World Famous Comics: V for Vendetta (Full Screen Edition)
V for Vendetta (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt Directed By: James McTeigue Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC Label: Warner Home Video Number of Items: 1 Release Date: August 01, 2006 Running Time: 132 minutes Theatrical Release Date: March 17, 2006
Description: Set against the futuristic landscape of totalitarian Britain, V For Vendetta tells the story of a mild-mannered young woman named Evey (Natalie Portman) who is rescued from a life-and-death situation by a masked man (Hugo Weaving) known only as "V." Incomparably charismatic and ferociously skilled in the art of combat and deception, V ignites a revolution when he urges his fellow citizens to rise up against tyranny and oppression. As Evey uncovers the truth about V's mysterious background, she also discovers the truth about herself - and emerges as his unlikely ally in the culmination of his plan to bring freedom and justice back to a society fraught with cruelty and corruption.
Amazon.com: "Remember, remember the fifth of November," for on this day, in 2020, the minds of the masses shall be set free. So says code-name V (Hugo Weaving), a man on a mission to shake society out of its blank complacent stares in the film V for Vendetta. His tactics, however, are a bit revolutionary, to say the least. The world in which V lives is very similar to Orwell's totalitarian dystopia in 1984: after years of various wars, England is now under "big brother" Chancellor Adam Sutler (played by John Hurt, who played Winston Smith in the movie 1984), whose party uses force and fear to run the nation. After they gained power, minorities and political dissenters were rounded up and removed; artistic and unacceptable religious works were confiscated. Cameras and microphones are littered throughout the land, and the people are perpetually sedated through the governmentally controlled media. Taking inspiration from Guy Fawkes, the 17th century co-conspirator of a failed attempt to blow up Parliament on November 5, 1605, V dons a Fawkes mask and costume and sets off to wake the masses by destroying the symbols of their oppressors, literally and figuratively. At the beginning of his vendetta, V rescues Evey (Natalie Portman) from a group of police officers and has her live with him in his underworld lair. It is through their relationship where we learn how V became V, the extremities of the party's corruption, the problems of an oppressive government, V's revenge plot, and his philosophy on how to induce change.
Based on the popular graphic novel by Alan Moore, V for Vendetta's screenplay was written by the Wachowski brothers (of The Matrix fame) and directed by their protégé, James McTeigue. Controversy and criticism followed the film since its inception, from the hyper-stylized use of anarchistic terrorism to overthrow a corrupt government and the blatant jabs at the current U.S. political arena, to graphic novel fans complaining about the reconstruction of Alan Moore's original vision (Moore himself has dismissed the film). Many are valid critiques and opinions, but there's no hiding the message the film is trying to express: Radical and drastic events often need to occur in order to shake people out of their state of indifference in order to bring about real change. Unfortunately, the movie only offers a means with no ends, and those looking for answers may find the film stylish, but a bit empty. --Rob Bracco
Awesome movie, Awesome format, only place I could find it... great movie, high quality video and audio what's not to like, except for the whole HD-DVD thing not working out. Product runs great on my Xbox 360 HD-DVD player
A FANTATIC PIECE OF ART! A must-buy for those Matrix fans as the idea of the two movies revolve around anti-government and anti fear & emotion slavery, as in the Matrix man is a slave for what he thinks he feels and see, and in V4V people are controlled by fear, religion and media. What makes this movie the 2nd best movie I've ever seen is the fact that it was very very very well done in a very very very smart story that thins adrenaline in everyone that believes what we live now is a hoax made by governments to deceive people and have the ruled the way the government wants.
A MUST BUY (not only watch). You'll be watching it over and over and over again!
Hope people would learn from such movie how to get their freedom, not necessarily by violent but by being free from fears and able to take decisions by themselves and reason, not by fear and illusions.
One of the greatest movies I have ever seen Having not read the graphic novel on which this movie is based, I cannot (and would not) debate the faithfulness of the adaptation or its relative worth. I also cannot divine what the Wachowski brothers' intent or motivations might have been, especially regarding the current political climate. I can only relate what I witnessed and experienced from the film alone as an isolated piece of art, and it was good... profoundly so.
The film does not dabble with subtleties or nuances. The regime in charge of Britain is clearly oppressive. However they came to power and whatever their motivations (and the film ultimately reveals the back story), it is clear that they rejoice in their complete authority and enthusiastically abuse it. The field agents or Fingermen violate the citizenry; the televised face of the nation self-righteously revels in the judgment heaped upon other nations spewing smug vitriol; the religious leaders fulfill their carnal desires; the communications ministry controls all programming twisting the news to its own ends while eavesdropping on the general population; the Chancellor clearly rules through fear and with an iron fist. Dissidents are quickly and quietly disposed of through violent means. Free thought does not exist. This is an archetypal oppressive evil regime.
V is the faceless archetypal hero. Happily he remains faceless for the duration of the movie. His mask is all we see. The lifeless mask allows for his thoughts and ideas to be the focus rather than his individuality. His appeal is not so much for how he handles a fight and a blade, though impressive; his true weapon is speech. Eloquent and literate, he expresses ideas that cut straight to the heart (the people should not fear their government, but the government should fear its people). Suspend belief for a period and watch as he shakes a sleeping nation. He chastises the citizens as the true culprits that have allowed the current state of affairs. Then he provides a means and inspiration to do something about it. We see the cowardly and zombie-like nation slowly awaken and climactically throw off its oppressor.
This is not a "how-to" tool for overthrowing a dictatorship. Nor is it in my opinion a scathing indictment of any administration or specific political landscape in the first decade of the 21st century (though it will make you think about some things). Its power is in the universality of the tale. It resonates because it does not have to be political at all. It is about people and oppression and anyone finally standing up to throw off tyranny in any of its forms by whatever means. Certainly violence works well for a movie and to dramatically represent the point. But do not lock the greater meaning and power of the message into its form. Speaking of its universality, I was very much reminded of the musical Les Miserables (precursor to the French Revolution).
The cinematography is phenomenal with its stark colorization; it is a visually stunning film. The action is entertaining. A more rousing tune than the 1812 Overture cannot be found. The film slows slightly while providing some back story, but it is necessary to fully inform the narrative. From start to finish, it is just a remarkable achievement.
One of the greatest movies ever made! Voila! V for Vendetta is a very powerful film with vile villains and veritable vigilante, and a great script! View it. (And see how many times you see the letter V or number 5.)
V for spectacular Not only is the BD a pleasure to watch, but listen to as well. Deep, vibrant color, crisp picture and solid blacks. Hugo Weaving is mesmerizing, and Natalie Portman will have you convinced she's truly converted by the end of the picture. 5 stars!
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
