A flawed translation

Rating: 4/10 (20 March 2006)

V for Vendetta is a challenging, dark, frighting story, especially in this day and age. It asks difficult questions: When is it OK to become a terrorist? Is terrorist always a bad thing? Or can it be used for change? For that matter, is it ever justified? And, like any good story, it doesn't attempt to give you answers.
Now, being a comic book geek, a huge fan of Allan Moore's, and having recently read the comic book, my opinion is skewed, I will admit. I had difficulty removing myself from the context of the comic. But, this does mean that, had I not read the comic, I would have missed the flaws in this film.
V for Vendetta is not a love story, despite what the Matrix brothers would have you believe. Apperiently, they think that an American audience would not take a story about an insane, anarchist, terrorist and watch it. So, they humanized him. In the book, it is V who throws Evey out of the Shadow Gallery, where as in the movie, she betrays him and runs. This serves to depower V. Here he is not the one in power of his interaction with Evey, no, she is in control. Later, as V lays dying on the subway floor, V tells Evey he loves her. By humanizing V, he becomes palatable, human, a good guy. No longer is his ambiguity up in the air. No, he is clearly good, as he loves.
I could go on, but I will not bore you. This film is a disappointment, if because it had flashes of utter brilliance. This could have been a film worth remembering years from now, a film worthy of being stored in a "Shadow Gallery," even. A movie that could incite A debate for years to come. As it stands, it will ruffle a few feathers, get some press, maybe have a senator or two complain, and then drift away, noiselessly. In two years, no one will remember this movie, and it will nary be spoke of. V would be disappointed.