Director: James McTeigue
Writer: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski (Screenplay) David Lloyd (Graphic Novel)
Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith, Rupert Graves
Plot: In a future British tyranny, a shadowy freedom fighter, known only by the alias of “V”, plots to overthrow it with the help of a young woman.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Revolution 101
Story: V for Vendetta starts as we watch Evey (Portman) who is part of the dictatorship run England run by Adam Sutler (Hurt), Evey finds herself being rescued during a curfew by the charismatic V (Weaving). V is trying to force a revolution in England to take down Sutler where he calls for everyone to come together on 5th of November one year from the start of the film.
As the year continues Detective Finch (Rea) is trying to figure out who is V, where is V hiding and how V is going to make this happen? Through the year he starts to discover a truth behind who V is. While being investigated V keeps Evey has his prisoner and partner in the revolution until she runs where she gets captured by the government who are torture her for answers.
V for Vendetta is part revolution part revenge film, we follow a one-year long movement in how the England sees the current government before making things happen themselves, well that is partly true because we watch V take out everyone he wants revenge on while the revolution is being used to cause a distraction. The motives behind all work very well but I would have liked to have seen more about how the dictatorship was controlling the country. Overall the story is one of the best and still feels fresh over ten years after its release.
Actor Review
Natalie Portman: Evey is just a normal woman in this controlled world but when she ends up getting saved by V she ends up joining in the vigilante side of his thinking going against the dictatorship control the country. She gets tested on whether she will expose his true identity while being the target of the leader of the country. Natalie gives us a good performance but I can’t help but wonder if her character was just used as a dummy to the bigger story.
Hugo Weaving: V is the charismatic vigilante who wants to overturn the government and expose the truth. He has been planning this for years and Evey comes into his life putting his plans in danger, we are left to see if he can lead the revolution. Hugo shines in this film as you are hung on every world coming out of his mouth.
John Hurt: Adam Sutler is the High Chancellor of the country, what he says goes and no one can go against his rules or they will be killed. John gives us a good performance when he is on camera but in the end he doesn’t get enough time.
Stephen Rea: Finch is the detective trying to hunt down V, he is one of the few people who actually thinks for himself not going for anything that Sutler says. Stephen is good in this role as the seemingly tired of the government detective.
Support Cast: V for Vendetta has a supporting cast which are mostly the mix of the people V is against and the people who believe in his cause and want to see a change.
Director Review: James McTeigue – James does give us one of the most memorable films of the year.
Action: V for Vendetta does have plenty of slick action scenes involving V and his knife skills.
Thriller: V for Vendetta does keep you waiting for how the film will end from the start to the finish.
Settings: V for Vendetta uses London as the setting which works to show how a country can be run with such fear.
Special Effects: V for Vendetta has good effects when needed mostly in the fight scenes.
Suggestion: V for Vendetta is one I would like to think most people have watched at least once. (Watch)
Best Part: The character V
Worst Part: Being picky, I would like to have seen more from the strict dictatorship.
Action Scene Of The Film: Sewer fight.
Favourite Quote: V ‘People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.’
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $70 Million
Budget: $54 Million
Runtime: 2 Hours 12 Minutes
Tagline: Freedom! Forever!
Trivia: The cast and crew were only allowed to shoot near the British Parliament and the Clock Tower from midnight to 4:30 am, and they could only stop traffic for four minutes at a time.
Overall: One of the best and most underrated graphic novels out there today
Rating
