V for Vendetta

One can safely conclude that V for Vendetta pulls no punches. I didn't quite know what to expect from this movie. The promos looked ridiculous. Probably the most charitable comment that could be ascribed to it.

Please not another swashbuckling, man with a mask, brandishing his silvery sword. Weren't we subjected to enough torture with the Mask of Zorro series?
But then strangely and contrary to initial perceptions, it appeared there was more to this movie than what meets the eye. I'd read from several souces and write-up's as regards to how the controversial storylines was feared to not sit well with the American audiences as well as how the release of the movie had to be pushed back to a later date cos of the London bombings last year and the perceived affect of the movie on British sensitivities.

So all that being said, let's focus and examine what the movie aims to achieve. It's a scathing, full-pronged attack. on a certain superpower nation, and the ways and means of its government, its firm commitment to following a misleading, incendiary agenda, and accordingly using its economic strength and ties to bully other nations, and its own citizens in the process, all in some vain pursuit of justice, following a tragedy of immense proportions, which was, frankly, brought about by a collective, negligent, partisan and ultimately failed foreign policy.

The movie succeeds in pushing this message across with startling effect. In troubled times, it would seem, that the line between an ideal democratic government and a totalitarian government, is drawn too close for comfort, if its citizens are not careful. It would require an act of revolution to reverse and limit the damage caused by such totalitarism. However the movie chooses to remain silent by failing to address the thorny issue as to whether such an act of revolution, as mentioned above should be equated to an act of terrorism?

While such emotionally charged intellectual allegorical arguments would draw fair number of viewers , it could also, equally, be the cause for its disapproval. Afterall the audiences would require a certain mindset to tolerate and appreciate such entertainment(?), and it would be understandable if audiences decide to stay away from what can be easily perceived as liberal left rantings. Also known as the Michael Moore effect. Box-office numbers at the end of the week will provide answers.

There is not much of a plot besides what's already been described, in bits and pieces, above. But briefly, the movie is set in futuristic London, subject to totalitarian rule under Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt) and his special group of enforcers. John Hurt barks and snarls as Chancellor Sutler, the Hitler-like leader of the British regime guilty of imprisoning and killing gays, lesbians, the sick and the weak, and intimidating its other citizens through surveillance, roaming secret police, curfews and manipulating the puppet media to divert attention and provide veracity to half-truths, all in the guise of protecting them from terrorists and bioterrorism.
Enter V (Hugo Weaving) the masked vigilante, who introduces himself to London on Guy Fawkes Day with fireworks and a symbolic bombing, and then hijacks a television broadcast to announce that he will return a year later to destroy the Houses of Parliament. Evey (Natalie Portman), plays a journalist who accidentally becomes a part of V's plans and later his protege'.

Certain portions of the story, understandably is devoted to the back-story of V and his origins and these parts drag the movie down with its predictability. What drives the movie forward is its politically-charged energy which feeds of contemporary relevance, although it's set in England in 2020. The screenplay written by Warchowski brothers (Matrix series) is punctuated by superb dialogue, with its circuitous usage of words, almost lyrical, effectively stringing terse, concise sentences to make way for multi- layered meanings. And all the actors deliver these lines with the right tone of seriousness, wit and foreboding.

Although the promos tried to market V for Vendetta as an action film, viewers expecting a thrill ride,something along the lines of Matrix, might be disappointed. Most of the action set-pieces are rather tame and bollywood-ish.

Natalie Portman, slips in and out of her English accent. Stephen Rea plays Chief Inspector Finch, who in his pursuit of Evey and V, comes to the realization that the government is keeping something horrible under wraps.

Worth a watch.

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