Review: V for Vendetta
April 10th 2006 13:39
Category: No Category
Hollywood has been kind and unkind to comic book lovers in the past few years by bringing to life the panels of pictures and words which otherwise only comes to life in our imagination. It is always hard to match up to the first experience when we first read a particular comic book or graphic novel.
The freshness and the aftertaste of the story. The imagination we are subjected to in between panels in order to make sense of it all. The voices of the characters in our heads. Those things alone make the reading of a comic book/graphic novel akin to the memory of a first love – an irreproducible experience. Hardcore comic book fans have lambasted these movies as a bastardization of the art and refused to acknowledge it.
That all said, I watched V for Vendetta without all these apprehensions as I have yet to read the ground-breaking graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, published serially from 1982 to 1988. I went into darkened movie theatre only with expectations of seeing a shaved Natalie Portman. It helps to have not read the original graphic novel in order to enjoy this film, set in a dystrophic futuristic United Kingdom (but not very much advanced from our time).
For those who have not a clue of its story line, I’ll try to break it to you without spoiling the good parts. V for Vendetta is the tale of a mysterious, eloquent (note the vivifying V speech when he introduces himself to Natalie Portman) and enigmatic anarchist by the name of V. He meets Evey Hammond, whose parents were political activists. Together, they become involved in a plan to revolutionize a fascistic England through acts of terrorism – murdering politicians and bombing landmark buildings, before reaching a climatic ending.
The film itself commands attention and makes one consider the conceivability of living under such a regime in the 21st century. Its propaganda is not explicitly stated, but it leaves the viewer to relive those moments in history such as the storming of the Bastille or the Irish Rebellion. It makes us think if it can that really happen again in our time.
Performances from Hugo Weaving (as V) and Natalie Portman (Evey Hammond) aren’t exactly contenders for the Oscar but were respectable. The acting, on the whole, wasn’t outstanding but they got the job done.
My verdict for this film is that it’s well-made and thought-provoking, and is especially resounding post 9/11. These thoughts in our heads occupy us while we forget that it’s Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman on screen. But here’s an afterthought for you after you see this film: by using violence for justice, does the end really justify the means? Are there any real heroes anymore?
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