We saw "V for Vendetta" last night on the IMAX. So good.
And while I can see why many people may think "V for Vendetta" supports/glorifies terrorism, I don't think it does. I mean, yes, "V" commits acts of terrorism - but the government in place precluded any sort of open, two-way dialogue between those in power and those they serve. What else is a masked avenger supposed to do?
To me, the movie tries to get the viewer to think of terrorism in a different way: What's the difference between terrorism and revolution? It's a fine line in this movie - on the one hand, yes - it's bad to kill people. But on the other hand, what will it take for people to stand up and take notice that their government is screwing them over? And once notice has been taken, to what extent will people stick to their convictions and right the wrongs that have been committed against them?
Stephanie Zacharek at Salon has this to say about the movie:
Mostly, "V for Vendetta" is a joyless, jumbled screed, a meditation on the evils of totalitarianism for people who don't really want to think too hard about it.Maybe for some, yes. The parallels one can draw between the fictional political arena of the movie and of current day Bush Administration are numerous, of course (there's even an Avian flu mention in the beginning of the movie). But - and I may be a little too optimistic here, I realize - the movie's high-level analysis of Evil Regimes and the People Oppressed by Them may be just enough to get through to someone new, to get them thinking, taking the next leap, and perhaps finally come to the realization that we need a regime change, here in our own backyard.
Go see the movie. In IMAX if you can. Just saying.
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2 comments:
I liked the movie too, Mags. But there were definitely a few moments where I was a little uncomfortable with all the terrorism talk. Like you say, it is a fine line. I can't believe there hasn't been more hooha from the Republicans/Conservatives about it.
God forbid someone makes a movie where the good guy isn't some sort of Navy SEAL, or Marine who is fighting [fill in the blank] terrorism/communism/drug lords in Columbia/etc.
The powers that be have conditioned people to think "government-good" "rebels-bad" and it's sad, because let's not forget that the founding fathers themselves were rebels.
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