Vendetta" is really, really good, and more than 75% is lifted straight from the comics.

Yes, the lead character is a terrorist. Yes, he blows up buildings in London. But there's a lot of meat in there to chew on.

Comments

[fiorituranotte.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it. Teacup guy and I are going to try to see it this week.

[ocvictor.livejournal.com]

Sorry we didn't call -- we finally just went and saw it on the way home from Lea's folks.

[fiorituranotte.livejournal.com]

No worries. I know you were very eager to see it, and there is no way we could have made it to the movies yesterday. I told bantuathach that we would take her to a movie when she got back; maybe we can all see something together then.

[ocvictor.livejournal.com]

Entirely possible. I'm pretty sure I can see it again.

[dkeali-i.livejournal.com]

Ah. Thank you for putting that more susinctly than I could. I loved the film , need to read the comic, however I don't think I would have gotten to the comic a lot longer had I not seen this movie.

[ocvictor.livejournal.com]

The comic is, on the whole, a much more complex story. And I think a fair number of people will go back and read the comic now that they've seen the film.

[isisoisis.livejournal.com]

cool, glad to hear it. I vaguely rememeber the comic back when it came out and rememebered I liked it.

Funny how society in about 20 years can change and not change.

No was outraged at the comic when bombs were going off in London all the time.

people are outrage someone made a movie where the terrorist is the good guy and there has been less bombings in London since the time it was writen .

why don;t those same people get outraged over movies like "the Patriot"... a terrorist fights the government, even take hostages to get what he and his fanatical band wants.

Smile.

[ocvictor.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's the thing that gets me. There were many more bombings in London when "V" first came out. Of course, it didn't have a huge market, not like a major motion picture. But still -- I've kinda liked seeing the Matt Drudge types fidget.

Here be spoilers

[debetesse.livejournal.com]

Do you know what, specifically, he objected to?

I loved the change at the end. Such a visual. I would have liked the leaving in of the "he's inside the machine" thing. But the metaphor exchange is ok, IMO.

The changes in Evey's arc...I'm not sure. But the character felt a little scatter-shot to me, anyway (yeah, yeah, Alan Moore, I know. Combined with the Wachowski's, who aren't much better). I really liked the Deitrich thing, but I felt the absence of the refusal for (further) killing. Definitely a defendable call.

Re: Here be spoilers

[ocvictor.livejournal.com]

I missed Evey's "let them grow" line. On the whole, I think the ending works fine. I'm of two minds as to whether Evey appearing as "V" at the end would have helped or weakened the film -- I'm wondering if it would have been as powerful, in this day and age, or if it would have been too rock star. I've changed my mind every few hours or so.

Re: Here be spoilers

[debetesse.livejournal.com]

Dammit. My brother has my copy of the book, and I don't recall that line. I missed (especially with the fire vs. water anvil) the idea of a different *kind* of V after the transition (creation vs. destruction).

Evey "becoming" V would have precluded the masks (the meta line was entertaining), which, I think, were a more powerful moment, and, I'm betting, the decision was made that "we all need to take responsibility for the rebuilding" was the message they wanted.

Re: Here be spoilers

[ocvictor.livejournal.com]

And see, this is where I'm having a dissonance. I don't know if the message of "we all need to take responsibility" or if it'll be translated as "all we have to do is show up." Which is the problem with most activists these days.

Re: Here be spoilers

[debetesse.livejournal.com]

Ah! Ok. That makes sense. Because, yeah, the thing that Evey not becoming v does is leave "what next?" wide open. And it could easily be "nothing".

It is a trick to balance that with the idea of having to wait for a guy in a mask, a big hero, to save the day.

And I don't know how you get to 1) Everyone has to 2) Do something.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

We just got back from seeing it, and yeah. Really, really good.

[ocvictor.livejournal.com]

A lot of anarchy imagery and themes in media these days. Introduction of idea or invitation to passive spectating? Only time will tell.

[antoniusrex.livejournal.com]

Yes. What you said. Because, honestly. It is the spirit of the book. Unlike From Hell and The League of Dumpy Gentlemen. V was well done. It looked pretty, and dammit, it felt right. Though I find it interesting that they dumped a bunch of the complexity of the book (understandable), but created a whole new subplot that wasn't there (Manufactured crisis what?).

Gotta say though...I was really wary of the end sequence...but it really caught the feel of the wonderful days of anarchy that V gives them all in the book...same concept.

Yeah. I had fun :-)

[ocvictor.livejournal.com]

Yep. Quite agree. I liked the bit when they poulled off the masks and it was all the people who'd died throughout the film, without putting a long focus on any of them. Thought that was well done.

[vsprtn.livejournal.com]

I liked the manufactured crisis. I thought it fit in rather nicely.

On the whole, the spirit of the book was in the film and I didn't feel angry or cheated or robbed.

And I almost forgive the Wachowskis for wrecking their own franchise.

[moonanstars.livejournal.com]

Can't really have a film or comic Guy Fawkes story without blowing things up.

[ocvictor.livejournal.com]

True, but I can understand why the idea squicks people in this day and age.

[flapper-girl.livejournal.com]

We saw it yesterday afternoon and loved it. I have not yet read the graphic novel so David was quick to point out what was and wasn't there. V for Vendetta is a brilliant film, well cast, and, through all the violence and heartbreak, is somehow beautiful. I really want to see it again.

[narkleptic.livejournal.com]

I prefer a little moral ambiguity in my terrorist/heroes....so for me, the movie was, you know, good, but not, say, really really good.