V FOR VENDETTA
(Image taken from V for Vendetta)
(spoilers included in this review)
I have to admit that this film was on my 'must see' list for a while. Why?
Firstly, it was written by the same guys that did the Matrix, secondly, US mates of mine had been raving about it for months. So, what were they raving about?
Well, the story's about a guy who wears a mask - both literally and figurativly. A guy who holds a personal grudge against his country's government. A guy who has a taste for classical music, black and white films and various other fine arts. A guy who blows up buildings to further his cause. A guy who's an expert with knives. A guy who not only thinks nothing of forcibly disguising innocent bystanders as himself for cannon fodder but also tortures his only ally to make sure that she's "truly free".
This man is a monster. He does not deny it...but he's the good guy in this futuristic adventure.
For his enemy is a serverely warped version of the Tories, headed up by High Chancellor Adam Sutler. Sutler and his party have taken over and subjected the UK using a mixture of religious rhetoric, cultural repression and outright fear. They were responsible for killing 100000 people in attacks attributed to terrorism and imposed curfews ruled by their amoral Fingermen. Their motto is 'England prevails' but it's not an England that I'd want anything to do with.
With both sides playing dirty to some extent, you're unlikely to get your breath back tilll a few minutes after the film. With Hollywood writing and producing what is otherwise essentially an all-UK piece I'd certainly heard of some major cultural cackups but the only one that stood out like a sore thumb was the the existance of British Network Television(which makes no sense whatsoever - what happened to the BBC, ITV etc?).
As for V himself, you're never sure what to think of him by the end. On the one hand, letting Evey decide whether or not to complete his legacy by blowing up the Houses of Parliament says that he recognises that other people would have to live in the new era that he was about to begin. On the other hand you get the feeling that with Sutler and cronies gone - who's going to run the country now after V's demise?
And that's saying nothing about why V felt he had to die rather just try to blend back into the crowd.
The film, like V himself, is one of ideas, though in such combinations that they look pretty murky.
One heck of a blast though.
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