Monday, April 17, 2006

Ideas Are Bulletproof

It is usually a compliment to say that something has left you speechless, but it is much less than a compliment for someone who says so about "V For Vendetta". Indeed, the movie's purpose is, more than anything else, to encourage you to speak, no matter what it is you have to say.
In a future Britain, this isn't possible; speaking against the government may get you killed. In a society nurtured with fear and lies, the masked hero simply known as V will try to change the world. The parallels with George Orwell's "1984" are obvious, especially when the Chancellor is played by John Hurt who was the lead in the film with the same name. Even though V is pursuing a very personal vendetta, the "hero" title could not suit him more. Everyone who tries to better society at personal cost should bear it. V may be violent but he is also noble. His portrayal by Hugo Weaving is more reminiscent of the elven authority of Elrond (The Lord Of The Rings) than the cold and self-centered artificial intelligence of Agent Smith (The Matrix). Weaving's performance makes V's mask come alive; you almost see the expressions on it. It'd be no wonder if the terrorist label put on the romantic and brave bringer of justice confused some people. But does this really suggest a thin line between terrorism and justice or that our definitions are in serious need of reevaluation? A most important and timely question out of the many raised in the movie.
Evey, played by Natalie Portman, represents the crowd, society, everyone. She must overcome her fears and this cannot happen before she realizes that what she believes in is worth more than her life. V uses deception to achieve this but he claims the freedom of the artist who uses lies to tell the truth. Like Evey, society must overcome its fear and change. There will always be short-sighted people who will think that this movie glorifies terrorism, but how can V's masterplan to remove society's fear be called terrorism when it is the exact opposite? Taking a building to give hope seems like a fair exchange but V, in a beautiful symbolism, leaves the decision to Evey.
There are many more things to be said but I would only like to ask a few questions as food for thought. Is reality at all similar with the movie's universe? If it is, and the authorities perceive its messages as harmless when they are not, what are the mechanisms that render them so? If it's not, why would western democracy's apparent success inspire such a story?
I should note here, as closing line, that the inspiration belongs to Alan Moore and his comic with the same name. I haven't but I plan on reading it soon.

4 comments:

Karen said...

I bought the comics immediately after seeing the film. I highly recommend them. Then I went and saw the movie again after reading them.

Aurelius said...

That movie also amazed me. We had throngs of strangers standing around outside of the suburban multi-plex talking about politics and Bush, amazing to see in the land of the bland.

Groovy blog,

Anonymous said...

I agree with you, this is a seriously good movie. It's ideas are great and it personally made me slow down for a moment and just think about where the world is going.

Media-storage Wholesale said...

I totally agree with you! It is a movie which left me speechless. I wondered, at the end of the movie, if the producers want to brainwash us to stand up againts Bush or realised that there is just NO WAY OUT of our government systems (wherever we are) unless you are Superman or willing to sacrifice your life for your beliefs.
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