Book Review: V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta is one of my favorite Sci-Fi dystopian movies (alongside Children of Men or The Matrix). I usually enjoy to watch it around Halloween time, especially around that iconic 5th of November. Back in 2009 I wore the costume for Halloween, and wrote a brief post about the movie, where I highlighted some of my favorite quotes, see Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. However as many times as I've seen the movie, I've yet to really give it a proper write-up. After all this movie in my opinion is a masterpiece, more so for it's original and complex story. The character of V is an iconic DC Comics masked vigilante on par with Batman. He is a political revolutionary who fights against the injustice of a totalitarian state. 

It's such an original story and setting, it makes me wonder why there isn't more content material. This original story was released as a graphic novel by Alan Moore in 1982 (who was inspired by George Orwell's 1984, as well as the ultra-conservative regime of Margaret Thatcher during the time). Although this is a work of DC Comics, I believe the setting is unassociated to Gotham or Metropolis, however I wouldn't be surprised if they were able to bridge that gap. After-all the setting takes place in Britain, and there are many similarities between V and Batman. However unlike Bruce Wayne who was dealt a tragedy but was brought up in wealth, V was truly tortured and thus came his quest for vengeance. 

Surprisingly as big of a sci-fi and literature nerd that I am, I rarely get into comic books too much. I read a handful of Star Wars ones during my youth, but never the DC or Marvel ones. Those stories I came to enjoy thru television and movies. However unlike the Batman or Superman comic series, V for Vendetta was written as a graphic novel (like Watchmen), meaning that it was a longer story with closure. I enjoyed the illustrations but also found it quite different to comprehend it's format and flow. It's almost like watching a movie played out in a storyboard, where many of the boxed images have no text whatsoever, yet only an expressive visual setting. I think there is no doubt an art to reading comics that you can get better at with practice.  

The Novel Premise

I want to write about both the novel and the movie, which were quite different from one another but still tied to the main character of V and his fight against the corrupt government. At the onset V is portrayed wearing a Guy Fawkes mask with a black hat and cape, that looks like the outfit of a pilgrim. He uses this historical character merely as a rebellious persona, to remind the public of the gunpower treason of 1605 where the people chose to rise against the monarchy. The current state of Britain is one of a totalitarian regime that had just finished a great war where many genocides were committed. V was a victim of ones of these concentration camps, at Larkhill where he was a patient of lab experiments. He escaped the prison, burned and deformed, but with a stronger will then ever to seek vengeance. 

He saves the young naive Eve, from the corrupt street police known as fingermen (on par with the Gestapo) and establishes a strong bond with her. Unlike the movie, Eve is a lost soul who has recently chosen prostitution as a means of finance. However V takes the young orphan into his wings and brings her to refuge within his underground hideout known as the Shadow Gallery. He then begins to commit a wave of terrorist acts such as blowing up the Old Bailey, and murdering those who played a part in the Larkhill Camp. He kills the voice of London, the bishop of London, and the chief scientist who conducted the experiments. He also murders various corrupt statesmen and police officials often in a very poetic and theatrical manner. 

The graphic novel dives deeper into the state's infrastructure, particularly the police force, surveillance, and the media propaganda. The leader hides behind a Television screen and refers to himself as Fate. All those that report to him are equally corrupt, vying for power while dealing with their ruined domestic lives and marriages. Only the chief investigator Finch is able to get behind the true story of V and what happened at Larkhill. Meanwhile V has led a campaign of revolutionary propaganda to get the public to turn to anarchy. He is able to broadcast his message via the main channels and even shuts down the surveillance feeds. London begins to slowly fall into chaos.

V's relationship with Eve is a complex one, but ultimately he serves her as a fatherly mentor teaching her to abandon her fear. As a young girl, her parents became political prisoners and she never saw them again, which leads her to wonder if maybe V is her father. But she later realizes that is not the case. V creates an elaborate plot to imprison Eve at the hands of the government, seeking information on V. However despite the harsh torture, Eve holds strong and accepts death over revealing V's location. This act of courage sets her free, and V reveals to her, that it was him all along. She is of course furious at him for imprisoning her, however later thanks him for completely changing her mindset. 

