Review of V for Vendetta (2006) by Anh H — 06 Aug 2014

If Natalie Portman was ever going to get an Oscar for anything, it should have been this, not whatever the hell that was in Black Swan, V for Vendetta offers some great acting and some very thought provoking ideas.

What really hit me from when the film started is that it just throws you into its world, it doesn't have a big build up or anything, it's just all there and I thought that was pretty cool. It is a world that existed long before you arrived and will continue to long after you leave.

The acting was pretty incredible, I already named Natalie Portman, her performance in this was really great, it's just a showcase for anyone doubting her acting abilities during the Star Wars prequels, nobody was really any good in those. Hugo Weaving was fantastic too, considering you never see his face, it all had to come across in the dialogue and what dialogue this is. The script for the film is very, very well done, with very many awesome moments, memorable quotes and smart speeches and I don't think I have heard so many words beginning with v in my life. However, at least at the start anyway, some of the 'English' curse words just sort of made go, 'ah, there's that old British charm' and it felt a little bit exaggerated at first but it was okay. John Hurt was also good but I would have liked to have seen more of him. And all the other Brits did well.

The film had a perfect blend of stylised violence, beautiful set pieces, thought provoking ideas and a great story to back it all up. The Wachowski's influence is strong in this one and probably is the reason it did so well, not to discredit the director and I liked The Raven for what it was but at least for right now he peaked on his first film.

I always seem to write the least about the films I love the most, probably because I don't have much to complain about. I don't even think about the reviews when I actually end up getting really invested in a film like this and that is probably the best complement anyone can give. V for Vendetta is a modern classic that everybody at least knows about and much like one of the speeches in the film, the film is a symbol. Unforgettable.