Opinions on V for Vendetta?

[d3crypt]

Personally the graphic novel is my favorite comic ever. The Movie is also great. What do you all think?

[Philosophos]

It was a very nice movie. I really liked the actors especially V. Very nice voice and he was feeling 100% sure of what he was talking about.

[Arlekino]

Well call me dump I did not get it this film at all.

[Red Commissar]

I think the comic was interesting. The dialogue wasn't really something you'd get in comics then (even though the 80s had a lot of angsty and "dark" stuff) and the art was very unique though sometimes disorienting with its chiaroscuro, waterpaintish approach. I actually saw the movie first and got around to reading the comic like a few months ago and they are pretty different in approach.

The film seemed to be taking cues from more modern day events and avoided some of the more sensitive parts of the comic. By that I don't only mean the anarchist angle but the characters themselves and their reasons for actions. Without spoiling much, V came off to me as a lot more prickish and nihilistic, but at the same time articulated his thoughts a lot more clearly, especially when talking about his ideas about reaching his ideal "land of do as you please". The comic also takes some time to explore the relationships among the government officials of Norsefire, and even in one case a spouse, and this is particularly interesting has the government comes under more trouble. "Adam Susan" is the leader in the comic, occupying the role Sutler had in the movie, and IMO he comes off as a much more disturbing person in this role, thinking what he is doing is genuinely for the good of society, plus some rather odd personality problems. The ending in the comic is less inspiring than the movie's with the break down of government and the ensuing chaos, but even V acknowledges that his ideal society would only come after the more brutish "land of do as you want".

Movie was a fun watch (though not memorable) but the comic made me think more, if that makes sense.

[connoros]

I didn't like the film so much, but the graphic novel I did like. I'm not an anarchist, but who can help but love a good dose of unmitigated, anti-state rebellion, huh? Even those who try to explore political themes through superheroes can't quite match what was done in V.

[d3crypt]

I think the comic was interesting. The dialogue wasn't really something you'd get in comics then (even though the 80s had a lot of angsty and "dark" stuff) and the art was very unique though sometimes disorienting with its chiaroscuro, waterpaintish approach. I actually saw the movie first and got around to reading the comic like a few months ago and they are pretty different in approach.

The film seemed to be taking cues from more modern day events and avoided some of the more sensitive parts of the comic. By that I don't only mean the anarchist angle but the characters themselves and their reasons for actions. Without spoiling much, V came off to me as a lot more prickish and nihilistic, but at the same time articulated his thoughts a lot more clearly, especially when talking about his ideas about reaching his ideal "land of do as you please". The comic also takes some time to explore the relationships among the government officials of Norsefire, and even in one case a spouse, and this is particularly interesting has the government comes under more trouble. "Adam Susan" is the leader in the comic, occupying the role Sutler had in the movie, and IMO he comes off as a much more disturbing person in this role, thinking what he is doing is genuinely for the good of society, plus some rather odd personality problems. The ending in the comic is less inspiring than the movie's with the break down of government and the ensuing chaos, but even V acknowledges that his ideal society would only come after the more brutish "land of do as you want".

Movie was a fun watch (though not memorable) but the comic made me think more, if that makes sense.

One thing that really disappointed me was when they took out the part were the inspector goes to Larkhill and takes lsd. That part was awesome in the comic.

[Flying Purple People Eater]

Really cheesy, and the main character was a nutjob.

The best part of the movie was when that guy with the mask and gun robbed a store and screamed "ANAAHKY IN THE UK!"

[MEGAMANTROTSKY]

In my opinion, V for Vendetta is a really silly movie. In addition to the main character having slow-motion/precision knife throwing powers, the film glorifies individual terrorism as a social and political end, and the masses are portrayed as mindless sloths; V is the only character that is given any “revolutionary” agency. The dialogue is ham-fisted, clichéd and largely consists of short soundbites detailing generalities about oppression by the government. What’s particularly disgusting is the treatment of Natalie Portman’s character, as V kidnaps and tortures her for seemingly no other reason than to relieve her of the fear she lives with every day, or something. And according to the film, V’s torture was entirely different and more “honorable” than the British government’s use of torture, so it ends up entirely excused. Cool….

Apparently the book is regarded to be far superior to the film, but I haven’t ever read it.

