V for Vendetta
V for Vendetta ★★½ 2006 (R)
The Wachowskis and director McTiegue bring Alan Moore's 1980s graphic novel to the big screen (though Moore disowned the film). In the year 2020, disease and chaos have swept America off the top of the global food chain, and dictator Sutler (Hurt) has used the resultant fear to turn Britain into a totalitarian regime. V (Weaving), a masked avenger who uses the legend of Guy Fawlkes as both disguise and inspiration, strikes at the government by blowing up Big Ben, promising to return in a year to bring about revolution. On the same night, he also happens to save Evey (Portman) from being raped by the police. She becomes an important ally in his fight. Covers a lot of philosophical ground, but at times glosses over the ideas it presents, costing it much real depth. But it does so with a goodly amount of flash, and not a little artistry. 132m/C DVD, HD DVD . US Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith, Rupert Graves, Roger Allam, Ben Miles, Sinead Cusack, Eddie Marsan, Natasha Wightman; D: James McTeigue; W: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski; C: Adrian Biddle; M: Dario Marianelli.