Remember! Remember! The 5th of November! While, V for Vendetta; V also stands out for victorious! What a great watch!

Rating: 9/10 (5 November 2015)

People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people. Indeed, V for Vendetta directed by James McTeigue kinda shows that. Based on the comic book by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. This controversy movie tells the story of shadowy freedom fighter, only known by the alias of "V" (Hugo Weaving) trying to commit terrorist attacks against the fascist government of Britain with the help of an young woman, named Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman). Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, I love the obvious symbolism, in which; this movie is trying to say. Indeed, the idea of self-expression is hard to kill. This is a physical representation of one of V's guiding principles. While, Hugo Weaving is indeed playing as 'V', you never once, see his face, just his voice. This is very important for the film to do, because the purpose of the mask was for it, to be the symbol of opposition and revolt against the ruling class. I think, this idea somewhat works. Even though that was never Moore's intent, to have Guy Fawkes masks, feature in the comics. The mask model after Guy Fawkes, a 17th century man known for attempting to blow up the British Parliament, has become, so much more, outside from the media, in which it came from. It became the symbol of free-will. The mask has become so popular, that it also began to represent the new world of 21th century social activism. Like V in the film, Guy Fawkes, seem like a folk-tale hero to uninformed. However, in reality, both characters 'heroic' status is highly dubious. First off, I wouldn't call, the real-life, Guy Fawkes, a hero. After all, the Gunpowder Plot wasn't really to strike a blow for freedom, they simply wanted to replace the Protestant king with a Catholic one. Further, more, they packed in so much gunpowder that hundreds, possibly thousands of innocent civilians would have been killed. So thank goodness that it failed. Lastly, Guy Fawkes wasn't even a core member of the conspiracy, but a minor mercenary, who didn't do a good job, hiding the gunpower. To most historian, he was more idiotic, than a genius. Anyways, the reason why the British celebrate, Guy Fawkes Night, isn't because how heroic, he was. The true reason, they celebrate it, is because he fail, allowing Protestant to continue to rule the masses, there. By modern standards, both V & Guy Fawkes are depraved terrorists, nothing less. So for the film to present V as more of a good guy and fascism leader, Adam Sulter (John Hurt) as 100% evil. It resulted in a more black and white viewpoint than the more complex side from the comic book, in which you don't know, for sure, who is the good guys. While, Norsefire in the comics, were still a repressive dictatorship. At least, the characters within it, was a little more complex, than the disappointing clear-cut villains, we have here. In many ways, I wish the movie was like, the comic, with its biblical theme. The villain, Adam Susan AKA Sulter, in the comics, represented how society need to stick to its notion of purity. His solipsist belief that he control fate, is similar to that of Adam from Genesis. He genuinely believes that self-choice is dangerous & that V represented the devil. The choice to not obey, but live life as your own. Evey represented Eve, the woman who is tempted to exposed, the unfair judgements and discriminatory racial and sexual stereotypes in which, the power, make be, has on people. It's no wonder, why V target the three symbols of authority: the government, the church and education institution. It makes more sense. I like the complexity that the comic, had. You truly, don't know, if V was the good guy, bad guy or just mad. It's so unlike the movie, that makes you really want to cheer for anarchists, even after the sick psychological and physical torturing, they do, against each other. I love, how V in the comics, has more moral ambiguity. Still, I can understand, why the film wanted to make V, more sympathetic than its comic book version. After all, we have to agree for the cause, in which, he fighting for, or we wouldn't have a movie. Weaving does a likable job, here. His charisma shows through his speech patterns, his philosophy, his dry sense of humor, and his flair for dramatics. All these qualities make V, watchable. One thing, that I thought, the movie does better, than the comic, was not to make him, seem like a superhero with peak-human abilities. The movie stay away from the superman drugs. No mention of LSD or Batch 5 really help the script. That's one thing, I didn't like, from the comic. However, the Matrix-like action scenes and slow-motion domino scenes, were a bit over-the top, pretentious fillers. One thing, that I felt the movie does really well, is show, the duality between V and Evey. V was created by fire, signifying destruction. While, there is Evey who is reborn by water, signifying creation. It shows that Anarchy wear two faces- both creator and destroyer. I have to say, Natalie Portman was outstanding in her role. I didn't mind, the little changes, they did, for the character. Still, V for Vendetta was a bit heavy-handed, when it comes to Evey's transformation from simpleton to cult leader. It's seem like an easy choice for her, here, than in the comics. Overall: In my opinion, the original comic will always be better, because it was influenced by Alan Moore's fears of Thatcherite Britain becoming a repressive dictatorship. While, the film version owes more to critics of the second Bush administration and its clear filmic references to human rights abuses by the US, emphasis on terrorism and Islamophobia. Still, whatever, version, you get into. Both serve, its purpose: being thought-provoking. It's a must-have.