2008 Woodie Awards
B for the Box Office Hit
Mark Ayoub
Issue date: 4/14/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
Imagine a fascist government where everything is monitored, and any rebellious actors are arrested as being unpatriotic, and all major news sources are government-run propaganda.
This is the setting for V for Vendetta, a brilliant and eerily realistic movie telling the story of one rebel who resorts to drastic measures to restore power to the people, but is sidetracked by love.
The story opens on a late night with the young Evie innocently out past curfew and about to be taken away by police, being saved by V, a figure in a smiling Guy Fawkes mask who takes her to the top of a bridge to watch the first part of his rebellious plan go into effect, as a government building is detonated on Guy Fawkes Day, to the tune of the "Overture of 1812."
Despite numerous governmental attempts to spin it as a planned detonation, the public is not fooled and knows that someone was behind this. V makes it very clear that if the government does not change, the next Guy Fawkes Day will see him blow up the Parliament.
In the span of that year, the government begins an all-out search to capture and kill V, whom they encounter quite frequently but never successfully defeat.
V forces Evie to live with him, and through this a romantic bond begins to develop, despite V never removing his mask, a bit reminiscent of Phantom of the Opera. Evie eventually becomes too fearful of him and escapes.
Evie is then arrested, and is eventually sentenced to death. When V discovers that she would die to protect his identity, he steps in and brings her back.
Any further detail would be an ending spoiler, so I'll leave it at that.
In general, despite a fairly unknown cast, the actors do well. Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith in The Matrix), especially, are excellent in their roles. Also, the special effects are mind-blowing, although that is to be expected of any film written and directed by the Wachowski brothers, who gained fame with The Matrix.
The film was based on a 1995 graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, so all claims that this plot makes a statement about the current political climate are, at the least, very questionable as it was written ten years ago.
As one would expect for a film like this, there are many memorable lines and messages that the viewer will take away. Regardless whether or not one agrees with the overall message that terrorism is often the best solution to rescue a corrupt society, it will nevertheless make us think deeply about the society that we live in.
This is the setting for V for Vendetta, a brilliant and eerily realistic movie telling the story of one rebel who resorts to drastic measures to restore power to the people, but is sidetracked by love.
The story opens on a late night with the young Evie innocently out past curfew and about to be taken away by police, being saved by V, a figure in a smiling Guy Fawkes mask who takes her to the top of a bridge to watch the first part of his rebellious plan go into effect, as a government building is detonated on Guy Fawkes Day, to the tune of the "Overture of 1812."
Despite numerous governmental attempts to spin it as a planned detonation, the public is not fooled and knows that someone was behind this. V makes it very clear that if the government does not change, the next Guy Fawkes Day will see him blow up the Parliament.
In the span of that year, the government begins an all-out search to capture and kill V, whom they encounter quite frequently but never successfully defeat.
V forces Evie to live with him, and through this a romantic bond begins to develop, despite V never removing his mask, a bit reminiscent of Phantom of the Opera. Evie eventually becomes too fearful of him and escapes.
Evie is then arrested, and is eventually sentenced to death. When V discovers that she would die to protect his identity, he steps in and brings her back.
Any further detail would be an ending spoiler, so I'll leave it at that.
In general, despite a fairly unknown cast, the actors do well. Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith in The Matrix), especially, are excellent in their roles. Also, the special effects are mind-blowing, although that is to be expected of any film written and directed by the Wachowski brothers, who gained fame with The Matrix.
The film was based on a 1995 graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, so all claims that this plot makes a statement about the current political climate are, at the least, very questionable as it was written ten years ago.
As one would expect for a film like this, there are many memorable lines and messages that the viewer will take away. Regardless whether or not one agrees with the overall message that terrorism is often the best solution to rescue a corrupt society, it will nevertheless make us think deeply about the society that we live in.