"V" Is For Propaganda (NOT The 80s Classic Sci Fi Allegory) Alert

Debbie Schlussel.com ^ | 03/07/06 | Debbie Schlussel

[goldstategop]

If you liked the politics of last weekend's Oscar nominees, you'll love "V for Vendetta."

But if you're like the rest of America--you support our troops and believe in firmly responding to terrorists on our own shores--then, don't waste your time at this piece of garbage masquerading as a superhero movie. It is anything but.

If the other political films subtly whisper of an agenda, "V" clocks you over the head with it with a still sizzling, iron frying pan.

Based on the graphic novel series of the same name, "V" comes complete with all the bogeymen the far left loves to hate: NSA spying and wiretaps; government torture complete with Abu Ghraib hood fashions; lecherous, elderly Christian clerics in collars raping young girls; Islam, gay rights, and free speech under attack; and even a Bill O'Reilly-esque evil cable talk show host/wicked pharmaceutical billionaire/heinous military officer combo rolled into one character.

Oh, and by the way, the hero of the movie: He's a terrorist in a Guy Fawkes mask, who blows up important government buildings. Sound familiar? His mask might as well be a kefiyeh wrapped around his head in a Nick Berg video.

The movie takes place in futuristic England, and there is only one American star (Natalie Portman). But it's quite clear to whom the "commentary" is directed: Joe and Jane American. Lest I forget, when this movie takes place "the United States of America" doesn't exist anymore. America is in the midst of a civil war.

[goldstategop]

This "V" has nothing in common with the 80s allegory on Communist/Nazi totalitarianism, the celebrated V miniseries. This one takes places in a future England and in reality its a Bush-bashing, Christian-bashing and Evil Amerikka dystopia ruled by repressive Republican fascists. If your politics are the moonbat variety, you'll love this movie. As Debbie Schlussel says, if you're like the rest of America, its more Hollywood garbage to avoid. Skip this far-lefty rotgut of a production.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[USNBandit]

Sounds like the remake of the Manchurian Candidate. Instead of a Commie conspiracy they did Halliburton conspiracy.

[HitmanLV]

If by 'classic' you mean impossibly cheezy and cliched, then you are right. :-)

[goldstategop]

America as the DU moonbats see it.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[A CA Guy]

It looked to gay Spanish for my taste anyway.

[goldstategop]

What is it with the Left's fetish for Abu Ghraib fashions? I'm surprised Hollywood didn't make them Oscar evening outfit ensembles.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Tanniker Smith]

The 80s Classic Sci Fi Allegory

"Classic" in the sense of "old", right?

Seriously, I loved the original miniseries.
However, the conclusion blew major league chunks. And the TV series looked like it was being planned from week to week.

The novelization tried to fix some stuff (and along the way condensed a half-hour of screen time into 2 or 3 sentences), but the ending being totally unexciting and anticlimatic.

Granted, it was better than the proposed second season of Battlestar Galactica.

[jude24]

Unless Ms. Schlussel has seen this yet-unreleased movie, her opinion is worthless.

I'll reserve judgment until I see it for myself.

[goldstategop]

"Classic" in the sense of timeless. The story never gets dated. It still holds its own 20 years later. In contrast, the "V" just put out by Hollywood reflects the Left's rage at everything America is doing to defend herself. It will not even be remembered a year from now and will be forgotten by the time Bush leaves office. Its that provincial in character.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[A CA Guy]

It looked to me in commercials like Big Brother meets Zorro's gay cousin Vaseline Man.

Portman looked unappealing in the film as well.

If it is unAmerican enough, it could get an Oscar nod and send Hollywood deeper into insignificance.

[goldstategop]

She's a movie critic and watches every film so you don't have to. She's a female version of Michael Medved. Yeah baby, Jews invented the movies and are now its best critics!

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Billthedrill]

Agreed. The first season of V was a fun shoot-em-up (Michael Ironside with teflon-coated bullets in a submachine gun - Ooooorah!) but the second season got PC and by the time the climax rolled around it was hot-air balloons spraying pink Peace Dust all over the world. At that point being eaten by the aliens would have been a kindness.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Duh, the movie "V for Vendetta" is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, which was originally published as a 10-issue limited series between 1982 and 1985. Read and learn.

[dead]

I don't think most people are confusing this movie with the television show "V" since most people don't know that there ever was a television show called "V".

Was that the one with the guy who had a big veiny head?

[ozoneliar]

Have you seen the movie? As of right now I plan to see it. I really don't think this movie is leftist propoganda. From what I've heard from other sources it sounds Ok.

[goldstategop]

I made the point in the title the two are NOT the same. The only similarity is the title but that's all. The subject matter between the two shows is as different as day and night.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Paul C. Jesup]

First, "V" is about a tyrannical U.K. government, not the U.S. and the way things are looking in the U.K. right now in real life, banned on guns and knifes, all they need is a public crackdown on free speech and the U.K. will be a tyranny.

