"Remember, remember the fifth of November," for on this day, in 2020, the minds of the masses shall be set free. So says code-name V (Hugo Weaving), a man on a mission to shake society out of its blank complacent stares in the film V for Vendetta. His tactics, however, are a bit revolutionary, to say the least. The world in which V lives is very similar to Orwell's totalitarian dystopia in 1984: after years of various wars, England is now under "big brother" Chancellor Adam Sutler (played by John Hurt, who played Winston Smith in the movie 1984), whose party uses force and fear to run the nation. After they gained power, minorities and political dissenters were rounded up and removed; artistic and unacceptable religious works were confiscated. Cameras and microphones are littered throughout the land, and the people are perpetually sedated through the governmentally controlled media. Taking inspiration from Guy Fawkes, the 17th century co-conspirator of a failed attempt to blow up Parliament on November 5, 1605, V dons a Fawkes mask and costume and sets off to wake the masses by destroying the symbols of their oppressors, literally and figuratively. At the beginning of his vendetta, V rescues Evey (Natalie Portman) from a group of police officers and has her live with him in his underworld lair. It is through their relationship where we learn how V became V, the extremities of the party's corruption, the problems of an oppressive government, V's revenge plot, and his philosophy on how to induce change.

Based on the popular graphic novel by Alan Moore, V for Vendetta's screenplay was written by the Wachowski Brothers (of The Matrix fame) and directed by their protégé, James McTeigue. Controversy and criticism followed the film since its inception, from the hyper-stylized use of anarchistic terrorism to overthrow a corrupt government and the blatant jabs at the current U.S. political arena, to graphic novel fans complaining about the reconstruction of Alan Moore's original vision (Moore himself has dismissed the film). Many are valid critiques and opinions, but there's no hiding the message the film is trying to express: Radical and drastic events often need to occur in order to shake people out of their state of indifference in order to bring about real change. Unfortunately, the movie only offers a means with no ends, and those looking for answers may find the film stylish, but a bit empty. --Rob Bracco

On the DVDs
On disc 1 is a 16-minute documentary "Freedom! Forever!: Making V for Vendetta" with discussions on the movie's origin and themes by the principal cast and crew (no Alan Moore or Wachowskis, to no one's surprise, but the graphic novel's illustrator David Lloyd is on hand to call the movie "a very good version"). On disc 2 is a 17-minute production featurette, a 10-minute history of Guy Fawkes, and the 15-minute "England Prevails: V for Vendetta and the New Wave in Comics." Lloyd and others from the comics industry such as Paul Levitz and Bill Sienkiwicz talk about the graphic novel and how it appealed to a different, older audience. The second menu of the second disc also has an easy-to-find Easter egg of a rapping and swearing Natalie Portman on Saturday Night Live. --David Horiuchi

Beyond the Film

The graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd	More by Alan Moore	From Graphic Novel to Big Screen
More by Natalie Portman	More by Hugo Weaving	More by the Wachowski Brothers

Political. Sensational. Vindictive.

V FOR VENDETTA is a cross between The Man in the Iron Mask and Phantom of the Opera. While it purposes to take a serious political tone, it's message of "It's our differences that make us strong" seems silly by the end.

Democracy has its price. It is the least efficient form of government and is unfair and unjust at times. Free markets are not fair. A market economy is unjust to the disenfranchised. Still, totalitarianism is pure evil and who can suffer it?

Not England, according to Vendetta. She finally rebels against the heavy-handed government and its minions. Led by a Quixote-type character in "V", the rebel makes good on its suicidal promise to start from scratch. Such is liberty.

The larger theme of VENDETTA is hope. Hope gives faith aim. On this point, the message is truly eternal, like love.

A glimse of the future?

I found this one a real mirror of what is to come - if we allow it. Where the politicians are in the pockets of the Illuminati. Ie the bankers and industrialists who are treating us as modern day slaves.

guess there has always been people who want to supress freedom of man. in this film. V stands up and relentlessly raises the population to stop fascisme.

well acted, well directed. and very timely.

sverre in scotland

This is happening now folks,Wake up and protect yourselves

An utterly amazing film that critics have tried to dismiss. It paints the picture of a destopic future where governments use spin, fear and attacks on its own people to fulfill their own political ambitions.

You only have to look around you at the state of the world today to see that Yes in fact, this is what is happening now.

You'll be shouting BS at the endless spin the media spew out to convince us to send our sons to their deaths in eternal wars against an enemy that has never actually been proven to exist.

A superb complimentary read is by Andrew M. Lobaczewski, Political Ponerology: A science on the nature of evil adjusted for political purposes

Don't let this movie just wash over you as harmless entertainment, the message is clear if you wake up to what governments are really about. Do they really have our best interests at heart? the answer is No.

V for vendetta beautifully illustrates through the character portraid by Portman, how inner strength and integrity is an intimidating weapon. A must see movie.