Many futuristic dystopian films share the same problem: their vision of the future is so far off that it’s hard for future audiences to take it very seriously. However, one such movie was so bleakly accurate that its grim narrative now seems more relevant than ever before. That movie is 2005’s V for Vendetta, and you can now stream this comic book classic on Netflix.
V’s origin in V For Vendetta
V for Vendetta adapts the Alan Moore comic of the same name, and the movie features a Britain ruled by fascists out to eliminate (often violently) anything that doesn’t fit into their rightwing paradigm. Eventually, the regime is challenged by a vigilante wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, and he encourages all citizens to join him in righteous rebellion. Witness to this revolution is a young woman whom the vigilante rescued and who may ultimately decide the entire nation’s fate.
One reason V for Vendetta is so good is that it comes from a very high pedigree. The script was written by The Wachowskis, the visionary directors who brought us The Matrix and changed Hollywood forever. And the movie was directed by James McTeigue, who worked with the Wachowskis on The Matrix, Speed Racer, and Sense8; additionally, he even served as first assistant director on the second Star Wars prequel, Attack of the Clones.
Hugo Weaving beneath V’s Guy Fawkes mask in V For Vendetta
Along the way, McTeigue learned how to give his films style and substance. V for Vendetta has plenty to say about fascism and the need to oppose evil, making it a more substantial cinematic meal than other comic book films from Marvel or DC. But the message never comes at the expense of the entertainment, and this movie features several action scenes just as thrilling as anything provided by The Wachowskis in their trippy sci-fi trilogy.
John Hurt in V For Vendetta
On top of its slick style, V for Vendetta features a fantastic cast that includes Natalie Portman, fresh from her stint as Padme Amidala in the Star Wars prequels. Rounding out the cast of genre legends is John Hurt (who played the titular beastie’s first victim in Alien) and Hugo Weaving (who played Elrond in Peter Jackson’s excellent Lord of the Rings films).
Two decades after it premiered, V for Vendetta is still shockingly relevant: its totalitarian government focused on eliminating minority groups such as gay people and immigrants. Many Americans have begun to use this film to describe their government negatively under both recent administrations.
Natalie Portman in V For Vendetta
Similarly, England is currently in the middle of a free speech crackdown. Reports claim people are being jailed for retweeting posts and cartoons the government doesn’t approve of. You may not be shocked to discover that many of these “offensive” posts criticize state and local government, and the alleged subsequent crackdowns have shaken what remaining faith citizens might have had in their elected officials.
For Americans and our friends across the pond, the fictional world of V for Vendetta is starting to look eerily familiar. Will V for Vendetta inspire you to access your inner revolutionary, or will you think the whole film wastes a good Guy Fawkes mask? Once you fall in love with this stylish dystopia, be sure to check out the original comic, which rivals Watchmen in terms of its quality and its passionate message.
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