V for Vendetta

2006 • 132 minutes

About this movie

From the Wachowski brothers and Joel Silver, the masterminds behind The Matrix trilogy, comes another intriguing, action-packed fantasy-thriller. Great Britain has become a fascist state. Now, a shadowy freedom fighter known only as "V" (Hugo Weaving) begins a violent guerrilla campaign to destroy those who have embraced totalitarianism. In his quest to liberate England from its oppressive ideological chains, "V" recruits a young woman (Natalie Portman) he's rescued from the secret police to join him on an epic adventure to execute a seemingly impossible task.

Ratings and reviews

I wanted to like this film but the acting was average. The flow of the film just felt awkward. The use of the word bolloc#s is just so dated and feels like it was added to the script as american audiences have to hear a bit of dick van dyke cockney. Oh and the term 'Anarchy in the uk' also cropped up, I cringed at that point but continued to the end. This is my kind of film but I didn't feel the tyranny that gripped the people of Britain, it wasn't dark enough and just not believable.

It seems that the Wachowski sisters knew how Britain would turn out post Brexit. One of the best films they have done and really needs to be seen on mainstream TV. I'd go as far as saying it is one of Natalie Portman's best films. Which includes Annihilation as well. Hugo Weaving needs no real introduction and plays V with great enthusiasm. You have the late John Hurt playing the sinister High Chancellor Adam Sutler and former leader of the Norsefire Party. It is a dark film but very entertaining as well.

As much as the original graphic novel is a straightforward reinvention of the dystopian Britain born in 1984, this is a straightforward filmic interpretation of the graphic novel. Regardless Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving excel in their central roles and the Wachowskis' eye for a great shot remain reason enough to encourage viewers to watch this movie, and remember its lasting legacy: we are anonymous. Expect us.