Review: V for Vendetta

It's understandable that this movie is causing such a stir right now, with all the parallels and symbolism to the current state of affairs in the US and UK. What's surprising is the fact that this film is based on a graphic novel released in the 80's. Alan Moore, whose work also spawned The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (which was a fine book, if the movie left something to be desired), wrote it as a jab against the Thatcher-era politics that ruled the day. I haven't read this novel, but I'm tempted to look for it, if only to see how closely they followed the subject matter. I sort of find it hard to believe that a twenty-odd year old story would have throwaway comments about avian flu and pill-popping TV personalities a la Rush Limbaugh. I commend the Brothers Wachowski, fresh off their virtual reality adventures in The Matrix, for their unblinking, controversial piece of black satire. It can't have been easy to release a film with a climax involving subway explosions in London, shot just three weeks before the real events happened. It can't be easy to promote a movie whose protagonist, whose hero, is a ruthless terrorist. Well, maybe not completely ruthless. I'm sure he has some ruth. He probably thinks he's quite ruthful.

V for Vendetta begins with a history lesson: "Remember, remember, the fifth of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot." This refers to the infamous traitor, Guy Fawkes, who nearly succeeded in blowing up Parliament in 1605. His acts are the inspiration for "V", played by Hugo Weaving (known to Wachowski fans as Agent Smith), who thinks finishing Fawkes' work is just the kick in the pants Britain needs to get out of it's current funk. By which I mean the Fascist state where people who disagree with the government, simply disappear. Our heroine, Evey, played by Natalie Portman (We love you Natalie! I wanna f--- you too!), meets V when she is saved from some lascivious Fingermen, whatever that means. He promptly brings her to a rooftop where she is greeted by a magical sight: the demolition of The Bailey. This sets the events in motion, V has offered a public ultimatum that in one year, he will destroy the Parliament building, as a message to the dictatorship. And while the police are out searching for him, V is quietly removing the people responsible for his, shall we say, skewed outlook. All of this escalating hostility leads to the inevitable climax on November 5th, Guy Fawkes Day. I won't spoil it for you, but everything happens according to plan, let's say.

I really enjoyed this movie. I probably won't need to see it again, but I wouldn't object to it being shown to me. It most likely will not have the lasting effect of, say, The Matrix, but it certainly has more to say about the state of the world than, say, The Matrix Revolutions.