V for Very Misunderstood

Rating: 10/10 (18 March 2006)

While critics scratch their heads at questions like, "Can a terrorist be a hero?" and "How could one man do everything V does?", they miss the metaphor, and the point, of V for Vendetta.
V at one point in the film says, "...ideas are bulletproof." The idea of this film is that unless the citizens of a country question their government's spin and propaganda, they will succumb to the policies of that government no matter how wrong-minded those policies may be.
I'm sure it's difficult for pigeon-holing critics to accept a Wachowski Brothers script that doesn't revolve around the action sequences, but investigates the castigation of an entire society using engaging dialogue and intense, involving characters. And after the Matrix sequels, this is somewhat understandable. However, V for Vendetta not only surpasses those disastrous sequels, but the original Matrix as well in terms of cohesiveness and depth.
This film must be a nightmare realized on screen for Republicans and conservatives the world over. They would have to label all of the non-government characters as "unpatriotic", and V himself an insane terrorist. They probably don't understand that he represents every free-thinking citizen of the world who is concerned about the actions and policies of his/her government, even though this point is made several times in the film. Further, they probably don't understand that the violent actions of V and his compatriots are symbolic of everything from peaceful protests over the War in Iraq to Senator Russ Feingold's resolution to censure President Bush. On second thought, they probably do see this comparison, and believe these non-violent actions to be just as outrageous as the blowing up of government buildings!
Discussions of governments gone awry aside, V for Vendetta is a rock-solid film that kept me riveted and unblinking for the entire 132 minutes. See it on an IMAX screen if you can!