As a big fan of the original graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, I was very nervous about V for Vendetta being turned into a movie. After all, Moore's previous works League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and From Hell were positively butchered in the translation to film, and the odds of V bucking this trend seemed unlikely.
As it turned out, the result wasn't half bad. Sure several characters and events were changed, but I think the Wachowski Brothers did capture a bit of what made the original story so great...
The problem is that the context of the book when I first read it fifteen years ago was very different than now. Back then, the Orwellian world in the story echoed a possible future... today it seems to be a likely future. Because of that, the movie seems like a clumsy attempt at socio-political commentary instead of the elegant revelation it was when Moore wrote it.
In any event, this tale of an oppressed future society and its masked terrorist liberator is still worth a look as a film or, better yet, even more amazing if read from the book as it was originally intended.
Then you can be V too...
...and understand why the ending of the book is SO much cooler than what's in the movie.
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I didn’t know there WAS a graphic novel until after I watched the film. I loved the film, though – actually blogged about it about 30 minutes ago.
I am certainly going to have to check out the novel now.
Thanks for the rec on both counts. I will definitely seek out the book now.
Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes. I almost hate you.
The ending of the book is implied in the movie with the whole “V is you, V is me, he’s this one, that one, etc…” but yeah, the book ending and the book in general is just plain better, though I enjoyed the movie.
Oh, and I absolutely love your V graphic. How friggin’ adorable.
And while I’m here, I totally love your “Dave loves animals” – “Dave eats animals” pro-veg illustrations. Way too funny, yet poignant. Bravo!
I’m always happy for a “recommended reading” suggestion.
Then I’ll be sure to read the book first and wait for the DVD release (since I refuse to step foot into another movie theater again).
Nice toon!
Since the bumper sticker “Can’t Sleep, Clowns will Eat Me” has a very justifiable place in my life, I’m not gonna be able to go see it. The mask is too too for me. No clowns in the book, right?
all i can think is. . . man, natalie portman sure is hottt.
I just enjoyed this film last night actually and all I can say is it was better than expected. It is always a risk to see the films inspired by books but this one was pleasantly surprising. I think it’s exellent the film came out at a time like this. 1984 was somewhat of a warning about what could happen (recently more of what will happen) so is V.
Agreed on the LEAGUE movie… bad. But I actually thought FROM HELL turned out pretty good. It could have been better, but overall, I liked it.
Will have to catch V here soon. It looks good.
I do want to see this. Katie won’t go with me though. Hugo Weaving in the mask reminds her too much of the Carver from Nip/Tuck and that guy freaked her out. Ain’t gonna happen
I saw this movie over the weekend (on an IMAX screen nontheless) and really enjoyed it. I read the graphic novel a year or more ago, so don’t recall all of the story, but thought the movie did it justice.
The funny thing is I just finished reading “Player Piano” by Kurt Vonneguy Jr, which has a very similar theme. Less of the dictatorship idea, and more of the “repression of the people” idea.
Yes, I heard about the political themes in the movie. But I can’t expect more from the Wachowskis. That’s their thing. The effects and action look good though.