Greetings, Comrades and Friends, on the Eve of the Revolution.
Shall we dance?
Tonight revolutionary science fiction thriller V for Vendetta is opening around the world and in the USA at Sold Out 10pm and midnight showings. Will this movie serve to Wake UP the young people (and the rest of us) in the USA and inspire them to take action to put a halt to creeping fascism? I'm hearing it and feeling it: People from all over are fed up with the way their corrupt governments are treating the people, making the timing perfect for this thought-provoking and incendiary movie.
Read my previous V 4 Vendetta daily kos diary where you can answer a Box Office Poll at the bottom. Then join me for more plus a NEW POLL in the extended.
Box Office Savior?
Well-received advanced screenings and previews have built the Vendetta buzz to a fever pitch. Star Natalie Portman has been appearing everywhere answering questions about the film's explosive themes, as well as her changing hairstyles. The Internet and movie industry is waiting, wondering if V 4 Vendetta will be a break out hit to rescue a stale box office.
Some strikes against V's chances for capturing the younger youth audience and therefore the box office: 1) it's Rated R, 2) it discusses "anti-government" political themes of revolution and terrorism that some find boring, 3) it's not much of an action movie, but more of a mystery thriller.
A $25 to $30 million opening weekend is predicted, but St Paddy's day and March madness could have an effect. Made for $54 million, there's no way Vendetta will be a flop. And it will make a killing on dvd.
BOM BOX OFFICE UPDATE 'V 4 Vendetta' had a good opening weekend near $26 million, and has held well over the last four weeks, for an R-rated niche comic book movie. The rolling Spring BReak schedule has helped it, although it's already dropped a lot of theaters. It has made back it's production and marketing costs, a good sign.
It needs Your support: GO See V 4 Vendetta!
Divisive
The reviews have been divisive over all sorts of issues, but holding at around 75% positive with over 100 reviews in (that's a pretty good percentage, similar to Oscar winner "Crash" and "Munich.")
Conservative alarmists like Drudge and the Freepers are calling it "V for vicious propaganda" claiming the movie is an obvious slam against the Bush administration and FOX News, while to others it presents a struggle against any generic totalitarian or Fascist regime. One reviewer wrote, "[it] plays like a comic book version of an al-Qaeda recruiting video."
Not surprisingly, the same PC "liberal" critics who attacked Munich for "humanizing terrorists" are condemning the questions V 4 V raises about the use of violence. They say it's irresponsible to raise serious moral questions without answering them for young minds.
In what could be a good sign of the changing times, FOX News gave V for Vendetta a great early review, and ran another favorable preview of Natalie Portman today. They quoted Portman:
"The idea that a big studio action movie could have some substance and could be subversive, that was exciting," said Portman. "But I don't ever desire to make propaganda. The greatest art allows audiences to bring their subjective context to the situation.
"But there are certain specific things in this movie -- for example, the oppression of homosexuality -- I do feel very strongly about. Also the tendency to label in the press. The situation is too complicated to put simplified words on either side. Be wary of oversimplifications."
I'm not going to post any reviews, as too many give away the delicious twists, turns, and revelations of an entertaining and provocative story. I think they do it on purpose to ruin the film for others, or to force their own point of view. Everybody should encounter this story as freshly as possible and judge for themselves. However, inquiring minds will find a mostly Spoiler-Free review linked in my sig.
I'm going to see it tomorrow, how about you?