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Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt ... see more see more... , Tim Pigott-Smith , Rupert Graves , Roger Allam , Ben Miles , Sinead Cusack , Natasha Wightman , Eddie Marsan , Billie Cook , Amelda Brown , Charles Cork , Andy Rashleigh , John Standing , John Ringham , Richard Campbell , Guy Henry , Dulcie Smart , Gregory Donaldson , Martin Savage , Michael Simkins , Juliet Howland , Derek Hutchinson , Joseph Rye , Raife Patrick Burchell , Matthew Bates , Ian Burfield , Chad Stahelski , William Tapley , Jason Griffiths , Malcolm Sinclair , David Leitch , Cosima Shaw , Simon Holmes , Megan Gay , Mark Longhurst , Clive Ashborn , Emma Field Rayner , Mark Phoenix , Alister Mazzotti , Roderick Culver , Tara Hacking , Antje Rau , Patricia Gannon , Oliver Bradshaw , Jack Schouten , Caoimhe Murdock , Brin Rosser , Adrian Finighan , Bradley Steve Ford , Madeleine Rakic-Platt , Selina Giles , Carsten Hayes , Grant Burgin , Imogen Poots , Laura Greenwood , Kyra Meyer , Paul Antony-Barber , Anna Farnworth , Mary Stockley , Simon Newby , David Merheb , Daniel Donaldson , Ben Posener , Ian T. Dickinson , Sophia New , Gerard Gilroy , Eamon Geoghegan , Matt Wilkinson , Martin McGlade , Richard Laing , Julie Brown , James McTeigue

Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore, V for Vendetta takes place in an alternate vision of Britain in which a corrupt and abusive totalitarian government has risen to complete power. During a thre... read more read more...atening run in with the secret police, an unassuming young woman named Evey (Natalie Portman) is rescued by a vigilante named V (Hugo Weaving) -- a caped figure both articulate and skilled in combat. V embodies the principles of rebellion from an authoritarian state, donning a mask of vilified would-be terrorist of British history Guy Fawkes and leading a revolution sparked by assassination and destruction. Evey becomes his unlikely ally, newly aware of the cruelty of her own society and her role in it. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi

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233 critics

R, 2 hr. 25 min.

Directed by: James McTeigue

Release Date: March 17, 2006

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DVD Release Date: August 1, 2006

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Flixster Reviews (74,826)

  • jmanard52
    January 12, 2011
    jmanard52
    Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman both shine in this awesome adaption of a Moores comic series. Spectacular movie in my opinion. After another recent viewing I realized how great a movie this actually is. 5 stars easy
  • mumby1988
    March 16, 2012
    mumby1988
    If a film suffers from production problems, it stands a greater chance of being a bad film than one on which everything runs smoothly. It's a perfectly logical observation to make, one which is largely correct in the grand scheme of filmmaking, and especially with regard to adapt... read moreations of Alan Moore. The scale of the problems may vary from stars dying to huge studio interference, but whatever their merits From Hell, The League of Extraordinary Gentleman and Watchmen are all found wanting.

    Occasionally, there comes a film which manages to overcome such difficulties and emerge, whether by skill or sheer luck, as a genuinely enjoyable and well-formed piece of work. V for Vendetta fits this bill perfectly, overcoming casting issues and delays in the release to be by far and away the best Alan Moore adaptation. In the hands of James McTeigue, Moore's graphic novel is brought to life in a vibrant and gripping if slightly silly adaptation, which will satisfy the action crowd while providing food for thought.

    Like Watchmen, which eventually found its way to the screen in 2009, V for Vendetta was a long time coming. The Wachowski Brothers began adapting the graphic novel in the mid-1990s, before they had found success with The Matrix and its sequels. Their initial drafts were faithful to the novel at the cost of being long and impenetrable, with even their most ruthless rewrites being dismissed by long-time friend and producer Joel Silver.

    The later drafts which emerged after The Matrix updated Moore's story, moving it from a thinly-veiled allegory of Thatcherite Britain (as seen through American eyes) to a near-future totalitarian state parodying the governments of Bush and Blair. Having been impressed with his work as an assistant director on The Matrix, the Wachowskis gave the finished script to McTeigue as a birthday present. With the backing of both his peers and their producer, production could finally begin.

