Valuable despite its flaws

Rating: 9/10 (12 August 2006)

In many ways this film tries very hard to give a different perspective and definition on certain things in our current world. Many times it fails to truly give a valuable meaning, but in many ways it succeeds. Obviously this movie is very far-fetched in terms of its realistic content, much akin to Batman or The Crow or any other victim/hero movie. However, its underlying messages and direct comparisons to reality are what it attempts to deliver. Our current world definitions seem to be built around such words as "Terrorist" and "Patriot fighter." It is my firm belief that neither of these words are accurate. Neither word is justified. This movie tries to show exactly why this is, however, I am not sure it succeeds fully. The main character "V" is cast as a criminal vigilante who is a threat to the entire sanctity of a country. His acts of blowing up buildings and killing law enforcement officials seem to warrant this idea. The true reality of this is quite the paradox when we learn of V's past and identify with how the government of this society behaves. The government (much akin to our own) tries very hard to hide important events and actions it takes to keep control and order amongst the people. The cruel reality of this society is that it claims to be sovereign and free, but underneath it is very much the opposite. In our own real-world society here in the United States we our seeing many parallels to what is seen in this film. Our own government uses lies and words such as "Terrorism" to control its populous in to giving up its valuable rights and freedoms to allow itself more control and power to do what is "necessary" to eliminate those that oppose it. Each day we sacrifice our freedoms and our feelings to feel more safe. Why do we do this? It isn't because those that bomb us are hateful evil people...they are often times oppressed or slandered by our own government. We sit here and think of such events as 9/11, and while these events are cruel and unjust to those that have suffered we must realize that no one views themselves as the "bad guy." There are reasons for what happens in life, and while I do not justify 9/11, i also do not see the people we war with as "terrorists." Have you ever thought of the thousands upon thousands of innocent people the U.S. forces have killed? Probably not. Imagine yourself as an innocent man or woman living in a war torn society like Iraq...imagine one day that U.S. warplanes drop bombs on your homes and kill your spouses and children...these are things that happen and have happened before and after 9/11. These thoughts are never claimed because people tend to not see much further than what is beyond their own line of sight. As well we are guilty of being ignorant and remaining so of our own government activities. More laws and acts will come , much like the evil Patriot Act. Our government will continue to use excuses to keep us in the dark and to keep taking our own rights away. As this movie states, but not clearly enough, "People should not be afraid op their government...the government should be afraid of their people." We need to change this country.