Remember, remember the 5th of November
This quote is the most famous quote of this graphic novel. I got to reading it because I wanted to compare it to the 2006 movie of the same name. The content is not for me.
Book Review: V For Vendetta by Alan Moore
Rating:
Title & Author: V For Vendetta by Alan Moore
Genre: Comic, Dystopia
Release Date: June 1 1990
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Titan Books
Synopsis
A frightening and powerful tale of the loss of freedom and identity in a chillingly believable totalitarian world, V for Vendetta stands as one of the highest achievements of the comics medium and a defining work for creators Alan Moore and David Lloyd.
Set in an imagined future England that has given itself over to fascism, this groundbreaking story captures both the suffocating nature of life in an authoritarian police state and the redemptive power of the human spirit which rebels against it. Crafted with sterling clarity and intelligence, V for Vendetta brings an unequaled depth of characterization and verisimilitude to its unflinching account of oppression and resistance.
I give V For Vendetta by Alan Moore three out of five hearts, because I did not like the politics in this graphic novel that much. It is very politically oriented and I am just not into that that much. Also V’s complete goal was never really clear. You do hear him say he want Anarchy, but why does he want it?
V is an interesting character, because during the investigation into him, we learn about his disturbed past and that a doctor thinks he might be crazy. But you do not see this in V in the present time. Yes he is disturbed, how else would you describe a man who kills people without a thought and pulls a 16 year old into his antics. But to call him crazy, he is too collected and calm to be crazy.
Evey is a young girl who gets everything against her. Her mother dies, her father gets taken away and she is put to work in a matchbox factory at the age of 16! The world she lives in is crazy. “Police” men that can just kill you because you tried to hook up with them to earn some more money. I am not saying her choice to start whoring is a good one, but the fact that the Fingermen are allowed to kill her, gives a really bad view of the society.
I say I like political stuff a bit in novels that actually miss them, but this novel is too political. I do think the drawing style is cool, it is very gray, which suits the story and only little color. Which I liked. I am not saying this graphic novel is bad, it is probably pretty good, if you like the politically flavoured things in there.
The Movie
In 2006 the movie was released with a script by the Wachowskis and with the main characters portrayed by Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving. I love these guys a lot, I very much enjoyed The Matrix and I have always liked to see Natalie Portman since her appearance in Leon.
I think the movie is pretty much a shorter better version of the graphic novel. It is well acted and all the pieces I did not care for in the comic were left out. I like the style of the movie and how well it keeps everything under wraps. Which does not go that much for the comic. But of course you have pieces you need to leave out if you want to make a 2 hour movie out of a 265 pages novel.
Let me know what you thought of this book and/or movie!
If you have any requests for which book I should talk about next, please let me know in the comments down below.
For now, let books enrich your life!