Post by Darth Fanboy on Mar 26, 2006 2:15:49 GMT
Praise for “V for Vendetta”
Now, see, that was a good film.
Nay, a great film.
Had all three things a film should have: A convincing setting, a good storyline and explosions. It also had the distinguishing features of good acting, well-executed (read: appropriate and not scene-grabbing) effects, and a social commentary without being preachy.
In particular:
1. They didn’t move it to the US. This is probably over-stating the point on my part, but I’m still hacked off about Constantine. Shifting it to the US would also have made point 2 rather less likely.
2. Political commentary that doesn’t consist of “oh woe is me, Bush and his cronies are evil”, but instead works, and gives more a “beware of what you can become” rather than a “everyone’s mean, it’s not fair” air to it.
3. A near future setting which fells right. Circa 2020 we will probably not have flying cars on auto pilot, but we will have an advancement on the gizmos about the place. Norsefire’s rise to power is believable, as are the actions relating to it.
4. My gosh, Natalie Portman can act! She’s hidden that well. Hugo Weaving manages, somehow, to improve on Smith, Stephen Rea manages to pull off what is essentially a stock character excellently, and John Hurt is entirely convincing as Sutler, pulling off the Big Brother-esque role excellently. Stephen Fry actually got us to pay attention to his character too, rather than just going “Wehey! Stephen Fry! Woo!”
5. The Wachowskis have rather redeemed themselves for their recent poor performances. You know of what I speak.
6. The imagery and symbols are rather nicely done. Whilst the Guy Fawkes thing at the start is, as Patrick pointed out, inaccurate, I still like it. The man is not as important here as the symbol, and symbols are not always symbols of or for what they were originally intended.
7. The temptation to openly slag off today’s politics was resisted, although a few nice sly shots were loosed. I’ll let you spot them for yourselves when you go and see it (which you should), but they’re there, they’re easily visible, and they don’t detract from the plot in any way.
Now, see, that was a good film.
Nay, a great film.
Had all three things a film should have: A convincing setting, a good storyline and explosions. It also had the distinguishing features of good acting, well-executed (read: appropriate and not scene-grabbing) effects, and a social commentary without being preachy.
In particular:
1. They didn’t move it to the US. This is probably over-stating the point on my part, but I’m still hacked off about Constantine. Shifting it to the US would also have made point 2 rather less likely.
2. Political commentary that doesn’t consist of “oh woe is me, Bush and his cronies are evil”, but instead works, and gives more a “beware of what you can become” rather than a “everyone’s mean, it’s not fair” air to it.
3. A near future setting which fells right. Circa 2020 we will probably not have flying cars on auto pilot, but we will have an advancement on the gizmos about the place. Norsefire’s rise to power is believable, as are the actions relating to it.
4. My gosh, Natalie Portman can act! She’s hidden that well. Hugo Weaving manages, somehow, to improve on Smith, Stephen Rea manages to pull off what is essentially a stock character excellently, and John Hurt is entirely convincing as Sutler, pulling off the Big Brother-esque role excellently. Stephen Fry actually got us to pay attention to his character too, rather than just going “Wehey! Stephen Fry! Woo!”
5. The Wachowskis have rather redeemed themselves for their recent poor performances. You know of what I speak.
6. The imagery and symbols are rather nicely done. Whilst the Guy Fawkes thing at the start is, as Patrick pointed out, inaccurate, I still like it. The man is not as important here as the symbol, and symbols are not always symbols of or for what they were originally intended.
7. The temptation to openly slag off today’s politics was resisted, although a few nice sly shots were loosed. I’ll let you spot them for yourselves when you go and see it (which you should), but they’re there, they’re easily visible, and they don’t detract from the plot in any way.
