V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta

The movie that almost squeaked by me.

This is a FABULOUS movie.

It is not pleasant to watch in places...most disturbing. But it is a worthy, meaningful movie and no one ought to let it slip by them without seeing it once and for all. Please rent or buy it, and watch at least once all the way through.

The Wachowski brothers, who did the Matrix Trilogy, once again showed use their genius--not only in movie making but in delivering a powerful, consistent message to speak to our times through drama, action, head and heart. It was artistic, literary, action-filled...and above all packs a high voltage shock to the mind and heart of America and all the world. It goes beyond mere story-telling, beyond movie-magic, beyond political and social commentary. It's perhaps more of a warning today than when it was made.

Please rent this DVD and watch it!!! It can influence anyone who is willing to watch it with an open mind, and has the power the change the course of history.

Aha, for me, it has yet another great, ambiguous character is a cape and mask. Just as I fell in love with the Phantom of the Opera--the "evil hero" of that movie--I must admire the man in Vendetta in the cape and mask. Is he evil? Or is he a hero? Or is he neither or both?

Either way Hugo Weaving, the actor who also played Mr. Smith in the Matrix movies and an elf in Lord of the Rings, was magnificent. He is a rare and delicious talent. I love his voice...he can say so much with his voice; in this movie alone he overcame the limits of wearing a mask throughout the entire movie and being unable to display any facial expressions whatsoever. He played his role above and beyond what a dedicated Shakespearean actor must have done in the 1400's. Bravo, Hugo. Thank you.

The only weakness of the movie was the fake blood splatters in the fights--it perhaps should have been done the way 300 was--slash and stab with painted drops of blood placed on the film without a drop on the actors. But the graphics can be over-looked with a movie as powerful and meaningful as V for Vendetta.

So get it and watch it. You might be "sorry" you did while you experience it unfolding before your eyes, but you will never see things in the world the same way again afterwards. It is much worth the investment of time, money and emotions, not to mention deep thought that will plague you for a long time afterwards.

Thanks, Sandy your movie critic

300

I went to see 300 on March 9th, 2007, the day it opened in theaters all over the United States. So did a lot of other people. It grossed over $70Million dollars that weekend making it the top box-office movie for March 9 - 11th (those figures were estimated, it might be even more now.)(U.S. Box Office as of May 18, 2007: $208,323,517WOW.)

Several types of fans showed up, I'm sure. It hit all the bases. Frank Miller and graphic novel fans, of course. And fantasy lovers--especially the ones that are amazed by computer graphics and FX in movies. Then all the fans of the vast cast. Those people that enjoy hero and war movies came, too. And some that like stories based on real events (and this was) and/or movies about ancient Greek and Roman times like Gladiator.

Of course, a big group of those fans who are wildly in-love with Gerard Butler who stared in the movie as King Leonidas flocked to see this movie. (These are the women that would pay big bucks to see a movie of Gerry Butler just standing there or sitting in a chair. I admit I'm one.)

The movie was exceptional. I know y'all think that I am gaga over all movies, especially Gerry-movies, but this was a way different movie than I am used to going to. First of all it was about war and I'm not a war-lover. And of course the battles and violence of which I am not fond.

This movie was set in 480 BC when the King of Sparta took three-hundred Spartan soldiers trained in hand-to-hand combat and the resolution to fight to the death if necessary (plus some Greek soldiers) and held off the Persia Invaders for two days in a mountain pass near the sea.

The graphics were well done. Exceptional. Excellent. Totally believable and amazing. They looked real or at least they blended into the body of the movie without a trace of detection. They didn't look like graphics or cartoons (think of the Titanic and realistic those graphics.)

All I can say about graphics is--go see it. You will know what I mean. I think you'll agree.

Give up your preconceived ideas about this movie and watch it with an open mind, not expecting anything....except something new and great.

This movie was such a work of art that it didn't appear to be "gory" regardless of the intense fight scenes and violence. (I am usually one to cringe at gory scenes and hide my eyes during suspenseful fight scenes even on TV. So if I didn't cringe on this one, you can take my word for it, the violence is manageable.)

This movie was so artistic that even when a particularly well-loved character fell (his body slowly fell, hint hint,) it was a beautiful image. (In comparison to Frank Miller's other graphic novel movie Sin City, which was completely different and left a far different impression and feeling during & after the viewing.)

In fact, when 300 ended, spontaneous applause broke out in the theater. I haven't heard that in ages...maybe since Star Wars or earlier. Wow.

Of course, all of Gerard Butler fans hope this puts him on the celebrity map once and for all, and he'll achieve big-time stardom in American movies SOON. We want more of him and his talent. (He's been in over 25 different movies, shows and TV series/specials (in the British Isles mostly.) AND he played the title role in the Phantom of the Opera by F. Lloyd Webber. But since he is a character-actor and wears costumes (and looks different in every role) not enough people are aware of who Gerard "Gerry" Butler is. This movie is going to make a difference.

Thank you cast and crew and WRITERS for 300. A wonderful masterpiece.

Sandy your movie "critic"
(PS: The only disconserting things about this movie was--Gerry's eyes looked brown, not bluish green as they really are. I guess when you play Greek royalty, you have to look Greek. Not to mention buff. THANK YOU.)