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wusmmik
03-25-2006, 01:33 PM
V For Vendetta Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving wr.The Wachowski Brothers dir. James McTeague

The new film V For Vendetta poses a lot of controversial, many of which I choose not to divulge here so as not to ruin the film. The fact that someone had the temerity to update this Thatcher-era graphic novel today is fascinating.

The novel itself is really just source material for the story of Evie (wonderfully played with vulnerability and conviction by Natalie Portman), a production assistant who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. She is out after curfew and about to be violently assaulted and raped by the government thugs known as the Fingermen, when a vigilante swoops in and saves her.

The movie that follows this setup, takes you places with great dialogue and brilliant visuals. I must keep things brief because the movie really depends on the art of surprise and revelation. But, I will say this...it's a grim Orwellian future, and this film is not for everyone. You really need to pay attention to the dialogue and don't expect an action-based comic book like the Matrix. The real drama is there, it's only adorned with knife-fights and "necessary" violence.

The Wachowski brothers conjure up a pretty good script, they have some great dialogue and great characters, who they put through a lot. While it may stray here and there. The story is always front and centre because of Natalie Portman, her performance is the key to the movie. We see almost everything through her eyes, she's mesmerizing.

The brothers very wisely chose their 1stAD James McTeague to direct this one after the twin debacles of the final installments of The Matrix trilogy.
Unlike the brothers, whose last output looked like their either debated over what to do, or got too caught up in their own visions..McTeague, has a definite visual style of direction and given great actors and good dialogue, he makes the most of it making things visually striking.

V For Vendetta, is not for everyone, it's a little bracing to see totalitarian images and government revolt in the future...and it has a lot Anti-American sentiments to express. But the story is riveting and if you see it on the big screen, you will at least be engrossed by the images.

Buggy
03-25-2006, 02:41 PM
It was pretty good, but the comic was lots better. I feel like much of the complexity of V and the story in general was lost.

wusmmik
03-25-2006, 02:55 PM
That's what I heard too, I never read that one, but "The Watchmen" was fantastic. I understand that because of this film's success, they have already started work on that adaptation.

Lylabean
03-27-2006, 08:01 PM
We haven't seen this yet but friends keep saying to see it because they really liked it. Ofcourse listening to Glenn Beck, callers weren't so thrilled with it so it definitely seems not for everyone.