One of the best comic book adaptations

Rating: 10/10 (25 March 2007)

As soon as the first few posters of V appeared at the local multiplexes, everyone knew that it was going to be something special. Then you see it was produced by the producers of League of Extraordinary Gentleman. That film was almost risible and so yet another Alan Moore comic-book adaptation went wrong. The only hope that Moore's work would be finely adapted was in V for Vendetta, which turns out to be everything that the other ones were not. Set in the future, the film shows a country ruled by a fascist government headed by the scheming High Chancellor. The people are so clouded by fear that they do not rebel. That is until the cloaked V shows up to wreck havoc and to bring the government's wrong doings to the light. In his plan to do so, he is aided by the innocent Evey, who after being rescued by V, is introduced to a world she had never seen before. To maximize a good film to the full, there is need of a good cast, and V unfortunately falls short of reasonably good performances. Natalie Portman is as good as ever, and her portrayal of Evey stood out next to the others, which were by far more mediocre. She effortlessly handles that typical British accent, and even though I doubt you will ever be moved by her tears, she was still credible for most of the film. The real problem is V. Hugo Weaving does an adequate job of expressing his with sinister nods and head tilts, but there was still very little emotion and it was therefore very wooden. He handles his action scenes very well, but that is still not enough to make his character not beg for belief. John Hurt's interpretation as the High Chancellor is also one of those few who excel. His scenes overflow with menace and hidden desperation. That said, the film is good on many accounts. The action is limited, but the few scenes are violent and blood is plentiful, which is not so common these days. The slow-mo knife-time sequences are brilliant as are the few big explosions in the film. The film also has an interesting political background, which gave the film a more realistic image. The problem is that the film rarely probes into some questions which arise, and it fails to give some scenes the adequate emotional content. However, a couple of scenes speak for themselves. The scene in which V loads an underground train with loads of explosives reminded me of the terrible underground terrorist attacks in London a year ago. This thought was enough to give me the chills.
I also admire the director's decision to never take of V's mask. Thus, this avoided the common Phantom of the Opera shock and the identity revelation as in Spiderman 2 and Batman Begins. Instead, we are left to imagine how his face and ultimately, his whole body, may look like. Speaking of appearances, it is also horrific to see Evey tortured and have her hair shaved off. Yet these startling images help fortify the message the film tries to deliver. Good and to the point, V for Vendetta drives its point home easily. Pity it doesn't have a better cast.