Movie Review

I finally saw V for Vendetta this weekend. Though based on a graphic novel produced by a DC Comics affiliate Vertigo in the early 1980's and rereleased in 1995, the film its self was very well made and definitely worth seeing, especially considering the quality of film making recently. The overall message reminds me of George Orwell's 1984, but limiting the story in this manner would be largely superficial. Instead of looking at an authoritarian society from the prospective of the citizen, it considers it from the perspective of the revenge-driven revolutionary. The message from both, though, run along similar lines, and each remind us that fear is ultimately what will destroy a democratic society. Though not a comment on our society today, it certainly rings true with much of what is going on in the world. If anything, V and 1984 demonstrate the fragility of democratic society.

At the same time, V sends a message about how dangerous rhetoric can be. Eric Muller recently discussed the dangers of the word "terrorist". Its interesting to note that the government portrayed in V views the protagonist as a terrorist. We have seen exactly how dangerous this kind of rhetoric can be leading up to the military actions in Iraq. We need to question why the government uses the language it does, and we need to continue to question why the government would think that society needs protection. After all, government should only exist to facilitate the people, and limiting liberty fails to facilitate the people in a meaningful way.

Also, if you get the chance, check out Evan Schaeffer's Legal Underground.