V for Vendetta Impressions

[XuL]

Spoiler Free:

I just returned from a 10pm screening of VfV and I recommend it. It was longer than I expected clocking in at over two hours, but at no point in the theatre was I wrist watching, so that's good. Hugo Weaving did an effective job as V, more so than you would think seeing you can't see his face. Portman I don't care for but she did a good job as well, even though her accent was all over the map.

I want to stress there is little action though, I know there were some people in the crowd that almost seemed restless when they realized a drama was unfolding. The little action that is in the picture is well done - a bit too bullet time for me, but well done.

The most appealing part of it was there was always something interesting going on, even if you may not agree with everything that is unfolding, or ideas in the film, it is still intriguing to watch.

Stuff I found bizarre:

I never felt like I was watching a story unfold in London. Yes, it was the future, but I still didn't think I was in London, or anywhere in Great Britain.

V used some sorta cement gun? I don't know, I'm asking you.

Difference between graphic novel and movie:

The theme is there, but it is only a fine sketch of Moore's work. Characters weren't nearly as fleshed out and in some cases changed entirely, virtually all subplots are missing, and the narrative isn't nearly as good, but you know, it was still good; I wasn't angry leaving the theatre because I know they can't translate all of the novel onto a screen in two hours, and I was happy to see V as a movie anyway, even if all I got was a skeleton of the book. At the least it did a fantastic job bringing V to life.

Pet Peeve: SPOILER






The "army" of masked citizens near the end was crap. I didn't like what it represented. You watch a movie where symbols were literally being blown up, and I dont' think V would want everyone to look like him, it just gave the impression of more mindless followers when you saw all those V's standing there. A poor inclusion by the Wachoski brothers.

[EightMilesHigh]

I liked it....sure, it wasn't 100% perfect, but it was enjoyable enough for me.

[Banshee]

I thought the film was quite good. The part at the end was good, with the knives, but other than that i think it needed a bit more action to keep me amused.
Still a good film tho.

[team_racket]

i thouroughly enjoyed watching this. sure it wasnt like the book, but if the book was fleshed out onto the big screen, then for many it would have been a difficult to watch complicated piece of film. all in all i think they got the film just about right for the average film watcher. the book is amazing and cant be beaten, but the film for me is a totally different enjoyable experience.

[Ghoul Hunter]

It's my all time favorite movie. I've yet to see anything come close. I prefer it to the GN also.

[Mister_Che]

The "army" of masked citizens near the end was crap. I didn't like what it represented. You watch a movie where symbols were literally being blown up, and I dont' think V would want everyone to look like him, it just gave the impression of more mindless followers when you saw all those V's standing there. A poor inclusion by the Wachoski brothers.

Though I thought the scene was ok, I still prefer the original ending, which I think leads up to very important future events.

And yes, that was a cement gun, it went a little too fast so most people didn't even notice.

Fantastic movie, awesome dialogue. Though I was a bit peeved at how much was changed (you do actually see V's face in the book) it still stands as one of my absolute favorite movies.

[RudeBoyStompin]

I prefer it to the GN also.

Blasphemy!

[djs]

Cement gun? I don't seem to remember that...

You could definately tell it was a Wachowski Brothers film...when he walked into the studio with the TNT or whatever, then opened up his coat, exactly like Neo did in the Matrix and the security guard was like 'wtf?'. Also, when he fought a couple of the security guards/police, there were alot of things that were similar to the Trinity fight scene at the beginning of the Matrix.

Not sure if I got the domino scene, except the bit of symbolism maybe.

Overall, it was really good, except alot was predictable. One thing I didnt get was how the little girl with big glasses somehow came back to life after being shot...maybe she just didn't die, but she showed up at the end.

[Ghoul Hunter]

Overall, it was really good, except alot was predictable. One thing I didnt get was how the little girl with big glasses somehow came back to life after being shot...maybe she just didn't die, but she showed up at the end.
It was symbolism
Blasphemy!
More like opinion.

[Eccles]

Good points: finch was awesome. a really great job by Stephen Rea. his own mood throughout the movie symbolised the shift in public opinion perfectly. in fact, that was probably the only really effective piece of symbolism in the whole movie. also, the "evey is captured" section was pretty great. i liked the flashback of valerie's life.

