Movies •Books •Music •Food •Tv Shows •Technology •Politics •Video Games •Parenting •Fashion •Green Living •more >

Lunch » Tags » Movies » Reviews » V for Vendetta (2006 film) » User review

V for Vendetta (2006 film)

The 2006 film based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd.

Edit Topic

< read all 12 reviews

Phantom of the Opera Meets Les Miserables

Aug 9, 2006

by DindyRobinson

Rating:

Wow! This is a terrific movie, a parable of future history from a liberal viewpoint. Warning- some people may find the movie offensive to their religious and/or political beliefs.

However, the movie is the telling of how "absolute power corrupts absolutely." With an incredibly strong performance by Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving and Stephen Rea, the movie tells of a fascist society that is shaken when a character known only as V blows up the Old Bailey Courthouse while the 1812 Overture plays loudly on the loudspeakers placed throughout the streets of London. Evey (Natalie Portman) is a naïf that V (Hugo Weaving) rescues from the guards when they are about to arrest her for violating curfew. Stephen Rea is the police inspector charged with tracking V, and as he trudges through his investigation, his faith in the government and his superiors is destroyed.

V and Evey are drawn to each other while Evie is at the same time repelled by him. After he commits a murderous raid on the TV station where Evey works, she saves him from being arrested. He takes her to his hidden bunker and refuses to let her leave. He continues his murderous spree and Evey, in the course of helping him with one of the murders, escapes from him. However, she is soon taken prisoner by the police and tortured while undergoing interrogation about V's whereabouts.

The end of the movie is truly stirring and brings to mind the revolutionary march scene from Les Miserables. The earlier scenes between Evey and V are very reminiscent of The Phantom of the Opera, although Evey never does see underneath V's mask. She doesn't need to because by the end of the movie she, and we, learn exactly who V is in a scene that is surely one of the great scenes of movie history.

This is not a movie for young children due to scenes of graphic, realistic violence. However, people who are resistant to viewing the movie because it is produced by the same people who produced the Matrix or because they don't like Science Fiction movies or Super Hero movies can put those reservations aside. The movie is in no way a Science Fiction movie or even an action thriller, although there are action scenes in it. To go back to the beginning of this review, the movie is a parable, and one that can be enjoyed even by people who don't like "genre" movies.

What did you think of this review?

Helpful

Thought-Provoking

Fun to Read

Well-Organized

Post a Comment

More V for Vendetta (2006 film) reviews

review by cyclone_march. October 13, 2010

posted in Movie Hype

V for Vendetta -- Brilliant

1984 would not have worked set in the United States. We seem to know that, no matter what, we will stand up and face down a system like the one Mr. Orwell described. Similarly V for Vendetta had to be set in Britain in order to work. And, oh yes Virginia, it does work. The plot is orwellian. It is also a little bit Ray Bradbury and just a little dash of That’s Incredible for those sad few of us who can remember that show. … more

Comments (3) Compliments (36)

Quick Tip by Fionnchu. August 09, 2010

posted in Movie Hype

A Quick Tip by Fionnchu

If I had not read the graphic novel first, I'd have been bewildered. It adapts a challenging story well, despite the limits of two hours. I found the ending a moving one, cynic though I am. Recommended that you finish the book first, and then enjoy the visuals, story, and action.

Comments (1) Compliments (3)

Quick Tip by vampire_eyez. August 09, 2010

posted in Movie Hype

A Quick Tip by vampire_eyez

one of my favorite movies of all times! lots of action and a plot that is followable and enjoyable.

Comment Compliments (3)

review by jbeswick. July 23, 2009

Magnificient

A cinematic giant, V is a great example of a perfect film (other examples in my methodology include Out Of Africa, The English Patient and Goodfellas). Literally no actor could be replaced, no scene cut nor any direction changed - perfect in every respect. The main character, "V", is a model for every citizen. Unchanged, unhinged, unwaveable - he stands for everything we believe in. His motivation gains more credence daily , and I frequently urge people to … more

Comments (3) Compliments (38)

Quick Tip by brianna. July 26, 2010

posted in Movie Hype

A Quick Tip by brianna

I love this movie. there's something about it that has me watching it over and over again.

Comment Compliment

Quick Tip by josephrasch. April 29, 2010

A Quick Tip by josephrasch

awesome

Comment Compliment

review by Schtinky. November 05, 2008

Excellent knifework and stylish presentation fall victim to touchie-feelie distractions

November 5th is Guy Fawkes night, where the British light bonfires in memory of Guy Fawkes, who attempted assassination of King and Parliament with a plan to blow up Westminster Palace. 'V For Vendetta' plays off the Fawkes legend, bringing it into the future with a sane and cultivated hero who hides behind a mask. 'V' (Hugo Weaving), as he identifies himself, has been a victim of the oppressive political overthrowing of a free government, and decides that revolution and … more

