V for Theatrical Victory

Rating: 10/10 (27 June 2006)

V for Theatrical Victory My thumbs have been taken some heavy damage over the years. One year, my right thumb was broke due to a wrestling accident. Then, last year, I needed my left thumb surgically repaired... due to a wrestling accident. But, fortunately, both are back to working order. And both are pointing at the sky for V for Vendetta.
During the Vendetta, we follow the story of Evey, who is played very well by Natalie Portman. Evey starts out as a damsel in distress who works for the only TV network in London, but ends a faithful apprentice to the draw of the movie, V. V is an anarchist with the intent of making this futuristic London fall and having the people rebuild it when the gov't ceases to exist. And how does V plan to do this, you ask? Why, blowing up Parliament, of course! Evey first meets V when London's law enforcers called "fingers" catch her after the curfew instated by Chancellor Sutler (the enemy of the movie). The fingers were going to gang-rape her for being out late. That is until V shows up and beats them so hard they couldn't remember what they had for tea. (those Englishmen, always thinking with their weiners ) V, being a gentleman, decides to treat Evey to a night on the town. But this isn't like a County Fair and ice cream date. Nope, not even close. He leads her to the top of a building and pulls out a Conductor's wand used for symphonies and faces a large statue on to of a nearby building. Evey's very curious as to why he's doing this, but then, you'll faintly hear the Overture of 1812. And just as the cannons sound in the classical score, the building is exploded from the inside, reducing it to rubble.
The next day, V holds Evey's TV station hostage and urges them to play a pre-recorded broadcast V had made. This make-shift news report thoroughly explains why he's going to explode Parliament up and why the common people of Foggy Town should join him. V states this will take place one year from when his broadcast was made, on the 5th of November. The rest of the movie deals with all the events that take place in that one year. Including uncovering the Government's many conspiracies, Learning about V's backstory and why he's assassinating various members of the Government, and how Evey plays into all of this.
Ideals: This movie isn't really an action title as many (including myself) believed. This is all about raging against the Machine and how the citizens of ANY nation have the true power. One of the most stressed ideas was Censorship and Individualism. Most pop/current music was taken away. Many modern and classical arts disappeared when this gov't took over. It's not just limited to that though. None of London's citizens were permitted to have religious texts or have feelings for members of the same sex. That being said, I can introduce you to Deitrich, a closeted homosexual who is host of a late night show on television. Along with the news, Deitrich's scripts are already written, lacking voice and reason, and usually covers up the Chancellors mistakes. (whoa, how appallingly ironic) This was until one night, he throws out the written script and added his own. This one show mused on how the people of London live under control of the Chancellor. The special guests of the night were actors paid to look like Chancellor Sutler and V. V played childish pranks on Sutler throughout the show, and when they caught V, they unmasked him, only to show another Sutler. (which of course meant he's the only terrorist in London) After the show was aired, the secret police attacked Deitrich at his house. Deitrich played kind of a Malcolm X or Che Guevara for the film. I think the movie wouldn't be half of what it was without him.
Writing: I'll admit that this was one of the best written movie's I've seen since Million Dollar Baby. Larry and Andy Wachowski did a much better job on this than the Matrix sequels. But the bros. lose some credit simply because V for Vendetta was already a comic book published by DC Comcics in the 80's. But there're quotes in here that will stick in the back of your mind for a very long time. Quotes such as "Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. There is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof." Instant classic. And then there's this view V and I both share. "People should not be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people." How true, how true.
V for Vendetta is a perfectly balanced movie. If there's a fight scene, there's an in depth conversation or plot-twist. Vendetta also covers the grounds of vengeance, life, and even love, believe it or not. This film is simply brilliant on every level. Natalie Portman is no Emile de Ravin, but I can let it slide this time. This movie provoked though, satisfied my taste for mayhem, and is just a good rebel-rousing movie. Fans of Fight Club or Run Lola Run will definitely love it. Two thumbs up, two thumbs way up.
-Theodore Reddinger