Number 191 on IMDb's Top 250
"Voilà ! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V." - With these words Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) is introduced to her rescuer, V (Evey was about to be raped), a terrorist/vigilante wearing a Guy Fawkes mask (Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the British Parliament in 1605 - November 5 is Guy Fawkes day in England). Evey, an assistant at the television network, is invited by V to see the Old Bailey (London's Central Criminal Court building) blow up. Later that day V hi-jacks the television station and broadcasts a message to the people that in one year's time, On November 5th, he will blow up Parliament as a statement against the religiously conservative government/dictatorship that is controlled by one man, High Chancellor Sutler. Sutler was elected after three terrorist attacks that killed 80,000 people. The real terrorists were arrested, tried, and hanged...or were they?
Meanwhile, the police focus their efforts on finding Evey, because she was seen on closed circuit tv with V. V again "comes to the rescue" and takes Evey away. V dresses Evey up as a young girl (Portman in pigtails, knee high socks, a short pink frilly dress and baby doll make-up, mmmm...oh well, back to the story) to seduce a bishop. She eventually escapes only to be caught by the police and tortured and her hair is cut off. Much hilarity ensues.
Trivia: The rhyme referenced by the tag line is called 'The Bonfire Prayer" and commemorates "Guy Fawkes night", November the 5th, when a Catholic plot to overthrow the English parliament was foiled. There are several slight variations of the full words, one of which goes... "Remember, remember, the fifth of November, gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot. Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent to blow up the King and the Parliament. Three score barrels of powder below, Poor old England to overthrow: By God's providence he was catch'd With a dark lantern and burning match. Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring. Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King! Hip hip hoorah! A penny loaf to feed the Pope. A farthing o' cheese to choke him. A pint of beer to rinse it down. A faggot of sticks to burn him. Burn him in a tub of tar. Burn him like a blazing star. Burn his body from his head. Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead. Hip hip hoorah! Hip hip hoorah!" It is still recited in full at the famous Lewes bonfire night celebrations in East Sussex.
I really liked this movie, once you think you know what is going on, something else happens. You are never sure of V's motives. Is he doing it for the people? or does he have a personal vendetta? Natalie Portman really transforms during this movie. Hugo Weaving is cool and collected as V, at least I think it is Weaving, we never actually see his face. Steven Rae is also very good and Inspector Finch, the troubled police detective. Good movie, ya'll should watch it.
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1 comment:
I plan on it! Great review Will.
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