WOW! This was a fantastic film - one of the best I've seen in a long time. A very long time. As so often happens, I'm seeing it ages after everyone else did, so probably no one will be interested in talking about it anymore, so I'll just say that I LOVED it, and leave it at that.
Except for the few spoilerish comments I'll put
I was KICKING myself half-way through when we found out that she'd been at V's all the time? During the interrogation segment? Because when that part first started, I KNEW that it was him! I just knew it! (The tree was moving outside the building, remember)? But then I let myself forget, and by the time she found out, I was totally surprised. Even though I'd already guessed the truth! *facepalm*
Also, did anyone else cry at the end? And I couldn't decide if I was crying because the ending was very satisfying, or because I was so traumatized by watching the destruction of a landmark which has great sentimental significance for me. Probably a little bit of both. Heh. I thought "Aliens of London" was bad. Whoa.
Oh, I'm sure I could go on and on about the great stuff in this film, but I pretty much loved all of it. The themes, the creepiness. From what I'd heard about the film before watching it, I didn't think I would like V (plus, Hugo Weaving creeps me out, in general). But V was wonderful. Natalie Portman was terrific, and, well, the whole thing just held my attention from start to finish (which is saying something, these days. I've given up on more than a few films in recently years - if it doesn't grab me, I don't waste my time). This was definitely not a waste of my time. OMG SO GOOD!
10/10 (can't remember the last time I gave a film this rating).
Except for the few spoilerish comments I'll put
I was KICKING myself half-way through when we found out that she'd been at V's all the time? During the interrogation segment? Because when that part first started, I KNEW that it was him! I just knew it! (The tree was moving outside the building, remember)? But then I let myself forget, and by the time she found out, I was totally surprised. Even though I'd already guessed the truth! *facepalm*
Also, did anyone else cry at the end? And I couldn't decide if I was crying because the ending was very satisfying, or because I was so traumatized by watching the destruction of a landmark which has great sentimental significance for me. Probably a little bit of both. Heh. I thought "Aliens of London" was bad. Whoa.
Oh, I'm sure I could go on and on about the great stuff in this film, but I pretty much loved all of it. The themes, the creepiness. From what I'd heard about the film before watching it, I didn't think I would like V (plus, Hugo Weaving creeps me out, in general). But V was wonderful. Natalie Portman was terrific, and, well, the whole thing just held my attention from start to finish (which is saying something, these days. I've given up on more than a few films in recently years - if it doesn't grab me, I don't waste my time). This was definitely not a waste of my time. OMG SO GOOD!
10/10 (can't remember the last time I gave a film this rating).
- Current Mood:
satisfied
Comments
I also thought it was one of the best films I'd seen in ages.
Mark & I saw the Prestige the other day and I suspect you'd like it too.
I was personally gripped by the interrogation scene, which I think is so timely in our culture. We sip our Gingerbread Lattes and ignore the fact that the simplest thing can torture someone to no end. The torture techniques in it are benign compared to what happens in prisons around the world, and I would wager that most people were fairly disgusted to see Natalie Portman's character deteriorate so fully in the face of such treatment.
I was also bothered internally by the gay themes in the movie. The idea that the future might hold such black times for the queer community bothers me to no end - even though I know it is a possibility.
And interestingly enough, I found myself so fearful for my own personal inviolability, that I considered - for a brief time - learning to shoot a gun. Guns are something that absolutely terrify me (usually much more than being hauled away in the night by masked men). So for me to consider that was a major change in my outlook.
In all, I thought that it was an amazing movie. The dialog was well done, the acting was actually very good, and the characters were much more dynamic than an "action" movie could ever be given credit for in the past in my opinion.
Glad you liked it!
The gay themes were disturbing to me, too, as was the whole, "no more Muslims" thing. Again, things I don't want to believe are a possibility, but have to admit that they are possible IF we don't wake up now and make sure that we don't allow our government to run rampant over our rights. Again, I think that was the main thing I got from watching this film. I enjoyed it as entertainment, but I also felt it packed one hell of a punch in terms of a warning about what we need to NOT let happen. But it wasn't over-the-top in the message; I never felt preached at. If it had been that obvious, I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much.
I don't feel like I had as intense a response to it, personally, as you did, although I DO know that feeling. There are other films or books that have scared me enough in that way that I've been moved to make actual changes in the way I live. Or at least think hard about making those changes.
This really was a cool film, and very well done. I was expecting it to be more . . . comic-booky-y, if that makes sense. Like X-Men or something. And not that I didn't like X-Men. I love those films, but this was somehow more substantive and real, and less super-hero prettiness. Hmnh. I wish I could think of a better way to say this, but hopefully you'll understand what I'm getting at. I think it's similar to your comment about "action" movies.
:)
You might want to check out the graphic novel of Alan Moore's that it was based on. Some of the characters are different and the plot is more convoluted, (and Alan Moore HATED the movie adaptation, but he's notoriously cranky) but it's still really great.
Then I recommend readin his other best graphic novel, The Watchmen, which I kind of hope never gets made into a movie because it's going to be too easy to fuck up.
Also Hugo Weaving used to creep me out but now I find him kind of cool. Apparently he's really, really nice in person.
*moviesquee*
Sorry!
My husband loves the originals also and they're probably bound to screw it up according to him.
Hugo Weaving CAN'T be nice in person. He's too horribly creepy. ;) Okay, so maybe he's nice. But between Elrond and Mr. Smith . . . ARGH!!!!!! (And you know what? I saw LoTR before I saw the Matrix films, so I didn't think Elrond was creepy because of the Mr. Smith association. I just thought Elrond was CREEPY). LOL. Okay, so that was rather irrelevant, but whatever. :D
I might check out the graphic novels. In general, I don't really like reading them, although there are a few I've enjoyed. I like the idea of a more convoluted plot, though. That sort of thing makes me happy. :)
My friend Bert and I saw it in a crowd of yabos and we came out saying, "Okay, most of them just didn't get this."
I bought it right away, but I'm jonzing now because Etakyma's had it on loan forever... and hasn't watched it yet! Oh, well. She'll get to it.
Anyway, glad you caught up with this one - it's definitely a keeper.
I ADORE the Hello Severus icon, btw. And will respond with my own "Hello" icon. :)
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I thought V was fantastic too, when I saw it months ago.