a semi-objective view

Rating: 8/10 (16 March 2006)

First off, i'm a long time Alan Moore fan, i first read watchmen when i was 11 and have fallen in love with all of his work ever since. As a film, V for Vendetta is not a disaster. The acting is very good from all the major players, including Natalie Portman, whose presence, I thought, would have ruined the film. Weaving is perfectly cast, the visuals are stunning, and the soundtrack is superb. However, as an adaptation of the graphic novel, this movie fails stupendously. Gone is the oppression of the totalitarian government, the seedy characters fighting each other for domination, the intricate character-driven subplots; the gritty London the characters inhabit. It is replaced with a candy-coated version of the world Moore created. Although a minor detail, i was very distressed to see that Evey Hammond was not a prostitute, as it showed the state of the country and the hardships the citizens had to endure to make ends meet. So as a stand-alone film: excellent. As an adaptation of one of Moore's greatest creations: mediocre. I suggest seeing it but if you've read the comics you will probably feel at least a bit let down.