Reto 22- 2018 Book Challenge: Un libro con una aliteración en el título.

n  Todo el mundo es especial. Todos. Todo el mundo es un héroe, un amante, un loco, un villano. Todos. Todo el mundo tiene su historia para contar.n

Remember, remember! 
    The fifth of November, 
    The Gunpowder treason and plot; 
    I know of no reason 
    Why the Gunpowder treason 
    Should ever be forgot! 

A great classic ucronic dystopian graphic novel, with echoes of Orwell's 1984 and a fascist England not so much futuristic, but a few parts were really just boring, characters' faces were almost the same and at the start of the series the author was like not knowing where the storyline was going... Sorry, mr Moore. I enjoyed much more Watchmen and the V for Vendetta movie, still losing part of the graphic novel atmosphere and strenght, was much more appealing to me. One of the few cases where I liked much more the movie than the novel which inspired it.

Più di un fumetto, più di un semplice racconto. Dialoghi, disegni e storia, tutto collabora alla realizzazione di un vero e proprio capolavoro.

This was totally a five-star book. The artistic style and design, the incorporation of different viewpoints, the writing of internal dialogue- they were wonderful. The fantastic fusion of art and prose is obviously indicative of how well Moore and Lloyd worked together, and rarely do we come across a figure like V who remains just as indecipherable in the end as he was in the beginning, constantly providing the reader with food for thought. The Shadow Gallery was a brilliant creation as well, up to par with Sherlock's study and Dumbledore's chambers.

Actually, it's more of a four-star book. It wasn't earth-shattering or life-changing, but the craftsmanship is here all the same. I have to give it credit for seamlessly combining elements that at first seem disparate: nuclear war, Guy Fawkes, concentration camps, fascism, vigilantism. There are touches here that are delightfully literary, like Valerie's beautiful letter or V's noirish cabaret song (complete with sheet music, which was a lot of fun for me to play on my keyboard), which effortlessly bring the lofty concepts back down to the reader's level, making it more than just a manifesto.

Now that I think of it, it's a three-star book. For all its theatricality and flare, for all its uniqueness and clever tactics, one can't escape the feeling that V for Vendetta still treads on familiar ground in terms of predictable relationships between characters, and between characters and the government. The way Moore peers deeper into a fascist regime to examine the human cogs and their motivations is fascinating, yes, but the whole message gets lost a bit somewhere between V's incessant diatribes and the bizarrely tangential and wildly confusing interludes in the middle.

I guess it's a two-star book. After all, the story is greatly lacking in coherence, jumping from viewpoint to viewpoint with abandon and throwing together all manner of ridiculous and unnecessary subplots. It's hard to relate to any of the characters, as they consistently make absurd decisions and act erratically. Not to mention that I still didn't know 90% of the characters' names because of how much they blended together, and some of the dialect writing, Scottish specifically, was beyond impossible to read. Also, in the end, the theme is flimsy, leaving many intricacies unanswered.

You know what? This is a one-star book. The two main characters are cardboard cutouts, and the whole thing is completely impenetrable in terms of the denseness and contradiction of the political ideology therein. With a plot that goes from intriguing to confusing to off-the-rails, culminating in a climax that comes simultaneously too early and far too late, any charm that the artwork and innovation conjures up is decimated by sloppy pacing that manages to both rush and lag. Beyond that, V's monologues and modes of speech became grating, and Evey's transformation, like so much else, wasn't believable.




...do you see my problem here?

Loved the movie so much, but not so much love for the book. Some parts of the movie didn't stay true to the book which, I think, made the movie way better. The book was a bit too sexist at times. I understand, though, that this was written in the 70s/80s so I let it slide. But I am still glad I have, finally, finally read this since this is one of my most anticipated reads this year. My 100th book :)

There are some classics that it takes time to get around to reading, watching, and appreciating. I recall the hubbub around the movie premiere of V for Vendetta but for some reason, I didn’t go see it or even take interest in the comic book. Somehow, the other big hits of 2005 – Star Wars III, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chronicles of Narnia, Peter Jackson’s King Kong (with the delicious Naomi Watts), Brokeback Mountain, and Walk the Line (amazing interpretation of the Man in Black by Joachim Pheonix)…come to think of it, 2005 was a BIG year in cinema and for me, V for Vendetta fell through the cracks. I was also not into comics back then… Well, there is a time for everything and the time to explore Alan Moore‘s apocalyptic vision of the United Kingdom in V finally arrived. I will talk first about the comic book, then about the movie, then about my general impressions. Hope you enjoy it.

