*** Official V FOR VENDETTA Discussion Thread

ebert and roeper each gave it a good review.
in fact roeper casually said who was behind the mask like it was no big deal.
i have the origionsal comics but havent read them yet so was this a bad giveaway by roeper to say who was behind the mask?

I don't know if this has already been brought up but here it goes:

When this movie is shown in Imax, what will the aspect ratio be?

TonyD: All Roeper reveals is the name of the actor playing V, so no, it really doesn't spoil anything at all!

The discussion for this movie is going to be QUITE interesting, I think.

Having read the novel, I'm sure it'll be quite edgy and free-wheeling, and I expect several moderator insertions of reason and HTF rules Not because of me, though, as I have learned my lessons over a few choice mistakes

I am EXTREMELY excited for this film, the first truly interesting film released this year (for me).

Saw a preview of this tonight so I thought Id make a few non-spoiler comments.

I had heard extremely positive things about this film but I must say that I havent read the graphic novel on which its based. The first thing is that the trailer is extremely misleading as to the nature of the film (as a lot of trailers are I suppose). This is not an action film at all - in fact there are only 2 moments in the entire film that I considered to be an action sequence and both were brief. This is not a criticism, just an observation as those people expecting a film similar to the trailer are going to be disappointed.

Good points

I thought Hugo Weaving was great as V and the mask was actually enhancing his performance rather than detracting from it, probably because it was so distinctive.

I understand that the novel was written some time ago and whilst this is a fantasy version of a totalitarian state, anyone watching this film cannot fail to recognise the myriad of references to modern political and social issues that we are dealing with today.This film is quite blunt about the points it is trying to make - subtlety is out of the way in favour of loudly declaring its stance. Unfortunately, this occasionally meant some awful dialogue.

Enjoyed the score, which also seems to be the same as that from the trailer (from when V knocks over the domino).

Thought Stephen Fry was also great here.

The bad points - as I said there is some awful dialogue in this film. In the first 10 minutes I felt like Weaving had been replaced by the Architect from Reloaded and that the Waschowskis have been raiding the thesaurus again in order to use 1000 words when one will do (although there is a funny speech involving words starting with V). This eases off during the film but there are some really stupid lines.

The pace of the film is very uneven with some aspects of the plot rushed through and some drawn out too much. The film also often feels the need to repeat a point it has made or a parallel it has drawn with the result that it feels quite drawn out and long. A bit of editing would have helped I think

Whilst the story of V's background and motivation is ok, how it relates to other events that are gradually revealed is poorly handled, and rushed with the result that the connection seems contrived.

I would give it 2 1/2 out of 5 probably because I was expecting a much better film. It's not bad and it's unusual to see a mainstream film tackle such controversial issues head on. It's a shame that some awful dialogue and shoddy storytelling dilute this and make the film merely average.

Saw the film tonight as well. Aside from the poor presentation of the theater I was in (low audio, no surround sound), I thought the film was great. Simon, I couldn't really make out what V was saying at the beginning due to the poor sound, but it sounded like he was essentially saying what was said in the novel. The parallels drawn to current events were thunderous and I thoroughly enjoyed those aspects. I just hope the stories aren't true and that the Wachowski's will continue making films.

Looking forward to seeing this over the weekend. I love the tag line on the poster "People Should Not Be Afraid of Their Governments - Governments Should Be Afraid Of Their People." That's a paraphrase from an old quote by Thomas Jefferson who said "When people are afraid of their government, that's tyranny. When governments are afraid of their people, that's liberty."

The whole ad campaign for V has been great, with the old propaganda-style posters. They have a pretty good web site up and running too.

If the movie is at all true to the book, it's bound to get bashed by the most politically sensitive among us (and I don't mean HTF). Rather than being about this precise moment in history (to which I think it has applications), I think the story (which was written more than 20 years ago) shows the universal truths about how tyranny takes hold and transforms a society.

Sam:

It looks like the truth-sensitive might have a thing or two to say about it as well. Plus, movies about tyranny are nothing new. I will judge V based on its filmmaking craft and the relevance of its story for our culture.

I'm very excited to see this movie. A good friend saw it on a sneak peek this week, and raved about it.

Before hearing his comments I was a little sceptical about "V". Now I'm all in! Hope to see it next week.

I think the strength of the story is not in immediate (and facile) connections to current events (I can apply the same "immediacy" to many cultures over many time periods), but in the universality of the struggle between the individual and the group, between a citizen and those on ANY official side who'd like to determine what is best for society and you.

I am certain that many politically motivated folks will foist their interpretations, on both sides. I admire any film that leads to discourse. Especially when it's civil.

James B loved it............

http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/mo..._vendetta.html

By now most of you guys know about me and comics of days of old, but Ive never read V For Vendetta.

I think it's entirely appropriate to read the graphic novel before seeing the movie-- or for that matter, before reading any reviews.I have a funny feeling that this movie is going to be the basis for hundreds of columns on the "war on terror" and the political scene. Some of those columns will, no doubt, blast the filmmakers for opportunistically attacking current government regimes while pointing to plot elements that actually date back to 1982.