[Tanniker Smith]

I almost didn't mind the pink dust. I didn't (and don't) like accelerated growth children who suddenly stop growing when they reach an appropriate age and then they suddenly save the world, inexplicably.

Btw, I knew that Diana checked the child's hormones or something to stop the quick aging... and then the series started and she was suddenly 16, but then she stayed 16.

[Gordongekko909]

I kind of figured this about the flick when I saw previews for it.

Then again, I'm the guy who thought that the Agents in The Matrix were good guys right up until Neo gave them "the finger" and demanded his phone call... at that point, I was like, "oh, these are supposed to be bad guys." Because until then, I knew the following things: 1. Trinity was a cop-killer. 2. Agent Smith had advised the police not to go in after her, for their own safety. 3. The Agents were offering Neo a deal if he would help bring in a "terrorist" who was associated with the cop-killing Trinity.

That always surprises people whenever I tell them that.

[goldstategop]

Its really an allegory about Bush's America. But not to detain people further, the movie doesn't address the real threat to the West: Islam. If there's tyranny in store in our future, its from those who want to impose the Sharia on us. I'm sorry to have to tell the Left despite their twisted fantasies, that's not coming from Republicans.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Billthedrill]

I thought Diana was hot. OK, even if she was a murderous reptilian alien man-eater. I've dated worse.

[freedumb2003]

I thought Diana was hot. OK, even if she was a murderous reptilian alien man-eater. I've dated worse.

Hell, I've MARRIED worse!

[Tanniker Smith]

Hell, I married a liberal.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Its really an allegory about Bush's America. But not to detain people further, the movie doesn't address the real threat to the West: Islam. If there's tyranny in store in our future, its from those who want to impose the Sharia on us. I'm sorry to have to tell the Left despite their twisted fantasies, that's not coming from Republicans.

The comic was made in the 80's and is more in line with "1984" line of fiction.

Besides which, it's an action movie. Let's see how the movie is before we critize it.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

The Hollywood that really counts:


MEL's -PASSION- sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085111/posts

.

[freedumb2003]

btw: Important point of clarification -- that was my ex-wife.

I suspect my wonderful current wife thinks SHE is the one married to the reptilian ;)

[SDGOP]

Sometimes i think conservatives try a little too hard to see bias. You are right though, i'll wait until the movie is out.

[SDGOP]

Correct me if i'm wrong but didnt medved not like batman begins?

[Billthedrill]

Bahahahaha...keep her away from FR or that one'll cost ya flowers... ;-)

[ctdonath2]

in reality its a Bush-bashing, Christian-bashing and Evil Amerikka dystopia ruled by repressive Republican fascists.

Way, WAY off.

"V for Vendetta" originated as a graphic novel, which Alan Moore started in 1981 and finished in 1988, was way before "Bush-bashing" began. Christian-bashing has been going on for a couple millenia. It's hardly Evil Amerikka when it's set in England and features a new version of a classic British villan. It is, indeed, a dystopian novel firmly in the tradition of "1984" and "Brave New World".

To degrade it as firmly inspired by 21st-century events is to be completely ignorant of its context.

Your comments demonstrate a knee-jerk reactionary view worthy of Leftists. The story is a classic plot: the lone libertarian fighting against a tyrranical dictatorship.

[freedumb2003]

I see you know the drill ;)

Of course with your name and all...

[manwiththehands]

This movie sounds downright evil.

Where's Jack Bauer?

[Bratch]

The plot in the book is not necessarily the plot of the movie.

Once they have obtained the rights, the producers are free to make any changes to the plot and theme of the movie that they see fit. While I haven't seen it, the current climate in Hollywood makes it easy to believe the story has been re-interpreted as yet another analogy on the present world situation.

Showing Republicans as bad guys, of course.

We'll see.

[Mount Athos]

You accuse him of being knee jerk, but amusingly enough you are the one who posted before reading or thinking.

He was contrasting the movie with the graphic novel.
Don't you understand they are two different things? It seems not.

You insist the movie cannot be influenced by Bush-bashing, because the novel was written before Bush. Hello, the movie was just made. Don't you understand that movies often are significantly different from the novel they draw upon? Sometimes even turning the message and themes on their head?

Suppose Michael Moore made a version of 1984 and brave new world, full of leftist propaganda. Would you say it is impossible for this movie to be influenced by leftist propaganda because the novels weren't? Think.

[Jhensy]

No mention that it's by those "Matrix" guys, including the pre/op transsexual S&M fetishist one?

Of COURSE it's gonna be a anti-US Bush allegory, don't kid yourself, 80's-vintage notwithstanding. Already it's being "hailed" as "brave", "pulling no punches" and "controversial", and you know what THAT means. Same old twisted lefty hate-fest. Whoopee.

[Wormwood]

The story is a classic plot: the lone libertarian fighting against a tyrranical dictatorship.

Welcome to the 'howling in the wilderness' club.

