A perverse adaptation of the original graphic novel

Rating: 1/10 (7 December 2010)

In the original graphic novel, V is an uncompromising, cold blooded anarchist with a singular aim to bring down the totalitarian establishment to exact his revenge. In the film adaptation, he became a soft, crying (WTF!) "freedom fighter" who fights a caricature of neo-conservatist totalitarian government. There were a lot of details missing from the movie which weaken the plot, and the pacing of the movie seems chaotic and uncontrolled.
The acting was horrible all around, Hugo Weaving's interpretation of V was horrendous, V in the original graphic novel is a cold, calm, calculating genius mastermind, who is unemotional, and ruthless. He represents the purity of his anarchist ideology, uncompromising, like a story narrator, without any internal conflict. Hugo Weaving on the other hand, portrayed V as a soft, cry baby, with conflicting emotion, unsure about his own ideology, and unsure about his plan at times. These irrational interpretation of V's character on top of Hugo Weaving's over acting, makes this film completely unwatchable.
Natalie Portman's portrayal of Evey was equally horrendous, She was too old for the character, and her acting was wooden and unnatural. Her character interpretation was completely one dimensional too, and completely unconvincing. (or zero dimensional if you can believe it, she does not emote!, she stares!) Her acting reminds me of her recent role in the film "Brothers" which was completely unwatchable by bad acting all around (especially her). I simply cannot be convince of her transformation inside V's mock prison. There is simply no substance or depth to her acting/character. It is as if in her role, she is merely an observer, not a participant of the drama.
Stephen Rea and John Hurt's characters are as forgettable as their acting in this movie. They were greatly under performing/underused (due to the streamlining of the plot). All I remember was John Hurt's gaping mouth when he was in shock. That's the singular moment I remember him in the movie.
In the end, this is a sacrilegious adaptation of a brilliant graphic novel with so much depth and substances. I only wish this movie was never made in the first place.