This is not "The Matrix"... But an absolute must watch

Rating: 10/10 (1 April 2006)

This is not the type of film I expected from the Wachowski brothers, in light of the Matrix trilogy. The Matrix films involve successive layers of carefully crafted and choreographed action sequences filmed to perfection utilizing ground breaking filming technologies and techniques. The first of these film rarely pauses for breath as one action sequence runs to the next, hinting at the plot but always leaving the audience guessing the direction of the story's next development. If you are expecting this type of film going to see "V for Vendetta", then you will be disappointed.
"V for Vendetta" is a plot laden political/human drama camouflaged as an action film. If you saw the trailer to the film, you would surmise as I did, the film would be an action laden affair. Surprisingly, this is not the case. Whilst there are dramatic and inspired action sequences, these do not drive the story.
The plot is post 911 cinema; Britain led by a manic arch conservative Chancellor (played brilliantly by John Hurt) has been driven into a Orwellian fascist police state through the manipulation of public fear against terror. Having gained power through fear of 'terror' and 'minorities', brutal suppression is used by a corrupt state to maintain its own strangle hold on its people.
Hugo Weaving plays the elusive 'V'; a 'terrorist' seeking to expose the evil of the state to its people through large scale acts of mayhem whilst seeking revenge against those individual officials of the state that committed evil acts in establishing the corrupt government. As the plot develops, the true nature of the regime is exposed as its most evil individuals are killed and the evil acts that have created 'V' are revealed.
Evey (played brilliantly by Natalie Portman) is also a victim of the regime past, forced into silence through torture. Her life unwittingly becomes entangled with "V", when she witnesses first hand his first large scale 'act of terror' and is then entangled in his next. What follows is a brilliantly crafted, layered story that keeps you engaged between the relatively few action sequences.
This plot will resonate with people across the world. It warns of the dangers of power and the fragility of the democratic institutions that we can easily take for granted. It demonstrates the legacy of vengeance upon the individual, the power of ideals to fight extremism and the price of resistance for those with the will to fight. I thoroughly recommend this picture(this is by far the best film I have seen to date this year) and I thank those with the collective creative vision to bring this story to life. Must see.