Allan Watched "V for Vendetta"
A feast for the eyes and ears, V for Vendetta is one of the most unique movies of the early 2000s, and its evisceration of power and corruption still lands true in 2018.
Gut Feeling
There is something very commanding about “V for Vendetta.” It is a film that is hard to not sink in to, and peeling yourself away from it for even a moment is hard to do. The only thing that left me disappointed after watching it for the first time in probably 10 years was the punch it lacks when giving you plot payoffs. Even with the “less showing, more telling” approach, V for Vendetta is one of the most enjoyable movies from the millennium’s first decade.
Hugo and Natalie vs. The World
I could listen to Hugo Weaving (Lord of the Rings trilogy, Captain America: The First Avenger) talk as V for hours and hours. The way you can feel what V has to say without ever seeing an expression on his face is one of the most underrated achievements in film of the last few decades. Pair that with Natalie Portman’s brilliant performance, and V for Vendetta survives its storytelling shortcomings as this powerful duo drives us from one November 5th to the next.
Stephen Rea (The Crying Game) gives the best performance of any of the government characters, as he successfully plays the OK guy working for the bad people who is just trying to do what is right. John Hurt (The guy who makes wands in those wizard movies) plays a pretty great fascist dictator, even as one-dimensional as the role is. Overall, the bad guys are bad, the good guys are good, yet complicated, and the cast pulls it all off nicely.
Not Quite The Matrix
The Wachowskis (The Matrix franchise) deliver a very good adaption of the comic V for Vendetta with this script, but you can’t help but feel like there are missed opportunities in some of the bigger reveals in the movie. Plus, once these revelations occur, one of the characters always seems to very cleanly summarizes in a few sentences what just happened and what it means. The most jarring one is when Evey is let out of capture for the most jarring twist of the movie, only to be told exactly why and what the moments that happened when she was captured meant with no room for imagination or self discovery. We are told a lot, and not shown as much I’d I would have liked.
The film itself is beautiful, captured by legendary cinematographer Adrian Biddle (Aliens, Thelma & Louise) at the direction of frequent Wachowski sisters collaborator James McTeigue in his directorial debut. The dystopian feel is great, as we embark on a story full of grey and classic 1984-type shots of large militias ran by an evil government. The combat is particularly successful, with an artistic flair to every drop of blood that flies across the scene.
Solid Score
The score is super dope, and the use of Tchaikovsky is super brilliant, obvs.
Random Thoughts
Natalie Portman’s accent is rather weak, but we forgive her.
This movie has to win for having the best enunciation and diction of any movie ever.
How does V eat? We see him cooking, wearing an apron, meaning he has cooked before and therefor does eat. But with Evey there all that time, he would have revealed himself taking a big ol’ bite out of fish and chips or eggs in a basket, right?
I think we should outlaw all scenes in all movies and TV shows that are of people in a cell being shown moving around corner-to-corner over time when in captivity. It always looks the same. We get it. Let’s just all assume that if someone is in a cell of some kind, they did move all over the place and eventually lay in the fetal position in the center of said cell, with all hope most likely lost. I just saved everyone many minutes of their lives.
I did have some similar feelings watching this as to when I watched The Handmaid’s Tale recently. That feeling of this being just a teeeeennnyyy tiny bit to real considering our current world that we live in.
I will forever call “eggs in a basket” “eggy in a basket.”
Quick Hits:
How many times have I seen this movie?
Several times, but this was the first time beginning to end in probably a decade.
Where was I watching it?
In my office while doing work things and watching football.
Did Kellye Watch it? If Yes, did she like it? If no, would she like it?
Kellye was not watching it with me, but she does love it and was the one who reminded me November 5th was coming. Good looks Kellye.
Favorite fact I learned from Wikipedia
British conservatives did not like this movie. Which is shocking.
Favorite part
Eggy in a basket.
Least favorite part
When Natalie Portman literally says “So that’s why you did all of this.”
Would I recommend this movie and why?
Duhhhhhhh.
So What Does Allan Give It?
One gold thumbs up! Overall, an 84. I really like it, but can’t help but feel it could have been even better. Now enjoy the most visually pleasing GIF ever.
