V for Vendetta (Narry B's Review)

Dir: James McTiegue
Starring: Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman

After reading Smaltz's review of this 'modern classic' I was a bit 'McTiegued' (cockney rhyming for 'intrigued'). But it really was rather good!

At first you think, 'Hold on, this is just Batman!', but it quickly proves itself to be actually quite different. V is a fairly serious film, and makes a lot of salient points about the conflict of religion and politics.

The English setting was refreshing for a superhero film (of sorts), and generally it was pulled off quite well - I only cringed twice throughout the film. One was when they tried to be too English, the other cringe was for V and Portman's sloppy dialog when it came to their romance. That was truly dire.

V: "I... think... that..."
Ev "V, what is it?!"
V: "I... would you... join me for an egg on toast?"
Ev: "Oh! V!"

Forget about that, though, cos V is actually a storming film. As Smaltz pointed out, it has some nice eccentric touches, and the action is really well done, too.

Portman tries her best, but as she herself says in the "touching" scene where she tells us about her life story: 'I always wanted to act'. And we all want you to act as well, dear.

Rating: Top Work!

V for Vendetta (Guest Review!)

Dir: James McTiegue

Starring: Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, John Hurt

Hi I’m Roger Smaltz and welcome to my first guest review.

V for Vendetta tells the story of a terrorist refusing to accept the government's iron grip of society. Set in the near future, England is effectively under a dictatorship using the BTN (British Television Network) to convince everyone that things are better than ever. The story is based closely on a ten part series written by graphic novel supremo Alan Moore (Watchmen, Batman-The Killing Joke e.t.c.).

To be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect but let’s make this clear: Smaltz likes good sci-fi and hates bad sci-fi. I’m also rather partial to a good superhero adventure since those halcyon days of my childhood watching Adam West in tights.

To my delight V is a brilliant, all be it subversive take on the super hero genre. Hugo Weaving is superb as V despite never seeing his face. He is helped by some wonderful dialogue and his own sense of playfulness such as air conducting the 1812 overture to the destruction of the old bailey.

The combination of music and image is Kubrick-esque, thanks especially to the minimalist but effective score.

Whatever your cinematic preference V should be seen - particularly by those who thought that the Wachowski’s would never recover from the poopingly awful Matrix Reloaded.

Thanks to Narry B for accommodating my horse.

Rating: Genius!

Look out for Narry Borman's review of V coming soon.