V for Vendetta
- Thread starter David Jimerson
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John C Lyons
Veteran
Yeah, I couldn't disagree more here. The TRAILERS were pure entertainment (probably because they wanted people to come and see the movie). BUT as for the FILM itself, it had about 5 minutes of your typical action scenes and explosions for its 2+ hour runtime. That to me isn't entertainment alone. Did you see the movie or are you judging it on the ad campaign?versioncity1 said:
I completely agree with SPZ's comments as well...and "an entertaining & thought provoking film that was relevant to the political climate" hits the nail on the head for me here.
Yas Kassana
Well-known member
I think the people who are saying the BTN nothing like fox news, perhaps not, maybe Sky News which is still Rupert Murdochs channel, sorry guys you're fooling yourselves - BTN is a representation of Fox News/Sky News. Do you guys really believe that you get fair and balanced and independent POVs?? My belief if that V for vendetta was an promoted as an action movie disguised as a political commentary. Sorry if i am getting angry, but this something i feel very strongly about, we are being controlled and manipulated by our govts through fear and false flags. Before this turns into a political debate(or if you want a political debate join me in http://www.rys2sense.com/anti-neocons/ )But not here. This is all about my love of movies.
Never seen SKy News, so I dunno. I do know that you don't get a "fair and balanced" indpendent POV from any news source, except possibly C-SPAN, which just lets cameras roll with no commentary or editing.
Fox News behaves no differently from the other cable news networks, except that its bias leans to the right instead of to the left. When the tables turn and the left is again in power, the other networks will be quite glowing of the government., as they were with the previous administration.
Perhaps 15 years from now, someone not born today will be watching the movie and thinking "That BTN is CNN!"
But he would be as wrong. Until the government itself starts a monopolistic propaganda network, there is no BTN.
And let's leave it that,now that the various views have been aired, because this is getting close to crossing the line, politically.
Fox News behaves no differently from the other cable news networks, except that its bias leans to the right instead of to the left. When the tables turn and the left is again in power, the other networks will be quite glowing of the government., as they were with the previous administration.
Perhaps 15 years from now, someone not born today will be watching the movie and thinking "That BTN is CNN!"
But he would be as wrong. Until the government itself starts a monopolistic propaganda network, there is no BTN.
And let's leave it that,now that the various views have been aired, because this is getting close to crossing the line, politically.
John C Lyons
Veteran
It's about time! I thought the thread for this movie would have been closed down on day one. :cheesy:David Jimerson said:
As for the movie itself, the more I've thought about, the more I just don't buy the ending, and not because it's completely different from the book.
The England portrayed in the movie was totalitarian, but the people didn't seem to be terribly unhappy. They lived in material comfort, had jobs, hung out at the pubs, etc.. Then, V, after blowing up a couple of buildings, appearing on TV once, and doing a few other things the public probably never even found about about, sends everyone Guy Fawkes masks.
Then, at the end, the entire population of London (or so it seemed) donned the masks and stormed Trafalgar Square, overnight revolutionaries, all.
I just didn't buy it. There wasn't enough there to sell it.
The England portrayed in the movie was totalitarian, but the people didn't seem to be terribly unhappy. They lived in material comfort, had jobs, hung out at the pubs, etc.. Then, V, after blowing up a couple of buildings, appearing on TV once, and doing a few other things the public probably never even found about about, sends everyone Guy Fawkes masks.
Then, at the end, the entire population of London (or so it seemed) donned the masks and stormed Trafalgar Square, overnight revolutionaries, all.
I just didn't buy it. There wasn't enough there to sell it.
No, I say that as a viewer of a movie watching a story unfold and seeing characters react to what happens in the story. And what I saw V do in the public eye wasn't believable as a call for hundreds of thousands to revolt if they hadn't thought of it before . . . and I think all the scenes showing people "fat and happy" (read: complacent) were meant to establish that they hadn't thought of it before.
Mark Harris
Pain in the ass
I agree with you about the ending, David Jimerson.
I've been in a couple of discussions about this on a couple of sites, so I decided to just write a blog post about it on my site:
http://www.desperatecomfort.com/marksnewblog/?p=65
I've been in a couple of discussions about this on a couple of sites, so I decided to just write a blog post about it on my site:
http://www.desperatecomfort.com/marksnewblog/?p=65
seejay1031
Well-known member
About the ending... did anyone else feel that when they removed their masks that something else entirely was going on? I'm pretty sure that there was no non-whites up until that part, also the little girl who was shot... wasn't she in that scene? So what is this saying? That the victims are there in spirit with the people of london as they rise up? I don't know just throwing it out there.
Also, David J, just cause the folks were "fat and happy" didn't mean they hadn't thought of revolution but rather were too fearful of the consequences. Anyone who spoke up was dissappeared. The fear of losing there matierial possesions compliements the fear of death. They fear losing there happy little life, they fear being disappeared. The symbol of V allowed them to rise up without fear of being individually plucked out of the masses.
