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My wife and I saw this today with a couple of our friends and the consensus was 100% favorable! In fact, this is a powerful, moving film with ironic political content that's very close to the graphic novel upon which the screenwriting is based. Within 10 minutes of the film's openning credits I turned to my wife and whispered "it's a DVD" which is my way of indicating that VfV was already worth adding to our DVD collection when it's released on home video later in the year.By the film's conclusion, I was even more convinced. In fact, this film might be fairly regarded as a minor masterpiece; I can hardly wait for it to come out on DVD!
The story's politics and ominous cautionary overtones will probably unsettle the film's critics much more than the razzle-dazzle of V's rote special effects, humble comic origins or even the hit-and-miss track record of the Wachowski's Matrix productions. The allegorical content of the original graphic novel amounts to disturbing predictions about corruption and the abuse of power through maintaining fear, and it appears as prophetic in the near view as Nostradamus's predictions now seem far-sighted.
This IS heady stuff; if Georges Santayana were alive today and reviewing films instead of contributing cautionary philosophy, he'd probably give this film two resounding thumbs up!
The allegorical content is uncanny and unmissable; subtlety was never the intent but the underlying message seems incredibly relevent and topical today. The story is straight-forward, with interesting turns that gradually unravel the mystery of the mask and the goals of the person behind it.
OTOH, it isn't difficult imagining a certain politician and his roving advisor learning their two-steps after reading Alan Moore's graphic novel back in the 80's (or at least looking at the pictures). If that's the case, they took the wrong message from this story or didn't finish it, because grabbing power and maintaining control over mislead citizens does not bode well for a happy ending. Yes, there are spoils aplenty, but no spoilers from me!
One caveat: I was greatly impressed with V for Vendetta, but not everyone will come away from this experience so fondly. M'thinks it's hard-edged allegories will be uncomfortable for some folks (especially Administration supporters) even though the film is a very literal transfer of an 80's era graphic novel that predates current political events. BTW, producer/screenwriter Andy & Larry Wachowski should be commended for not tampering with the original material.
I heartily recommend this film, but suggest that die-hard supporters of the current Administration take along sedatives to screenings. It isn't Fahrenheit 911 by any stratch, but the thought-provoking subtext and disturbing dramatic content just might hit extreme Conservatives at least as hard as the perceived biases taken away from Michael Moore's arguably manipulative documentary footage.
Rating (for those dazzled by the Stars): ****1/2 of ***** (5 star scale)
AuPh
Follow Ups:
Saw it this afternoon with my wife. We both enjoyed it, but thought it was a bit long and meandered a bit too much. The whole digression about the lesbian actress and her lovers seemed irrelevant and could have been cut. Also, there's no attempt to even HINT at what will happen after the movie's events are over. Eliminating one particular group of Bad Guys will not, in itself, produce a humane or just society!OTOH, the production was superb, the acting was good, and the basic message was strong. I particularly liked Stephen Rea's character (Finch) and enjoyed the Benny Hillish skit lampooning Chancellor Sutler.
Definitely worth seeing on the big screen, but not in the top ranks of movie classics.
"Music is the medicine of a troubled mind." -- Walter Haddon, 1567
The fact you mention F-911 makes me grin more because that's exactly what I thought: this could be more powerful than F-911 because more people will see it and transpose current events. I liked the fact that the USA was in a civil war and that we were being punished for being Godless. I would clap for that! 8^)Not to spoil, but I should have recognized V's voice but didn't and felt like a sucker when I saw the credits.
Please no more Portman. She uses the same signature expressions--they will never change, apparently.
My friend, an avid "graphic novel" reader, and a fan of the original book, said they really toned down the storyline for the film. I've yet to see it, but it doesn't sound like it was faithful to the feel of the original story. The novel was gritty and nasty, like Sin City. The film sounds more slick and polished, like, well, the Matrix.
/*Music is subjective. Sound is not.*/
Based upon my recollections, the film is quite faithful to the original source material. The most noticeable change being a slight alteration to the ending Alan Moore's graphic novel, shifting the importance of the mask away from the two central characters, but this was done without compromising key story elements; to say more would be to provide spoilers.AuPh
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