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V: More Darkman than Dumas
last modified: Monday, March 20, 2006 (7:44:30 PM)
What is this junk?

Last weekend I saw “V for Vendetta.” There was something terribly wrong with this movie. After hearing the garbage on the reviews about this film (how it celebrated terrorism) I’ve got to disagree. Unless you’re a misogynistic, vindictive, sadistic, megalomaniac who identifies with “V”, he’s horrible. My enjoyment of this movie began and ended with V and Evey’s first meeting (The one where Evey says, “Are you some kind of crazy person?”).

This movie is crazy. “V” tortures Evey and his reason is; he tortures her because he loves her. At first she’s a little mad, but she comes to the conclusion that she’s really grateful to “V” (Maybe even loves “V”) after he puts her through both mental and physical torture.

“V” never takes responsibility for his actions. He only has the excuse “The government made me do it. It’s their fault.”
<i>Poor “V”, gag.</i>

My favorite character in the movie is the inspector, but I think he’s probably the worst policeman on the face of the planet.

<b>Things I kept asking myself during the film:</b>
How can “V” afford some huge excavation project that takes 10 years?
How was he supposed to have secretly engaged in the above project?
<i>(The all-controlling government with eyes everywhere apparently paid no attention to V’s huge construction project.)</i>
The idea that V memorized all of Shakespeare’s plays, became an superb knife fighter, became a genius in toxins, learned botany, apparently built a train, laid miles of track, excavated a huge tunnel, and while he was doing this he had time to engage in vandalism and watch the old “Count of Monte Cristo” was just too silly to believe.

If I wanted to see the individual conquer an oppressive government system, I should have rented “Rollerball” with James Caan.

“Super-heroes” Vs “An Evil Religious Government” is old and formulaic. It’s amazing, but “Ultra Violet”, a super bad low-budget version of this movie is out at the same time. I guess there was no time for a good plot, just assume “V” is omniscient, and enjoy the action scenes.
re: V: More Darkman than DumasMonday, March 20, 2006 - 1:31:13 PM
Startyde

This movie was terrible. I''m so glad you pointed out some of the most important in a sea of short comings. I don''t understand his motivation at all. Ppl should be be free and happy, unless he has a grudge against you, in which case you should die.

I also like how you mentioned Ultraviolet. Though I haven''t seen it, it was done by the director who did Equilibrium, a movie of similar themes, and is the best man vs totalitarian government movie ever...with everything from guns to puppies. See it, and forget about this poorly written, poorly paced political propaganda fest. (alliteration ftw).

Man, between this and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Alan Moore must be ready to blow up Hollywood...



HehMonday, March 20, 2006 - 9:55:53 PM
Zag

Bah, I''ll give it a miss, then. Thanks for the warning.


re: V: More Darkman than DumasMonday, March 20, 2006 - 11:35:50 PM
Mr.X

No offense guys but apparently you weren''t paying attention to the story in this movie. I just saw it tonight and even though I must admit that I liked the book better and was unhappy about some of the things that they changed I still thought it was a decent movie.Not nearly as bad as LXG.

SPOILERS below so if you haven''t seen the movie yet don''t read any farther!!!!!

You said
"This movie is crazy. “V” tortures Evey and his reason is; he tortures her because he loves her. At first she’s a little mad, but she comes to the conclusion that she’s really grateful to “V” (Maybe even loves “V”) after he puts her through both mental and physical torture." "

This is one of those things they they don''t just come out and tell you. You gotta figure it out for yourself. Other parts of the movie are like this to. The reason V does this is because he wanted Evey to realize what freedom actually is and for her to overcome her fears and basically stand up for herself and her beliefs. Freedom is not being told what you can and cannot listen to or watch. It''s not having to be in by curfew each night or not being allowed to go past the quarintene(sp?) zones or constantly being watched by cameras or listened to through wire taps and living in constant fear of your government. Just as it was portrayed in the movie. But these people had lived like that so long they didn''t no any other way to live. A line they should have used in the movie from the book but didn''t was when V tells Evey "You were already living in a prison. I just showed you the bars." Also the reason he used these methods on her was because similiar methods used on him at Lark Hill are what enlightened him.


You Said
"“V” never takes responsibility for his actions. He only has the excuse “The government made me do it. It’s their fault.”"

I don''t believe it was ever portrayed that way.Your definitely misunderstanding something there. The reason he was killing everyone from Lark Hill was not onl


re: V: More Darkman than DumasMonday, March 20, 2006 - 11:37:07 PM
Mr.X

I don''t believe it was ever portrayed that way.Your definitely misunderstanding something there. The reason he was killing everyone from Lark Hill was not only what they had done to him but what they had done to all of the other prisoners. And especially the woman who had wrote the note that V and later Evey had found. Her note was basically the key thing that had enabled him to mentally survive everything he had went through there. Plus he also wanted the rest of the populace to rise up from the restraint of the government which was oppressing them and for them to realize that they didn''t have to live like that.