Bad points: bullet-time fight scene. needless straying from the GN where it probably would have been better and easier to stay with it. natalie portman's accent. how ****ing GAY V was. how they made it look like he was burned to a crisp before he became "Darth V". the v-speech at the start. how sutler was killed. how they changed his name to sutler in the first place. the "symbolism" of having dead people in the middle of the crowd. yes, i know that they were matching it up to evey saying that V is part of all of us. no, i didn't need a visual representation of what she was saying, thanks.

[Eccles]

Good points: finch was awesome. a really great job by Stephen Rea. his own mood throughout the movie symbolised the shift in public opinion perfectly. in fact, that was probably the only really effective piece of symbolism in the whole movie. also, the "evey is captured" section was pretty great. i liked the flashback of valerie's life.

Bad points: bullet-time fight scene. needless straying from the GN where it probably would have been better and easier to stay with it. natalie portman's accent. how ****ing GAY V was. how they made it look like he was burned to a crisp before he became "Darth V". the v-speech at the start. how sutler was killed. how they changed his name to sutler in the first place. the "symbolism" of having dead people in the middle of the crowd. yes, i know that they were matching it up to evey saying that V is part of all of us. no, i didn't need a visual representation of what she was saying, thanks.more bad points: the love interest. really. ugh. a bald natalie portman kissing a guy fawkes mask could actually be the makings of the worst romance in cinema history. the omission of the torture/insanity of prothero. i loved that in the GN and i was looking forward to it.

[MAthiAS]

Good points: finch was awesome. a really great job by Stephen Rea. his own mood throughout the movie symbolised the shift in public opinion perfectly. in fact, that was probably the only really effective piece of symbolism in the whole movie. also, the "evey is captured" section was pretty great. i liked the flashback of valerie's life.

Bad points: bullet-time fight scene. needless straying from the GN where it probably would have been better and easier to stay with it. natalie portman's accent. how ****ing GAY V was. how they made it look like he was burned to a crisp before he became "Darth V". the v-speech at the start. how sutler was killed. how they changed his name to sutler in the first place. the "symbolism" of having dead people in the middle of the crowd. yes, i know that they were matching it up to evey saying that V is part of all of us. no, i didn't need a visual representation of what she was saying, thanks.
Lol, I pretty much agree here. Basically I loved the movie, and it was good, but it could've been great. I haven't read the GN though. Seemed like Natalie Portman didn't do anything the whole time unfortunately... This movie basically seemed like a combination of The Matrix, Batman Begins, and Phantom of the Opera.

[RudeBoyStompin]

Bad points: bullet-time fight scene. needless straying from the GN where it probably would have been better and easier to stay with it. natalie portman's accent. how ****ing GAY V was. how they made it look like he was burned to a crisp before he became "Darth V". the v-speech at the start. how sutler was killed. how they changed his name to sutler in the first place. the "symbolism" of having dead people in the middle of the crowd. yes, i know that they were matching it up to evey saying that V is part of all of us. no, i didn't need a visual representation of what she was saying, thanks.

I agree for the most part. I think the way Susan (Sutler) was killed in the book had to do with one of the subplots which didn't make it into the movie, right? Probably why they changed that. I'll have to read it again though. I especially agree with the last thing you said. I hated the way they spoonfed you all of the themes and ideas presented by the movie. I guess they were expecting a very stupid audience.

That said, I very much liked this movie.

[MAthiAS]

Oh yeah, anyone else think the music for the credits wasn't fitting at all?

[unComfortablyNumb]

I thought the movie was very good. However I didn't like V's excessive use of alliteration in the opening sequence, it was just unnecessary.

[Werny]

It looks like a complete rip-off of Equilibrium (the stories are too similar for this to be coincidental). But it's the Wachowski Brothers so I guess it'll be worth my time.

[Ghoul Hunter]

It looks like a complete rip-off of Equilibrium (the stories are too similar for this to be coincidental). But it's the Wachowski Brothers so I guess it'll be worth my time.
Equilibrium could only be a rip off of this. Don't forget that V for Vendetta was a book first.

[Eccles]

I think the way Susan (Sutler) was killed in the book had to do with one of the subplots which didn't make it into the movie, right? Probably why they changed that.Oh that would make sense since they dropped the character of Rose because of time constraints. I would still have left Finch killing V though.

They left FATE out as well. That just made my blood boil. That was the glue that held the story together. It explained how V was able to control events and make everything come together. There is virtually no explanation given for this in the movie, other than his faith in people's predictability.