Also, David J, just cause the folks were "fat and happy" didn't mean they hadn't thought of revolution but rather were too fearful of the consequences. Anyone who spoke up was dissappeared. The fear of losing there matierial possesions compliements the fear of death. They fear losing there happy little life, they fear being disappeared. The symbol of V allowed them to rise up without fear of being individually plucked out of the masses.
this movie
was awful
So bad in fact, that i walked out. The second "V" made that speech where he started every word with the letter 'v' I knew I was going to hate it. I knew this wasn't my kind of movie. I didn't hear that character anymore. I heard the Wachowskis jacking off and writing more of their pseudo-intellectual nonsense about what they think the world is about. Uh, didn't you bore us to death enough in Reloaded and Revolutions? Haven't you already met your career allotment of characters spewing out two plus pages of boring monologue? And with the same actor no less? Anyway, I'm sure someone will say this was in the book. But the Wachowski's still brought it to us. Which means they're responsible for trying to bore us one way or another.
Oh, and I've hated every single comic book movie ever made. So if you like comic-book movies, disregard this review. Because I don't understand them. And the reason I went to this one was because I thought it was going to be different. But it wasn't. It was worse.
was awful
So bad in fact, that i walked out. The second "V" made that speech where he started every word with the letter 'v' I knew I was going to hate it. I knew this wasn't my kind of movie. I didn't hear that character anymore. I heard the Wachowskis jacking off and writing more of their pseudo-intellectual nonsense about what they think the world is about. Uh, didn't you bore us to death enough in Reloaded and Revolutions? Haven't you already met your career allotment of characters spewing out two plus pages of boring monologue? And with the same actor no less? Anyway, I'm sure someone will say this was in the book. But the Wachowski's still brought it to us. Which means they're responsible for trying to bore us one way or another.
Oh, and I've hated every single comic book movie ever made. So if you like comic-book movies, disregard this review. Because I don't understand them. And the reason I went to this one was because I thought it was going to be different. But it wasn't. It was worse.
DavidBeier
Veteran
I thought it was pretty good but not great.
I'll have to agree with many in that I felt the message was sort of rammed down your throat. I agree with it but it could have been far subtler and more in depth. That, to me at least, would have been much more powerful and more believable (they was it felt in the film was far too cartoony). I know man people will say, "Mass audiences are dumb! If you don't make it really direct and over the top, no one will get it!!!" Perhaps that's true. But I don't believe in making films for the lowest common demominator.
Aside from the polotics, I thought it was pretty good. I thought Weaving was fantastic though Portman struck me as flat and boring (I don't know why people liked her). It was generally well directed though I though the over-slow-moed final action sequence was a bit of a letdown. Still, it was enjoyable.
I'll have to agree with many in that I felt the message was sort of rammed down your throat. I agree with it but it could have been far subtler and more in depth. That, to me at least, would have been much more powerful and more believable (they was it felt in the film was far too cartoony). I know man people will say, "Mass audiences are dumb! If you don't make it really direct and over the top, no one will get it!!!" Perhaps that's true. But I don't believe in making films for the lowest common demominator.
Aside from the polotics, I thought it was pretty good. I thought Weaving was fantastic though Portman struck me as flat and boring (I don't know why people liked her). It was generally well directed though I though the over-slow-moed final action sequence was a bit of a letdown. Still, it was enjoyable.
Thomas J. O'Hara
Senior Citizen
Well, I saw it last night (for free!).
I think when you see a movie for free you end up liking it a lot more since you're not worried about getting your money's worth.
so yeah, I liked it a lot!
it prompted some fun political discussion and conspiracy theories afterwards.
I think when you see a movie for free you end up liking it a lot more since you're not worried about getting your money's worth.
so yeah, I liked it a lot!
it prompted some fun political discussion and conspiracy theories afterwards.
Aaron Marshall
Well-known member
David Jimerson said:
I agree. You put that perfectly.
David Jimerson said:
I strongly disagree. I'm a raging moderate with leanings toward the right if anything. I got the impression the BTN was like Fox News. I'm not the only one. That's the impression it gave many people. An impression is all you need. What does that say about Fox News?
I hate news in general that doesn't just report the news and shut the hell up. I don't want to hear 50 different opinions from Dr. Joe Schmoe and Senator Jackoff McGee. I just want to know what happened and judge for myself.
Bill O'Reilly is so much like that fat guy that fell in the shower it made me laugh. He's so narcissistic and hypocritical. Only his background is working on a tabloid news show called "A Current Affair" where he was a calm and gentle wuss. That's very contrary to his new act.
XCheck
Veteran
Just saw it last weekend. What can I say... There is a lot of symbolism in that film, and while the story is not its strongest point, the symbolism worked. It worked so much in fact that it made my wife cry.
