The Arrow Reviews

Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. There is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof. – V

Taking into account the recent spat of “avenger overthrowing the government” flicks going from so-so (Aeon Flux) to awful (Ultraviolet), my expectations were lying on the ground next to a vagrant when it came to V for Vendetta. Well color me red with Ketchup and dip me in a hot tub filled with bunnies of the Playboy variety, Vendetta groovyly Vendetted me!

Based on the Alan Moore graphic novel of the same name V for Vendetta hit my mark, mostly on a primal level with the first stab being as a solid vigilante opus. One man got foobarred by the government, he wants payback and he goes about getting it in extreme ways. That recipe always makes for a fine “Arrow digs” dish! I felt for V’s plight throughout and even though the manner in which he was wronged was expressed in a semi vague fashion, I knew enough to cheer him on like a Lakers Pom-Pom whore on cocaine as he took the scumbags out. The flick followed up that potent jab with its crushing “right hand” love story which was akin in feel to say Phantom of the Opera. The courtship between Evey (Portman) and V (Weaving) was riveting and touching, mostly due to the layered and refreshingly restrained manner in which it was expressed. Sometimes it s what’s “not said” that hits the hardest. It worked here! Thug, thug, sniff, sniff…I’m such a bitch!

The physical get downs at play made my blood boil in giddiness as well. Sure the film wasn’t action packed but when it would tango, it would pull a Fred Astaire with spiked heels on my ass! All about the knife throwing jamboree in the sewers! WOW! I got those fanboy shivers traveling through my body there and then some! Love it when that happens! On a cerebral level the film somewhat packed a punch by basically glazing over many o themes/ideas that I could relate to in terms of me as a human being and the “thumbs down” society I live in. Granted the character of “V” almost talked me to death but more often than none what he said “would connect with me” hence making his incessant ramblings worth the listen. Add to that striking imagery galore, an endearing/ poetic feel to it all, amazing acting by all and a clip pace and you get a yummy bowl of V shaped "Alphagetties". So what was the boggle?

Although filled with ideas, the film was rarely brave enough to truly delve into them. This is an oppressed setting right? CAN I SEE IT PLEASE? Apart from a curfew being broken, a kid getting shot and some quick cut “chaos” shots I didn’t get much of it. I personally needed more than the film TELLING me how oppressed the society was to get me fully riled up about the impending "revolt". I needed to SEE it on a grand scale that went beyond an intimate lesbian story, a copy of the Curran or a gay TV host in the closet. The same went for the way they communicated the population being swayed by "V" and finally taking action. There wasn't enough coverage of the uprising to satisfy me or get me involved 100%. The film solely skimmed over its more important aspects, bummer, as so much more could've been done with them! Lastly, for a movie that lives by the motto “they are no coincidences”, its plot line often took the “convenient”, "easy" and “coincidental” road to connect its dots while at other times subplots were left dangling. The script could've taken more chances as to its unraveling of events. To be honest, I only got surprised once plot wise, the rest was fairly predictable as to how it was all going to turn out hence lessening the stakes of the game. 

On the whole though I break-danced with V for Vendetta as its powerful positive attributes were enough for me to have a glorious time in my seat with it all. Arrow sings: And all the king's horses and all the king's men, can they ever put the world back together again, before we reach the end…

VISIT THE OFFICIAL V FOR VENDETTA SITE HERE