Enjoyable film kills suspension of disbelief with blatant propaganda

Rating: 7/10 (19 March 2006)

I went in to V for vendetta expecting quite a bit. I heard it was an exceptional and enjoyable movie and that it had a positive message. I left the theater with mixed feelings. While parts of the movie were certainly entertaining, as a whole I felt the movie was very heavy handed. Make no mistake about it, while V for Vendetta takes place in the future, it is very much a condemnation of our present. It attacks religion and modern politics with even more vigor than the main character attacks a fascist British regime.
In addition, there was not a great deal of action in this film. The trailers left me with the impression that this movie was non-stop action, when this is not the case. There is at least one really solid action scene, with a satisfying ending, but aside from that the action was lacking.
Lastly, the special effects are garish and unsightly at best and at worst downright laughable. There are a few scene in particular where I grimaced as what would otherwise be a gorgeous scene was transformed into something hideous.
I would recommend V for Vendetta, but only just barely. It was an entertaining film and a good way to spend two hours.