V for Vendetta
Seen Sunday, April 16; Loews Boston Common #10
* * * * * (out of 5)
This movie scared the pants off of me. It’s really, really, really, REALLY relevant to today. In a very frightening way. As the final scene of the film played, I was gripping the armrests of my seat, wondering if any real situation could ever force the public’s hand in such a way. Would we, as a people, ever be forced to march against our own government in such a vehemently defiant fashion? Like the current government or not, that’s a terrifying prospect.
Like the current government or not, that’s a terrifying prospect. And yet, let me back up.
This film is fantasy (and thank heavens for that). It’s a futuristic dystopia that bears a more thematic resemblance to 1940s Berlin than it does modern-day London. And boy, does James McTeigue milk that imagery for all it’s worth, as well he should. If we avoid anything else in our volatile global political situation, we need to avoid anything resembling the rebirth of Nazism. McTeigue draws parallels between Adolf Hitler and Adam Sutler (an infuriatingly good John Hurt) as often as he can, with a very effective result. Sutler is the chancellor of the fascist regime that has taken over London, and rules with every suppression technique and brute force method marginally necessary.
Set against him is V (Hugo Weaving), a masked vigilante with a scarring past who is systematically taking down every member of the government who was involved in the incident that left him crippled and scarred. He’s the equivalent of a Zorro character, but without the personal history. His mask is a reference to Guy Fawkes, who unsuccessfully tried to blow up Parliament in 1605 – known as the “Gunpowder Revolution.” V saves Evey (Natalie Portman) from uncertain punishment at the hands of corrupt cops, and develops something of an obsession. Through repeated encounters, and gradually with V’s prodding and guiding, Evey becomes involved in the revolution to unseat the fascist leaders.
Read the rest at HBS!
* * * * * (out of 5)
This movie scared the pants off of me. It’s really, really, really, REALLY relevant to today. In a very frightening way. As the final scene of the film played, I was gripping the armrests of my seat, wondering if any real situation could ever force the public’s hand in such a way. Would we, as a people, ever be forced to march against our own government in such a vehemently defiant fashion? Like the current government or not, that’s a terrifying prospect.
Like the current government or not, that’s a terrifying prospect. And yet, let me back up.
This film is fantasy (and thank heavens for that). It’s a futuristic dystopia that bears a more thematic resemblance to 1940s Berlin than it does modern-day London. And boy, does James McTeigue milk that imagery for all it’s worth, as well he should. If we avoid anything else in our volatile global political situation, we need to avoid anything resembling the rebirth of Nazism. McTeigue draws parallels between Adolf Hitler and Adam Sutler (an infuriatingly good John Hurt) as often as he can, with a very effective result. Sutler is the chancellor of the fascist regime that has taken over London, and rules with every suppression technique and brute force method marginally necessary.
Set against him is V (Hugo Weaving), a masked vigilante with a scarring past who is systematically taking down every member of the government who was involved in the incident that left him crippled and scarred. He’s the equivalent of a Zorro character, but without the personal history. His mask is a reference to Guy Fawkes, who unsuccessfully tried to blow up Parliament in 1605 – known as the “Gunpowder Revolution.” V saves Evey (Natalie Portman) from uncertain punishment at the hands of corrupt cops, and develops something of an obsession. Through repeated encounters, and gradually with V’s prodding and guiding, Evey becomes involved in the revolution to unseat the fascist leaders.
Read the rest at HBS!
posted by Matt S. at
12:45 PM
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