V for Vendetta

[Rigpa108]

Since the Jimmy Kimmel's show was suspended last week I was reminded of scenes from the 'V for Vendetta' movie that display some parallels to current events. I just finished watching and there are many parallels to today's U.S. political environment. The 'T' icon used by the regime in the movie is an interesting coincidence. The strongman High Chancellor turning out to be a sniveling coward is another.

Next movie to watch? '1984'. Trump's picture banners hanging from government buildings remind me of the images of Big Brother.

[GreenWave]

1. The Keep

"You have scooped the most diseased psyches out of the American (German) gutters. You have infected millions with your twisted fantasies..."

[a kennedy]

2. Wish someone could put that red circle through all his damn mug shots hanging on those buildings.

🤬 🤬 🤬

[kimbutgar]

3. Which version of 1956 with Edmund O'brien or the 1984 with John Hurt as Winston Smith ?

The one from 1956 is my favorite version and it is more closely follows the book.

In novel O'Brien describes the Party's vision of the future:

There will be no curiosity, no enjoyment of the process of life. All competing pleasures will be destroyed. But always—do not forget this, Winston—always there will be the intoxication of power, constantly increasing and constantly growing subtler. Always, at every moment, there will be the thrill of victory, the sensation of trampling on an enemy who is helpless. If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—forever.
— Part III, chapter III, Nineteen Eighty-Four

Which sound s scarily like today. I have DVDs of both versions. But found out you can watch for free on those streaming channels with commercials. And Great Britain had the first film in 1954 with Peter Cushing as Winston.

[Rigpa108]

8. The John Hurt version

I liked the gritty feel of the movie. I thought it was a good representation of the book as I remember it.
In my high school days, me being a science fiction fan, I got into reading several of the well known dystopian novels. Fahrenheit 451, 1984, Brave New World.
I'll look into the 1956 '1984' movie. Always willing to check out different renditions of movies based on books. Thanks for the info.

[NCDem47]

4. I've been thinking A LOT about V for Vandetta lately

Eerie similarities

[lame54]

7. Cool movie but...

No superhero is coming to save us

Millions of little-heros are what it's going to take

[NCDem47]

10. Truth

[JCMach1]

5. The dystopia is actually Brazil though

[Rigpa108]

9. Loved Brazil

Robert De Niro's character had me cracking up. Another must-watch movie.
Speaking of dark comedy, I had my teen kids watch Dr. Strangelove. My son really liked the "Gentleman, you cant fight in here, this is the war room!" bit. I try to expose them to the classics such as "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" so they are properly cultured. "What you gonna do? Bleed on me?"

[Wednesdays]

6. "Now so funny now, is it, funny man?"

Very prescient for this week.


The scene before it, for context:

Followed by:

[WENSTJDON]

11. One of my favorite movies

I watch it every year on the 5th of November. It was hard watching it in 2024, as it was Election Day. 🥲

[gulliver]

12. 1984 is a great novel too.

If you really want to share Orwell's company, reading his stuff is about the only way imo.