Shades of reality

Rating: 5/10 (15 March 2006)

Watching "V for Vendetta", I cannot help but juxtapose it with the political issues going in this country today. It is a film sourced from a material with a strong and intriguing message, although the execution lacks depth to make it more than a popcorn movie.
Based from the graphic novel written by Alan Moore (who I read refused to associate himself with this) and illustrated by David Lloyd, the film is set in a futuristic Britain where there is a totalitarian government run by an extremist right-wing, employing a Big Brother-like system of monitoring, after political unrest and mysterious viral outbreaks had taken their toll. V (Hugo Weaving under a Guy Fawkes mask) is the mysterious terrorist who is intent on bringing down this government.
He rescues Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman), a young woman caught walking outside after the curfew has been put to effect and is about to be "punished" by police agents known as the Fingermen. Shortly after, he takes her to his lair and sets up an elaborate plan to free the people of England from their government that should culminate on the 5th of November.
First time director James McTeigue puts on a visual spectacle on screen but fails to elicit strong performances from the cast. Maybe it's not entirely his fault. As written and co-produced by the Wachowski brothers, the film has that "Matrix" feel into it, with some of V's lines reminding me particularly of Agent Smith that even beneath those mask, Weaving is so recognizable and gives an effective performance. But V, as well as Portman's character Evey, although likable, are weakened by a shallow and half-baked treatment of the story.
The action scenes manage to save the movie from the oblivious depths of mediocrity, if only to a certain amount of degree. The best part comes near the ending but it's not long and exciting enough to warrant the earlier parts of it.
"V for Vendetta" does have its moments but they are few and far between. It is visually striking but just as previous film adaptations of Alan Moore's graphic novels ("Constantine", "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"), something went lacking upon reaching the silver screen.