[blake 3:17]

I read the comic when it came out in North America and it was pretty mind blowing.

I love Steven Fry in the film. OMG

[Os Cangaceiros]

My impression (having not read the graphic novel) was that "V" in that work was way more of an anarchist than he was in the film, and not only that, but he was more of an individualist/egoist type, someone who would submit to no authority. So in that sense he was the polar opposite of the totalitarian state he was fighting against...two extremes locked in combat.

That's a much more interesting storyline than the V in the film, who was basically a liberal who wanted to empower the masses through armed resistance, POTD and what have you

[Brandon's Impotent Rage]

I LOVE V for Vendetta, not to mention Alan Moore's work in general. I even have a couple of issues of the magazine Warrior where it was serialized in. I love its story, I love the character, I love its message.

The movie was.....so-so.

(Goddamn but British comics are awesome).

[Gia]

Well, anyone can have their opinions on the movie, more or less positive, but, to tell you the truth, it's one of my absolute favorites! (Just saying, I haven't got the chance to read the graphic novel yet). It's one of the very few movies that, after having watched it for the first time, I replayed it right after. I don't know, I just kind of got to me. Also, the W brothers are also among my favorite script writers ever, so that.
Both Hugo and Natalie brought so much intensity to their characters, and I like how the movie manages to mix togheter action, political standings and even romance in its plotline.
"Behind this mask there is an idea, Mr Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof!"

[Hrafn]

The comic is fantastic. And I do like the movie, even if it is diluted and changed to the worse a lot.

[DasFapital]

Probably rounds out my top 3, along with 28 Days Later and Children of Men

[CharisaAce]

I watched the movie a few years age and liked it.

[the debater]

I saw it as part of a film study group, and I have to admit it was entertaining. Of course, the plot may have been "corny" at times, but nevertheless still entertaining and exciting. I can see the potential for generating critical discussions this movie has.

[Tolstoy]

I think the graphic novel is pretty good, that Watchmen is definitely Alan Moore at his best.

As for the movie, it was visually stunning and quite enjoyable. However, it seemed like they deemphasized V's anarchism and made the story into a liberal's wet dream.

Call me one sick, evil bastard but Creedy was my favorite character

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

I really liked the graphic novel - mixed feelings on the movie.
I thought the revised ending in the film was too warm-fuzzy-liberal-democratic populist-this-could-be-the-Eastern-European-colour-revolutions, and a real step in the wrong direction from the book. On the other hand, points for a Hollywood movie that celebrates anarchist cop killing.

[IBleedRed]

Okay film.

I will say, though, that it's absolutely hilarious when lolbertarians and "anarcho-capitalists" laud V for Vendetta :laugh:

[motion denied]

Bomb the Parliament, kill the politicians and then... Well?

Pretty meh.

[AntiFascism]

I've never read the comic novel so will only comment on the film:

My problem with it was that V's actions were not part of a popular revolution and there was no development of class consciousness, the proletariat played no part in their liberation.

[Remus Bleys]

Stupid movie.

[Slavic]

I liked the move because it had an entertaining plot mind you some of the action was cheesy.

What I didn't care about was what specific ideological tendency V followed and whether or not his actions were in line with the proletariat. I mean holy shit, do you guys really watch movies and only think how the plot corresponds to class struggles.

[Zukunftsmusik]

I've never read the comic novel so will only comment on the film:

My problem with it was that V's actions were not part of a popular revolution and there was no development of class consciousness, the proletariat played no part in their liberation.

lol. As people already have pointed out, there is actually more of a "popular revolution" in the end than in the comic.

I liked the comic, but I found the parts drawn/written as a song, with full note sheet and everything a bit tiring to read and didn't really see how they fit in with the rest of the story, or why it had to be there. Kind of like the pirate story in Watchmen. I like the complexity and layer-upon-layer of stories and characters who ultimately are tied together, but the long sequences of the pirate story is just tedious and didn't really have to be there IMO.

[Remus Bleys]

I liked the move because it had an entertaining plot mind you some of the action was cheesy.

What I didn't care about was what specific ideological tendency V followed and whether or not his actions were in line with the proletariat. I mean holy shit, do you guys really watch movies and only think how the plot corresponds to class struggles.
Of course. Ruling ideas are ruling class ideas etc.