Comment Compliments (15)

review by arichards. November 17, 2008

Gaga about Guy Fawkes

This coming November You'll need to remember The gun powder treason and plot For Portman and Weaving Will have you believing That this movie won't be forgot Their brilliant acting Will have you reacting Between consternation and shock As the regime of Norsefire Breathes bigoted fire And monitors you round the clock When V rescues … more

Comments (2) Compliments (10)

review by engelcox. March 06, 2007

Great 3/4 of a movie, with a flawed ending

Missed this one in the theater and it finally came up in the Netflix queue. As seems to be the case with movies made from graphic novels these days, the filmmakers did a great job of capturing the visual style of the comic while not necessarily retaining the story or underlying meaning. This was even more egregious in this case, where V is portrayed as a heroic figure whose victimization justifies the means by which he extracts his revenge with the added bonus of freeing the enslaved citizens of … more

Comment Compliment

review by kfontenot. August 12, 2006

posted in Movie Hype

You Say You Want A Revolution??

"V for Vendetta" is one of the most boring revolutionary epics I've ever watched. With a screenplay and production by the Wachowski Brothers, I'd at least expect plenty of explosions and some neat special effects because, let's be honest, folks, the only reason that the first "Matrix" flick did very well was because of the whole slo-mo bullet biz. After the initial shock, the sequels of that particular flick were nothing more than fluff. However, it seems that the Wachowski boys were hoping that … more

Comments (1) Compliments (12)

see all V for Vendetta (2006 film) reviews (12)

About the reviewer

Dindy Robinson (DindyRobinson)
Ranked #893

"Here is the cat. Here is the world revolving around the cat." Any questions?

Consider the Source

Use Trust Points to see how much you can rely on this review.

The Forgotten (2004 movie …

X-Men: The Last Stand

I, Robot

The Lord of the Rings - T …

rate more to improve this

Recent reviews by DindyRobinson

Should be Required Reading for Lawmakers
a review of Ask Me Why I Hurt: The Kids Nobody ...

Hard to Put Down
a review of Love You More: A Novel

Leaves My Grandson Cold
a review of Fisher-Price Disney's Rock Star Mickey

see more reviews

About this movie

Wiki

V FOR VENDETTA: From DC comics and the Wachowski Brothers (THE MATRIX) comes this tale of revolution in an England of the future, one gone fearful and fascist; anyone different, from homosexuals to free thinking artists, is "black bagged" and subjected to torture and inhumane medical experiments. Hugo Weaving stars as V, the mysterious knife-carrying masked avenger who has lightning reflexes, lots of explosives, and intentions to blow up Parliament. He's also on a vendetta against the evil powermongers who made him the lonely monster he is. Natalie Portman is the innocent waif who saves him and winds up hiding out in his nifty secret lair, which is filled with forbidden books, art, and a jukebox that plays Cat Power and Julie London's "Cry Me a River." Meanwhile, there's a hangdog police inspector (Stephen Rea) picking up their trail, and a plethora of evil British government types regularly bullied into action by the intensely odious "Grand Chancellor" (John Hurt). Director James McTiegue keeps all thes...

view wiki

Details

Cast: Stephen Rea, Sinéad Cusack, John Hurt, Eddie Marsan, Juliet Howland, Natalie Portman, Roger Allam, Stephen Fry, William Tapley, Joseph Rye, Tim Pigott-Smith, John Standing, Clive Ashborn, James Purefoy, Hugo Weaving, Rupert Graves, Ben Miles, Natasha Wightman, Billie Cook, Simon Holmes, Julie Brown, Megan Gay, Mark Longhurst, Emma Field Rayner, Mark Phoenix, Alister Mazzotti, Roderick Culver, Tara Hacking, Antje Rau, Patricia Gannon, Oliver Bradshaw, Jack Schouten, Caoimhe Murdock, Brin Rosser, Adrian Finighan, Bradley Steve Ford, Madeleine Rakic-Platt, Selina Giles, Carsten Hayes, Grant Burgin, Imogen Poots, Laura Greenwood, Kyra Meyer, Paul Antony-Barber, Anna Farnworth, Mary Stockley, Simon Newby, David Merheb, Daniel Donaldson, Ben Posener, Ian T. Dickinson, Sophia New, Gerard Gilroy, Eamon Geoghegan, Matt Wilkinson, Martin McGlade, Richard Laing, Derek Hutchinson, Raife Patrick Burchell, Matthew Bates, Ian Burfield, Chad Stahelski, Jason Griffiths, Malcolm Sinclair, David Leitch, Cosima Shaw, Gregory Donaldson, Martin Savage, Michael Simkins, Amelda Brown, Charles Cork, John Ringham, Richard Campbell, Guy Henry, Dulcie Smart, Andy Rashleigh

Director: James McTeigue

Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller

Release Date: March 17, 2006

MPAA Rating: R

Screen Writer: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski

DVD Release Date: August 01, 2006

Runtime: 131 minutes

Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures

see all (10)

Lists with this movie