Just finished watching "V for Vendetta".

[smirkymonkey]

This film has so much meaning for me now than when it did when I watched it when it first came out. If you haven't seen it lately, I would recommend watching it again. It gives a frightening glimpse into a dystopia that can be possible when fascist elements in the government use fear to gain control of the population.

One of the best lines in the film spoken by V was "People should not be afraid of their government. Government should be afraid of their people".

Unfortunately, there are too many people in this country who have no idea what is really going on and prefer to blame their ills on minorities, gays, women, atheists, liberals, people who are for gun control, etc. instead of blaming them on the rich and powerful. The republicans have successfully used fear-mongering to turn half of this nation against the other half and it seems to be working very well for them.

[brooklynite]

1. You realize that "Government should be afraid of their people" is the mantra of the alt-right?

[smirkymonkey]

2. No, I didn't. That wasn't the point of the movie.

[ck4829]

4. That movie is older than the alt-right

[Duppers]

13. Once, on FB, I got into with a gun nut.

I had no idea he built them and was such a nut. His argument was that we all need guns in order to "fight the government!"

I replied, "You think your guns are going to fight armoured tanks equipped with 125 mm main guns or hold off fighter jets? You're crazy." I immediately unfriended the guy. So yes, in retrospect
I bet he was a part of alt-right.

Sometimes when you share only one interest with a person, you're shocked to learn they are weirdos.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

3. Great movie.

Couldn't agree more. Same same with the lack of jobs. The rich got richer sending them overseas, and have successfully avoided taking responsibility for killing the middle class.

[northremembers]

5. As true today as then

One of my faves. The whole film was a rejection of W, but the problems the film criticizes are worse now than they were then. I would love for his television speech to be taught in our classrooms. Freedom and Democracy aren't just words, but perspectives. Great stuff.

[ck4829]

6. Real life has become a gross parody of your third paragraph

"Unfortunately, there are too many people in this country who have no idea what is really going on and prefer to blame their ills on minorities, gays, women, atheists, liberals, people who are for gun control, etc. instead of blaming them on the rich and powerful. The republicans have successfully used fear-mongering to turn half of this nation against the other half and it seems to be working very well for them."

We've got the scapegoating like what you mention, but we're not told to ignore the rich and powerful, we're told to IDOLIZE them for God's sake. We're told that being screwed over is "just business", it's only bad and starting trouble when we fight back... but hey, the Dow broke a new record, we shouldn't be complaining at all, right? Right?

[Blue_Adept]

7. Context

The film did what most adaptations do and it fits the time in which it was made. That said, I recommend reading about the original graphic novel that was produced in 1988 and its context

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_for_Vendetta

"The political climate of Britain in the early 1980s also influenced the work,[17] with Moore positing that Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government would "obviously lose the 1983 elections", and that an incoming Michael Foot-led Labour government, committed to complete nuclear disarmament, would allow the United Kingdom to escape relatively unscathed after a limited nuclear war. However, Moore felt that fascists would quickly subvert a post-holocaust Britain.[11]"

The trade is just $10 digitally: https://www.comixology.com/V-for-Vendetta/comics-series/2455

[bdamomma]

8. that was

great movie, remember when they mentioned the riots in the US against government.

[lordsummerisle]

9. One of my all-time favorites

probably seen it a dozen times at least...

[RandomAccess]

10. That is a great quote, tho not quite original

[smirkymonkey]

11. I think I like that one even better.

[Ferrets are Cool]

12. Huge K and R