I don't think we can disconnect a film from the time in which it is screened. I hope that any truth-based criticisms that are levied against "V" are not dismissed merely as partisan attacks.

I just hope that I like the movie. The previous Alan Moore based movies (Swamp Thing, LOEG) have been some of the worst comic based movies I've seen. Granted, Swamp Thing has it's charmes, especially with the additional whore house scene on the DVD, but League was shit.

this was my most anticipated film, until Moore took his name off it. I still plan on checking it out though.

Actually, I think LXG has its charms as well. Course, you have to completely put the graphic novel out of your mind, and enjoy the movie for what it is.

BTW, I'm not advocating that LXG was a GOOD film, but it isn't as bad as some make it out to be. It just isn't the greatness of the GN and is very Hollywood.

Jason

This thread is now designated the Official Discussion Thread for "V For Vendetta" please, post all comments, links to outside reviews, film and box office discussion items to this thread.

All HTF member film reviews of "V for Vendetta" should be posted to the Official Review Thread.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.


Crawdaddy

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have heard that Moore has trashed the movie, and when they list the creators in the credits, only David Lloyd is listed, did Moore have himself removed?

Yes, Moore removed himself from the project before they started shooting...

Saw this yesterday afternoon...

This was the first movie I've seen in awhile where the audience let out a collective "wow" at the end.

I hadn't read the graphic novel, so I don't know how the movie compares, but I was blown away. The best types of movie, IMO, are ones that thoroughly entertain while provoking thought at the same time. This one definitely falls into that category.

A few nitpicks:


Warning Spoiler! Click to show

Those are all I can remember for the moment, but for the most part, phenomenal film.

Is there a new Superman trailer attached to any prints?

Kyle,

The sequence involving Evey that you described above is almost exact to the graphic novel.
Warning Spoiler! Click to show

Yes there was, I could not help but think Hollywood is completely out of fresh ideas. Every trailer was This part 3, That part 4, This part 2 and That part 5. I am not looking forward to this years movies judging from the trailers I saw at "V".

By the way I really enjoyed V for Vendetta, It was completely un expected refreshment from the CGI action filled goo that is usually associated with Comics or Graphic novels. The trailers certainly fool you into believing it is a different sort of movie while blasting you with major spoilers that sort of ruined a few parts for me. I wish trailers would be teasers instead, I try to avoid them at all costs but I happened to see the "V" trailer during March Madness and could'nt look away and I dearly paid for it.

Loved the movie but think it will be a 50/50 split on like it, hate it reaction.

Very nice pacing, I was on the edge of my seat even considering some may consider this slow paced. I like what I would call several "twists"

I read in the Montreal Gazette that Moore choose to remove his name from the movie not because of the movie's quality but just because the studio said that they had his "blessings" on the movie, which was not true, and that he had become more and more pissed with Hollywood since LXG.

I'm quite sure he would agree that this is a good movie.

Before I comment, I would like to respectfully request that we suspend the rule about no political discussion, as this movie is impossible to discuss cogently without involving politics.

The very subject matter of the movies is politics, the powerful against the powerless. A discussion that "censors" this subject matter clearly can't say anything important about the movie.

Sorry, no exceptions to that rule.




Crawdaddy

I politely disagree. Having now seen the film (and seeing it again tomorrow, gladly), at it's core the film is bigger than politics. Perhaps that is the limit of YOUR ability to discuss it's importance...but not everybody's. Certainly not mine. Such should be our discussion. What is forbidden is any connection to current political speech, which is wise and true, as ignoring it does not lead to better discussions.

The film merits a review, of course I am toying with waiting for a second viewing before doing it. But I might crack earlier.

To wit, I did love the film. It's weak points were about average, and it's strong points were brilliant. It probably will be love it or hate it. I loved it. But I loved Fight Club as well. And the Matrix sequels

Take that as you will.

Some excellent points and another reason why we can't relax our rules against political discussion because it could spin too easily out of control if we relax them in conjunction with this film and what is currently going on in the world of today. There is no need to open those can of worms.

By the way, I loved this film and will see it again as it is a film that deserves a second viewing.





Crawdaddy

Saw the film last night. I couldn't really judge what the rest of the audience thought, but my friends and I all thought it was great.

Although I expect to see a lot of political pundits hand-wringing about how this movie "endorses terrorism," I don't think the argument has merit. In both the comic book and the movie, V is genuinely heroic but he is also monstrous and insane.


Warning Spoiler! Click to show

One gets the sense that he is not as concerned with freeing the people of England from tyranny as he is with his own lust for vengeance. Indeed, all his claptrap about freedom and tyranny is probably little more than a rationalization for his bloodlust.

The story doesn't offer any easy answers to complex questions, which is precisely what I like about it. Although I'm happy that they left V morally ambiguous, I'm not entirely happy about the removal of some of the humanizing elements of the antagonists (gov't officials).

Oh, and Hugo Weaving's performance was amazing even with the restriction of that mask.

((Edit: spelling correction))