It's going to be a long summer.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

"V for Vendetta" began life as a black-and-white comic book in Britain in 1982, so if anything it was an attack against Thatcher. The protagonist is an anarchist who's against all forms of Government and whose own tactics are often morally ambiguous. The government he brings down is a fascist dictatorship of the worst kind; the ending is unresolved as the government falls but anarchy and lawlessness take over the streets.

[ansel12]

If "V" was the series I'm thinking about, the resistance was led by a female doctor, and a reporter. As a veteran I couldn't help but notice how the left wing writers couldn't make combat vets, and Special Forces vets leaders. I think they did have one ex-tough guy (ex CIA), but he was something of the bad guy naturally.

[Captainpaintball]

1. Moore wrote "vendetta" as an attack on Thatcher and Reagan's Conservative politics. The same hysteria that followed Bush's arrival to the White House in 2001 was found, originally, in the late 70s and early 80s. It wasn't as organized or as pervasive, but it was there.

2. Even if the book was not blatant propaganda, the movie, from what I read IS. Hollywood will change things to fit the current zeitgeist...the very fact that this movie was made, NOW, is testament that this is political propagandizing.

I can picture Hellyweird executives and their minions brainstorming: "OK, we haven't agreed on any of our original ideas, Smedly, go to the comic book store and find out if there are any good stories there. Something that we can relate to the current times..."

[Captainpaintball]

The plot in the book is not necessarily the plot of the movie. Once they have obtained the rights, the producers are free to make any changes to the plot and theme of the movie that they see fit. While I haven't seen it, the current climate in Hollywood makes it easy to believe the story has been re-interpreted as yet another analogy on the present world situation. Showing Republicans as bad guys, of course.

Absolutely. And they ARE going to change it, from what I have read. The writer himself, Alan moore, has completely distanced himself from the project, and has not taken one dime from it.

Yet there are those so weak minded, devoid of principles and desperate for entertainment they will enthusiastically fork over 10 dollars plus to those that despise them and their way of life. Some of us are smart enough to know what is going on without having "to see the movie" first. This is Hellywood. this is what they do.

[tang-soo]

The reporter was played by Mark (The Beast Master) Singer - a pretty cool actor. I watched every episode but don't remember a whole lot. The one scene I remember was watching a female alien dropping a mouse down her throat like a goldfish. Also Robert (Freddy Krueger) Eglund (spelling) play a sympathetic alien who ended up helping the Earthlings. I also remember Richard Herd (George Costanza's boss with the Yankees - Mr. Wihelm) as the head bad guy in those goofy sunglasses and his bright red pajamas. On the other hand, maybe I do remember more than a little (grin).

[roses of sharon]

LOL, the leftoids can't really fight the civil war they desire because they are girly men, so they do it in fiction to get off.

Sick bastards.

[ansel12]

Good memory, I googled it and was surprised I described the correct series.

[American Blood]

Years ago I was an avid comic collector, and Alan Moore was far and away my favorite writer. His storytelling ability is incredible. V for Vendetta was a great series, really dark and thought provoking, but "The Watchmen" and "Miracle Man", both mini-series and still available in graphic novel format, are my favorite Moore works.

From the trailers I've watched, it looks like the movie is following the plot of the movie closely, although it's hard to be certain. It seems the only movies I'm willing to go see anymore are the ones about my comic heroes of the past, so I'm sure I'll find my way to this one as well.

[Ueriah]

I love Alan Moore and I'll check out V.

I understand the reaction - but this is really worth a viewing if it's half as good as the graphic novel was.

[jordan8]

Lest I forget, when this movie takes place "the United States of America" doesn't exist anymore. America is in the midst of a civil war.

See, it's not all bad.

[karnage]

A filmmaker buddy of mine saw it at the Berlin Film Festival (he was on the jury). When I told him I was looking forward to seeing it, he nearly came across the table and strangled me. "Do not see this movie!" he implored, "It is one of the worst films I have ever seen. You will never get that two hours back!"

[spetznaz]

I kind of figured this about the flick when I saw previews for it. Then again, I'm the guy who thought that the Agents in The Matrix were good guys right up until Neo gave them "the finger" and demanded his phone call... at that point, I was like, "oh, these are supposed to be bad guys." Because until then, I knew the following things: 1. Trinity was a cop-killer. 2. Agent Smith had advised the police not to go in after her, for their own safety. 3. The Agents were offering Neo a deal if he would help bring in a "terrorist" who was associated with the cop-killing Trinity. That always surprises people whenever I tell them that

Interesting perspective.

[karnage]

The author of the graphic novel has very vocally and publicly disassociated himself from the movie... but reportedly he wasn't pleased with the other two adaptations of his books either.

[singletrack]

The comic this movie is based on was a pretty good rehashing ( or rip-off) of Orwells 1984. when I heard the author Alan Moore had disavowed the movie I could smell the moonbat angle a mile away. Skip it is my advice.I might download load it the day before it comes out and burn it. Fight the Power hippies.
Alan Moores Swamp Thing is my all time favorite series though, great stuff. Sandman ( Neil Gaiman)is a close 2nd..................