E for Excellent

...yes, what a witty title. I enjoyed this movie thoroughly, although I need to admit certain parts dragged on. When first I saw a preview I had no idea who to think. I saw the image of a man in a white mask with a silly moustache going around killing dark-clad officers and whatnot. At first I figured it to be some poorly concieved super-hero thriller, which are getting somewhat tiring at this point. The only thing, I felt, going for it was that it was produced by the Wachowski Brothers, who also produced the Matrix Trilogy. Of course, even at this news I was skeptical, as I was quite dissappointed by the last two Matrix films.

Later on I read more thoroughly into the film's premise and became excited. In takes place in the future in a totalitarian Britain, where the rulers govern everyday life in it's entirity quite in the Orwellian styles. A lone rebel known as V (Hugo Weaving) dressed in a black outfit with a Guy Fawkes mask (Guy Fawkes a historical figure who tried to rebel against the government by destroying the Parliament) fights a campaign to bring justice and freedom back to his nation. "Remember, Remember the 5th of November" an old poem about Fawkes goes.

We are introduced to this harsh Orwellian society, which on the surface looks very similar to our modern world, yet in a subtle manner we detect the fascist instruments of the society. Media is all produced by the government and little freedom for the every day citizen remains in tact. Like many other Dystopian works, the government blames both external and internal forces on the emergance and prevelance of the police state.

Soon we are introduced to Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman, who actually does a good performance this time), a young woman on her way to a friend's house past curfew hours. She is stopped by "police" enforcers who proceed to harass her and prepare to rape her, when V arrives and rescues Evey. He then proceeds to reveal part of his plan, blowing up the Old Bailey that night and later promises the citizens and government of Britain that in a year's time on the 5th of November, much like Fawkes himself, he will attempt to destroy the Parliament Buildings, which are a symbol of decay and corruption.

The plot spoilers stop here as I recommend this movie full-heartedly and urge everyone to see it. V, who appeared to me to be silly-looking in the early previews, is one of the deepest characters I have seen in a film in years. Hugo Weaving preforms excellently, even though his features are always masked. The film is not mere entertainment, it embodies freedom and human rights against totalitarianism and dictatorships, exposing government's ways of controlling people and links to every time in history when democracies have been replaced with authoritarian regimes. It links to Hitler, Stalin, Napolean and even modern day leaders (who will remain nameless). This concern is universal, I believe, to anyone who values their freeoms and rights.

V for Vendetta is not only great fun and excitement, but empowering and deep. The action is superb and quite unique, although it drags in some parts. Overall, however, I would recommend the film whole-heartidly. Go see it now, I urge you.