Saturday, May 27, 2006

V

Last night I saw "V for Vendetta." I think my biggest reaction right now is saying, "I have to see that again." There was so much in it, and I'm not usually the type to not follow along, but there was a lot that I feel I didn't take in properly. That being said, it was an excellent movie. Perhaps it was a movie for the conspiracy theorist or the radical artist, but I suppose I have a little of both swimming around inside me. Artistically speaking, I was dumbstruck. When V first comes on the scene and he speaks to Evie, he speaks in an amazing string of poetry that utilizes a plethora of words with the letter "v". Usually, alliteration is not all that impressive to me, because it tends to be trite or just silly, but this was amazing. I couldn't believe it. After the first few lines, I was impressed, but he kept going, and then he kept going, and I couldn't believe it. I was laughing out loud in amazement. I'm well aware that most of you reading this might be thinking what a nut I am and how such a scene is not really worthy of such rave reviews. But I guess I'm a nut, and I love poetry, plays on words, grandiose language, and a wonderful mixing of Shakespeare thrown in.

For the rest of the movie, what to say... to say the movie had an "agenda" is possibly an understatement. I don't know what everyone has said about this movie. I know there was talk of a homosexual agenda, but I think it was much more than that. I think it was more of a freedom agenda. The facts that the "hero" purported terrorism and violence in the achievement of his aims and that he had his good friend tortured to take away her fear, hopefully makes you think. You want to disregard the whole thing because the man's actions are immoral and subversive, but you can't ignore his message: that people can't just sit back and let their freedom be taken from them in exchange for protection from greater dangers. Similarities to 9/11 and Homeland Security are too clear to ignore, with theories going around about the terrorist attacks being sanctioned by America's own government. Most of the people I know would disregard such notions as erroneous, and I do not adhere to them myself, but I tend to believe that anything is possible. And long before seeing this movie, actually soon after the attacks in 2001, the thing that really scared me was the heavy tightening of security. To me it seemed clear that, if taken to extremes or allowed to go unchecked, such measures could lead to very great loss of freedoms, and no one would complain, because it was for their own protection and everybody knew that.

Anyway, I could go on and on about my thoughts on that, but I won't. The movie was great. It made me think on many levels. Most importantly, I was intrigued with Evie finding herself "without fear." Someone could hold a gun to her head, and because she believed so strongly in what she did and because she knew she was loved and she was not afraid of death, she could defy them, and she did. It reminded me of the Bible verse, "Perfect love drives out all fear." Or the Coldplay song, "I'm gonna buy a gun and start a war, if you can tell me something worth fighting for." I think many people are looking for conviction like that. Does it only come through torture? or misfortune? I don't know. It sparked a lot of thoughts for me, and I hope it might spark conversation.

4 comments:

Anna said...

I really have wanted to see that movie for awhile. I was talking about it earlier and no one wanted to go. If you want to see it again, I'd totally go (is it even still in the theatre?). I bet some other people might want to come too.

m/p said...

i hated the movie. it did nothing for me. but perhaps its worth a second look?

Josh Fuller said...

I agree...best movie I've seen this year by far. I was also reeling in amazement as V delivered his opening speech...Hugo Weaving seems to have such a lust for language as he delivers his lines. By the way, the text is on this page, almost exactly halfway down, if you want it.

I saw the movie with a devout Republican, and he enjoyed it also. I think there are stronger parallels to Nazi Germany than present day America, but liberals like me will definitely see this movie as a commentary on Bush.

Oh, and if you didn't like it the first time, I can't imagine you would the second time.

Jake said...

I can see the parallels with Nazi Germany, too, but the difference there is that Hitler took advantage of an already unstable situation and picked a scapegoat (the Jews). If you're a conspiracy nut, which I'm not really, though I always wonder, then a purposeful attack on the twin towers, making people afraid and allowing for the tightening of security for their own safety, weems to me a much closer tie to the premise of this movie.

But I think I might agree that one might not like it any better a second time, just because it seems to be the type of thing that would appearl to a certain kind of person (ie. a weirdo theater geek like me). But I'd say it's worth another try anyway, just to see.

Josh, it's good to see you following my blog. I miss seeing you and your family at church. Talk to you later.