V for Vendetta - Review

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Length: 132 min

Rated: R

Distributor: Warner Bros.

Release Date: 2006-03-17

Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith, Rupert Graves, Roger Allam, Ben Miles, Sinead Cusack, Natasha Wightman

Directed by James McTeigue

Produced by Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski, Grant Hill

Written by Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski

Visit the movie's Official Site!

Reviewed by Joshua Tyler : 2006-03-16 13:15:50

Politicians lie to hide the truth, artists tell lies to reveal it; so proclaims the newest work from the creators of The Matrix. V for Vendetta is a lie, a work of fiction written to reveal truth. It's not easy or comfortable truth, but there is truth somewhere in it. I'm tempted to lie here and tell you that there's also a ton of kung fu, since that's probably the best way to lure as many people as possible into seeing it. But I'll avoid fabrication and stick with facts. This isn't an action film or a superhero movie or even really science fiction. V for Vendetta is an idea. A subversive, uncompromising (somewhat naïve) idea.

Based on the same named comic series written in 1982 by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, V for Vendetta tells the tale of a near future England run by an oppressive government and a man, known only as V (Hugo Weaving), who sets out to destroy it. V is a terrorist, and he achieves his goals by murder, subterfuge, and blowing things up. He bursts onto the scene clad in dark clothes, hidden behind a Guy Fawkes mask, and spouting dialogue so complex and full of high-dollar words that it’s nearly another language. While skulking London’s deserted, under curfew streets, he rescues a waifish girl accosted by Fingermen, the government’s rape-hungry secret police. The girl is Evey (Natalie Portman) and it’s the 5th of November, a day the people of Britain will remember.

V takes Evey under his wing, as he embarks upon his strategy of governmental destruction. He’s a terrorist, but he’s not terrorizing the people. Instead, his goal is to awaken and empower them, while striking fear in the heart of England’s totalitarian government. “If you want to see who is responsible, look no further than a mirror,” he tells the country’s citizens. “I understand, you were afraid,” he says by way of forgiving them. It’s the people who put Britain’s corrupt, hate-driven government in power, and it’s the people who must stop it. “People should not be afraid of their governments,” pronounces V, “governments should be afraid of their people.”

This is a visually rich, dark, and resonant film; one which uses style to convey substance under the guise of pure entertainment. The Wachowski brothers’ script is an absolutely faithful adaptation of its source material, tweaked just enough to update it and properly translate it to the screen. James McTeigue’s directing is pitch perfect, he cuts in all the right places and lingers on all the right moments. He gives the film a sense of urgency, even when characters are just hanging around philosophizing. Whenever the movie moves towards becoming too preachy, he quickens the pace and plunges into something exciting. Is the movie political? Yes, but not necessarily in a way that’s specific to anything going on now in the world. It was after all, written in 1982. These are the same political paradoxes that have been plaguing man for centuries. If you find a way to apply it to George Bush or Tony Blair, it’s only because the film’s themes are so universal.

Hugo Weaving is simply incredible as V, acting underneath a stiff, somewhat silly mask that completely covers his face, his eyes, or anything else he might use to convey the slightest emotion. Yet somehow, V is the film’s most passionate, powerful character. Hugo uses his voice and physicality to convey that; to bring an awkward, faceless creation to electrifying life. V calls himself an idea, and with Weaving playing him he’s a very powerful idea indeed.

But it’s Natalie Portman’s Evey that becomes the real heart of the movie. V is an unstoppable force; Evey is a real person, caught up in his deadly rebellion. Her conversations with V, not its one or two action bits, are the driving force of the Wachowski’s script. Evey resists V’s crusade against oppression, her mind rebels against what he has to say out of fear and self-preservation. So will you.

There are people who are going to hate this movie; people who don’t like to think, the brain dead, the fools. Referencing the still unseen film, one member of a politically minded film forum was quick to declare: “You can’t make a movie about a terrorist now without endorsing bin Laden”. It’s that mindset, which has become so ingrained in all of us since 9/11, that makes V for Vendetta so unsettling. At times it almost feels like you’re watching something forbidden, like you’re seeing something you shouldn’t be allowed to see. It’s shocking that a movie like this, especially in these times, ever actually got made. It’s even more unbelievable that it was made by a major Hollywood studio. It’s fun to accuse Hollywood of liberal activism, but you don’t expect this kind of real filmmaking bravery from corporate America or a company like Warner Bros. It’s a purposefully uncomfortable film, one that will affect different people differently depending on what you bring in with you.

