Posted on 03/08/2006 7:18:00 AM PST by goldstategop
[Note: You may perceive some of this column as a "spoiler".]
If you liked the politics of last weekend's Oscar nominees, you'll love "V for Vendetta."
It's an exciting, quality Bin Laden film.
But if you're like the rest of mainstream America--you support our troops, believe in firmly responding to terrorists on our own shores, and/or respect Christianity--then, don't waste your time at this piece of garbage masquerading as a superhero movie. It is anything but.
If most other Hollywood films subtly whisper of an agenda, "V" clocks you over the head with it with a still sizzling, iron frying pan of extreme leftism. It doesn't arrive in theaters until March 17, but already the mainstream (ie. liberal) movie critics and entertainment media are raving about this egregious attack on our war on terror.
"V for Vendetta"
Natalie Portman, Guy Fawkes Mask-wearing "V" Are Terrorist Heroes Based on the graphic novel series of the same name, "V" comes complete with all the bogeymen the far left loves to hate: NSA spying and wiretaps; government renditions and torture complete with Abu Ghraib hood fashions; lecherous, elderly Christian clerics in collars raping young girls; Islam, gay rights, and free speech under attack; and even a Bill O'Reilly-esque evil cable talk show host/wicked pharmaceutical billionaire/heinous military officer combo rolled into one character.
Oh, and by the way, the hero of the movie: He's a terrorist in a Guy Fawkes mask, who blows up important government buildings. Sound familiar? His mask might as well be a kefiyeh wrapped around his head in a Nick Berg video.
The movie takes place in futuristic England, and there is only one American star (Natalie Portman). But it's quite clear to whom the "commentary" is directed: Joe and Jane American. When this movie takes place, "the United States of America" doesn't exist anymore. America is in the midst of a civil war.
And America and the war on Iraq are the enemies--along with Christians and the right--in this movie. We are treated to newscasts about how "America's War [on terror] spread to England." One character--a gay, British Jay Leno type who hosts a latenight show--keeps a secret vault of prohibited items, including a giant poster of "the Coalition of the Willing," depicting the American and British flags surrounding a swastika. Think about our troops fighting and dying in Iraq, before you decide to give your dollars to this film. Do you really think they are Nazis?
Also in the secret vault of sacred prohibited items: a Koran. Portman, whose Evie is the "heroine" of "V," asks, why the Koran? "Are you a Muslim?" she asks the late-night host. "No, but its [the Koran's] images are beautiful." Then he comments about how he can be executed for possessing the Koran. (Not a peep in this film about the thousands who've been executed in the name of the Koran and "its beautiful images.")
Puh-leeze. If anything, both Britain and the U.S. have bent over backwards not only for the Koran, but for its extremist Muslim followers. Where Christian displays are absolutely forbidden in any schools, despite so-called "freedom of speech"; where Ten Commandments are removed from the Alabama Supreme Court, despite their being the basis for our legal system; children are required to learn about Islam, read from the Koran, and behave as Muslims in elementary schools, in the name of "tolerance" and "education."
In "V", while Islam and the Koran are treasured but prohibited, Christianity is pure evil. Nice juxtaposition, when in real life, the 19 hijackers, the '93 WTC, U.S. Embassy, U.S.S. Cole, and British subway bombers were hardly Christians. Hmmm . . . what religion were they? We don't recall Mohammed Taheri-Azar, saying on Friday in his post attempted-murder 911 call, that he tried to use his jeep to kill Americans in the name of Jesus. No, he mentioned someone else's name, another religion . . . which are both nowhere blasphemed in "V."
We've already mentioned the high-ranking Christian priest, who regularly rapes young girls procured for him through an "agency." Before the priesthood, he was an evil military officer at a hospital where politically dissident youth had experiments conducted on them for the government (complete with Abu Ghraib-style hoods).
Then, there's the government. It's run by a religious Christian zealot. But not just any Christian zealot.
No. Chancellor Sutler is the supreme evil Christian. In order to get elected, he and the Bill O'Reilly-esque character (remember, before he became a cable host, he was a pharmaceutical CEO and made billions) arranged for hundreds of Brits to die from chemically poisoned water. The government said that terrorists did it, a story which became accepted fact and the conventional wisdom in media coverage. The fear that ensued garnered Sutler the chance to rule England, along with the Marshal law powers the English parliament gave him.
It's no coincidence that the symbol used for his government is some sort of Cross-come-Swastika combo. Not offended yet?
Under religious Christian zealot Sutler, gays are rounded up, imprisoned, tortured, and executed. Ditto for any dissidents, any left-wing activists, anyone who dares speak out against or flout the Chancellor's actions. Tell that to the ACLU, which seems to be running legal policy in our country, these days, and its partner in crime, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the wealthiest "public interest" group in the U.S., to the tune of hundreds of millions. We don't see any prospect of them being rounded up by the government anytime soon, unfortunately.
