V for Vendetta

I would like to start by saying, I really like the film V for Vendetta, however just because a film is enjoyable doesn't mean that it is a good graphic novel adaptation. As shown in this interveiw with Alan Moore (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX7ehbE1vc0) The Graphic Novel of V for Vendetta was Moore's Ode to anarchy, detailing all of his beilefs on anarchy and facism ect and his response to Margaret Thatcher's administration.The plot of both revolves around an anarchist known only as V and his plot to take down the facist government that is in power and Evey, a girl who has been rescued by and acompanies V.

As with alot of adaptations, the film makers change a number changes to the story when adapting the source material. In the graphic novel V is a cold, emotionless mastermind who is always five steps a head of the government and who's only goal is only to create his "Better World" however in the movie he is a kind, pleasent, revenge fueled terrorist who is thoughtout the film only on par with the government and has a deep love and caring for Evey. Of course this treatment isn't reserved simply to V, in the graphic novel Moore goes out of his way to depict the Government officals as ordinary and sometimes even likable people, in the movie most are nothing more than a cartoonish characture of the nazi party. And possiblly worst of all in the movie Evey is a thirty something ordinary woman, with a good job who is rescued and romanced by V however in the graphic novel she is a sixteen year old who is so poor she is forced to become a prositute to get money and is rescued but then kidnapped and held against her will by V. In the movie she is perfectly willing to help V kill however in the graphic novel she out right refuses. (please see this interesting, if not abit rant-like, article for more differences http://www.scifidimensions.com/Mar06/betrayal.htm) The Movie tamed the story and made it more commerically likable, they removed all the anarchy and endless "shades of grey" and replaced them with romance and clear heroes and villians.

However as I said before i do like the movie, I find it is a good politically driven thriller and this artical (http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/696/696867p1.html) makes a good point, although different from the graphic novel it is quite appropriate for the time it was made, there are clear references to american,soceity and government, the black bags akin to that from guantanamo bay and the news broadcasters that are alot like their real life american equivilant. The film isn't just some dumb action-thiller that you don't have to think about, it raises a number of policital points and makes a number of interesting comments upon the bush administration and as a film there is very little wrong with it.

But, in my opinion it only works as long as you don't compare it to the graphic novel, as good as the film is, like most adaptations of Alan Moore's work, it proves disapointing once you start to compare it with the source material. This in particluar as it could have been so much better and was tamed down so much. As I said the film is a good and enjoyable one, I can happily watch it again and again, however as an adaptaion I don't think I can call a particularly great one when the point of the story has been altered so much. I don't recommend this film for the top ten.