I'm curious about the movie V for Vendetta. The one with the man wearing a strange mask and giving a long alliterative speech (I've seen that scene). I do not wish to watch the movie, because I have heard it is very dark and extremely violent. But apparently it has strong themes in it; freedom from oppressive government, willingness to die for the greater good. And it appears to me that some of you have considered it worth watching.

So this thread is to discuss the movie. What was good about it? What was bad about it? Did it inspire you? What did you appreciate about it?

I wouldn't recommend watching it. I haven't seen it but I once looked it up on a really good review site, and it looks awful. I can't tell you what was in it, it wouldn't be suitable.

It's only rated PG in Israel...

It's on my to-watch list in the future, but that's quite a ways off.

I haven't read the comic book series it's based on, but that's an option.

It's rated 15 here.

It's R in the US, but I've seen a couple of those. V for Vendetta would be a darker R than the ones I've seen though.

Wow. I wonder if their rating system is different...

Probably.

What age would R be? As in would it be a 15 here, do you know?

R is eighteen or older, I believe.

And my dad saw it and really liked it overall I think, though he said that yes, there were bad things in it, and it wasn't suitable for a younger audience. That's all I know.

Aah ok!

Yes, R indicates "not suitable for under 18". Most theaters will let a child in if he's with an adult, though.

I'm pretty sure there are some people here who have seen this movie. (The "You may call me V!" sound effect is one clue. )

By the way, Elanor, can you direct me to the review you read?

Sure, I will send it to your PM.

Thank you.

You're welcome!

R doesn't actually mean not suitable for people under 18, I'm pretty sure that would be NC-17. It's just that (in the theaters around here) you'll need a parent to get in.

The R movies I've seen would probably be for 15-16 year olds or above, so yeah. The English rating is probably accurate.

R is Restricted, right?

I've never heard of this movie before.

Oh, okay.

Right. "Restricted Audiences".

I hadn't either, until I got curious about the "You may call me V!" sound effect.

I've heard of it because it was originally a comic book series, it's a classic, and because the hacktivist group Anonymous has a lot of clips from the movies in their videos.

Grace is correct, Varon. R is restricted for audiences under 18.

Yeah, this movie has some issues. I've done research on it. It also has a homosexual scene between two women.

Hm.

Interesting.

*laughs * So lots of us have done the research and never watched it. Interesting.

Yes.

I have seen it a couple of times. It (like nearly everything) has its good and bad points.

The main theme of the movie is one that I believe is very needed in our culture. It is a libertarian film and portrays governments as deceptive and controlling (which is true today in the US) It also gives hope to those of us who wish to return to a more limited role for the federal government. One man can make a difference. I have recommended it to mature audiences. I do not recommend it to young people unless they are already in the habit of watching very adult movies. Lady E has not seen it. But I will most likely offer it to her when she's 17-18ish.

There are some very disturbing images in this film. Some of the worst include piles of bodies of people killed by the totalitarian regime. And some very romantified treatment of a lesbian couple.

There are also mature topics dealt with. One of those that would probably offend many young Christians (many old Christians for that matter) is the treatment of religion as a source of discrimination. The regime portrayed in this film is an allegedly Christian one. Think Hitler, who claimed to be a Christian - likewise this government claims Christian type beliefs, but picks and chooses which of God's commands to carry out. For instance homosexuality is punishable by death. Possessing non-Christian religious material is punishable by death (a Koran for instance) But there is no love/mercy/grace from their hand. I was not offended by this association. But I see these things in a much different light than most Christians.

I believe that we cannot expect unBelievers to act like Believers. A secular government has no business telling anyone what they can and can't do with their own body*. (drugs, prostitution, homosexuality, etc) I don't believe those things should be illegal. I do believe that they are immoral and that no follower of Christ should engage in them. I could definitely see why the filmmaker would choose to portray a totalitarian Christian regime. Many Christians are militant about such things today, and from the perspective of the non-Believer it looks like they are forcing their beliefs down others' throats. We have become a people who are known not for our Yes, but for our No. No, you may not do this. No, you may not do that. Not Yes, I will love you, no matter what you do.

Probably way more information than anybody wanted. LOL But I have known many unBelievers who wanted nothing to do with Christ because of the judgmental attitudes of the Christians they knew. I say, love them, win them, let Christ clean them up!

*Note: You will notice that I said their own body. I believe abortion should be illegal because it deals not with the woman's own body, but with another separate person.

Amazing post, White Raven. Thank you for that.

I totally agree! Thank you, White Raven.

I saw it on television a couple years ago and thought overall that it was a strong film with its good and bad points. Personally, I had no problem with the violence, but I did have a problem with several of the morality issues (the portrayal of lesbianism as a romantic style of life and such) and the portrayal of Christianity as an oppressive and burdensome religion. Even so, despite that, some mature themes and profanity, it did have a strong theme of seeking freedom and fighting for that which is good. However, it certainly could have done a better job of portraying it.

White Raven pretty much summed it up nicely, so if you haven't read her post, you should.

Amen, amen, amen, and amen!

Ditto.

Thank you for your post, Mrs...Mama Raven. That was very helpful.

It would have been nice if the film had some true Christians in it, instead of portraying it all as bad, right? Because hypocrisy and false Christianity is a subject that deserves to be addressed.

Very true. That's a book there that needs written.

If we're gonna write it, let's make the point very clear.
It should portray both, the nominal Christian and the true follower of Christ!

Probably in direct conflict with each other.
That would be powerful!

Yes, it would.

Definitely!