An allegory and a mystery cleverly disguised as an "action movie"

Rating: 7/10 (20 March 2006)

Being a fan of the works of Alan Moore, I was pleasantly surprised that the spirit of his graphic novel was very much present in the big screen adaptation of 'V for Vendetta' (even though Mr. Moore's spirit was in absentia). Albeit tweaked to make the story more "relevant" by updating current events, 'V' was a very engaging polemic on civil liberties and our strange compliance to abandon them. Yes, yes, yes: the action scenes were well choreographed and intense, but if that's all what you want out of this film, go rent the first 'Matrix' film again. To be drawn into a fantasy world that echoes our own is the point of a good movie, but to appreciate 'V for Vendetta' one must have patience to arrive at that point of suspended belief. My major grievance with the movie is that parts of it felt rushed. The density of Alan Moore's books was conceived and collected over eight years in serialized comicbook form; it seemed director McTigue tried frantically to keep as much of the plot intact but at the same time having a frenetic style of editing which makes for confusing movie progression. Maybe this was the point of McTigue's muse, but the patience mentioned prior to enjoy this film was tested by this method of storytelling. All in all, 'V for Vendetta' was a smart and thoughtful movie. The acting was a bit twitchy, however. Natalie Portman as Evey was a trifle waifish and willowy, and Hugo Weaving as the swashbuckling "terrorist" V was both chewing scenery and chilling the air around him. The standout role in the film I believe was Stephen Rea's portrayal of Inspector Finch, the reluctant cop who patiently pursues V and over the course of the investigation stumbles onto more than just a so-called "terrorist plot." I won't give much more than that away, except that you don't see this dystopian London vision through V's eyes, or Evey's or even Alan Moore's; you slowly start to see it through Finch's (an enforcer of the status quo). That fact alone makes the film brilliantly executed. Overall, I'd give this movie a B+, and as it being McTigue's directorial debut, you must give him kudos for going big his first time out, even if there are moments it seems he bit off more that he could chew. Leave the rest of the chewing for Weaving and John Hurt.