V is not only for Vendetta but for very wet indeed as near torrential rain descended on Leicester Square for tonight’s premiere of V for Vendetta, the much anticipated directorial debut from James McTeigue starring Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, John Hurt and Stephen Fry.
(PRWEB) March 10, 2006 -- V is not only for Vendetta but for very wet indeed as near torrential rain descended on Leicester Square for tonight’s premiere of V for Vendetta, the much anticipated directorial debut from James McTeigue starring Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, John Hurt and Stephen Fry.
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Despite the downpour crowds still were out in force with their brollies and at least a dozen enthusiastic star-spotters got into the spirit, dressed up as Guy Fawkes.
Bit late for Bonfire Night you may be thinking, but there is a reason for this sartorial madness. The film’s protagonist V (Hugo Wearing) plays a mysterious masked vigilante who ignites a series of guerrilla attacks in his war against tyranny in an imagined dictatorship British state. This includes the bombing of the Houses of Parliament in a throwback to the terrorist plots of Guy Fawkes in 1605. (Now you get it.)
As the red carpet rolled out just before 6pm a circular beacon of fire lit up the soggy London skies. Guests including a platinum blonde Kelly Osbourne with brother Jack and a few ex Eastenders stars hurried quickly inside to beat the drizzle. Stephen Fry arrived late and unfortunately had little time to greet his public.
But the crowds were waiting for leading lady Natalie Portman, the Star Wars beauty and Academy Award nominee for her performance in Closer. She appeared on the red carpet wearing black Balenciaga (a fashionable tulip shape skirt ) with a full head of hair, despite having had it all shaved off for the film’s torture scenes. Apparently the actress is said to have been eager to try out the feeling of being bald and welcomed the opportunity to shave her hair off.
V for Vendetta presents a dystopic vision of an alternative future in which Germany wins the Second World War and London is governed by a Fascist totalitarian state.
Our controversial masked hero (played by Hugo Wearing) rescues the young, mild mannered Evey (Natalie Portman) from the grip of the secret police and she becomes his unlikely accomplice as the net draws ever tighter in around them.
The plot is based on the early 80s graphic novel by Alan Moore, and has been heralded as a cross between George Orwell’s terrifying novel 1984 and Batman- two storylines that have reflected paranoia in the modern city. V for Vendetta also draws parallels with last years graphic novel adaptation Sin City.
Screen-writers the Wachowski brothers, (who also worked on The Matrix) are self confessed fans of Alan Moore’s graphic novels, however the author has explicitly disassociated himself from the adaptation, and withdrawn his endorsement of the film.
The film is set to open in conventional as well as IMAX theatres on March 17, 2006 but the original release date was scheduled for the 5th November 2005, on the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder plot. In fact the original tag-line was ‘Remember remember the 5th of November.’
Some say that the release was pushed back out of sensitivity to the July 2005 London bombings, but the film-makers have denied this speculation claiming it was to allow the full development of post-production special effects.
Freedom and justice is the overriding message in this hugely anticipated film which is part of a wave of contemporary cinema commenting on our current world of political oppression and tyranny. It has however raised controversial issues, and suggestions have been made that V for Vendetta glorifies terrorism. Perhaps the images of London bombings were are a little close to the bone in light of the attacks on London in July 2005.
In spite of the political sensitivities producer Joel Silver suggested that ‘it was a good time to tell the story’.
The film also raises questions about the wreckless power invested in leaders by a public living in fear, and the terrifying ability of the media to shape public opinion.
Co-star Ben Miles plays TV executive in the film and when asked his opinion on it’s meaning said ‘It’s a film that works on many different levels. It’s not that far off where one fears things might be going. ’
On a less political note, when asked what is was like working with Natalie Portman he said ‘Well I said hello to her a couple of times in the make up trailer. That was good enough for me.
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