Although overdone at certain points, still an enjoyable, thought-provoking, and worthwhile movie

Rating: 10/10 (17 March 2006)

After reading a review in Newsweek about how overdone and contrived the movie is, I was a bit wary about seeing it. However, I went to see it at the 10:10 showing Thursday night anyways, and I'm glad that I did.
Anyone who enjoyed the book 1984 will find something they like about this movie. Although certainly not as good as 1984, as few books or movies are, V for Vendetta offers its fair share of thoughtful criticism and commentary. Although at times the jabs at conservative ideals, the current administration, etc. are lacking in subtlety, the plot is solid, the acting is good for the majority of the movie, and the special effects are visually pleasing (although not as inventive as the matrix movies).
Arguably, this movie appeals to a certain audience. While many might be offended by its leftist ideology, the movie is a work of social and political commentary, and commentary means that there will always be those who hate it and those who love it. Commentary as i see it, however, is not meant to attack individuals, but rather to raise questions. If people dislike the movie because it questions the way things are or the way things will be in the future, then what does it say about society? Have we become so complacent that we have lost the will to forever question?
Surprisingly, the movie also has many funny moments. The humor lightens the tone of the serious topics, creating a bit of a sense of absurdism that is appropriate, I think, for the movie. Also there is humor to be found in parts that are not necessarily meant to be funny. Case in point: Natalie Portman trying to make out with V (a bit silly with the mask in the way). Because I was snickering at certain "serious" parts throughout the movie, my friend thought I did not enjoy the movie. In fact, I thought those parts made the movie more enjoyable. A movie is still good if you can laugh at the overdone parts, it is only when you cannot that an "overdone" part becomes truly overdone.
Most of all, what I liked about this movie were the ideas and the lines that delivered them. When V says, "Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. There is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof", I immediately thought of novel Fahrenheit 451. A government can ban books, it can burn books, it can take away its people's rights, but it cannot abolish ideas. Albeit some parts were heavy-handed, V for Vendetta still gets a 9/10 from me because it remains loyal to Guy Fawke's Gunpowder Plot, teaching us the lesson that there is always room for rebellion.
and still i cannot get the rhyme out of my head:
"Remember, remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot, I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."