V FOR VENDETTA

FREEDOM! FOREVER!

Director: James McTeigue

Actors: Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Rupert Graves, Stephen Fry, John Hurt and others

Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller

Duration: 132 minutes

Plot: in a future British tyranny, a shadowy freedom fighter, known only by the alias of the letter "V", plots to overthrow the opressing system with the help of a young woman.

Analysis: V for Vendetta is the movie adaptation of the relevant graphic novel of 1988. Director James McTeigue succeeds in capturing the essence of the comic book and communicating it through the big screen. However the credit belongs mainly to the script writers of the film, the ingenious Andy and Lana Wachowski (a.k.a. the Wachowski Brothers), that gifted us with a masterpiece as marvelous as Matrix. In V for Vendetta their imaginative craziness can still be detected, yet this time more refined and controlled. In other words, this film is not only about special effects and breathtaking scenes. It is a deep, analytical and insightful attempt to interpet and –at the same time–criticize the black spots of the political stage. And as borring such an attempt may sound, the Wachowski Brothers manage to create the perfect combination of a science fiction film with plenty political and social extensions. giving us a film which will not only fascinate us but will also make us think hard about those that define our lives. And while in Matrix the role of the humanity's oppressors belonged to the machines, in V for Vendetta that role belongs to a tyrannical and corrupt government. 

      Hugo Weaving (the "bad" guy in Matrix) is the hero in this movie, landing an absolutely wonderful performance of Shakesperean proportions (and all these while wearing a mask on his face during the whole duration of the movie). In conclusion, V for Vendetta is a marvelous film of so many moral aspects, keen dialogues and brilliant, metaphorical scenes (especially the finale seems like the incarnation of a poet) that will remain stuck in your head for a good while. After all, the films that dare to speak the truth are rare nowadays and this film does, teaching us that "people shouldn't be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people".


Things to notice:

• Hugo Weaving's memorable performance, 
• the flawless script and
• the allegorical –almost poetic– finale.

Oscar awards (2006): - (but all in our hearts).

Personal Evaluation: 9.5/10

Should be watched tonight if: you are a rebel!

Trailer