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

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

[Rummyfan]

Citizens are executed for owning copies of the Koran..."

Truly ironic as we watch the UK and Europe being taken over by Islamic extremists that some movie-maker would postulate this of all things. Guess they didn't get any input from Theo Van Gogh....

[Spiff]

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.

1. Trinity was killing what amounted to armed slaves, controlled by the slavemasters, who were trying to capture or kill her. She was, literally, part of a group that was freeing slaves, one by one, and taking them to Zion.

2. That's what Agent Smith said, but as a program controlled by the machines who had enslaved nearly all of the human race to have them serve as batteries, you can be pretty sure that he didn't care much about the well being of the armed slaves he was using to keep the other slaves under control and stop those who were trying to free the slaves. He may have been more concerned that Trinity would get away since the cops went in prematurely, without the help of an Agent, and Trinity did, in fact, escape. Had the "cops" listened, and the Agents had been the ones to kick in the door, Trinity would not have been able to escape.

3. Neo was offered, and refused, a deal to give the Agents who were actually program used to control the enslaved and catch/kill those who were trying to free the slaves, information about one of the leaders of the group freeing the slaves. It is hard to call a man a "terrorist" if he is the one who is working to free the human race, who is almost entirely enslaved by the machines, a "terrorist". He is, from the point of view of the machines and their programs.

Again, there is little or no connection to current events. Associating the actions of the fictional characters in a science fiction movie with current situations is usually silly.

[driftless]

"reserve judgement"

I've never read "Mein Kampf", but I can be reasonably assured that it's not a very good blueprint for building a democratic society. I've only read snippets of Michael Moore's books, but I'll bet they're all garbage like the snippets I read were. You don't necessarily have to put both hands in a stinking pile of manure to know that it's manure. Sometimes merely getting a good whiff is enough to deduce what it is.

[rattrap]

An allegory on Bush's America written between 1982 and 1985? Fascinating...

[goldstategop]

Debbie just posted a more extensive review of "V" this morning:

By Debbie Schlussel

[Note: You may perceive some of this column as a "spoiler".]

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

It's an exciting, quality Bin Laden film.

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

If most other Hollywood films subtly whisper of an agenda, "V" clocks you over the head with it with a still sizzling, iron frying pan of extreme leftism. It doesn't arrive in theaters until March 17, but already the mainstream (ie. liberal) movie critics and entertainment media are raving about this egregious attack on our war on terror.

"V for Vendetta"

Natalie Portman, Guy Fawkes Mask-wearing "V" Are Terrorist Heroes 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 renditions and 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. When this movie takes place, "the United States of America" doesn't exist anymore. America is in the midst of a civil war.

And America and the war on Iraq are the enemies--along with Christians and the right--in this movie. We are treated to newscasts about how "America's War [on terror] spread to England." One character--a gay, British Jay Leno type who hosts a latenight show--keeps a secret vault of prohibited items, including a giant poster of "the Coalition of the Willing," depicting the American and British flags surrounding a swastika. Think about our troops fighting and dying in Iraq, before you decide to give your dollars to this film. Do you really think they are Nazis?

Also in the secret vault of sacred prohibited items: a Koran. Portman, whose Evie is the "heroine" of "V," asks, why the Koran? "Are you a Muslim?" she asks the late-night host. "No, but its [the Koran's] images are beautiful." Then he comments about how he can be executed for possessing the Koran. (Not a peep in this film about the thousands who've been executed in the name of the Koran and "its beautiful images.")

Puh-leeze. If anything, both Britain and the U.S. have bent over backwards not only for the Koran, but for its extremist Muslim followers. Where Christian displays are absolutely forbidden in any schools, despite so-called "freedom of speech"; where Ten Commandments are removed from the Alabama Supreme Court, despite their being the basis for our legal system; children are required to learn about Islam, read from the Koran, and behave as Muslims in elementary schools, in the name of "tolerance" and "education."

In "V", while Islam and the Koran are treasured but prohibited, Christianity is pure evil. Nice juxtaposition, when in real life, the 19 hijackers, the '93 WTC, U.S. Embassy, U.S.S. Cole, and British subway bombers were hardly Christians. Hmmm . . . what religion were they? We don't recall Mohammed Taheri-Azar, saying on Friday in his post attempted-murder 911 call, that he tried to use his jeep to kill Americans in the name of Jesus. No, he mentioned someone else's name, another religion . . . which are both nowhere blasphemed in "V."

We've already mentioned the high-ranking Christian priest, who regularly rapes young girls procured for him through an "agency." Before the priesthood, he was an evil military officer at a hospital where politically dissident youth had experiments conducted on them for the government (complete with Abu Ghraib-style hoods).