[Fourth Internationalist]

I know absolutely nothing about this movie. I've never heard of it until I saw it mentioned on RevLeft some time ago.

[BIXX]

Honestly the comic sounds more interesting than the movie, but it looks like I'll have to watch it/read it.

Remus: why don't you like it?

[Zukunftsmusik]

Honestly the comic sounds more interesting than the movie

It is.

[Full Metal Bolshevik]

I've seen this movie many times and I always liked it, not a masterpiece, but it's extremely entretaining. Natalie Portman became one of my favourites actress in big part due to this movie (I didn't even know her before, except in Star Wars, now I've seen more).

[La Comédie Noire]

Let's put it this way. My dad really liked the movie, does that make sense? The graphic novel on the other hand was great and the scene where he finds the note from the gay woman makes me tear up every time.

[Rafiq]

It's an immensely reactionary movie. Just like Reds, nothing is worse than how bourgeois ideologues portray revolution.

[BIXX]

I watched it, and I thought as far as movie standards go, it was ok. A little too predictable, but it made up for it in little fun things (particularly certain quotes made the movie for me). However there are certain problems with it, like how the revolution was portrayed, as rafiq said. Overall, fun watch, and certain parts of it were kinda shit, but there were some nice bits.

Prolly a 7.5/10 for me, just cause blowing up government buildings and cool quotes.

[A Psychological Symphony]

Call me a hoodlum youth, but I love rebellion against the state. Whether V had the same political beliefs as me or not was not what decided how much I enjoyed the film; it was fun to watch V fight the state.

Not the greatest movie ever, but entertaining to say the least.

[Full Metal Bolshevik]

^
Agreed.

If I could only enjoy movies that had the same political beliefs as me I wouldn't be able to enjoy much. Heck, I'd hate the Nolan Batman! And they're really good films (A tad overrated still).

[Geiseric]

The evil prime minister was the main character in the film version of 1984, so it's kind of funny to see him be big brother. I enjoyed Hugo weaving at least, he's always awesome.

[DoCt SPARTAN]

I like the basic themes, action, drama, and political motives in both the book and the movie.

Solid movie. 6/10 great novel. 7.5/10

There are some sweet quotes from the movie said by V

[theghostofnestor]

I live this quote/quotes from the novel

"It does not do to rely too much on the silent majorities, for silence is a fragile thing.... One loud noise and its gone

Noise is relative to the silence preceding it. The more absolute the hush the more shocking the thunderclap

Our masters have not heard the people's voice for a generation and its much louder then they care to remember"

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

I think Hunger Games is cooler, shit would make Dahl blush, and I like that more. Vendetta was pretty ok.

[BIXX]

Gonna order the book I think.

Is it worth it?

[The Intransigent Faction]

I've probably seen most of the movie, and it had its moments (plus Natalie Portman, heh). As far as the dialogue, though, the comic was better:



Evey: All this riot and uproar, V... is this Anarchy? Is this the Land of Do-As-You-Please?

V: No. This is only the land of take-what-you-want. Anarchy means "without leaders", not "without order". With anarchy comes an age of ordnung, of true order, which is to say voluntary order... this age of ordung will begin when the mad and incoherent cycle of verwirrung that these bulletins reveal has run its course... This is not anarchy, Eve. This is chaos.

[Future]

The graphic novel is pretty amazing. The movie doesn't do it justice at all in my opinion.

[Brandon's Impotent Rage]

I think Alan Moore himself explains everything wrong with the film better than I ever could:

"[The movie] has been "turned into a Bush (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush)-era parable by people too timid to set a political satire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_satire) in their own country.... It's a thwarted and frustrated and largely impotent American liberal fantasy of someone with American liberal values standing up against a state run by neoconservatives (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoconservative) – which is not what the comic V for Vendetta was about. It was about fascism, it was about anarchy, it was about England."

It completely ignores the fact that V isn't just a run-of-the-mill freedom fighter. Opposing the fascist state isn't his sole goal, he wants to smash the state period...and he's willing to go to lengths that the filmmakers were far too afraid to approach.

[Wonton Carter]

I watched the movie several months ago. I really liked it. Haven't gotten the chance to read the novel, but if its anything like his work with Watchmen, its gonna be amazing.