Remember, remember the fifth of November.
So I finally saw this film for the first time at Becky's house on Thursday while we were chilling before getting in line for The Dark Knight. Needless to say I loved it because about an hour later, I went out and bought the DVD for myself. :D
This film came out when I was twelve and so the entirety of it went waaaay over my head. Which is why I've just seen it now. I had no idea what the film was about until I read the back of the DVD box at Becky's house and then she told me it was like 1984. Now I was starting to get an idea of what the whole thing was about and I was getting pumped to watch it.
See, I wasn't sure how much I would like this film at first. I had never read the comics (more of a Marvel gal anyway) and I had been convinced that V would be the type of protagonist I wouldn't like. I took him as an emotionless, mindless character who simply wanted revenge for whatever reason. I was not looking forward to that personally. Then he came on screen and he spoke and oh, I was in love. He was so different from what I had been expecting - he was charismatic and true and passionate.
He's a lot like the Phantom in many ways. Mysterious, passionate, and the audience can't help but fall in love. We want these characters to whisk us away for a romantic, whirlwind adventure. They're the type of characters we are simply drawn to, usually because of their mystery or what they stand for. I love V - there's no way around that. I am terribly, terribly smitten with his mannerisms and his drive. What was done to him was sick and wrong and I'm in awe of just how determined he is. He's extremely candid and doesn't sugarcoat things. It's one of his other traits that I'm in love with.
The other thing about his character is that we know he won't have a happy ending. Just like the Phantom. V had a satisfying ending - he got what he wanted - but it wasn't fluff and sheer happiness and I think the audience knows how it will end (at least I figured that it would end in such a way). He and Evey aren't going to ride off into the sunset, sorry to say.
And yes, I'm sure you all could have figured this out, but I love Evey and V. Once again - a lot like the Phantom and Christine. I love that Evey grew with him - grew to understand and perhaps one day love him. I love that she wasn't smitten with him right from the get-go, that she was cautious because that made it believable. And yes, I love when he tortured her and she realized it was him all along. It was extremely powerful and reveals so much about each of their characters. It shows just what's he become and what he'll resort to and the fact that she can move on, forgive him, shows her growth.
All the parallels to The Count of Monte Cristo were BRILLIANT. Especially when Evey said she felt sad for Mercedes because he loved revenge more than her. It's obvious why that line was thrown in - that's V and Evey. Yet I think the difference is that V did love her just as much because he was willing for his goal to fail if she didn't want it. Oh, he still would have killed Sutler but everything he had aimed for, his symbol and idea, could be risked if it wasn't all right by Evey. That's where his love is shown, I believe. Of course she wasn't going to let that happen, she would make his goals come true, and that is where her love is shown.
It was an extremely powerful film and I don't think I'll ever get tired of watching it. It's absolutely beautiful and the direction and visions of it are to die for. I'm not the biggest fan of The Matrix but I was much more in love with this than that. This move really tugged at my heart (oh yes, there was crying) and had a much bigger affect on me than I thought possible. I love what the film stood for and what the character of V stood for. I love that Evey is someone we can relate to. I love that I could laugh during it.
Yes, I am in love with this film. I didn't nitpick at it because right now, still in the stage of a glowing love, I can't find anything wrong with it. Perhaps if I keep watching it but overall, I'm too smitten to really look for things that I might find wrong. Plus the acting was incredible. Hugo Weaving was able to make me fall in love with a mere voice and antics. I'm not the biggest fan of Natalie Portman around but I do respect her and this is probably my favourite role of hers to date. The movie is phenomenal. I like how it was paced and I like that the audience got to figure things out for themselves before everything was revealed. It was just an all-around powerful and invigorating film that has captured my heart.
Mkaaaaaay. I'm off to go see The Dark Knight again with georgeweasleyhp and her brother. :D
Catch you later, calculators.