this movie is about an idea. which is amazingly similar to what the first matrix movie was. thank god there's probably not going to be a sequel to V because now i can just treasure it instead of having it ruined like ice cream with the third installment. wachowski brothers, i salute you.

obviously V for vendetta is about revenge, hence the name, though his introduction the first time with the major alliteration will give you a whole new respect for the letter 'V'.* thus comes into play some major philosophical, literary, historical, and cinematic references to the idea of vengeance. there's macbeth, count of monte cristo, guy fawkes, lies, truth, love, hate, and the political ramifications of each. it's apropos of our current political climate. there's some stunning hitler/bush references. the terrorist attacks on london's underground were the reason behind the release date being pushed back--the movie itself is an exploration behind terrorism, in fact. and not just examining the causes but lauding them as just. the lies our governments tell us are exposed through the brush of an artist's stroke. a repeating refrain in the movie is, 'artists use lies to tell the truth, the government uses lies to cover up the truth.'

and v is an artist at heart. not that theoretically he has a heart as he himself claims to be an idea and no longer a man. natalie portman's voice over says she will remember the man and what he means to her over the idea, but even she states out loud immediately after his revolution that he was her father, her mother, her brother, her friend, and you and me and all of us. even dead people apparently. he wasn't a man, he was an idea. and the idea is amazing. this movie is amazing. it made me hurt and it made me angry.

would i die for the idea? would i have gone to parliament that day? to honor guy fawkes and remember, remember the fifth of november? i don't know. but i'd sure as hell like to think so.

* "V: This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-Ã-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V."