    The fact that Alan Moore has disowned V for Vendetta, along with all adaptations of his work, should not put you off seeing it. There are times when having no familiarity with the source material can enhance our viewing experience, and all great adaptations should be able to stand alone as works of cinema, regardless of how faithful or affectionate they are. V for Vendetta reflects this principle, succeeding first and foremost as a film and leaving all other debates up to the fans.

    The film has an exuberant visual style which not only reflects the graphic novel but the Wachowskis' love of martial arts. The use of bullet time in the fight scenes owes a clear debt to The Matrix, while the abundance of martial arts-style blood nods towards the exploitation movies on which Silver cut his teeth. While Sin City took the comic book aesthetic and tried to make it fit the big screen, V for Vendetta successfully translates the story into the visual language of cinema.

    Comparisons are naturally going to be drawn between this film and Watchmen, Zack Snyder's heavily flawed and overly long adaptation of Moore's greatest work. The debate over which work is more reflective of their respective sources is a matter for Moore's fans, particularly those who grew up with them the first time round. For the casual viewer, we have to assess which is better as a piece of cinema, and on these grounds V for Vendetta triumphs, for three reasons.

    Firstly, it has a more rounded attitude towards the fans. Watchmen floundered because it was trying too hard to please the fans, with Snyder sparing no expense and pulling no punches to make what he saw as the definitive adaptation. Like many video game adaptations, the film was so worried about replicating every last detail that it forgot to cater for the newcomers. V for Vendetta, meanwhile, has much in it that fans will recognise, but is also much more entrist and emotionally involving. The Wachowskis deliberately changed the character of Evey to make her more prominent and intelligent, recognising that without her the audience wouldn't have a way in.

    Secondly, there is the small matter of tone. One of the biggest problems with Watchmen was its lurching tone: Snyder was so concerned with visual flippancy that when the tougher scenes came along (involving rape and child abduction) they felt adolescent and desperately misjudged. V for Vendetta may take a while to get going - the whole first hour is very pantomime, with ripe delivery of lines and stand-offish characterisation. But in the second hour it really gets into its stride, upping its game as the stakes are raised and matching the tone of the story very well.

    Thirdly, V for Vendetta is the more intelligent offering, knowing how to handle its subject matter in a nuanced and creative way. Watchmen, whether through its script or Snyder's tricksy visuals, kept losing sight of its main theme of policing vigilantes and the morality surrounding them. While Snyder is all style and no substance, the Wachowskis are masters of the thinking-person's action film, and at least some of their craft has rubbed off on McTeigue. The film raises a lot of interesting ideas and questions, and even in its silliest moments it keeps its eye on the ball.

    The film explores the grey area between terrorism and freedom fighting, pulling us into a series of dark places and forcing us to question if the ends ever justify the means. V charms us with his enigmatic blend of anarchy and morality, and we find ourselves subversively supporting an enemy of the state. Halfway in, we are truly shaken when we discover the methods V used on Evey to make her fearless. We find ourselves caught between submission to the state and submission to another force; we are in the centre of Evey's dilemma, and are none the wiser for it.

    V for Vendetta also looks at the relationship between the state and civil society. It raises intelligent questions about where the balance of power lies, and how the one manipulates the other - particularly in the murky practice of governments attacking its own civilians to create legitimacy, creating enemies when none can be found. The V mask may have become a system of popular protest, but the film is far from unequivocal in this respect. The rise of the Chancellor's regime is traced through public demand and paranoia as much as arbitrary coercion, and the film's ambiguous ending leaves us on a note of hope but not certainty.

    Of the two main performers, one meets our expectations while the other exceeds it. Hugo Weaving's previous work with The Wachowskis leads us to expect the best, and he doesn't disappoint, voicing and physicalizing V so well that we never really need to see his face. Natalie Portman, who can be annoying, does a pretty good English accent, and in her more hysterical moments she comes close to the form she would show in Black Swan five years later. There is good support from Stephen Fry (more or less playing himself) and John Hurt, knowingly cast as the Chancellor having played Winston Smith in 1984.

