Review: V for Vendetta (2005)

In the first ten minutes of V for Vendetta, the main character, who is simply known as V, quickly asserts himself as one of the most annoying characters ever filmed. Well, maybe not the most annoying, but he comes pretty damn close. This inane science-fiction fantasy action film, adapted from Alan Moore’s graphic novel (a fancy word for comic book), desperately wants to be everything to everyone, but ends up being nothing but an empty-headed thesis written by a first year college student. V (Hugo Weaving), a caped crusader, freedom fighter – or, more appropriately, terrorist – prowls the futuristic streets of London attempting to bring down a totalitarian regime resembling a neutered version of Orwell’s 1984. After helping the young and plucky Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) from attack and torture by government agents, he persuades her to join his fight. His own past deeply scarred by the regime, V has become hell-bent on destroying the government and waking the citizens of London to the realization of their unfortunate plight. Battling the mind-numbing news networks, which are mere puppets of the regime (see Fox News), a corrupt police agency and an indifferent populace, V has his work cut out for him, which is probably why he spends most of his time lecturing everyone to death. It’s no surprise that the Wachowski Brothers wrote this; it’s filled with the same sleep inducing drivel that plagued their Matrix franchise. Wasn’t the screenwriter’s Golden Rule defined as show, don’t tell? Someone should tell, no, show that to the Brothers. V For Vendetta is so badly written and constructed that momentum repeatedly collapses with scene after scene of jarring flashbacks, exposition and clumsy staging. I’m not exaggerating when I say that most of the characters do nothing but simply sit, stand and talk. Matters aren’t helped much when its leading character is encumbered with a non-expressive Guy Fawkes mask for most of V For Vendetta’s exorbitant running time. Looking at this film on its IMDB page, I am stunned that the user rating is 8.2/10, officially placing it at number 152 on the haloed Top 250 list of movies. Please people; you are being fooled into believing this is a good movie. The fascist regime of annoying Natalie Portman fans is deceiving you. Rise! Rise up and march out of that discount theatre, home entertainment system or Circuit City where this might be playing. Oh forget it, you’ll get what’s coming to you.

Richard Saad
© Cinephile Magazine, 2006