V makes a splash

The movie reviews are coming in, and V for Vendetta sounds better than any self-respecting anarchist could hope for, sparking commentaries about oppressive regimes and the question of whether violence is necessary to overcome evil. It's clear from the original Alan Moore graphic novel and, presumably, the movie, that the character of V believes terrorism is required to topple a terroristic regime. While Moore injected some sympathy for V into his story, I don't believe he intended for us to feel V is a hero. In my case, I felt repelled by V's methods while understanding his reasons. It's a disturbing, hard book to live through, as I suspect the film will be.

The observation and question I hope the movie generates are: We live in an increasingly oppressive world and the power to throw off the oppression is in our hands. How can we accomplish that without violence? Because that which V has wrought is not a particularly desirable or, in the long run, effective response to oppression.

And one word of caution to my self-respecting anarchist friends: Be wary of any film where the leading anarchist is depicted as a violent madman. That plays into the stereotype of anarchy as chaos. V may speak some terrific truth - but remember, when all is said and done, he's depicted as crazy. Natalie Portman as Evey has the key role. (Meaningless aside: From the early reviews of the job Portman does, V for Vendetta may once and for all dispel any doubts that George Lucas is a crummy director of actors.)

The tingly-spine moment for me, and I hope the movie includes this scene or at least this theme, is when another tortured prisoner realizes the only chains binding him are those he forged with his own mind, his own fears. Oppression is like the thin electric fence that keeps cows in the pasture - those huge animals could break free any time they overcome their fear of the shock. If the film helps cowed viewers understand the fear mongers and throw off their self-imposed chains, it will succeed beyond the comparatively insignifcant triumph of a boffo box office.

(Aside to browncoats: Hmmmm, a story about a man whose moral core dissolved into violence due to a failed government experiment - is V a Reaver?)

It's tough for me to get off work in time for a Friday night movie; I just may find a way to rearrange my schedule for this one. Claire Wolfe points the way to Time's thoughtful review, although Lev Grossman makes the somewhat alarming, vaguely censorious statement, "It's the kind of film that makes you ask questions like, Who thought this was a good idea?" And the Rotten Tomatoes crew has accumulated a morning full of reading if you're so inclined - bottom line, the critics are almost 70 percent impressed.