My Thoughts on V for Vendetta

I truly enjoyed watching V for Vendetta a couple of weeks ago. For some reason, I had not seen that movie since it first came out on DVD. I have to say, it was definitely a different experience seeing it again now that I am older. It's hard to believe how much a person can change and mature in just the course of a few years. I felt that I could relate to the movie easier this time, because I have become a lot more knowledgeable of government and politics over the past few years. I also felt that the timing of this particular viewing couldn't have been at a better time: the day before I had heard for the first time about the government potentially passing that bill that would give them the ability to censor anything on the Internet. Let's just hope that the U.S. doesn't become like what it was in England in V for Vendetta!

V For Vendetta

I really enjoyed watching this movie. I had never seen it before and I had heard so much about it. I thought it was really well done. It was interesting to see a movie in a different perspective from other side.

Immortals

This past weekend I went to go see the movie Immortals, a story of the struggle to maintain the balance between Greek gods and the mortals below them. The main character, Theseus, is a peasant bastard living in a costal village in ancient Greece, who is thrust into a power struggle between the gods and King Hyperion (played by Mickey Rourke) on his quest to set the Titans free. This is filmed in a way that mimics 300, with a lot of sepia and shirtless men and has the same amount of blood and angry yelling. Personally, I didn't like the movie, it was pretty predictable and had a somewhat bland story line that didn't really keep me interested. I think my opinion isn't the majority, seeing as the people I went with loved it so if you're thinking about seeing Immortals check it out, you might like it, you might not.

I had previously seen V for Vendetta a few times before we watched it in class. The first time i watched it was with my mother and she had read the novel it was based on. I live in Britain, i was born in 1990 so i missed thatchers conservative government of the 80's that this was in response too. I remember both my parents had such disdain for that government and both enjoyed the film. As mentioned in class you have got to be impressed by the acting behind the mask, the movements and gestures mimic the voice recording perfectly. I am curious how many takes it took to get some of those scenes perfect?

The film is culturally relevant right now, at a time in our lives where there is a lot of social movement and attempts to facilitate a lot of social change. V for Vendetta will have been have very poignant film for anyone who was involved in the XL protest or Occupy Movements.

To finish i just think V is a tremendous film and i am glad we got to watch it.

V for vendetta

This movie is one of, if not my favorite movie of all time. It is movies like this that are the reason every movie I watch, I truly watch with undivided attention. Some people watch movies purely for entertainment, but early in my life I learned that they can be much more then that. Movies can teach us things about society, ideas, and even ourselves. Whenever I watch a movie I look for 3 things: a good cast, good ideas, and a good plot. in order for me to truly consider it a good movie it must have all 3. This does not mean that these are the only types of movies that I enjoy, but it does mean that I won't truly appreciate it as a work of art unless all 3 are present--This is why I liked v for vendetta so much; All 3 things were so obviously present that every time I watch it (which is frequently) I am completely engaged in it even though I know what is coming next. A films ability to completely engage it's audience even though they know what happens is in my opinion what defines a great film.

Screenplay of V for Vendetta

One of the great novels of the last few decades was Alan Moore's classic V for Vendetta. The novel itself is not about false flags or the media's role in public thought. Moore fiercely defends his work and opposes the changes cinema has made to his stories. However, the adjustments made to "Vendetta" have added new depth to Moore's work. After rereading the novel last week, I can affirm that the changes made add new depth. The modernization of the film regarding September 11th and the Iraq War bring the story to the present. Also the intense focus on the media's role in daily life is expanded and examined throiugh the film; accidentally skewering punditry and political speeches. Added in is the timeless line "we don't make up the news, that's the government's job."

V for Vendetta

I really enjoyed watching the film V for Vendetta and I thought the timing of the showing was perfect. We are in the midst of the Occupy movement and many of us just participated in the Keystone XL Pipeline protest in D.C.. The themes that I took away from the film were anarchy, revolution, social justice, and corrupt politics. At the end of the film, thousands of people rush the town wearing V masks. All the people had different stories and reasons for wanting to stand up to the government, but they all came together nonetheless. This reminded me of the Occupy movements. When I attended the movement in Savannah some people were actually wearing the V masks. I thought it was interesting how V was meant to represent everyone in the story, and even everyone in general. The character development of Natalie Portman's character was also extremely powerful and helped kept the story intriguing. I really enjoyed the underlying message of V for Vendetta and think we saw it at the perfect time in our generation's effort to stick up for ourselves above our government and fight for change.

Chinatown Trivia

Loved the viewing of Chinatown. Here are some fun trivia facts from IMDb about the movie.

Jake Gittes was named after Jack Nicholson's friend, producer Harry Gittes.

In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the #21 Greatest Movie of All Time.

The role of Evelyn Mulwray was originally intended for the producer's wife, Ali MacGraw, but she lost the role when she divorced him for Steve McQueen.

The scene where Roman Polanski slits Jack Nicholson's nose was extremely complex to film, and the two men involved got so tired of explaining how it was done (by using a specially-constructed knife with a short hinge that would be safe as long as it was handled VERY carefully) that they began to claim Nicholson's nose was actually cut.

The movie's line "Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown." was voted as the #74 movie quote by the American Film Institute (out of 100).

Chinatown

I really enjoyed watching Jack Nicholson in Chinatown. I really liked him as the Joker in Batman and how he really committed to the part. In this movie felt he did the same thing and really committed to the part of J.J. Gittes. It seems no matter what role he plays he fully commits to it. As well as the part of R.P. in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

further horror recommendations

Yeah, it's a little past Halloween but I saw a few of you posting about "scary movies". I would highly recommend getting your hands on a copy of Dario Argento's "Suspiria". Visually, it's one of the most distinct films in the horror genre I've ever seen (possibly in any genre). The score is by a band called Goblin (is there a more perfect name?) and is simply unlike anything I've ever heard in a film.

There's also some other gems out there that are just outright creepy and/or disturbing that don't have to resort to cheap torture scenes like the Saw, Final Destination, or Hostel series. Try the original "Last House on the Left" (Ada Washington as the chicken lady!). Lucio Fulci's "Zombi" has a classic underwater scene where a zombie battles a shark for crying out loud!

For some campy fun and amazing makeup and special effects done on a shoestring budget I'd highly recommend the original Evil Dead. There are a million and one "special editions" as it has gained quite a cult following over the years.

Film Suggestion.

I recently re-watched a film i had seen quite a number of years ago. The film is titled ''Trainspotting'' some of you may have heard of it before. It is a British film from 1996, it depicts the journey through life of a group of loosely connected, heroin addicted friends who live in the economically depressed Edinburgh.

The film can be quite graphic in its depictions of drug taking but i highly recommend it, it has won numerous awards and is one of my favorite films ever. I have attached the trailer so you guy can get an idea before deciding to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvLvLmzYUwg

Enjoy!!

Twentieth Century

I really enjoyed this movie especially Jaffe, I thought it was really interesting to see how he built up Lily and then she ends up leaving him for Hollywood. Watching him crumble and then trying to find her again. The rise and fall of the director was interesting to watch as well rise of Lily