Film Review: V for Vendetta

Director: James McTeigue

An action thriller that takes its name from the comic book that it is based on, The Wachowski Brothers co-wrote the screenplay set in a dystopian society in the 2030s. The film is cited for taking plot elements from books like The Count of Monte Cristo and the musical The Phantom of the Opera whilst also having ties to the gunpowder plot by Guy Fawkes which features heavily in the film (and is the inspiration for the mask).

V (Hugo Weaving)

The United Kingdom is under a fascist regime which is controlled by the Norsefire party that rules with an iron fist enforced by curfews and general scare tactics. The leader of the party is High Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt). Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) inadvertently gets involved with a plot to overthrow the Norsefire party from power when she is saved from two secret police men by a mysterious man who kills them and then introduces himself as V (Hugo Weaving). From there on she cannot separate herself from V's plans to cause anarchy throughout the UK in a hope of bring upon a regime change.

The character of V and the mask he wears has become a symbol around the world for rebellion, mostly against capitalist ventures like in the Occupy movements against Wall Street. The image has come to signify the power of the masses much like in the movie, this will forever be the enduring legacy of this film which is quite important as the movie itself is a bit of a mess. The script is poorly constructed with V being incredibly eloquent and engaging but with little thought going into anybody elses lines. The police officers chasing V are perceived to be crude by their language and methods, certainly not the types you'd put in charge of an attack against the government itself. Natalie Portman is barely passable as the female lead whose performance seems to be fondly remembered for the fact she shaved her head rather than for anything worthy of note.

V with Evey (Natalie Portman)

The brilliance of the central character of V (one of the only reasons this film isn't a complete flop) and the premise is pretty much wasted by the Wachowski Brothers, the film fails with a number of needless parts of the plot that could have been better served developing the back story that was rather rushed and hazy. The political elements of the film are completely underplayed and rather simple in nature when something much more intelligent and considered could have been produced. Audiences don't need to be treated like idiots and the popularity of Inception should surely prove that.

2/4 Very much a great opportunity squandered