Unlike in the movie, the 5th of November isn't as vital of a date. While the story starts on the 5th of November 1997, V never gives the public an ultimatum as he does in the movie. He does commit another act of terrorism on November 5th of 1998 by blowing up key government buildings which further creates anarchy in the streets. However he does not meet his fate until a few days later, when Finch uncovers his subway train full of explosives. The two have a scuffle in which Finch shoots him. V is able to escape however is mortally wounded and bids farewell to Eve before he dies and requests that she never take off his mask. Eve is saddened and confused but eventually understands that this persona of V must endure. She thus wears the V disguise and sends the train full of explosives to blow up the Prime Minister headquarters, 10 Downing Street thus destroying every branch of government. The story ends with Finch walking down the street, observing the chaos that has overtaken London.  

The Movie Premise

It's once again surprising to me, that I have never really written about this film that I consider to be a masterpiece. The movie would be an honorable mention in my top 25, however certainly in my top 10 in the Sci-Fi Genre (see Top 10 of 10 Film Genres). As I've made quite clear above, it's the story that really hits home for me and it is a remarkable adaptation of Alan Moore's original work. Released in 2005, the film was directed by the Wachowskis brothers, best renown for their similar dystopian film series of The Matrix. The masked vigilante of V is played by Hugo Weaving, best known as Agent Smith in The Matrix and Elrond in Lord of the Rings. Although he never shows his face in the film, he brings forth such a passionate performance with his dramatic British voice. 

The young Eve is portrayed by the great Natalie Portman, another of my favorite actresses best known for Amidala in Star Wars and the Black Swan. Her portrayal is very different from the novel, in which she works as a television production assistant (instead of a prostitute). Her history however is the same as the story, in which her parents were abducted as political prisoners, and she lived a life of fear. That is until she meets V, who rescues her at the onset. Eve returns the favor by saving V when he is trapped at the television station. V then takes her to the Shadow Gallery, where they share some friendly, almost romantic time together. That is until Eve escapes, not wanting to be associated with his terrorist plot. 

The leader is portrayed by John Hurt, known as Adam Sutler he is a ruthless conservative dictator on par with Adolf Hitler. However just as in the novel he hides behind the television screen and oversees his chief security officials. The Chief Inspector Finch is much more likable in this adaptation as he questions the government's history and comes to understand V's motives. However the chief of secret police, Mr. Creedy takes the top villain role away from Sutler later in the film, which makes for an extraordinary twist. The film doesn't dive too much into these characters' personal lives as the novel does. 

Another major difference from the novel and the movie is the character of Gordon Dietrich. In the novel Eve leaves V for a while and finds refuge with a criminal known as Gordon. The two share a brief love affair, until Gordon is gunned down and killed by rival gang-members. In the movie Gordon is a popular talk show host who has the nerve to parody the Sutler regime. While he still holds an affection for Eve, he is a closeted homosexual, which later causes his execution by the government. It is at this point that Eve is kidnapped by V (pretending to be the government) and puts her thru her torturing purification. This is my favorite part of the film where Natalie Portman breaks down in emotion realizing she has just been tortured but that she is also now free of fear. 

Just as in the novel, the city of London quickly descends into chaos leading up to the date of November 5th. V requests that the public rise up against the regime on Nov 5th, while he blows up the Parliament building. He is greatly conflicted by his romantic affection for Eve, who even requests that he let go of this vendetta so that they can be together. However he stays true to his political motives and bids her farewell to carry on his final act. Unlike the novel, it is Creedy and his men that deliver the fatal blow to V instead of Inspector Finch. However in his dying words V states that he is more than a mask, yet rather an idea. It is a message that Eve clearly understands and carries out his final act to send his corpse onboard the train full of explosives. Finch arrives to the underground train-station beforehand, but allows Eve to send the train off which blows up parliament. In the closing lines, Eve explains that V is more than one person, yet rather he represents everyone.