You Said
"Things I kept asking myself during the film:
How can “V” afford some huge excavation project that takes 10 years?
How was he supposed to have secretly engaged in the above project?
(The all-controlling government with eyes everywhere apparently paid no attention to V’s huge construction project.)"

The tunnels were only blocked. V had just went through and removed the blockades over the years. The subway tunnels and subways were no longer used by the government and were off limits to everyone. Thats why they weren''t being closely observed. Plus they even said right in the movie that there were miles upon miles of tunnels/tracks and thats why there searches down there hadn''t turned anything up. They had no idea where to look.So how would they have known anything about him removing the blockades previous to all of this?

You Said
"The idea that V memorized all of Shakespeare’s plays, became an superb knife fighter, became a genius in toxins, learned botany, apparently built a train, laid miles of track, excavated a huge tunnel, and while he was doing this he had time to engage in vandalism and watch the old “Count of Monte Cristo” was just too silly to believe."

Admitedly they didn''t show as much of this in the movie as in the book but they still hinted at it at various parts. V was more than an average human after going


re: V: More Darkman than DumasMonday, March 20, 2006 - 11:37:48 PM
Mr.X

Admitedly they didn''t show as much of this in the movie as in the book but they still hinted at it at various parts. V was more than an average human after going through the experiments at Lark Hill. The experiments changed him not only physically but mentally as well. He was stronger and smarter than an average person. A lil plot point you might have missed was that it was his blood that was used to create the virus that killed those 100,00 people. That outta tell you that he''s a lil different. That wasn''t in the book by the way. I could have done without it in the movie.
And again NO he didn''t lay miles of track and NO he didn''t build a train and NO he didn''t excavate a huge tunnel.
Seriously Pay Attention Next Time. There will be a test afterwards!!!

You gotta be one of those people that either ask questions through the entire movie."Now whos this guy?" "Why''d he do that? I thought they were partners?" "Why''d they kill that guy?" Or your just interested in eye candy only. lol

Just giving you hard time.:OP



Rebuttal, Mr.XTuesday, March 21, 2006 - 2:46:45 AM
guyvariii

Mr.X I quote: “The reason V does this is because he wanted Evey to realize what freedom actually is and for her to overcome her fears and basically stand up for herself and her beliefs.”

There was no plausible reason for “V” to torture her. I think torture is a humiliating and dehumanizing situation. Does “V” need to show others what happened to him as well? Does the fact that these things were done to him give him the right to abuse others? I don’t think so. To show the system as horrible and abusive, the system, not “V”, should have abused her.

Mr.X: “Also the reason he used these methods on her was because similiar (sic) methods used on him at Lark Hill are what enlightened him.”

This was what I was referring to when I said; “V” never takes responsibility for his actions. He only has the excuse “The government made me do it. It’s their fault.”
I also didn’t like Evey’s reaction. This movie isn’t exactly “The Night Porter.”

Mr.X: “The reason he was killing everyone from Lark Hill was not only what they had done to him but what they had done to all of the other prisoners. And especially the woman who had wrote the note that V and later Evey had found.”

That sorta defines itself as his own personal Vendetta. I considered the lady’s biography of hope for her fellow prisoners as just another pseudo-excuse for “V” to use.

Mr.X: “The subway tunnels and subways were no longer used by the government and were off limits to everyone. Thats why they weren''''t being closely observed.”

Of course, I would never closely observe what I keep off limits. :p

Mr.X: “They had no idea where to look.So how would they have known anything about him removing the blockades previous to all of this?”

Um, Let me think, they could follow the sounds of a huge construction project.



Rebuttal, Mr.X Part2Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 2:47:20 AM
guyvariii

Mr. X: “The experiments changed him not only physically but mentally as well. He was stronger and smarter than an average person. A lil plot point you might have missed was that it was his blood that was used to create the virus that killed those 100,00 people.”

This is one of those comic book things, like the Hulk becoming strong after being hit by radiation. I think if “V” wasn’t dead from being experimented on with different types of diseases he would be in seriously bad physical condition. The explosion and physical burns really reminded me of “Darkman.” Although this was one of the better moments in the film, at least it gave an explanation as to why “V” no longer considered himself to be human. That he really had no other identity other than his own Vendetta.

Mr.X: “And again NO he didn''''t lay miles of track and NO he didn''''t build a train and NO he didn''''t excavate a huge tunnel.”

Trains aren’t left behind, and tracks aren’t left behind. If they’re removed they’re turned into usable scrap. If they’re left behind they become unusable scrap. Plus he says “… I laid some track of my own.”

Basically, there is a price for freedom, but that price shouldn’t be paid to “V.”



re: V: More Darkman than DumasWednesday, April 12, 2006 - 6:40:26 PM
setsumei

never read the full thread, but Darkman is a god movie.