One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter

Rating: 6/10 (17 March 2006)

I bought a copy of the graphic novel V for Vendetta last August and quickly read through it in about five days. I was left stunned and amazed. And now, almost eight months later after having seen the film adaptation of the book I am still left somewhat stunned and amazed, but also somewhat disappointed. Don't get me wrong V for Vendetta is a pretty good movie; it's smart, thought-provoking, exciting and makes for a great conversation starter. But to me the Wachowski Brothers did tinker quite a bit with the graphic novel, in some ways good, and in some ways very bad. But even with those changes I still rather enjoyed my time at the movies. I just hope those who do go out and see it will leave the theater with the urgent feeling of going out and reading the graphic novel.
First off, before we get into it let me just express my appreciation for the two lead performances from Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving. Both of them turn in great performances that do the source material real justice. Where was this Natalie Portman during the Star Wars movies? And Hugo Weaving had an amazing challenge having to act through a mask the entire film with a fixed facial expression and in the end was able to still create a character that you can at one moment hate, and at another love. The beginning of the film differs from the book, and it was pretty pointless to have changed it, but the film's ending I must say is a real knockout, so much so that I thought for a moment I might actually be blown out of the back wall of the theater and into the parking lot. The screenplay which was written by Andy and Larry Wachowski does drop the ball every now and again. A lot of the graphic novel has been changed, altered, or tossed out. Like I said before some of the changes are good, and others are bad. But the overall essence of the V for Vendetta graphic novel is somehow quite intact, but for those of you reading this who haven't yet seen the film, or read the graphic novel, don't worry I won't spoil anything for you.
The plot sounds very similar to George Orwell's 1984, which even author Alan Moore admits was one of many major influences on V for Vendetta when he wrote it back in the early 80's. In fact that's what helps make V for Vendetta a really great story and ultimately a really good movie; the issues and topics it takes on, and to this day we are still talking about them. V for Vendetta wasn't written two or three years ago, but over twenty years ago, and it still holds up. The story imagines a place where, what if Germany had won WWII, and England became a fascist state; where freedom is a long forgotten thing of the past. And one man, who was horrifically scarred both mentally and psychically by this government, decides to strike back using terrorist tactics trying to start a revolution or uprising, and inspire and lead his fellow countrymen to freedom. He calls himself V, and he wears a Guy Fawkes mask. V saves a young woman named Evey from some nasty Policemen late one night, eventually Evey grows to respect and admire him, and soon becomes his protégé.
V for Vendetta is a dark, intense comic book film more along the lines of Batman Begins. It's a serious film with some serious ideas. Some parts are quite uncomfortable to sit through because it is so contemporary, while others are a fiery blast of adrenaline to the eyes (and the ears). The film does take a few liberties, and takes a few extra jabs at conservatives, who oddly enough weren't actually mentioned by name in the book to begin with. Some people will look at this film as an anti-Bush film; some will just merely say it's an anti-fascism film. Some will say that the character of V is a terrorist, and others will say he's a freedom fighter. Just remember one thing; the guy who's calling V a terrorist is basically a caricature of Adolf Hitler. A terrorist against Hitler, is that really such a bad thing? So I think depending on how you go into this film, and how you look at things will ultimately help determine how much you like, or dislike it. Personally I never saw the character of V as a terrorist, but as a revolutionary. V doesn't quite fit the bill of a terrorist. I mean he never goes out and intends to harm innocent people, in fact the only people that are on his "list" if you want to call it that, are precisely government officials and the ones responsible for turning him into the monster that he is.
The film also touches on a number of hot button issues such as, well terrorism for starters, and the tactics used by terrorists, like suicide bombings. It also makes a statement on the persecution of homosexuals, a Bishop with a pedophile problem and it even manages to show us how the media can, or does manipulate the news; which ultimately affects what we chose to believe or not believe. This is a very risky picture to be sure, and not everyone's gonna like it, that's just the way it is. But when all is said and done, it will leave you with something to think about afterwards. And even though the film may have messed around with the graphic novel a little too much, it's still the same journey, and it still raises a lot of the same questions, and for those reasons alone makes V for Vendetta the first must-see film of 2006.