W for wow

Rating: 10/10 (3 November 2007)

I have to say, I am not a huge fan of Wachovski brothers. Sure, I liked the first Matrix and all, but not those "bad" things that followed it: a huge mass of brainless, purely action-oriented rip-off movies with the central point in massive effects on the count of character development and plot. The sequels to Matrix also fell into this grey mess: all the intellectual sides of the first one were sacrificed totally.
So, for this, I was not expecting much from this movie. I knew I'd probably like the graphic novel, but I feared it would be completely raped and mutilated into just another Matrix-clone. My little brother bought the DVD cheaply from somewhere and forced me to watch the movie. And what a surprise it was! The story is fantastic: the thematic questions of anarchy vs. order, tolerance vs. intolerance, freedom vs. "protection"... all those things we as voters decide year after year, that are age-old, always important concepts are very well pondered in this film. Should we destroy everything we can't understand? Should we use the easy way of iron rule for the sake of our own well-being? Should we help the less fortunate? And still, the movie manages to entertain all the way through. The drama of characters gets you from the first scene. V is such an outstanding character; he says he is more an idea than a man, and that became so for me. All the glory to John Hurt, Hugo Wieving and Natalie Portman, who were all spot-on brilliant. The direction was brilliant: the movie became a true epic, both with visually and personally. The lesbian love flashbacks in the middle completely broke my heart. The movie was full of surprises and plot twists.
Also, after reading the graphic novel I dear to complement Watchovski Brothers for one of the best comic adaptations of all time. Themes and character and events have been slightly changed, but that's only for the best of the film. I know some people complain about the changes, but I do not. I rejoice for both versions of this brilliant story.