The comic book from 1982 is definitely a classic. From the same author as the superb and similarly pessimistic Watchmen (reviewed by yours truly here), the story takes place in a future England following a global nuclear conflict with England tightly ruled by a vicious, vindictive, totalitarian Fascist party, the Norsefire, that has killed off the “denizens” of society (minorities, homosexuals, etc) in concentration camps. A mysterious terrorist arises called simply V who threatens the established order. His destructive path crosses that of Evey and their relationship is the primary focus of much of the comic. The government is run by various entities ingeniously identified by various body parts: The Eye (visual surveillance), The Nose (regular police), the Finger (secret police), the Mouth (propaganda), the Head (executive Brand embodied in the “Leader” Adam Susan) and the Ear (audio surveillance). There are several interweaving plot-lines besides the V-Evey story primarily focussed on the lives and sometimes deaths of various members of the government as well the cat-and-mouse game between Eric Finch of the Nose and his target V. It is a surprisingly complex tale – more so than I had imagined – and requires concentration to fully understand and follow. The artwork of David Lloyd is pseudo-realist sort of like that of Frank Miller, but a bit darker in color choices (primarily black, white, blue, and yellow throughout). It is a long read, but ends up being very rewarding – at least as much as Watchmen in terms of a standalone story.

The film as previously noted came out in 2005. It did a respectable $132m at the box office given the $50m production cost. The performances of Hugo Weaving as V and Natalie Portman as Evey were both outstanding. There are lots of signature Wachowski moments (overhead views of rain falling on Evey after her “liberation” just like the Matrix shot before they go in after the Oracle or the slow-motion V fighting scenes) and the action is pretty much non-stop. There are quite a few divergences from the comic here – two example: Evey does NOT take on the mask after the death of V, V is presented more as a liberator and lover of freedom (while still being a “monster”) than in the comic where his persona was far more ambiguous. Another major departure from the book was the confrontation at the end between V and the Finger where the blood splashes as V hacks through the secret police troops – again classic Wachowski (Hugo Weaving borrowing some of his Smith moves from Matrix) but still lots of fun to watch. The great thing about this movie is that it is relatively timeless and shot in such a manner that it will probably still look fresh in another 10-20 years. As for Portman, despite my skepticism about her (I have a real problem with anyone associated with The Phantom Menace and the rest of the Star Wars Prequel trilogy), she was extraordinary in this film as Evey. The final kiss notwithstanding, it was not overacted and was challenging (shaved head, torture – lots of difficult acting choices to make), so I regained some admiration for her acting skills. Overall, this is a keeper for sure.

As for the themes and atmosphere in the universe of V, I can’t help but wonder at this seeming obsession with fascism in the early 80s in the UK. I got to thinking about The Wall which came out in 1979 and also showed a fascist side to England (Roger Water’s interpretation anyway). I also recall some of the criticisms aimed at punk rock having a strong fascist vein to it (associations with swastika tattoos, jackboots, etc). I have only really known the UK since the late 90s and I find it so far removed from fascism today that I have a real hard time suspending disbelief and imagining a fascist dictatorship in place of the parliamentary democracy. Perhaps some of my UK readers that remember the 70s and 80s can speak in the comments about how prevalent and realistic fears of a fascist coup d’état were at the time. Was it really a reaction by artists to the strictures of Thatcherism or perhaps preoccupation with the Irish crisis and unrest at home? I am really curious about this. Another thing that is a bit forward-looking perhaps in the book is the treatment of the pedophile Bishop Lilliman. I don’t believe that the scandal of pedophilia in the priesthood had quite made the news back in 1982, but it is at the center of one of the key V kills where Evey was the bait. Was this visionary on the part of Alan Moore as well or had there already been some high profile scandals back when it was written?

The relationship between Evey and V is a fascinating one that ebbs and flows throughout the graphic novel and the film. The love that V has for Evey has a fatherly aspect, but also a brother-sister aspect as well. It does not seem sexual in the least but it is profoundly important to V. Evey comes to love V profoundly as well as she is the only one to see behind the mask – while respecting his desire to never glance behind the mask – because she sees his indomitable spirit despite the suffering he endured at the hands of the government and she realizes that despite the violence, his integrity is intact. In the best fiction and film, our values of good and bad are challenged (Walt in Breaking Bad, Tony Soprano, Julien Sorel, Raskolnikov…) and here we want to root for V despite his massive acts of violence. The author and filmmakers did a great job of putting us in Evey’s shoes as we understand and sympathize with V’s motivations. I think that is the essential timeless quality of this V for Vendetta and why it will remain a cult classic for years to come.

