V for Vendetta...I'm hooked...

Rating: 9/10 (21 September 2006)

I knew from the very first review that I was going to like V for Vendetta. I'm always curious, and a bit leery, of how much that feeling towards the movie, sight unseen, affects my viewing of it...
I was right, of course...I really liked this movie...
However, I watched it after its DVD release, long after the aforementioned reviews...I had only the recommendation of a friend from work and from the owner of my local video store. So how biased was I? who knows...
But the film does deal with the power of an Idea...and while my idea that I would like the movie is not anywhere near the grand scale of the "overthrow the Government and stand up for freedom" idea that drives the film, maybe it had power all of its own...
By the time I watched this film, I had forgotten that it was connected with the makers of the Matrix series, the Wachowski brothers...
The film, on the whole was fantastic. I cannot stress how good Hugo Weaving is as V, the main character, given that his face is covered by a mask for the entire film. Despite the loss of the most important means of visual inter-personal communication (facial gestures), Weaving delivers a stunning performance. The scripting is fantastic, so make sure to pay attention to the monologues. Portman delivers a solid performance, and a quiet Stephen Rea is a masterful detective/skeptic.
The film is both solidly constructed and beautifully shot. My one problem with the film, however are the special effects. Some gratuitous cg and un-necessary, particularly in the final fight scene. An earlier scene, involving violence, is well done, using editing and other conventional techniques to portray the characters prowess. The final scene resorts to poor cg and looks entirely out of place in the otherwise real looking movie.
Nevertheless, this movie deserves to be watched, and well. Don't expect an action movie, but be prepared to think. Not as many conflicts of philosophy as the Matrix, but still one worth thinking about.
Over all, this movie definitely rates a 4.5 outta 5, and my girlfriend, much to my surprise, really enjoyed it.