V for Vendetta

I haven't seen the television commercials for this film. Going into the film I was aware that the Wachowski brothers had something to do with it, that it was adapted from Alan Moore's graphic novel and who was in it... let the rest then fall where it may.

Reviewers of this movie come in numerous groups. There are those that liked the movie but believed that there was too much graphic novel in their political drama and there are those who felt that there was too much political drama in their graphic novel. A small percentage of reviewers either didn't care for the movie or enjoyed it thoroughly as it was. The four people I attended the movie with fell into the category of incredible enjoyment.

I happen to agree with them.

Primarily I want to comment about several of the negative reviewers comments, snide or otherwise, so as to put perspective on the movie. Roger Ebert quipped "Why the mask does not limit his peripheral vision is a question I will leave for the experts." Though Mr. Ebert gave the movie a positive review, this sort of comment strikes me oddly as the movie answers Mr. Ebert's comment with a question of much broader scope "How can he see at all?" to which Mr. Ebert did not deign comment on. My fellow reviewer has a scathing article regarding this movie - of course he felt the movie didn't work as there was too much political drama in his graphic novel. He writes "If we're going to be truthful here this movie was only made because the Wachowski brothers hit a monster home run with the Matrix series of movies. If an unknown writer had pitched this movie to a studio it would have ended up in the straight to DVD pile at best." To which I question whether or not he understood the workings behind this movie and the other commercially successful (if not always intellectually stimulating) works by Alan Moore already realized in film. Hellboy, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Constantine are all big blockbuster Hollywood films. Why would this production get held up because the Wachowski brother's weren't behind it?

A good 30 minutes of discussion was held at the close of this movie by those who were in attendance, to ascertain whether there were any holes in the plot. There were. Reviewers have pointed out some of the more stringent ones - like the failings in the pseudo romance between V and Evey. The clandestine means by which V is able to orchestrate his entire plot is dizzying and the most unbelievable part of the movie. And I will admit, that after reading the graphic novel, I felt the movie's ending was secondary to that of the film. (Watch closely and you will see the strange revival of several already dead characters)

But without fail V for Vendetta offers satisfaction to the moviegoer. There is intrigue, excellent characterization, bushels of exploding eye candy and a character the likes of which has never graced any film I have been witness to. The man who doesn't take off the mask. Zorro, yup. The Lone Ranger, yup. Batman, you betcha. If you were to see the movie based solely on one reason though, it would be to see Natalie Portman's portrayal of Evey. The rest is mere chicanery, drab and lifeless in contrast to the life she breathes into the role and the film.

4 stars out of 4
Kyle Gould is a University of Calgary Graduate in English devoutly trying to make the 25,000 dollar piece of parchment not just a glorified ink blot. Currently it would serve better as a Rorschach test. Feel free to throw some ink his way at wkkgould@hotmail.com.