V for Very Good

Rating: 6/10 (7 February 2007)

I saw this movie when it was realised in the UK last year. I knew in advance that is was based on a comic novel, but I did not let that put me off! In my opinion, this would be a good movie for the disinterested in politics younger generation. There seems to be relatively few young people who are concerned about the gradual erosion of our freedom and civil liberties in this country, for example, the introduction of ID cards, the paternalistic government which tries to become involved in every aspect of a person's life and, more worryingly, the gradual erosion of our basic freedoms under the guise of protection for the ordinary citizen. Unfortunately, in this vision of the future, it soon becomes unclear who are the bad guys. Any voices of dissent are brutally disposed of. The government will protect you from all those who are out to get you, but at an exceedingly costly price. The erosion of our freedom.
Rant over! This movie addresses some of the above points. My only problem was that I felt it was over-simplistic, perhaps because it was aimed at a younger and largely uninformed audience.
To move on to the film itself, I cannot deny that it was pretty exciting, in particular the explosions made for a visual treat. Hugo Weaving was terrific as the masked vigilante. It can be no easy feat for an actor to play a whole role covered in a mask and yet still come across as a subtle and multi-layered character. Natalie Portman made an OK Evey, I did not think she was fiery enough for the role, her big contribution seemed to be getting her head shaved for a scene in the movie. Some of the cast were caricatures, especially John Hurt, the leader of the party who had totally taken over the UK. A far better character was the policeman played by Stephen Rea. A character struggling against upholding laws he knows are wrong, but eventually he sees the light.
Basically the movie warns against being complacent when the government insists they are doing things for 'your own good'. Things are not always black and white and a country like Britain, where 'freedom' is somewhat taken for granted today, could, given certain circumstances turn into a police state.
In summary, exciting but simplistic and unlikely to stir adult mature debate on what constitutes freedom in Western Civilisation.