(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: A Miltonian antihero in an Orwellian world, the hero's a kind of philosopher Batman, but for anarchy instead of law.

I love V for Vendetta! Every November for the past few years I either watch the film or read the graphic novel. Sometimes I listen to the film soundtrack too. I really must get out more!
Alan Moore may try & squeeze too much dialogue into the panels of a comic, but reading this dystopian thriller is always a delight.

And here is my previous review from 2016...
This dystopian tale of a near future Britain has always been one of my favourite comics. While the comic is often praised the film version is usually criticised. Both have their faults, but I think they are both excellent & full of great ideas.....& ideas are bulletproof.

4.5 nhưng làm tròn lên nhìn cho đẹp ^^ Không thể cho 5/5 vì là comic (truyện tranh) đọc khá khó, nhiều đoạn rối mắt và bị loạn lời thoại. Đoạn kết mình cũng không quá ấn tượng.

V For Vendetta là một cuốn truyện tranh được viết bởi Alan Moore (người viết Watchmen và Batman: The Killing Joke). Câu chuyện đã được dựng lại thành một bộ phim cùng tên, mà theo mình là một bộ phim khá sát và rất xuất sắc về nhiều mặt.



Một cốt truyện quen thuộc nhưng phi thường...
Có lẽ nhiều bạn cũng quen thuộc với mô-típ một thế giới giả tưởng nơi Nazi chiến thắng và thống trị xã hội. V For Vendetta cũng là một câu chuyện như vậy. Ở một đất nước Anh độc tài, nơi nhân dân thống khổ và mụ mị đầu óc, nơi người đồng tính - da đen - theo chủ nghĩa xã hội bị mang đi hành quyết... trỗi dậy một kẻ choàng áo đen đeo mặt nạ mang biệt danh "V". Kẻ này đã phạm nhiều "tội ác" như bắt cóc và giết hại những viên chức cấp cao. V đã cứu mạng một cô gái hoàn toàn bình thường tên Evey Hammond, để rồi cô được làm quen với V cũng như dần thấm nhuần tư tưởng của anh.
Kế hoạch của V với chính phủ Anh là gì? Evey có liên quan thế nào? Tất cả đều dần dần được vén màn qua 10 tập truyện tranh đầy gay cấn nhưng cũng rất đau thương.

Dàn nhân vật ấn tượng...
Người để lại nhiều dấu ấn nhất, chắc hẳn phải là ''kẻ phản diện" tên n  Vn. Hắn ta bí ẩn từ ngoại hình tới tính cách, tới tiểu sử cuộc đời và thậm chí cả những dự định tương lai. Chúng ta chỉ được thấy hắn là một con người kì cục nhưng rất uyên thâm, sở hữu thứ trí tuệ đã tuyệt chủng dưới triều đại độc tài. Hắn mang những lý tưởng cao vời vợi, nhưng cách thực hiện chúng lại là những cuộc giếc chóc máu lạnh. Hắn có cách vận hành quá đáng sợ, quá nhẫn tâm nhưng cũng mang lại hiệu quả sâu sắc. Những việc hắn đã gây nên cho các nhà chức trách, những hậu quả hắn để lại lên tâm lý cô gái trẻ Evey... liệu những điều ấy có thể chấp nhận được, tha thứ được?

n  "It's the mental side that bothers me... His attitude to killing. [...] He killed them ruthlessly, efficiently, and with a minimum of fuss."n

(Tạm dịch: Tư tưởng của hắn ta làm tôi quan ngại... Thái độ của hắn ta với việc giết chóc. Hắn giết người tàn bạo, hiệu quả, và gọn gàng nhất có thể.)


Tới với n  Eveyn, một cô gái vốn dĩ chẳng can hệ gì với V, tại sao lại được V chọn đồng hành trên cuộc phiêu lưu của lý tưởng? Evey đã mất tất cả, một nhân vật điển hình của tận cùng xã hội, khi được khai sáng về "thời kì đã mất" (những bản nhạc cổ điển, thơ văn, những đóa hoa hồng,..) đã rất hạnh phúc và mãn nguyện. Nhưng cô lại bị thử thách bởi V, để rồi tự ngộ ra vốn dĩ cô chỉ sống trong một nhà tù. Evey là con người có nhiều sự thay đổi về mặt tính cách và ngoại hình nhất trong toàn bộ câu chuyện. Từ một cô gái ngơ ngác, Evey đã nắm trọn lý tưởng của V một cách hoàn toàn tự nhiên.

