For this post, I am making an exception, for this post will not be about anime or manga. Instead, it will be about a film that I've watched only about... 5 times.
"Remember, remember
The fifth of November
The gunpowder treason and plot.
I know of no reason
The gunpowder treason and plot.
I know of no reason
Why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot…"
Should ever be forgot…"
V for Vendetta is a genius film about ideas and how they live forever. The plot contains action, mystery and a whole lot of politics. A masked character, who goes by the name V, calls upon the people of London for a revolution on a night which has been forgotten by most: November the 5th. This revolution is a plan to overthrow the government, led by Adam Sutler, a man who does not tolerate disobedience from his people. On this night, history will change its course.
I absolutely love this movie. The male protagonist, V, has a mysterious and dark past, which is slowly revealed to the audience as the female protagonist, Evey Hammond, helps V with his quest for freedom and realizes that there's more to life than life itself.
My favourite part in the film would be when V and Evey first meet.
--
Evey: Who are you?
V. : Who? Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask.
Evey: Well I can see that.
V. : Of course you can, I’m not questioning your powers of observation, I’m merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
Evey: Oh, right.
V. : But on this most auspicious of nights, permit me then, in lieu of the more commonplace soubriquet, to suggest the character of this dramatis persona. Voila! In view humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the “vox populi” now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin, van guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.
The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.
Verily this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it’s my very good honour to meet you and you may call me V.
Evey: Are you like a crazy person?
V. : I’m quite sure they will say so. But to whom, might I ask, am I speaking with?
Evey: I'm Evey.
V: Evey? E-V. Of course you are.
Evey: What does that mean?
V: It means that I, like God, do not play with dice and I don't believe in coincidences.
V. : Who? Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask.
Evey: Well I can see that.
V. : Of course you can, I’m not questioning your powers of observation, I’m merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
Evey: Oh, right.
V. : But on this most auspicious of nights, permit me then, in lieu of the more commonplace soubriquet, to suggest the character of this dramatis persona. Voila! In view humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the “vox populi” now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin, van guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.
The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.
Verily this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it’s my very good honour to meet you and you may call me V.
Evey: Are you like a crazy person?
V. : I’m quite sure they will say so. But to whom, might I ask, am I speaking with?
Evey: I'm Evey.
V: Evey? E-V. Of course you are.
Evey: What does that mean?
V: It means that I, like God, do not play with dice and I don't believe in coincidences.
--
My favourite character is, of course, V.
V has a great personality and a great sense of humour. He is constantly kept mysterious throughout the entire film, even towards the end. V is treated not as a man, but an idea. However, Evey Hammond has fallen in love with the man, not the idea.
"We are told to remember the idea, not the man, because a man can fail. He can be caught. He can be killed and forgotten. But four hundred years later an idea can still change the world. I've witnessed firsthand the power of ideas. I've seen people kill in the name of them; and die defending them. But you cannot kill an idea, cannot touch it or hold it. Ideas do not bleed, it cannot feel pain, and it does not love. And it is not an idea that I miss, it is a man. A man who made me remember the fifth of November. A man I will never forget."
-Evey
--
"Beneath this mask, there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask, there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof."
-V
