On a scale of I to V, V gets a V

Rating: 8/10 (18 March 2006)

I liked this movie a lot! The creators were not afraid to go against the grain. They made a movie unafraid of the status-quo movie makers, unafraid of the critics and unafraid of the viewer. The main character, V, was as mysteriously charming and psychotic as I had hoped for. At least for the most part. It is not that the man wanted to be that way, because who knows what he might have become had he not been brutalized by a self-serving government. Don't let that description deter you from seeing this movie. The main character was not much stranger than the way this movie was delivered. This is the type of finished product that will be remembered for a long time. The offbeat introduction to the less important characters was as strange as V, himself. Comic relief is handled better in this movie than any other "graphic novel" movie that I have seen. The story is very well done. The imagery was excellent. And you just have to love how Hugo Weaving made the mask come alive though it was nothing more than a stiff, lifeless, representation of life lost - a work of art in its own right.
There was a time when I began to sense a slight bit of the British TV show "The Prisoner" and even some British comedy but it only added to the mysterious beauty of this movie. The creators succeeded in making this movie play out like someone reading a graphic novel to you, pointing out the pictures from time to time.
I found myself relating more to Natalie Portman's character than to V. And I think most people will. V is too unique and only an original personality can even begin to relate but he can easily be loved while feared simultaneously. Don't pay attention to those who fear you will see this movie and will want to become a terrorist. Also, DO NOT pay attention to those who want you to believe this is political. Politics is essential but a small part of this movie. The biggest part of the story is the personalities. People who want to turn this into a vehicle to tout their hatred for political figures are totally missing the mark. They, themselves, are the problem - not the movie. It IS a M-O-V-I-E!
8 out of 10 because I loved it, would have ended it differently and because I think some parts were cut or changed to protect the innocent. I am counting on the DVD to put it all back together.