Ý nghĩa nhân văn sâu sắc...
Đây không phải một cuộc chiến giữa xã hội chủ nghĩa và Nazi. Chỉ đơn giản là sự tìm kiếm "tự do". V không phải là một con người, V là một lý tưởng. Một lý tưởng sẽ sống mãi.

n  "Ideas are bulletproof."n

(tạm dịch: Đạn không thể bắn xuyên lý tưởng.)

Cách hành động của V có lẽ quá cực đoan, quá đen tối. Nhưng chính vì những hành động ấy mà nhân dân sẽ thức tỉnh, sẽ nhận ra ngục tù xiềng xích chính là chế độ độc tài mà họ vẫn nhất mực tuân theo - giống như cách Evey đã tỉnh ngộ ra vậy. Câu chuyện cũng là một minh chứng cho thấy, dù chính phủ có đàn áp và mị dân tới cỡ nào, nhất định sẽ có người ngộ ra chân tướng sự việc và vùng dậy đấu tranh. "Tự do" là quyền cơ bản của con người, là thứ con người có quyền được hưởng, xứng đáng được hưởng.

n  Lời kết,n   đây là một cuốn truyện tranh rùng mình, kì lạ nhưng cũng vô cùng thấm thía. Một câu chuyện không quá đỗi mới mẻ nhưng có khả năng lay động lòng người. Nếu không đọc được tiếng Anh, các bạn cũng có thể xem phim nhé!n

الن مور قطعا جز بهترین کمیک نویسهای دنیاست
با خواندن وی فور وندتا و شوخی مرگبار راحت میشه اینو فهمید
همش باید جمله ی کلیشه ای "با اینکه فیلم خیلی خوبه، ولی کمیک و کتاب بهتره" استفاده کرد
قسمتهایی از فیلم زیادی مصنوعی ساخته شده و انگار دنیای واقعی نیست ولی توی کمیک محیط وحشت آوری که حکومت ساخته رو میشه کاملا حس کرد اما از بازی خارق العاده ی هوگو ویوینگ نباید گذشت، بسیار عالی نقش وی رو اجرا کرد
وجود چنین نمادهایی مثل وی برای به وجود آمدن یک انقلاب الزامی نیستند ولی رهبری می کنن و راه رو باز میکنن و مسیر رو نشون میدن
با این حال یه انقلاب بدون رهبر خیلی بهتر از اینه که یه رهبر بد اون رو پیش ببره

n  تنها آزادی که در اختیار مردم من است، آزادی برای گرسنگی کشیدن است، آزادی برای مردن، آزادی برای زندگی در دنیایی آشوب زدهn

از فربد آذسن هم بابت ترجمه ی عالیش تشکر میشه

I reread this in one sitting one cold, Saturday in February. It's still remarkable and more than a bit terrifying in our age of Trumplandia.

n  n

For all of the criticism heaped on movie versions of novels and other literary works (well deserved in many cases), there are times when the filmmakers get it very right (e.g., Lord of the Rings, the Princess Bride, Schindler’s List). The Graphic Novel, in particular, is a format that lends itself well to adaptation and, in the right hands, can often IMPROVE on the source material. Examples of this, IMHO, would include: From Hell, Road to Perdition and Sin City. To that small but distinctive list I would add V for Vendetta as I thought the film version was superior to the print.

That's not to say the graphic novel is not good. Alan Moore deserves a lot of credit for this ground-breaking, original story. Had I not seen the movie prior to reading this, I would likely have been far more impressed with it. However, as it is, I couldn't help feeling that the film did a better job of conveying the “oppressive nature” of the fascist society envisioned in the story. The stellar cast assembled for the movie didn't hurt either. While reading, I often found myself thinking to myself that I preferred the film's vision of the narrative.

Without spoilerizing, one example of this is that I thought, in general, the character depictions were vastly enhanced, largely due to the superior casting. I mean seriously, the movie had
n  n
....NUFF SAID!!!

I also think the movie more clearly defined the central plot, allowing the underlying message of the story to be delivered with more power. As for the climax, the movie's was golden, and I thought the addition of the public’s “participation” was inspired.

To be fair, the GN had its share of moments of advantage as well, enough to make reading it worth while even if you have seen the movie. V’s “confrontation” with the “Voice of London” was much more elaborate in the graphic novel, and V’s back story is expanded upon and given more depth. Both of these are interesting and well done.

Still, overall I found the movie was superior and I think my rating of the GN suffers a bit, unfair or not, as a result. Thus, a good read and one that I recommend...just make sure to see the movie as well!!

3.5 stars.