V for Very Enjoyable

Rating: Null/10 (1 April 2006)

I'm not a fan of graphic novel movies but I liked V For Vendetta. It's been criticized for being too talky but those scenes between Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving I found the most interesting. They are actually quite philosophical and poetic. Weaving, as V, is a cross between Zorro, Shakespeare, Phantom of the Opera and Batman, a masked avenger in totalitarian England of the future. John Hurt is the equivalent of Orwell's 1984 Big Brother, always appearing on a giant TV screen. Stephen Rea is a cop who is trying to find V. Criticism aside, there is plenty of action in the film. Portman and Weaving are particularly good together and have great chemistry even with Weaving always wearing his goofy Guy Fawkes mask. The mask could have been ridiculous but somehow it isn't. I found their relationship very touching. V's underground lair has to be one of the great cinematic achievements of set design. I'd see this film again.