Yes, V for Vendetta is rebellious and risky, subversive and dangerous. But it’s not cynical. V’s naïve take on the world is one that believes in the basic strength and goodness of people as strongly as it believes in the intrinsic corruptness of big government. It’s a viewpoint that almost certainly has no basis in reality, but that’s alright What makes the film great is that you’re not asked to subscribe to its philosophy, only think about it and take note. It’s not a call to rise up against your rulers, but a warning about the way fear can be used to give a person or organization too much power. It’s an old lesson, but one that bears frequent repeating. It’ll stick with you after you leave the theater. You won’t want to think about it, the ideas in this film are too dangerous, but you’ll have to. V is that kind of powerful. Once you see it, there’s no escaping it.

"By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe." – V’s personal motto

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Note: This website is not intended for use by minors. The views expressed in this comments section are not necessarily our own. Comments that we deem to be poorly worded, off topic, or threatening will not be published. For free, uncensored discussion visit our forum.

aLBeRt™ Says:
March 17th, 2006 at 12:09
I love this feature wherein you can throw in your opinion to a certain review. Can't wait to see the smoke when "brokeback mountain 2" come out. :) I am sure it won't though. :)

Bruce Says:
March 18th, 2006 at 05:56
I enjoyed Mr. Tyler's review but had to laugh at the suggestion that Vendetta is risky and rebellious. Subversive and dangerous? It's demagougery is pure leftist cliche. Anti religion, anti conservatism, pro homosexuality with a special dose of politically correct pro Muslim soft shoe for good measure. How in the world are those themes in any way dangerous? In order to be risky you have to come up with ideas that cut against your industry's platforms, not lockstep in the same overly simplistic mindset of your peers. The movie was unique, well acted, and interesting, to be sure--all welcomed attributes but let's not get carried away about its message.

Matt Says:
March 18th, 2006 at 12:28
Yo, Bruce... it is rebellious in that it's about terrorismagainst the government. Hell, I'm a Republican but I thought it was great. You really need to read Alan Moore's comics about it. He's pretty nutty but in a good way.

chiara Says:
March 26th, 2006 at 04:45
Hi, I'm from Italy. I ' m one of those who didn't like v. It was pretty boring, actually- What does he want, really? Anarchy has already proved to be a very, very bad way to "organize" society. Not in comics, maybe, but in real life..These wachosky brothers..I know they' ve read a lot of comics and graphic novel and it' s all very fine if you don' t think you can get a political consciousness out of them. Maybe they should also read Orwell or Macchiavelli- just because they could extract a couple of ideas out of them too. I also read Alan Moore, and it's the same thing..I don' t even like the graphic. He wrote v in the 80's. He was terribly worried about some incoming "gay persecution". Now they got pacs (kind of marriage) and, in Spain, they can also aoapt children. So please why should I watch a movie which pretends we live in a different reality?I mean, I could if it was entrateining, but v wasn' t at all.

Josh Says:
March 27th, 2006 at 00:38
Now wait a minute, was it boring because the movie was bad or because it doesn't jive with your politics? You start your post with the premise that it was boring, and then as proof offer a lot of opinionated political jargon. So, I'm going to ignore the boring part since it isn't supported by the rest of your post.

If you've actually read V for Vendetta, you'll know that it's not about gay persecution, it's just about persecution. Racial cleansing plays a pretty big part in the V comic, even if it's not as focused on in the movie. So I'm not sure where you got that idea... it certainly wasn't from reading V for Vendetta.

In the end, I think Chiara your post proves exactly what I've been saying... how you react to the movie depends for most people on what you bring in with you. You seem to have brought a lot of political baggage in with you and were unable to get past that to see the good in the film.

There's nothing WRONG with that, you're not required to like it. It's just interesting how this causes people's reactions to V to be all over the map.

