Home Forums Miscellaneous Topics Movie, Book, and Music Review "V for Vendetta"

I watched the movie "V for Vendetta" last night (Natalie Portman and the guy who plays Agent Smith from the Matrix trilogy). There were some interesting aspects to the movie and some agendas that were not so well hidden. Without giving too much away it takes place in a heavily policed futuristic Britan that is controlled by a very convservative leader (I believe he was supposed to be a modern Hitler...). I liked the thought provocation that this brought (ie: are we giving up to many individual freedoms in the name of peace and will we regret it later?). The part I didn't like was the very liberal view of tolerance and acceptance of everything. Particularly homosexuality. There was also a lot of blood, although I don't remember a lot of swearing.

I would give it 2.5 out of 5.


SS

Why do people equate conservatism and conservatives to Nazi's? Naziism is a Socialist construct, i.e. National Socialist Party. By definition conservative means averse to rapid change. Politically, in the USA it means smaller, less intrusive government, and conserving the Constitution of the USA from liberal- read socialist- judges and those who support them from changing it to suit their worldview without going through the proper amendment process.

Hey Mike. The movie called it a conservative government. I'm with you, conservative=less government and a less intrusive government, quite the opposite of the impression that the movie makes. Thanks, you make a good point.


SS

Just watched it last weekend. IIRC the movie called the chancellor power-hungry, opportunistic, dictatorial. I don't remember hearing the word conservative. That the totalitarian agenda was carried out by espousing narrow, bigoted, fear engendering points of view may or may not have been a comment on the current administration and it's policies by the films producers/director. Regardless, I liked the movie, and the message it was sending. I particularly agree with the point of view that to see the faces of those responsible one need only look into a mirror. AMEN! Whether "conservative" --which IMHO the Bush administration and it's policies are not-- or "liberal"--what a joke that is-- we as a nation are supposed to be ultimately responsible for our own governance and destiny. It is only when we become lazy--as we have--, complacent--as we have--, apathetic--as we have--, and content to let others do our thinking for us, that a government--regardless of the ideology that it spews, to me the end results as they apply to my Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness appear to be quite similar; ie higher taxes, less freedom, more regulation of my daily life--is able to institute the type of fear engendered totalitarian "For Our Own Good" regime portrayed. Whether it is meant to protect us from "terrorists" or "bigots" matters little.

To me the message of this film can be pretty much summed up by this famous quote of Benjamin Franklin.

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

I also agree with the the assertion that people should not fear their governments, governments should fear their people. AMEN! Else why were we given the second ammendment?

Though farfetched to a degree--it is a movie after all--the basic concept is sound. I don't see the movie as a slam on conservatives, or even the current administration. I see it as a warning. Might this be what future generations face?

If so one can only hope that those future generations will be given a similar opportunity to redeem themselves when they wake up to the fact that they are no longer a free people, but slaves to their own fear and complacency. Unfortunately they are being so dumbed down by the very PC handwringers that supposedly oppose the "bigoted, narrow right" that I don't see it happening.

Shaun