Under the religious Christian Chancellor, "unjust" Gitmo-style military tribunals and absurd NSA-style wiretapping is going on at every corner. Throughout the movie, we are shown vans of law enforcement personnel listening in to every home. As if that's what NSA wiretapping was about. It isn't, but "V" drills it into you the way the ACLU wants you to see it: every conversation in every kitchen, etc., secretly being listened in on and laughed at by guys in sweaty, rumpled shirts and ties.
The evil government law enforcement chief, Creedy, runs a meticulously ubiquitous surveillance program nationwide. If only our FBI's Robert Mueller were so competent, we'd be safe. Instead, he's cavorting with extremist Muslims and testified in depositions to ignorance of the most basic newspaper facts about Al-Qaeda.
Overall, the most outrageous thing about "V" is the ending. Instead of vanquishing terror, all of Britain sides with the terrorist hero of this movie. They celebrate his murder of all the top officials in government, his blowing up of the Houses of Parliament and other government buildings.
Terrorists and terrorism are the heroes, the government fighting them and trying to keep us safe are the enemy.
This is the glorious revolution? Osama Bin Laden must be very proud.
I here Alan Moore has disowned it, and I have a bad feeling with have another League of Distinguished Gentlemen on our hand. Problem is, even though he works in a visual medium heavily inspired by cinematic methods, Moore's prose and plotting doesn't translate very well to the feature film format. A decent adaptation would have to be a TV miniseries, and a very long and expensive one at that.
Have to disagree a little. I think Alan Moore is overated. Everyone gushes over The Watchmen and V for some reason. Granted they are good, but not the be-all end all of grfaphic novels. IMHO nothing will ever come close the Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. That truly changed comics forver. Top of the heep if you ask me...
I'll see V when it comes out on DVD, but not in the theater.
The $9.50 I spend on a movie isn't likely to make much of a difference in the culture wars.
And I seriously doubt this movie is going to change anyone's opinion, whatever their political beliefs.
I wonder if there are subliminal messages in it.
If I remember correctly, this is done by the same guys who turned out The Matrix, and then butchered the two sequels with politics and nihilism.
I still the The Matrix was a fluke for them - or as some reports have it - was indeed plagiarized.
Amen, brother.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Well, I've always been a fan of comic books. The whole "Osama Bin Laden being proud" portions of the review are a bit over the top.
But what do you expect from Portman and ultra-liberal Hollywood? I mean, should any of us really be surprised?
No, I don't think so. It was anti-totalitarianism.
The total-surveillance state that Orwell predicted is coming about only a couple of decades behind schedule in England. Guns and any other means of self-defense is banned, cars are tracked by satellite, and cameras blanket the streets.
True. The surveillance by the British state was one of the major themes of V for Vendetta. The irony is that the real-world surveillance in England these days has been brought about by a Center-Left parliamentary government, rather than a right-wing dictatorship
We are treated to newscasts about how "America's War [on terror] spread to England." One character--a gay, British Jay Leno type who hosts a latenight show--keeps a secret vault of prohibited items, including a giant poster of "the Coalition of the Willing," depicting the American and British flags surrounding a swastika. Think about our troops fighting and dying in Iraq, before you decide to give your dollars to this film. Do you really think they are Nazis?
You are correct, the movie has nothing to do with BUSH...-sarc
Dang, I wanted to see this but this may be too obvious for me to stomach.
Some have said the Matrix Trilogy is very similar in message, but if it was, I think it was very well disguised.
1984, like Animal Farm, was a warning. Orwell was a committed Communist, until he realized just what the long term plans were.
With all the new security plans, I fear Orwell was mearly two decades behind.
......and why would a nice Jewish girl like Portman lend her talents to this?
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Yes, I feel assaulted every day. I can't tell you how often I'm stopped attending church every week, oh wait....
made judges our masters
Ummm, hate to break that one to you as well but Democrats and Republicans have nominated judges who have legislated from the bench. After reading some of the comments here, Republicans don't want a judge, they want someone to rule their way even if it means legislating from the bench
great lengths to disarm us in the War On Terror
I don't know about that. If you mean standing against the 'patriot' act, I applaud them and wish Republicans would have stood against it as well. BTW, you may really want to reread this graphic novel. I can see that act laying the groundwork for a world like this movie portrays if it were in the hands of the wrong people. Do you really want a camera on every corner? Is that what conservatism is now defined by? More government as long as we are in control?
We live in a world that's run by the ACLU instead of a Christian zealot like Chancellor Sutler. The Left has everything exactly backwards as usual.
Oh, so if we lived in a world that was run by a 'Christian' (supposed as no true Christian would act that way) zealot instead of the ACLU, that would be better?
*** DING DING DING *** No more calls; we have a winner!
Pick up Marvel 1602 if you get a chance. A fantastic re-imagining of the Marvel Universe, starting in 1602.
get a grip, switch to decaf or something. The irony of course, is that the historical Guy Fawke is one of history's Christian (well, Catholic) terrorist who acted out of perceived religious perscution against his lot.
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