V for Vendetta

Rating: Null/10 (26 September 2011)

"V for Vendetta" succeeds in being both unique and captivating in depicting a lone crusader (Hugo Weaving) and an improbable ally (Natalie Portman) battling against a tyrannical London regime.
The audience at the Majestic 20 theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland broke into applause at the end of the film, a rare response for a movie that had already been in theatres for over a week. Captivating from the opening scene through the finish, V for Vendetta tells the story of a mysterious vigilante simply named "V," who is determined to restore democracy to the people of London who have unknowingly fallen into the clutches of a totalitarian government that controls every aspect of their lives, from media to religion. V has an intricate plan to bring down the unjust government, but it does not involve his early encounter with a young woman named Evey, who quickly becomes involved with his plan and mysterious past. Narrowly avoiding the police, led by the troubled detective Finch (Stephen Rea), V and Evey embark on an adventure filled with drama, violence, and twists all the way to an immensely satisfying ending.
On the night I first saw the film, the theatre itself was, as usual, well managed, organized, and clean. The audience sat through fifteen minutes of previews (standard in most theatres now), but I enjoy the glimpses of upcoming movies so this, in my eyes, is never an inconvenience. We were forced to watch a few advertisements for coke and whatever else was being sold at the snack bar, but otherwise there were no intrusive elements that would disturb the experience. And because this movie is so captivating, the audience stayed perfectly silent, perhaps with the exception of gasp or whisper at key moments.
What struck me about V for Vendetta was its sheer uniqueness. Most films, especially those with big budgets like V, follow a certain template very closely. So, when this movie veered away from where I expected it to go, and employed unique special effects and filming, I was surprised and pleased. The premise itself is unique; a mixture of fantasy and reality, the world in which V operates doesn't exist, but easily could if only a few things went wrong in our society. The film also succeeds in getting the audience to support a protagonist who is partly driven by rage and revenge, who never shows his face, but is somehow endowed with superhuman strength and skill. V is lovable because he has ideals, a vision for the future of Britain, and a love for art and culture, an unusual trait for a superhero. The plot is complex, so the film demands the viewers' complete attention for its duration. So, if you're looking for a simple action film or a straightforward drama, V for Vendetta is not the movie for you.
In the end, V for Vendetta succeeds in achieving every goal it sets for itself. The acting and characters are spectacular, the scenery superb, and, for all the action lovers out there, the fight scenes are riveting. V for Vendetta is one of my favorite films of all time; watch it.