V: the Mask.

[scottopic]

Ok, the detritus out of the way before I hit the deeper points.

Semi-spoilers, but only very general, contained within. I’ve posted them as white on white so you can highlight them to see them.

Yes, there was some divergence from the graphic novel. Some of this was obvious for time, translation to the screen and reinterpretation by the filmmakers.
I will state here that I find any mad assertion of authenticity is as silly as insisting on authenticity from a local Tex-Mex restaurant. Who cares?
Did you like the damn taquitos or not?
Not all of it worked. Parts that I liked were left out, too – the speech to the citizens of London left out the employer-employee metaphor I appreciated.
Drug references were removed. Even aspects of V’s final philosophy were changed (however slightly), in some ways I liked better, others I preferred from the novel.
So yes – if you’re looking to go the angle on differences from the book, in and of themselves, do reinforce them with why this makes for a problem. There are problems – elaborate on them!
“Not like the book” – ya know, literalism? Earth in five days? I’ll throw one out there – while I’m ever so glad they didn’t go all Hollywood and show his face, I think they revealed too much detail all the same.

And on Alan Moore:
I acknowledge his influence on the comic medium and the direction of graphics novels. It’s undeniable. He’s a vivid storyteller, a visionary and has put forth some brilliant ideas.
But when it comes to my taste, I’ve specifically loved two of his works: From Hell and V. Watchmen was incredibly important, yes, and I’ve enjoyed various bits from many things he’s produced, but he’s not my patron saint of comics or any other corner of the arts. When I hear him disavowing a piece of his work, it sometimes sounds more like a play for safety – the movie sucks, so he doesn’t want his name attached to it, sure – or just playing it safe in case it does. Some interviews make it seem like that his pristine vision has varied some, or business disagreements have tainted his view on the art.
All of these things are within his right, of course, but it doesn’t impact my critique of the film in a significant way. I think, ultimately, he’s just being a prima donna.

"Behind this mask is a man, and behind this man is an idea. And ideas are bulletproof."

To place too much value on these points is to care so very much about the mask. Don't get me wrong - there is a mask, and it merits viewing, discussing and evaluating...but there's the man, and the idea.

Comments

[aesthetic.livejournal.com]

I was so pleased that they didn't show his face.

That made his point stronger than anything else they could have done...

(BEST MOVIE EVER MADE!!!)

[adrienmundi]

For years, I didn't read much Alan Moore. I'd read V since it was in imported Warrior mags (dude, I was an elitist among elitist geeks), and always attributed a similar degree of "Fuck yeah!" to what I imagined he was writing. I remember reading Watchmen and thinking, "That was it?" As I encountered more Moore (heh), I realized that the only work of his I really liked was V. I agree that he does seem very taken with the idea of his own importance; hell, he makes Grant Morrison look like a shrinking violet.

So long as the angry, political, nihlism in the service of generative change, revolutionary aspects are there, I suspect I won't hate it. So long as V himself is cool, creepy, and crazier than any flavor of Batman, I suspect I'll like it.

[scottopic.livejournal.com]

I think the graphic novel was very valid for its time, and includes timeless elements.
My preference lies in how it's been updated, not only for the moment, but as we learn more cumulatively.

[jah-lila.livejournal.com]

hell, he makes Grant Morrison look like a shrinking violet.

Ha!
Very funny.
And true.

[speaks.livejournal.com]

The irony of your statement with an Invisible's Icon is delicious.

Although sadly, Invisibles was where something started to eat Grant's brain. There wasn't much left for The Filth. Has he put out anything cool since?

I long for the days of Animal Man and Doom Patrol.

[jah-lila.livejournal.com]

I don't know. The last thing I read from him was The Invisibles.
Which I loved.

I also really loved Arkham Asylum. And Kill Your Boyfriend. And some of his JLA was really good. That might have come out after The Invisibles - I don't remember the timing.

[scottopic.livejournal.com]

He's my favorite comic author. He's made some mistakes and missteps, but damn...I love his stuff.
Despite the person to whom you're responding, if you liked the Invisibles, The Filth may be up your alley.

[catholicpsyche.livejournal.com]

Love Grant.

Grant Morrison

[speaks.livejournal.com]

All of the above was good. JLA was pre-Invisibles I am pretty sure. I really love how Grant takes old often silly characters from the silver age and makes them cool

(Mirror Master, Starro the Conquerer)

Re: Grant Morrison

[scottopic.livejournal.com]

You might be interested in his more recent Seven Soldiers workings - he takes some largely secondary characters and reworks them in 7 mini-series that all link (but stand on their own).

[servingdonuts.livejournal.com]

Not exactly like the book - agreed, who cares. Not endorsed by Alan Moore - agreed, who cares.

Waiting to see your next part...

[ghsthckr.livejournal.com]

It should be noted, I think, that Alan Moore disowns some of his work (including V) because he feels he was tricked into giving away some of the rights to DC. As a result, he doesn't want to be associated with them anymore because he doesn't feel they are completely his work anymore. Whether this is valid or not, and I've heard arguments both ways, I can certainly understand him being angry because he believes he was lied to and as a result no longer controls his own work. In the same breath as disowning the work, he almost invariably talks about how proud he is of it regardless.

He also has always given his cuts of movies to the other creators involved. I believe this started after From Hell was made and he was so with it. A final point, and then I'll stop singing his praises. A few years back, he joined Wildstorm because they gave him his own division called America's Best Comics where he had complete control. When DC bought Wildstorm, they expected Moore to quit because he so publicly hated them. He didn't. He stayed on because all of the creators he was working with on America's Best Comics would benefit from the buyout.

He is in my pantheon of comic writers, and while I think he is thoroughly insane, I respect him and the decisions he's made. All of that being said, I think he was wrong about V, they did a great job with it. Now if only they would get rid of the bullet-time rain and the ridiculous graphics from the last knife fight.

[morbid-o.livejournal.com]

He's in my Pantheon as well. I'm an avid ABC fan. I'm not surprised that V was well-liked (well, a little, but that's a Wachowski matter and nothing else). The fact remains that the creator did not want the movie to be made. Thankfully, there is an interenet, and there is a Telecine.

[catholicpsyche.livejournal.com]

I HATED the ending. They went from "Give me a Viking funeral" to "I love you"? No, no, no. You aren't supposed to fall in love with anarchy, and it certainly doesn't fall in love with you. You use each other and then you go on your seperate ways. V is the greatest whore you ever hired!

[i-am-devilbunny.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I agree, I was groaning during that whole scene.
Though I did appreciate the very very last bit. It seemed to make the point a little more clear and concise perhaps?

[ripebastard.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed it, but one thing I did have to point out to someone during the movie...

"Do DELL computers survived the ongoing American civil war and is still making flat panel monitors?"

There was some blatant product placement in the police officer's office when he was looking up the 80,000 dead article.