Rated R for strong violence and some language.
Directed by James McTeigue (Assistant Director on all 3Matrix movies and on Star Wars: Episode II)
Starring (Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, John Hurt…)
After two very disappointing Matrix sequels… the pendulum has swung back and the Wachowski brothers have returned!
Andy and Larry Wachowski relinquished the director’s chair to their assistant director from the Matrix films, James McTeigue. And wow… great directorial debut.
I don’t know about you, but when I saw the ads to this film I didn’t know what to think. The guy in the mask looked a little bizarre, Natalie Portman goes Sigourney Weaver on us with the shaved head, and John Hurt looks even nastier than normal (and trust me… this guy hasn’t ever been on the cover of GQ). But something still intrigued me about the film… enough to go see it. I wasn’t disappointed when it came to entertainment value.
“Remember, remember the 5th of November.” The film is poetic and artsy. But not the kind of artsy that means BORING. V for Vendetta is original, well written, visually stimulating and filled with enough action to make you remember the good parts of The Matrix, but forget the over the top nonsense of the sequels.
The DC comic story is about a shadowy freedom fighter known only as “V” who uses terrorist tactics to fight against his totalitarian society in a futuristic Britain. Upon rescuing a girl from the secret police, he also finds his best chance at having an ally.
GREAT FILM… NOT SO GREAT MESSAGE
This was an incredible piece of film-making. I can’t deny it. Too bad…because the film occasionally jabbed at the religious (in the fundamentalist sense), portraying them as intolerant, hypocritical and evil. Sad, the church was part of the corruption in this futuristic “big brother is watching” society. Apparently true freedom means “we should be able to do anything we want.” A five minute montage dedicated itself to the love story between to homosexual lovers who were oppressed by this “intolerant” future world.
Today’s lies have a way of creeping their ways into our lives. And this film does it VERY well. Young people will be caught up in the emotion of this film and nod their heads in agreement as to the “shame” of such an intolerant world.
I’m not for “intolerance.” But I do stand for truth. As enjoyable at the film was… it was hard to ignore the “everything is okay” message that was woven into the theme of “true freedom.” (More of my thoughts on homosexuality and the church in this article Click Here)
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Nope. The film is violent and preachy. They should definitely miss this one.
Side Note:
As said above, we don’t recommend your kids see this film. But on the occasion that they actually have already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