What I'm finding most interesting is that people who don't like the movie's politics seem to want to dismiss it, rather than rail against it as if doing so justifies their political views. Frankly, this is a pretty smart tactic on their part, since railing against it only gets it more publicity. But like the recitation of pre-programmed rhetoric, it's still a tactic that seeks to nullify and avoid any real discourse on the ideas raised in the fim.

Melissa Eggstaff Says:
March 31st, 2006 at 20:55
I recently went to see V for Vendetta, but unfortunately have not yet been able to scrounge together the money to buy the graphic. However, I agree with the original review completely, even while feeling not as well informed as I like. The movie is not only powerful, well acted, and extraordinarily well filmed, it is also an incendiary and riotous political commentary. The movie focuses on a not-quite-alternate universe, a glimpse into a bleak and perverse future that sadly does not seem that far out. A future in which America's war with Iraq has unforseen and disastrous consequences that spill out into other countries, breeding fear and dependence upon an over-controlling and Orwellian government. Is it really so hard to believe this could all occur? The most powerfully instinctive emotion that human beings are capable of is fear, fear of the unknown... and xenophobia, fear of that which we do not understand, that which is different from us.
Anyone who's ever attended an extremist meeting of conservative minds knows that this type of persecution is not only dreamed of, it's plotted in the everyday minds of people all over the world who see nothing wrong with this war, this government, and the hostile religious environment the factions of America have provided.
Whenever a country is divided between those who want change and those who will kill to prevent it, it effects not only that nation, but other nations as well- who react out of a programmed sense of self-preservation. With the AIDS crisis still haunting the minds of those who survived it's rampage, and the controversy about the Alien and Sedition Acts being brought back after almost 200 years... how long before it's pervasive sense of agitation and aversion spreads like a plague to all the corners of the Earth?
I realize I sound a bit... paranoid, and a little like a person who recently spotted UFO's landing in the desert, but it is better to be prepared, to know where you stand, and not to flinch from possibilites than to swept up when things we say could never happen actually occur. It is a miracle this movie was produced- mainly because even in the liberal minded Hollywood studios, it is conscidered okay to make meek minded protests- but not to create a sneaky and subversive sneak-a-peak show into the consequences.
One need only look at history- during the Black Plague, thousands of Jews were butchered in an effort to end it's destruction. Why? Because a powerful and clerical government needed someone to blame.

chiara Says:
April 2nd, 2006 at 04:44
tell me please what was really original about the movie, i didn't get it. a future totalitaian government?Farannheit 451 was ar more impressive..in fact it was not just a bunch of leftish cliche. If the movie has a political aim, why shouldn' t i judge it from this point of view, pardon? And really, in that movie everything related with the right was terrible. And can you please tell me why should a like a hero who tortured the woman he' s supposed to love in order to prove her loyalty? shouldn' t he be different from those horrible politicians he' s trying to kill (and even if there will be casualties that' s forgettable because he's fighting the good fight!). Whatever, i' m not at all impressed because the movie was produced, didn' t faraneit 9-11 won the cannes prize last year?there v for vendetta could get something for sure, they would totally love the "ideal" they movie is supposed to convey.

Bob Says:
April 2nd, 2006 at 13:11
All I can say is that almost everyone who DOESN'T like the movie seems to have an extreme right wing bias. This is evidenced for instance by Chiara's post, which starts out with a shot at the left.

Yet, since it was written in 1982, there's really no reason for accusing it of leftism, at least not in the modern, relevant to this discussion sense of the word.

But what you're railing against isn't leftish cliche's, its a bunch of ideas that you personally can't wrap your head around. because it doesn't fit with your world view. It's got nothing to do with the film itself having a leaning of any sort, it's you that has a bias!

Not that there's anything wrong with your right wing bias Chiara, just admit it, embrace it, and own up to it. Be what you are! We are all biased against different things in different ways. Our minds rebel against ideas we can't handle. It's completely natural.

Melissa Eggstaff Says:
April 2nd, 2006 at 16:44
The movie is unique because it focuses on a real world issue- something that not only *could* happen, but very probably will. Movies and books like 1984 present possible futures that are often too extreme to be realistic, and Fahrenheit 9-11 spoke out on something that had already taken place- not on disturbing and sly possibilities.

