"Behind this mask is a man, and behind this man is an idea. And ideas are bulletproof." - V

Rating: 8/10 (26 March 2006)

So I expected 'V for Vendetta' to be a decent movie just from the talent that was in it, but I thought it would have a shaky storyline because the creators of the film, The Wachowski Brothers, were responsible for the Matrix sequels which crashed and burned faster than Vanilla Ice's music career (OOO! Diss!) However, I was quite surprised that 'V for Vendetta' turned into something more than a well-acted bam-bam shoot-em-up blow-em-up action picture. The film was not lacking on action, but it wasn't lacking on a great storyline either. The plot for 'V for Vendetta' is intriguing because it very well could be an accurate prediction of the future.
Imagine a society, a futuristic Britain society, where everyone is controlled by their government, and fear it. Imagine every second of every day being told what to think, do and eat. Imagine being the remains of a vicious holocaust led by a dictator as intolerant, determined and vicious as Adolf Hitler. That is pretty much the set up for 'V for Vendetta'. What would you do in this situation? Stand back and obey your orders, or fight? That's where terrorist codenamed 'V' comes in, a masked figure so fed-up with a fascist society he's willing to risk his life to restore the values and rights we once had. Along the way comes Natalie Portman's character who joins him in his revolution. The fight is on!
'V for Vendetta' is a very well made picture, surprisingly. Although it's pretty slow in the first half hour or so, it picks up tremendous pace and succeeds in enthralling it's viewer. The action sequences are breath-taking, and the acting is rock solid with spot-on performances from Natalie Portman, John Hurt, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry and Hugo Weaving who abandons his 'Agent Smith' like demeanor to play 'V for Vendetta's' protagonist. The aspect that's very admirable about the film is it's philosophy. The film is very poetic in the strangest of places, and that's exactly what separates it from most of noisome feces Hollywood produces on an all-too-regular basis.
'V for Vendetta' is not a masterpiece, and is not Oscar-calibre, however it's still a great film that almost anybody who isn't in awe of fascism and hate crimes can appreciate. I strongly recommend it. Grade: B+ (**** out of *****) (Screened at AMC Deer Valley 30, Phoenix, Arizona, 3/26/06)