Powerful Message

Rating: 10/10 (5 April 2006)

On first look at V for Vendetta I was expecting great things and I was surprised that it delivered more than I could of hoped for.The central characters are strong and well played by Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving, the support cast are outstanding, the production is first class, the lighting is superb and the sets are fantastic but it is the underlying anger and frustration that lies in the mind of the central character, V, that makes this film a must-see. The film was finished in the late part of 2004 and was due for a British release around the time of the London bombings in July 2005, but the distributors decided that the film was too provocative to release after so many people had lost their lives to 'terrorism' in the capital city where the film takes place. I can understand their decision, the film's views of London being destroyed by a bombing campaign were all too real to those of us who lived through the 70's,80's and 90's in London when the IRA were carrying out bombing attacks. But on the other hand, the narrative of the film is also true of London today. Cameras are everywhere, our Police force is being militarised and we are always told that 'terrorism' is to blame.....V is a hero not a villain, he is angry and frustrated at the way the World has gone, war, pestilence and death surround him and he finally fights back in the most spectacular fashion. If only it were true........