As someone who actually experienced a totalitarian regime (rather than reading about it), I can tell you that most of the film was right on, especially in the subtleties. The scenes of families commenting on the BS broadcast from the telly, just feeling in their guts they are fed BS, but unable to exactly articulate the what and the why... that was really good.
As someone pointed out, the apparent material wealth of the population has little consequence... I generally find that the fatter the bodies, the thinner the minds (which makes it harder to realize when a regime starts being oppressive), but I'd digress. In my opinion, the most important thing about the film is that it makes people think... this thread being proof thereof.
I don't like 'superhero' characters in politically oriented movies. They are unrealistic (fantasy and our own superher fest being something different). But the character of V represents every single of us, and I thought the idea of hiding his true identity behind the mask was a briliant idea, amplified by the masked masses at the end. Loss of identity and individuality are probably the most profound consequences of oppression, and while it may be just a little too obvious, I agree that in today's dumbed-down society, people need a direct message. Still not sure that most will get it, though...
The attempts in this thread to compare US media to BTN... sorry guys. Sure they have their bias, right or left, but it's nothing like the BTN. Pre-1989 CT1 and CT2 (that's Czech Television for you) - yes. CNN, or FOX? Not nearly. Again, you'd have to live it to understand, so I don't blame anyone who doesn't. In fact, BTN in the film pales with reality. I saw a documentary on the days of the (so-called) Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia in 1989, and the way the state TV handled it. It had little commentary, it was all just assembled from actual footage taken, broadcast, cut and re-cut in the days of the revolution. The machinery the secret police had in place to prevent the broadcast of 'undesired developments' was unbelievable. That TV workers were kept in a locked-down facility, guarded by elite forces, with select reporters under house arrest - that did actually happen. It was jaw-dropping even for me, fifteen years after the events actually took place.
I loved the domino effect, both symbolically and cinematically. The domino is how both complacency and revolutions spread. It is the chain reaction in everything around us... and once again, you and I may get it, but does Joe Schmoe get it? It's the people who don't get it that are more important, because they can be more easily used as the blocks in that domino. It's kind of counterintuitive, but it explains (among other things) why totalitarian regimes dispose of the non-conformists with such ease, but value the anonymous domino blocks so much.
Oh, enough of the philosophising... overall, not a GREAT movie, but pretty good for what (I think) it tries to do.
As someone who actually experienced a totalitarian regime (rather than reading about it), I can tell you that most of the film was right on, especially in the subtleties. The scenes of families commenting on the BS broadcast from the telly, just feeling in their guts they are fed BS, but unable to exactly articulate the what and the why... that was really good.
As someone pointed out, the apparent material wealth of the population has little consequence... I generally find that the fatter the bodies, the thinner the minds (which makes it harder to realize when a regime starts being oppressive), but I'd digress. In my opinion, the most important thing about the film is that it makes people think... this thread being proof thereof.
I don't like 'superhero' characters in politically oriented movies. They are unrealistic (fantasy and our own superher fest being something different). But the character of V represents every single of us, and I thought the idea of hiding his true identity behind the mask was a briliant idea, amplified by the masked masses at the end. Loss of identity and individuality are probably the most profound consequences of oppression, and while it may be just a little too obvious, I agree that in today's dumbed-down society, people need a direct message. Still not sure that most will get it, though...
The attempts in this thread to compare US media to BTN... sorry guys. Sure they have their bias, right or left, but it's nothing like the BTN. Pre-1989 CT1 and CT2 (that's Czech Television for you) - yes. CNN, or FOX? Not nearly. Again, you'd have to live it to understand, so I don't blame anyone who doesn't. In fact, BTN in the film pales with reality. I saw a documentary on the days of the (so-called) Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia in 1989, and the way the state TV handled it. It had little commentary, it was all just assembled from actual footage taken, broadcast, cut and re-cut in the days of the revolution. The machinery the secret police had in place to prevent the broadcast of 'undesired developments' was unbelievable. That TV workers were kept in a locked-down facility, guarded by elite forces, with select reporters under house arrest - that did actually happen. It was jaw-dropping even for me, fifteen years after the events actually took place.
I loved the domino effect, both symbolically and cinematically. The domino is how both complacency and revolutions spread. It is the chain reaction in everything around us... and once again, you and I may get it, but does Joe Schmoe get it? It's the people who don't get it that are more important, because they can be more easily used as the blocks in that domino. It's kind of counterintuitive, but it explains (among other things) why totalitarian regimes dispose of the non-conformists with such ease, but value the anonymous domino blocks so much.
Oh, enough of the philosophising... overall, not a GREAT movie, but pretty good for what (I think) it tries to do.
I think you'd really love the book, then, Jerry.
My quibble is that I don't think it's THAT easy -- blow up a couple of buildings, appear on TV, sneak into a couple of houses, appeal to a few egos -- to knock down a stabilized dictatorship.
My quibble is that I don't think it's THAT easy -- blow up a couple of buildings, appear on TV, sneak into a couple of houses, appeal to a few egos -- to knock down a stabilized dictatorship.