V for Vendetta

Rating: 8/10 (22 March 2006)

In the 1980's, famous comic writer Alan Moore wrote what is considered one of his best graphic novels and a masterpiece of sequential storytelling, V for Vendetta. Now it is adapted for film with a screenplay written by the Wachowski Brothers. Honestly, I was not looking forward to this movie when the buzz around it started. I did not fall in love with The Matrix like everyone else, sure the action and effects were amazing but the story and characters did nothing for me. I was expecting V to be even less thrilling in my eyes. It had been pushed back from a November release to March, Alan Moore had disowned it, and the trailer, which featured a bald Natalie Portman and hero that looked like Michael Jackson, was awful. My expectations could not have been lower.
Well, color me shocked because I liked V for Vendetta quite a bit! Let me make one thing very clear: This is not an action picture. The advertisements and other people might label it as such, but do not go into it expecting that. I can only really thing of maybe 3 short fight scenes in the entire thing. The story takes place in an alternate reality futuristic tyrannical Britain, V first appears as a brooding vigilante who saves Evey (Natalie Portman) one night from police who were going to rape and kill her. From there she becomes a part of his schemes to topple the oppressive government. I really do not want to give much more away, but I will say it becomes much more interesting then it sounds. The character of V is the driving force behind the movie, which is odd because we never really get to know much about who he (or her) is under the Guy Fawkes mask. The past of the character is explained throughout the film along with how the dictator came into power, but the exact identity of V is never revealed. I suppose it remains up to the viewer to decide. I have a few theories myself and I would love to share them if this was not a non-spoiler review. He was interesting because I do not believe the audience will agree with all of his actions. He is an assassin killing those who wronged him without mercy, as well as a terrorist blowing up famous landmarks and buildings in London. Is V a terrorist or freedom fighter? Would an A for Anarchy be more appropriate? Whatever people think of him, he is no doubt one of the more intriguing protagonist movies have recently offered. Another compelling character in the film was Detective Finch who has been assigned to track down V. In his search he finds the truth and in one of my favorite scenes predicts the chilling consequences of V's actions. Of course, there is the geek favorite Miss. Portman. Even with a shaved head and lame accent she is incredibly beautiful to watch.
V for Vendetta is a movie with a hell of a lot of ideas, even if not all of them are fleshed out. I found it scary how a story written some 20 years ago could hold so much relevance in the world we live in today. It is a commentary on political oppression and revolution told while bringing up subjects such as nuclear weapons, government testing, corrupt government figures, terrorism, and religious believes, and homosexuality. It does not always make sense, but it is always absorbing. I had never read Moore's original work, but I might get around to checking it out after this movie. I suspect some people expecting a non stop action romp will be disappointed, so do not go in expecting such. Be prepared for a film that will throw a lot of ideas your way and expect you to sort through them and find a message for yourself. In the finale of V for Vendetta I was not assaulted with cheap thrills, but a thoughtful and explosive exclaimation point to all the thoughts the film shoved into my brain. Anything that can do that is something worth seeing.