The story of Guy Fawkes inspired certain aspects of Alan Moore’s 1982 post-nuclear dystopian science fiction graphic novel of a fascist Britain, V for Vendetta (which was adapted into a 2006 film version by the Wachowski brothers and James McTeigue). The story revolves around the main character, V, who in the words of the book’s artist David Lloyd is portrayed as “a resurrected Guy Fawkes.” The mask worn by V is meant to be that of Fawkes.
Wow, what a movie..I remember the trailer for this a long time ago, as it’s initial release date was November 5th 2005 (Guy Fawkes night)..But it got pushed back due to production, released March 17th 2006.
I managed to see it on Sunday night, surprisingly the cinema was quite empty.
It’s flown into IMDB top 250 within it’s opening week, now that IS impressive.
There is the most amazing entry about V at Wikipedia (contains spoilers though).
A truly amazing film, I was half expecting another cheesy comic book action romp from the trailers, that seems to have been the trend lately.
I was thankful however to see that it remained true to the original writings of Alan Moore. It was deep, emotional and thought provoking.
The tale of a masked man fighting for his countries freedom against the totalitarion religious extremests ‘black bagging’ everyone.
There are many things that can be related to recent events, the cinematography is great and the direction (for a novice) incredible. Hugo Weaving masterfully plays the masked enigma, with his strong voice and physically bustling with emotion, even when you can’t see his facial expressions, it truly shows his talent.
Portman also puts in a sterling performance as the female protagonist, getting caught up in the plot of V. She even shaved her head (look out for scenes from Abu Ghraib).
The movie is somewhat dramatic and thus reminscient of Phantom of the Opera (guy in a mask, anti-establishment, lives underground, female interest etc).
The only negative thing I would say is it dragged a little in the middle at times, and the ending.
Yah I know..wow..I actually watched AND reviewed a movie the same month it came out, pretty rare for me 😉
Very very much worth watching, I give it a great 9/10.
Sounds like a cross between 1984 and Pancho Villa, I’ll prolly just get the DVD.
it IS a great movie… but it could have been an AWESOME movie… but oh well, graphic novel was probably a little too comlex to translate fully on screen…
if 9/10 as u reviewed, then its worth watching. Thanx for the tips dude
looking foward for it!
I was NOT going to watch it… but now that you rate it so highly.. ok.. i shall
Hugo Weaving, my favourite “Agent” plays V but didn’t show his face/deformed face. Is his merely providing the voice? Or maybe the stunt as well because he fought good (better than Keanu Reeves) in Matrixes.
Definitely 9/10.
By the way, since we have have a shameful “I Know What You Did Last Raya”… Might as well using the same concept and maybe story line to make a movie say…
P FOR PETROLEUM?
how did u feel watching big ben blown up?
by the way, which version of Monte Cristo was that? anyone knows?
I’ll second that review of yours! V was an absolutely amazing movie – and probably one of the few this year that I’ll be going to see again in the cinema.
This time I’m bring friends – even if it has to be cheap night.
Cheers,
Ted
I loved this movie ! It looked a tad bit cheap when I saw the trailer.
But far from being cheap, it is almost inspiring!
Good action movies, superb acting, great music, and I got new respect for Hugo Weaving acting skills now and even manage to have a lil crush on V. Yeah, I agreed that 9/10 rating is indeed deserving .
tigerjoe: Yeah definately a must see, don’t really need the big screen, but it is nice for some parts.
beefstew: More like C for Cronyism
spiller: Was quite amazing seeing the houses of parliment and Big Ben topple, the UK government actually let them shut out that whole area for filming.
Ted: Yah great film!
Maybe they should also produce Watchmen? I haven’t seen V yet, but from the reviews I read, it seems that Hollywood didn’t f-up this time. XD
Best line from the film: “Behind this mask is a man, and behind this man is an idea. And ideas are bulletproof.”; which of course references the slightly Irish (and by inference, “Fawksish”) meme about ideas being bulletproof.
Best outtake from the film: “[agent Smith monotone] Do you hear that, Mr. Creedy? That is the sound of inevitability – it is the sound of your death. Goodbye, Mr. Creedy…” [the cast cracks up]
I just watched this movie at 1Utama. OMG. I love it love it love it love it!!! Hugo Weaving was just excellent. Haha, i love it when V introduced himself to Portman 😛 Tongue twister more like it.
A must-watch!
excellent movie, just caught it last night.
“Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.”
🙂
watched V for Vendetta recently, loved it. eye-candy effects, amazing how much character they developed into a mask, then again, maybe he was more than a mask…