An amazing and controversial piece of film!!

Rating: 9/10 (7 April 2006)

First off I want to say that I am really honestly shocked that this film got made. Parts of this film and story were some of the most controversial and perhaps politically charged scenes I have ever seen especially in an entirely fictional sci-fi action film. There a very powerful and debatable message to V For Vendetta that leaves you thinking about the morals and story long after it ends. Finally the supposedly multi-talented Wachowski brothers can add something of real sustenance to their resume. The Matrix (the original film) was brilliant and well made and spawned an amazing story and world but I was severely disenchanted with anything the Wachowski brothers would do after the poorly done sequels but certainly V For Vendetta turns that around. James McTeigue, a Wachowski lackey and newcomer director creates a brilliant political and dark world of futuristic terror and revolution.
Natalie Portman delivers one of her most brilliant and important roles as Evey, a young woman, the daughter of revolutionaries trying to just live her life until she has a run in with a very mysterious masked man known only as V. Portman as Evey goes through such a powerful transformation. She reflects the changes in their society and the rebirth or awakening of a nation. Her performance is breath taking and riveting and she should be given great acclaim in this role. Equally as powerful is Huge Weaving as the masked anti-hero V. Weaving is best known as none other than infamous bad guy Agent Smith which I didn't realize until after the film was over. You won't recognize him or his voice but he does an incredible job. Through the guise of a mask he still creates this dark, deadly, emotional figure that you feel terror, pity, sadness and love for all at once. Is V a hero?? Well that's really the ultimate question behind this film. In essence V is a terrorist, in some ways he is no different than the extremist terrorists we known nowadays going beyond the normality of battles to fight for their causes. Stephen Rea is also brilliant as the disillusioned detective who investigates V's murders across London but slowly begins to realize there is more to his world than he ever knew. John Hurt and Tim Pigott-Smith both make very evil and real world dictators of the new world ravaged by disease and wars.
V For Vendetta clearly lays out the world before this revolution without getting into too much detail. By using subtle characters, and news flashes we get a very real sense of the world, enough to easily take a position on the revolution unfolding. The film is entirely fictional and brutal in it's action and gore and yet one of the most political and intelligent films I have seen this year. This man was tortured by the system, abused by the government and now sets out to exact revenge for not only himself but the rest of the world as well...for people like his new ally Evey, her parents, his cell mate, everyone. In that way he is a hero and a revolutionary but are his tactics terrorist?? The question still haunts me...is he right or wrong in his ways?? Regardless he is a brutal enemy to be up against with his incredible sword play and martial arts and makes short work of everyone. Evey and V have great chemistry and you feel a devotion and love between them. In many ways the story could be compared to Phantom of The Opera, a masked man, scorned by society falls in love with a woman he can never be with. No matter how you look at it Vendetta is one of the best films of the year to date and I would love to think they might serialize this although Wachowski brothers have disappointed with sequels before. I think there is much more of a back story to be told here. Action, political, drama, romance and an intense story...this is definitely worth seeing, a great movie for grown ups that is a legitimate intelligent action film. 9/10