The Wachowski Bros. are back

Rating: 8/10 (18 March 2006)

Apparently Natalie Portman likes playing characters who are attracted to burned up guys whose destiny it is to overthrow the evil chancellors who concoct threats to society in order to hold onto power. And that's just fine by me.
V had me from the moment it started. The combination of Portman's mere screen presence, Hugo Weaving's voice, and an action packed Wachowski Bros. screenplay provided for a fantastic movie-going experience. Going in, I wasn't really sure what the movie was to be about. I think I had read somewhere that there were those who thought it glorified terrorism. But it wasn't about terrorism at all. It was about revolution. Its amazing how the "T" word is tossed about so freely these days. The movie is filled with political statements, asking us to question some conservative ideals and mostly to question our government. John Hurt does such an over-the-top rendition of the Hitleresque chancellor that at times I thought his head was going to explode. I did have to suspend my disbelief on many occasions. But hey, it's a comic book movie about a mythical hero in a fictional future. Portman and Weaving are at their best. I especially liked the fact that I actually cared about the characters, an achievement that I always find amazing to accomplish in a 2 hour movie. This was the best Wachowski flick since the original Matrix. And while I realize that they didn't direct this movie, its obvious that their hands are all over this one.
Definitely recommended.