P for Pathetic

Rating: 5/10 (4 April 2006)

Comical, overblown, poorly written and a delicate subject given the 'Hollywood treatment'; all of these can be used to describe 'V for Vendetta'. The film kicks off far too early with the evilness surrounding the state thrown at our faces in a very sudden fashion. We aren't given any build up to Portman's character, nor to that of 'V' and as a result, it takes a lot longer for us to 'get to know' them as the film goes on. This twinned with the fact that when we should have been properly introduced, we're given a brief and rather ugly introduction to Guy Fawkes and the history surrounding him, obviously one for the Americans as anyone who has been to a November the 5th BBQ or fireworks party really doesn't need this sort of beginning, in fact the film would've benefited from more of a build up involving the corruption in the state and the past trauma's surrounding the main characters. As a result, we see this later on in the film  at the wrong time, emphasising the evidence that the film was written badly.
The initial incident of V and Evey meeting each other happens far too early on and the relationship between them dies a quick death between them meeting for the first and second times. The gap is just far too long. This is very disorientating as from then on, they are inseparable. Another example of the poor writing is where a 'mock' television programme episode is created by one of the characters. Clearly a suicidal act within the film world and a huge question mark is raised as to how much the writers really 'knew' their characters. 'Would he have really done that?' From this act of the mock TV programme being shown, the film twists down another road as this stupid, suicidal act propels the film forward and spawns a few extra events. I'm not giving too much away but there's a death, a kidnapping and a mini-twist within the narrative, all creating the ILLUSION of good film making and although it's directed well, the fact is that it should never have happened in the first place(!) The writers clearly ran out of ideas and realised the dead end they were heading down before coming up with this narrative revelation.
Another flaw in the writing is the dialogue. This is a very American film and was clearly written by the Americans, FOR the Americans. The script is clearly lacking in research as the British stereo-types flow out of here like water out of a power shower: thick and fast. Another thing is that English people don't say 'bollocks' in every other sentence when faced with an awkward/life threatening situation, they swear like every other person in the world and if you're writing for a 12-17 year old audience whilst at the same time keeping in the violence shown towards the end and of course, the element of terrorism which is obviously present then shame on you for not getting your priorities right. Yet again, an example of terrible writing and not any where near to what I expected from the Wachowski Brothers. The laughable monologue at the beginning of the film which used as many words as possible that begin with the letter 'V' was ridiculous and totally unbelievable. It was an obvious hint to what was to come.
I think the people who REALLY like this film are suffering, in some way, from some sort of brain washing. I think they've realised the Wachowski Brothers are involved, they've realised it's a comic book outing, which most people enjoy given success of films like Underworld, X-Men and Spider Man in recent years, they've realised that it's got a big cast and they've realised it's dealing with current affairs in the form of terrorism. Everything seems so perfect, when really it's very far from it.
What has happened here is the makers have cleverly set it away from America and in the pretty distant future, thus thinking that they have a bit of a license to overcook certain things and audiences have lapped up the fantasy. Little annoying things such as the fact V's face has the same expression on it over and over due to the mask he wears. This makes it very difficult to relate to the main character as we never even see him and I found it very difficult to motivate myself to even care for him. The poor casting of Stephen Fry, who emphasised the stereo typing with the accent and attitude of his character and the annoying invincibility that V seemed to have throughout the film. Things like this drag the film further down.
This wasn't spectacular in the cinema and will look even worse when it comes to the small screen.
One last thing is that 'Remember, remember the 5th of November' has got to be one of THE most annoying taglines in film history.