Leftist philosophy yields ripping yarn

Rating: 8/10 (2 April 2006)

The long introduction irritated me. I wanted to throw my everyday concerns away and escape to a fantasy world, but this movie offered a view particular to trenchant lefties that wouldn't let me go, counter to my experience as it was. Fry and Portman and Weaving seemed to me to be three experts on a current affair hypothetical - chosen as they agree on their hatred of conservative values. Unlike the views of minority groups on current affairs, however, the intro is essential to the story, and the overall story is escalating and gripping. What is Fry's character's relationship with Evie (Portman's character)? Who is V? Why is V so vengeful? Insight to the characters is brilliantly given through old movie snippets, such as "The count of Monte Christo." One still feels that not all loose ends are tied. But then Tolkein didn't do THAT with his LOTR, so it's not really essential when important issues are settled. Portman is a great actress. She explores Evie deeply, and one feels that Evie is a real person, with elements of two dimensional shallowness and great depth. It is easy to play a character of conviction, but playing those who doubt their own reality is very hard. Evie grows and changes and Portman takes us on this journey. Fry too shows us much of himself. I felt he wrote his own role. I'm Australian. Weaving can do no wrong. Conservatives are all right wing fascists. And stupid. And evil. But then this is fantasy .. even if some feel this reinforces their reality.