I disagree, as well, that the movie is leftist cliche. The persecution of homosexuals is a very real thing, it happens in this day and age and very probably will happen in the future as well. The sad thing is that people dismiss such possibilities out their own personal bias. No matter what gender a person sleeps with, they are still born with certain unalienable rights. Are you, Chiara, and those like you, implying that in World War Two when homosexuals were interned and tortured by the Nazis, it was perfectly acceptable? Why is it so hard to believe it could happen again?

As for V torturing Evey Hammond- the point the movie made was this. We all become what we hate- the government created V, and Evey was right, they created a monster. I don't agree with what he did, and nor do I believe results justify the means. However- V's morality and sense of self are distorted through what was done to him, and he very probably did not see it that way.

chiara Says:
April 15th, 2006 at 12:28
i guess there no right and wrong in this world, ah? just think about that the next time someone will hurt you , think that it' s just your point of view, you' ll feel better, i bet not.
you are really terrible people, i must admit. you are accusing me of something i' ve never told. first of all, i read the graphic novel and ALAN MOORE HIMSELF told he expressed there his political point of view, so go and tell HIM: no alan moore you didn't!!WE KNOW BETTER! Can't you do anything better than accusing me of being a nazi, while you don't even know if my skin is black or white?Because my name is chiara then what?

Bob Says:
April 15th, 2006 at 13:38
What the crap are you talking about chiara? You're mentally ill. I don't think you understood one thing anyone said in this talkback, let alone the movie. No wonder you didn't get it .

Melissa Eggstaff Says:
April 16th, 2006 at 09:02
No right or wrong in this world? Right and wrong exists in the mind, Chiara, not in history or by example. Hitler himself believed he was doing the world a great service. Life is painted in shades of grey, and it takes a true and honest person to admit the flaws within themselves and not emblazon the world with their own viewpoints. That's what's so dangerous about governments like ours, and like the one in V for Vendetta- they honestly, and truly, believe that what they are doing is right.
As for your other comments, I'm not sure I should dignify them with answers, but I'll try anyway. Against my better judgement, I might add. Reason does not often work against prejudice.
You deliberately took what I said in an incorrect and inflammatory manner. I did not mean to imply you were a Nazi, and the color of your skin certainly had nothing to do with any of it. As for what your name has to do with it, I'm not entirely sure and must admit to abject confusion. Did I imply your name had any important or significant meaning? The comment I made was more of an inquiry- do you honestly believe, with all the prosecution present in the history of mankind, that it could not and will not happen again?
After all... the only thing we learn from history is that we don't learn from history.

chiara Says:
April 16th, 2006 at 13:59
if i am mentally ill you should like me as you like v.

Melissa Eggstaff Says:
April 17th, 2006 at 06:42
I'm almost afraid this debate has grown childish. Resorting to insulting a person's mental health, fictional or delusional as they may or may not be... Well.

Ben Says:
September 16th, 2006 at 01:28
Well, I watched the movie and I found it beyond ridiculous. I thought that it completely had evrything switched around. It was mentioned in the film that the Chancellor grew up as a 'religious Conservative'. It is beyond insanity to suggest such a thing could be possible. Another point that made me very angry was the homosexuals. It made it out that they were innocent angels under violent persecution and that they were to be exterminated. This movie did nothing but assault the Conservatives with lies and accusations. The perspective of the future represented in this film is incredibly far from the truth. I couldn't have agreed more with Chiara

Josh Says:
September 16th, 2006 at 01:30
I don't know Ben, I think you make a pretty good case for the movie being dead on, just by your reaction to it.

Dan Says:
October 28th, 2007 at 01:46
I don't understand what people are getting angry about in regards to this movies political views. The movie presents an idea, a thought and a horrible vision for the future. I loved the movie (though the dialogue was a little hard to hear without blasting my t.v.) The future that is portrayed is a very real possibility in this modern day and age. The government in the U.S. Is already trying to take freedoms away for the sake of "safety." What makes anyone believe that the government could come to this? I'm a Catholic but even stil look at what the Catholic church has done to peoples in the past. The Inquisition, murdering jews, and the belief that the jewish faith is to blaim for the death of chris is rediculous. Yet the peopl of the time period honestly thought that they were doin the right thing by trying to stop all the heretics faiths from spreading.

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