It's no Equilibrium, but it's not bad.

Rating: 7/10 (1 April 2006)

I wanted to like this movie more than I did. Even "The Matrix Reloaded" had some redeeming qualities. I guess this does too. But by the end, the whole thing seemed rather silly. Yes, the political and social implication of totalitarianism and anarchy will (and should) raise questions, especially given the current political climate. And there are, indeed, flashes of brilliance, both in the witty wordplay and in the finely textured performances from Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea and Stephen Fry. And the action's not bad either. But the ending felt really hollow. I walked out of the theater and found myself wanting to go watch "Batman Begins" again. The psychology of fear and symbols, not to mention revenge and redemption, was more realistically explored there.
Also, "Equilibrium" felt much more fully realized, as a world, then "V For Vendetta's." And the action sequences were far superior in that film, not to mention that the visual medium of film complemented that action rather than distracted from it. Overall, the film asks some good questions, but dilutes itself through its own "Hollywood" ending.