provocative subject matter

Rating: 7/10 (29 March 2006)

It's the year Twenty-twenty, and our world is vastly different. England is run over by a totalitarian government, lead by a fierce Adam Sutler using fear and violence to cower people to follow his lead. A corrupt media constantly runs antisemitic, anti gay and Muslim propaganda, to 'protect' their citizens. Evey works in the media that controls and edits the news. While walking outside after curfew, Evey is attacked by the Figermen, yet like a knight in shining armour, is saved by a mysterious vigilante called V. Evey becomes marked by the government as a co-conspirator of V, after V destroys the Old Bailey Building, on the fifth of November. Following Gay Fawkes's attempt to destroy the British Paraliment, in one year times plans to to fulfill Fawkes plan, and root the fifth of November forever in history.
V for Vendetta is not your average blockbuster film. Instead of mind blowing stunts constantly thrown at the audience, the focus is on the dilemmas on the characters. Our antihero V, is out for revenge on the government that created the man he is. Using anarchy as a weapon, V shakes the people out of their oppression and take a stand against their corrupt government. Evey, while unwillingly ends entangled into V's plan, joins V's alliance. Officer Finch starts to question his ethics of loyalty to his government, when he starts to uncover a disturbing conspiracy.
V for Vendetta, while based on Alan Moore's graphic novels, has a distinct similarity to George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. Free thought is taken away, cultures seen radical are abolished, homosexuality unaccepted, televisions everywhere watching and monitoring your conversations; Big Brother is watching. While not have read the graphic novels, V for Vendetta seems to lack that depth of the political agenda it's tackling. The political side plays second fiddle to much, when it should have been in the fore front all the time. There are some startling references to history; Nazi Germany, Gay Fawkes, while looking at our modern state; war on terrorism.
The problem with V for Vendetta is that it's a mix affair. The beginning is chaotic and unfocused. Much like when Neo meets the Architec in Matrix Reloaded, the Wachowski Brothers are throwing the thesaurus at you, with V spitting as many V words in one sentence. Vendetta takes its time to focus, though when it does really gets the gears moving in sync. First time director James McTeigue, does a strong job, with flare for great visuals and artistry.
When your face holds the most expression and insight into a person, Hugo Weaving has a hard task of bringing expression to a man behind a Gay Fawkes mask. With great mannerisms and a commanding voice, Weaving is immaculate as V. Natalie Portman does a amazing performance as Evey, even with a shaved head she is still beautiful. Stephen Rea and Stephen Fry are both great. John Hurt is disturbing as as Adam Sutler, booming with such a spiteful voice.
When the year Nineteen Eighty-Four approached, people wondered if George Orwell's vision of the future would come into fruition. With the year Twenty Twenty just around the corner, will V for Vendetta do the same; probably not. Though with provocative and somewhat controversial subject matter, it does raise questions, and food for thought.