Then, there's the government. It's run by a religious Christian zealot. But not just any Christian zealot.

No. Chancellor Sutler is the supreme evil Christian. In order to get elected, he and the Bill O'Reilly-esque character (remember, before he became a cable host, he was a pharmaceutical CEO and made billions) arranged for hundreds of Brits to die from chemically poisoned water. The government said that terrorists did it, a story which became accepted fact and the conventional wisdom in media coverage. The fear that ensued garnered Sutler the chance to rule England, along with the Marshal law powers the English parliament gave him.

It's no coincidence that the symbol used for his government is some sort of Cross-come-Swastika combo. Not offended yet?

Under religious Christian zealot Sutler, gays are rounded up, imprisoned, tortured, and executed. Ditto for any dissidents, any left-wing activists, anyone who dares speak out against or flout the Chancellor's actions. Tell that to the ACLU, which seems to be running legal policy in our country, these days, and its partner in crime, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the wealthiest "public interest" group in the U.S., to the tune of hundreds of millions. We don't see any prospect of them being rounded up by the government anytime soon, unfortunately.

Under the religious Christian Chancellor, "unjust" Gitmo-style military tribunals and absurd NSA-style wiretapping is going on at every corner. Throughout the movie, we are shown vans of law enforcement personnel listening in to every home. As if that's what NSA wiretapping was about. It isn't, but "V" drills it into you the way the ACLU wants you to see it: every conversation in every kitchen, etc., secretly being listened in on and laughed at by guys in sweaty, rumpled shirts and ties.

The evil government law enforcement chief, Creedy, runs a meticulously ubiquitous surveillance program nationwide. If only our FBI's Robert Mueller were so competent, we'd be safe. Instead, he's cavorting with extremist Muslims and testified in depositions to ignorance of the most basic newspaper facts about Al-Qaeda.

Overall, the most outrageous thing about "V" is the ending. Instead of vanquishing terror, all of Britain sides with the terrorist hero of this movie. They celebrate his murder of all the top officials in government, his blowing up of the Houses of Parliament and other government buildings.

Terrorists and terrorism are the heroes, the government fighting them and trying to keep us safe are the enemy.

This is the glorious revolution? Osama Bin Laden must be very proud.

Bottom line? A movie Osama Bin Laden could take pride in.

(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.")

[absolootezer0]

with a tagline like "people should not be afraid of the government, the government should be afraid of the people" how is this going to be leftist propaganda? sounds like the perfect conservative setup of a government- a government afraid of its people wouldn't stomp all over the peoples rights.

[Wolfie]

I wonder if Schlussel can ever envision a time when citizens should fight back against their government, or is she just a "shut up and get in the boxcar" type of gal?

[Redcloak]

I've come to the conclusion that some buy their knickers pre-twisted.

[SDGOP]

Lol, yea. I mean there is obviously some liberal bias in things, but that doesnt mean its a generally good show/tv. Obviously im not gonan go see brokeback mountain or crash or something so overt like that. But i do enjoy watching boston legal even though theres the occasional jab at right wingers from David E. Kelley. While they irritate me, i'll tolerate it because i do enjoy the other parts of the show.

[wildwood]

hey, who REALLY persecutes gays? honestly this is such hogwash. women get their hands cut off for wearing nail polish and gay people are killed in the islamofascist world, yet this movie attacks CHRISTIANS for such things?

dear GOD, how low can they go?

[jiggyboy]

This isn't about an alien invasion. It's based on a comic book about brainwashing and terrorism.

[jude24]

I've never read "Mein Kampf", but I can be reasonably assured that it's not a very good blueprint for building a democratic society. I've only read snippets of Michael Moore's books, but I'll bet they're all garbage like the snippets I read were.

Frankly, that's idiotic. Every educated adult should read even offensive works in order to have an informed opinion.

I've read Mein Kampf, though it was a long time ago. If it were still fresh in my memory, my perspective on the book would carry infinitely more weight than a second or third-hand condemnation. I do recall that the book was an utterly unreadable, meandering mess (the only reason it got published was because Hitler was already Chancellor, so every good Nazi had to read it). I also recall that it was all-too-clear about what Hitler intended to do to the Jews, so the only excuse the Germans could use to claim ignorance of the Holocaust would have to be that none of them ever bothered to read the book.

Similarly, I have seen Fahrenheit 9/11. I listened to Michael Moore's case. Thus, when I walked away saying that he had a point about Dubya's baffling blind spot for the Saudis but otherwise it was entirely composed of cheap shots and publicity stunts, that opinion carries much more weight than someone who only knows what he read in a conservative's review of the book.

