V For Vendetta

--By Nancy Tu Translated by Cara Steenstra Photos by WB
Release Date: 2006/03/17
Rating: R
Director: James McTeigue
Cast: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, John Hurt

Written and produced by the Wachowski brothers who directed the Matrix, V for Vendetta is directed by James McTeigue, assistant director of the Matrix Trilogy. This latest film also features actor Hugo Weaving--Agent Smith in the Matrix--and there's a similar theme, revolving around a super-powered savior rounding up the masses to fight the upper echelon's oppressive rule. All this makes V for Vendetta look in many ways like an alternative continuation of the Matrix Trilogy.

Adapted from the sci-fi comic book of the same name, V for Vendetta was written by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd. It is set in a future that follows Nazi Germany's winning of the world war and Great Britain's domination by fascists. A masked vigilante known only as "V" (Hugo Weaving) conducts guerrilla warfare using his exceptional skills in combat and deception to fight against the oppressive government. When he rescues a normal young woman named Evey (Natalie Portman), she joins his struggle against the forces of oppression.
Just like the Matrix, where Keanu Reeves' character fights the Matrix and evolves into a super-powered human version of a Dragon Ball cartoon-like character, V for Vendetta is also about a one-man vigilante fighting the Nazis with his amazing powers (only it's a pity that, from beginning to end, Weaving never gets to remove his mask). The superbly choreographed fight scenes and special effects are certainly outstanding. A highlight is how the director, an avid gamer himself, creates fight scenes between V and his enemies to give passionate online gamers the movie-seat thrill ride of their lives.

This isn't the first time that comic heroes have been brought to the big screen, and it doesn't matter that they are consistently the embodiment of justice. Unlike Superman, Batman, Spiderman or Daredevil, who fight one enemy or evil organization at a time, V actually fights against an entire corrupt regime, calling people to revolt against the government. While audiences will get their thrills watching evil powers being overthrown on the silver screen, the movie also appears to serve as an allegorical warning to real-life leaders in power.