Remember, remember the Fifth of November
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot
I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot
“V for Vendetta” follows the theme of many infamous books such as “1984” and “Brave New World” as it paints the picture of the not-so-distant future that has been broken apart by war, corrupt politics and newfound epidemics. As the citizens are thrust into a period of darkness and despair, a voice comes forth from behind a Guy Fawkes mask with a Shakespearean flourish in the form of the “terrorist” V, who plans the downfall of his people’s oppression by whatever means necessary.
There are few movies I have seen lately that have made me feel how it is to be truly pulled into the plight of the characters. “V for Vendetta” was successful in its efforts to make me care about the world of the future and the power of self-reliance and the drive toward purpose. However, it also made me very aware of the power of insanity. I cheered for V because he was the perfect antihero; even as the city burned, we want him to succeed.
My biggest concern upon going to see the movie was that it would play into the horrible rendering that Alan Moore’s other infamous comic series, “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,” underwent. After hearing about Moore’s less-than-happy remarks regarding the movie adaptation of his story – ones that led him to break ties with DC entirely after he found that they misquoted his opinions – I was worried. After seeing the last “Matrix” movie, I was even more worried.
However, the movie was the likes of which I would not have expected. Just as the graphic novel crafted themes of classical romance, dark comedy and vicious social commentary, the movie did the same. The major characters grow and change as we watch them understand one another, mature with each others’ help and reach mutual understandings of similar pain and individuality angst.
It is the singular character V that makes the story. His lines and antics are exaggeratedly dramatic, and his tendency to quote such authors as Shakespeare and Goethe makes him eccentric to say the least. His ever-smiling mask compliments his debonair cool. Hugo Weaving – though never seen in the movie – brings V to life in such a way that in one moment, blowing up buildings is absolutely giddily humorous and the in the next, we are brought to tears with his stories.
The relationship between V and Evey, a young girl of tragedy whom V saves from certain peril, is one that thoroughly blossoms in both mediums. Though Natalie Portman portrays a much older, more buxom version of the tender 16-year-old in the graphic novel, her performance is stellar. Her mental and physical abuse makes her changes broken in and painful to watch, and we understand the path she moves down in a way that is barely overnight. There is no real inference toward a father-daughter relationship, as there was in the start of the series; rather, it is fear and respect that give way to intimacy.
One aspect of the movie that made me grimace was the obvious American sentiment. The graphic novels barely mention America; if anything, it is simply a side issue. In the movie, there is some sort of theme that America is to blame for the downfall of Britain by the spread of their wars. Do moviemakers believe that it will not matter to Americans if the plight is not particularly pertinent to them? Is warfare less of an impact if it does not involve the American people directly? Or is this simply another poor ploy against the Bush administration?
Overall, I was extremely happy with the “V for Vendetta” adaptation. Though the events of the book are much more disjointed in the movie, the feel of it and the impressions one leaves with are the same. We want the conviction of V, Evey’s metamorphosis and we want to be the people who are there when the world changes. But does that just mean that we all have a little insanity inside? Whilst we ponder such questions, we can rest assured that the movie is definitely worth the watching.