Similarly here - conservatives live to be offended. There is a perpetual boycott against Hollywood in some circles. Well, I don't participate in that. If there is a movie that intrigues me, I will go see it and make up my own mind. What a partisan hack like Debbie Schlussel has to say about the movie is irrelevant to whether or not I will enjoy the story.

[Sonny M]

It should be noted, that in the original serial by Alan Moore, the government also controls the economy, similiar to communism, i.e. in whole a total totalitarian government that controls everything.

I doubt the movie will even touch on some of the affronts to liberalism that the book did.

Though the serial was pure anarchist propaganda, and was "inspired" by conservatives, the movie (renounced by the author) will be a strict bashing of Bush in symbolic ways, the studio is even careful not to call the main protagonist a terrorist but a freedom fighter.

[Sonny M]

An allegory on Bush's America written between 1982 and 1985? Fascinating...

It was according to Alan Moore, an allegory to Thatcher and Reagan.

Alan Moore, the original writer, has also renounced this movie.

[Sonny M]

sounds like the perfect conservative setup of a government- a government afraid of its people wouldn't stomp all over the peoples rights.

In the book, the main character is an anarchist.

I doubt thats the case in the movie, and I know the writer of the book has renounced the movie.

[Gordongekko909]

Yeah, but, y'see, I didn't know all that until later on. I knew the three things I listed at the beginning of the movie. I had no idea about the whole computer-generated reality thing until later.

[driftless]

"idiotic"

Well I guess in your mind you have to sit all the way through an awful movie or read a similarly awful book to know how horrible they are. Now you're being "idiotic". I tried to read Hitler's other piece of trash about his new order. It was utterly incomprehensible. If you want to see or read these things, go ahead pal. Don't let me stop you. I actually don't care. But quit the pretense that everyone has to read a piece of garbage all the way through to know what it is. And furthermore, I'd take everything Moore puts out with a large grain of salt.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Preliminary Reviews of "V For Vendetta"

• "Movies based on comic books are getting more thoughful and challenging in their stories. And after Batman Begins and Spider-Man 2, V for Vendetta is one of most intriquing so far."-- Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

• "The most avowedly political movie in ages!" -- James O'Ehley, SCI-FI MOVIE PAGE

• "We have here something that we rarely see in SF films these days... a movie about ideas over action, character over special effects, and emotion over action." -- Moriarty, AIN'T IT COOL MOVIE REVIEWS

• "A work of monumental genius... all I can say is, goddamn." -- Author: rafael607 from Los Angeles, on the "Yahoo Movies page" (I've been watching this page, and this is the first review I have read from a "civilian", i.e. UnPaid and Non-Professional, attendant of the preliminary screenings).

I fully expect that BushBot "Big-Government Conservatives" will HATE this Movie.

Let them Hate it.

As a Graphic Novel, "V For Vendetta" was originally conceived as a bitter polemic against Big Government in general. And, according to all early reviews which I have read, it is the most faithfully-adapted "Comic Book Movie" yet produced. If so, this Movie is almost guaranteed to make ALL defenders of Big Government uncomfortable.

V hates Rightist Vice Laws. V hates Leftist Economic Rationing. V hates Rightist Establishmentarian Religion. V hates Leftist Political Correctness.

V has renounced Big Government, and all its works -- with a Vengeance. In fact... with a Vendetta.

"Big Government Conservatives" will be uncomfortable with "V".
But they will share their squirming with Big-Government Liberals.

ANYONE who believes in Big Government AT ALL will be uncomfortable with V FOR VENDETTA.

If the Film has been executed correctly, being a genuine and literal adaptation of the Graphic Novel... then "V For Vendetta" should be the Political "Passion of the Christ" for Ultra-Libertarians -- that is, anyone who scores at least 90 or above on the 150-Point LIBERTARIAN PURITY TEST (Personally, I have scored betwen 98 and 107, becoming more anti-Government with time; based upon Theological comparison between the Protestant "Xzins", myself, and the Traditionalist-Catholic "Maximillian", we have found that the Deuterocanonical government of Israel under God's Judges -- prior to the Kings -- scores between 115 and 119, depending upon interpretation).

"People should not be afraid of their Governments.
Governments should be afraid of their People." -- "V", V for Vendetta

"A little Rebellion, now and then, is a good thing." -- Thomas Jefferson

All I can say is... "Good evening, London. I thought it time we had a little talk. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...." Best, OP

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

the Deuterocanonical government of Israel under God's Judges

Sorry: I mean, Deuteronomic-Levitical. Mea Maxima Culpa; sometimes one's typing gets ahead of one's thinking.

Please re-read, with the above Correction.

Thanks, OP

[jude24]

LIBERTARIAN PURITY TEST

I got a 16. LOL.