Holy shit what a great movie! It's infrequent in these confused, delirious, fear-ridden times that any kind of artist or media mogul dares to use the immense power of their platform to send any kind of message in conflict with the "accepted" and therefore inevitably twisted truth. But here we have V, a hero that, despite the overhanging September 11th malaise, is actually a terrorist! HOLY SHIT! And what questions arise from this little tid-bit? Oh, how about the fact that we haven't had any positive portrayals of terrorists for five years? How about the fact that, as I have mentioned on numerous occasions, George Washington was a terrorist? How about the reality that terrorism is simply synonymous with free-thought and the independent courage to take action? Or at least it can be, in some scenarios. Take "V for Vendetta" for instance.

The movie introduces V in the best possible way, with a tongue-twister set of dialouge that goes on for about four minutes and is so full of poetry and alliteration that it would make Shakespear sit up and vomit vociferously. I sat there with a plastic smile on my face and just opened my ears pleasantly as V went on with his various arguments for self-justification.

I have to admit, I'm always enamored by uncompromising characters in film, literature, or real life that are completely at odds with the world around them and yet are unhesitant in pursuing the path that they have deemed fit. In a late scene in the film, V stands before a column of his enemies and the dramatic representation of ideals rather than physical beings is superbly in force.

Perhaps it is just a by-product of the literary age, but names and faces do not mean flesh and blood anymore. Names become associated with good and evil, right and wrong, mercilessness and compassion. These are the marks you leave on the universe, not the temporary footprints of your physical being. Those get erased with a strong wind, but the institutions you choose to support or destroy linger on forever and become irrevocably intertwined with your immortal soul.

But the true poignancy of V comes with its pointed criticism of modern times. There is a scene in which a local TV anchorman decides to point fun at the countries dictatorial, fascist leader, and gleefully sits there and watches it somehow missing the obvious fact (painfully obvious to all of the observing audience) that through the episode he has simply signed his own death warrant.

And, in watching that scene, I couldn't help but further reflect that perhaps, in a larger sense, perhaps "V for Vendetta" itself has signed somebody's death warrant. It's not just George W. Bush that it mocks, but every ruthless idiot dictator that uses fear to gain control. Fear and ruthlessness to crush the inner spirits of good people. People who, if given the proper chance to be nurtured and allowed to grow, might have evolved into something beyond anything anybody in history has ever had the aspirations to dream.

Could that be?

Who knows?

But first things first, we must slay the hydra. Whatever particular hydra you happen to fight.

The End