Remember, remember, the fifth of November...

Rating: 10/10 (17 March 2006)

... gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason for the gunpowder treason to ever be forgot.
This film, to be quite frank, restored my faith in the Wachowskis. I didn't see the first Matrix film on the big screen; I saw it first on a bad TV in a dark room. But even then, the sheer FANTASTIC brilliance shone through, and I can safely say I never enjoyed a film so much. But Reloaded and Revolutions only had one saving grace to them (1 Mr Hugo Weaving) and I stopped thinking about the Wachowskis as "Ground Breakers" and relegated them (along with Uwe Boll) to "Kill them. Kill them DEAD."
Then I saw this film. The themes it deals with are complex and fascinating, the characters well fleshed out and interesting (my favorite being Hugo Weaving, who is quite frankly an acting GOD) and the story intelligent and well designed.
A lot of the shots OOZED atmosphere. Take (for example) Eevie's imprisonment. The cold, bleak atmosphere was bellied by Ms. Portman's acting (and lack of hair, though I look forward to seeing her with flowing locks again), the carefully chosen colour pallet, and (my favorite) Weaving's BEAUTIFUL performance as the two silhouetted men. The shots of the Lesbian prisoner was excellent, and (again, my favorite) the very careful interspersion of Portman dragging herself over to the corner where she read the letter was utter joy.
Then we have the fights. Oh, the fights. How fast they were, how furious, how... energetic. The knife work was fluid and brutal, and V's long, flowing cloak was very, very cool. My favorite moment, however, was at the end, with V going against Creedy's gun-wielding thugs. Yes, Andy, yes, Larry, we DID notice your trademark "Bullet-Time" CG, and yes, it did bloody rock.
It was, however, a very Wachowski film. Their trademarks (long, flowing black fabric on the heroes, and of course Bullet-Time) were all there, carefully placed to keep from ruining the atmosphere.
So, my friends, as I leave you... I have one thing left to say. "Remember, remember, the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot. "I see no reason for the gunpowder treason to ever be forgot."