Music to my ears! Amazing!

Rating: 10/10 (10 April 2006)

Ever since I made the mistake of going to see "The War of the Worlds" because media critics loved it, I make sure I check the IMDb comments section to get the real reviews of a film before I waste my time going to see it. So last week when a friend and I wanted to see a movie, I checked the listings and went straight to IMDb.
The movie that caught my eye was 'V for Vendetta'. All I knew about it was that Natalie Portman shaved her head, which made me instantly skeptical. It didn't help that the first 5 reviews had 10/10 votes and titles like "Spectacular" and "Amazing". I often think studios send their hacks onto this site to put glowing reviews here. The only mistake they make is their reviews sound exactly like the movie trailers and newspaper ads.
So needless to say things were not looking good for this film. But then I kept flipping through the pages and the titles and votes were overwhelmingly the same. I didn't have time to read any of the reviews, so I still knew nothing about the film. Nevertheless, I decided to trust the votes and off we went.
I still almost didn't see this movie because the ticket girl accidentally gave me a pass for "Inside Man", and they wouldn't let me in to "V" without going back to get it fixed. I seriously considered not bothering, but my friend was already in. When I went back I asked the girl if it was her way of telling me I picked the wrong movie, but I'm the one that couldn't have been more wrong for even suggesting it!
I cannot possibly add anything more than the majority of excellent reviews already posted for this film. It was indeed "spectacular" and "amazing". So amazing in fact that I saw it three times last week -- my first screening, once with other friends and then once alone. And although I don't have a DVD "collection", I will be first in line when this one goes on sale.
As some have commented, I just can't get the film out of my head. It's beautiful to watch and extremely well written. It has great acting, a good pace, and it is intelligent.
I will admit that it also fits my politics. However, this is not a factor in my vote. If it were, I'd give this film 100 out of 10 to counter balance all of the Fox News followers out here that blindly gave a 1/10.
* POSSIBLE SPOILERS*
It is funny that some would call a movie about personal and collective freedom "leftist". So allow me to repay the favor in kind and say that oddly enough, the right-wing, Christian fundamentalist reviews and votes only serve to reinforce the message of this film. People should be allowed to judge for themselves rather than be lied to and fed "spin" that serves a manipulative and controlling agenda.
I also find the reviews that suggest the film is over the top and unrealistic rather optimistic. For those who believe that the world depicted in V can't happen, I suggest you watch the 1998 drama "The Siege". If you read the IMDb reviews from the time it came out, you'll see very similar comments that later turned into "Oh my God! Reality was even worse!!"
And the notion that this film endorses or even promotes domestic terrorism is not even worth addressing. Although it was perfectly addressed in one posted comment that asks if we'd have a problem if someone had terrorized Nazi Germany or Al Qaeda? Apparently some would. So I guess if our society ever falls to these lows, the Fox News chant will be: "Incarcérez la résitance!!!!"
All that aside, the reason I was drawn back to see the movie over and over was the feeling it gave me, which lasted long after I left the theatre. I think many of us agree with V when he says that there is indeed something wrong with society. Our fear and apathy are leading us down a road humanity has sadly travelled before. And it is a very expensive toll road, indeed. All it takes is a serious crisis -- real or manufactured -- before you can find yourself taking a ride on the long black train.
But the film leaves us hope that no matter how bad it gets, one day an equal and opposite force will emerge to right the wrongs. Let's hope it is allowed to come in the form of an idea that is bulletproof rather than bullets that kill millions. And hopefully the music starts to play sooner rather than later.
Remember, Remember...
... now the brass... can you hear it?