V For Vendetta: A Classic Revolution Film

Since its release in 2005, V for Vendetta has become one of the best revolution/anarchy-themed films.

Intro

V for Vendetta is the debut feature film of James McTeigue based on the comic book series by the same name written by Alan Moore. The film is set in 1988 in London, where a masked vigilante decides to overthrow the corrupt government. Since its release in 2005, it has become one of the best revolution/anarchy-themed films.

Freedom Forever

The story of V for Vendetta revolves around a mysterious vigilante who wears a Guy Fawkes mask and decides to set in motion a revolution and encourage people to stand with him. Our mysterious figure, who calls himself V, will encounter a young woman named Evey, portrayed by Natalie Portman, who'll become one of the most essential characters in the film. The world-building of V for Vendetta is nothing less than astonishing. In the first 10 minutes, you realize what kind of government is ruling England and why V wants to revolt against this government.

The movie starts strong, but as the film progresses, some flaws will appear, most of which are related to the script and character building. The movie is based on V for Vendetta comic books, and while the film has tried to capture most of the comic's feelings, there are essential things that they decided to change, causing the movie to seem less realistic. One of the major flaws is that the audience can easily say who is the bad guy and who is the hero. While this should be the case for most superhero films, it is a major flaw for a revolution-themed movie since the lines between right and wrong should often blur.

One of the things the movie does capture correctly is the procedure of revolution. It doesn't happen overnight, and many things need to be put in motion before the grand moment of overthrowing the government. This is where the importance of Evey is revealed. She certainly does help the V to complete their plots, but her more important role for the audience is to show the step-by-step changing of a person's mind that causes them to revolt.

Masked Man and Orchestral Visuals

While the script of V for Vendetta could have been better, the actors' performances are top-notch. All the characters are portrayed beautifully, but when it comes to Hugo Weaving, who plays the role of V, the acting becomes a masterclass. Since V always wears a thick mask, it is much harder to represent every emotion only by voice and body language. This is not something that every actor can achieve, but Weaving does a mesmerizing job. He and Natalie Portman do a fantastic job of showing the struggle and hardship of an ordinary civilian that has to live during an evolution.

The film also does a great job of depicting dystopian London with some fantastic camera work. Every good movie must tell a story with visuals as much as dialogue and speaking. V for Vendetta is also one of the rare movies that properly utilizes classical music pieces. Not only do the classical pieces increase the tension and make the situation epic, but they subtly point to the historical importance of everything in our lives. The 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky plays throughout the movie, conveying mixed/epic feelings.

Closing Critiques

V for Vendetta is one of the best movies about revolution, but not without its flaws. The primary flaw of this movie is seen in its script. While most dialogues and monologues are written pretty well, the film is rather simplistic, or in other words, it is split into black and white rather than gray. Fortunately, the performance of Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman is so excellent that it somewhat compensates. Adding some fantastic cinematography and perfect classical music selections, this film becomes a must-watch for movie night.

Raving Rating: 7.8