From Deseret News archives:
V for Vendetta
V For Vendetta
Film review
At the risk of pointing out the obvious, "V for Vendetta" is a revolutionary film, a movie project based on a comic-book series that actually features a masked character who isn't so much a hero as an anti-hero.
Then there's the movie's sure-to-be-controversial examinations of anarchy movements and acts of terrorism, which could be misinterpreted as a call to arms against corrupt governments. But moviegoers who look deeper will understand that the film actually argues for the participation of the masses in governing their own countries.
"V for Vendetta" is a thought-provoking, suspenseful thriller set in the near future, as the American empire is in ruins and sees a fascist version of England as the new world leader. That country's citizenry lives in fear, including Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman), a British television intern.
Evey is attacked by a gang of men, but she is subsequently rescued by a masked man (Hugo Weaving) calling himself V and whose mask resembles 17th-century English revolutionary Guy Fawkes.
This adaptation is surprisingly faithful to the source material writer Alan Moore and artist David Lloyd's 10-issue miniseries from the early 1980s (which was eventually compiled into graphic-novel form). Producers/screenwriters the Wachowski brothers have done some updating, changing the date of the piece from 1997 and throwing in allusions to AIDS and viral warfare, as well as a few nods to Alexandre Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo."
First-time director John McTeigue has developed his own style, one that isn't as video game-inspired as that of the Wachowskis. (There's definitely some Terry Gilliam at work here.) He also gets splendid performances from his cast.
It could be argued that this is career-best work from Portman, who adopts a credible English accent. And Weaving is a more than adequate replacement for James Purefoy, who left the film midway through. (Some of Purefoy's physical contributions behind V's mask can still be seen in the film, though all of his dialogue has been replaced by Weaving.)
"V for Vendetta" is rated R for strong scenes of action violence (beatings, shootings, stabbings, explosive mayhem and some violence against women), occasional use of strong sexual profanity and some crude slang terms, some gore, some drug content, a scene of torture and imprisonment and brief glimpses of nude bodies and nude artwork. Running time: 130 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com
Recent comments
This is one of the best propaganda films ever made. A lot of high...
Spence | Aug. 14, 2009 at 5:22 p.m.
Cast: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea
Find a Movie Theater
- Tough road ahead in Senate for bill 11:05 a.m.
- Afghan vows to keep out corruption 10:35 a.m.
- Anti-Taliban mayor killed in Pakistan 10:27 a.m.
- Dalai Lama visits town near Tibet 10:26 a.m.
- Some saw trouble ahead for Hasan 10:21 a.m.
- China pledges funds, aid to Africa 10:20 a.m.
- 40 dead in El Salvador flooding 10:19 a.m.
- Dixie campus briefs 1:10 a.m.
- Westminster campus briefs 1:09 a.m.
- UVU campus briefs 1:07 a.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
207 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - Lobo suspended
173 - House passes health care bill
141 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
138 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - RSL rallies to advance
102 - Thousands protest health bill
100 - Provo company innovating engines
98 - BYU cuts Women's Research Institute
87
The players are ALL soft, the coaches are soft (age does that), The owners...
You are obviously not a Republican. You are suggesting an alternative.
Goodbye to a good man. Amen.
Remember when the Jazz had guys like Mark Eaton, Karl Malone and Antione Carr...
Congratulations on the great win. You played amazing football. Go Cougars!!!...
sounds like sour grapes grand person! I was impressed with your teams...
With Boozer and Krover's contract up, Jazz can package them with AK this...
Reprsentative Matheson doesn't support the health care bill.
I liked the Jazz before O'conner took over as GM. It took him afew years but...
Utah will win, 21-18 Utah will then break into the top-10 after the win....