    There are problems with V for Vendetta. The opening section is verbose, the editing is a little clumsy and the torture scenes could be seen as being manipulative. But despite these problems, it remains a very fine film which knocks Watchmen and its predecessors into a cocked hat. It is at very least the most cinematic of the Moore adaptations, with a unique visual style which is all too rare in big-budget films. It won't be to everyone's tastes, but you will struggle to find a comic book film which combines politics and pyrotechnics so effectively.
  • aquateen2
    January 22, 2012
    aquateen2
    It's different for a super hero film and I watched it not knowing what to expect. It's political and touches genuine issue's. I dont like super hero films as i've said before but V for Vendetta is special. NO 3D! Instead it has a good story to it, good acting (particularly by Nat... read morealie Portman) and a message that we could learn from. We dont even find out who V (the "protaganist") is either. Which is just another reason why it's more stylish and sophisticated then the likes of Spiderman and Superman.
  • garyX
    January 6, 2012
    garyX
    In a great britain of the near future, a right wing politician has swept to power on the crest of a wave of Daily Mail inspired conservative nazism. Using a combination of spin and propaganda through the media, he has convinced the populace to sign away their rights and liberties... read more until one masked man decides to fight back. Thank god I don't REALLY live in a britain like that...I was expecting great things from this film, it's combination of politics, imagery and stylised action is exactly the kind of thing that appeals to me. Unfortunately, this level of expectation can often lead to disappointment. What I was presented with was a thoughtful, intelligent and wonderfully written "superhero" film in which the hero has no special powers or magic tricks; he is just an ordinary man who decides that an individual CAN make a difference. Hugo Weaving has great presence for a character who never shows his face and John Hurt is just as masterful as the Big Brother figure as he was as its victim in 1984. Add some wonderfully florid and literary dialogue together with the fact that there are no unnecessarily overblown set pieces in which the beautifully stylised action sequences are just enough to fulfil their purpose in facilitating the story and you have a uniquely cerebral action fantasy. I was looking forward to this one immensely, and for once I was not disappointed. Brilliant.
  • jamers2011
    November 20, 2011
    jamers2011
    Absolutely fantastic film! A modern classic in my opinion.

    I love that we never get to see V's face.
  • fb701560354
    November 10, 2011
    fb701560354
    Awesome visuals effects, great performances from Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving, a thought-provoking story, and a roiling score by Dario Marianelli make V for Vendetta one hell of a ride but the political proclamations may irk some viewers.
  • fb7018436
    November 4, 2011
    fb7018436
    Because if you're 16 then you know that the only way to solve problems with the government is to literally blow it up. Childish in its naivete but the action is incredible.
  • ripley7575
    October 17, 2011
    ripley7575
    Some say it was a bogged-down action film with not enough action, some say it was a hyped up drama with not enough emotion. I say it was a perfect mixture without any of the cliched pitfalls many modern comic adaptations fall victim to.

    The screenplay and dialogue were fantast... read moreic, the acting was perfect to the T in every character's case. The world created was gritty and powerful with the feeling of oppression subtly woven into every facet without becoming a slightly-less depressing 1984. The movie and pretext was thought-provoking and left an impact whilst getting across a very clear message about government.

    Enjoy it, I certainly did.
  • jarobb3
    September 30, 2011
    jarobb3
    Easily one of my favorite movies ever, in spite of its tedious 2nd act.
  • fb100000257973100
    September 23, 2011
    fb100000257973100
    There is a very strange thing about films that I adore to no end: you watch a film once and you fall in love with one element that that film displays. Then you do not watch the film for a number of years, then when you re-watch it, you fall in love with something completely diffe... read morerent then the first time you fell in love with that film. That is my main reaction towards seeing V For Vendetta again after so many years sense it was first released on DVD. When I first saw the film, what attracted me was the special effects created by the world renowned Wachowski brothers (the men behind The Matrix trilogy) and the completely insane mind of the character of V (portrayed and voiced by Hugo Weaving). But watching it again, what I ended up loving about the film was how it is, in essence, an updated version of George Orwellâ(TM)s 1984. When one thinks about it, they are the same story: a corrupt Government is created in the United Kingdom and a citizen tries to bring change by changing the minds of the people so they would fear their government. The only difference between the two: this film serves as a continuation of historical figure Guy Fawkes. One thing that I believe most people miss about this film is that it is not really about a masked man getting revenge on the corrupt government for dehumanizing him, but it is really just a reincarnation of Guy Fawkes finishing what he set out to do many centuries ago. How is this so? When watching the first few minutes of V For Vendetta, it occurred to me that these people we see (mostly Fawkes and the close up of a Woman crying) were to be reincarnated into the characters of this story. Now, I know that this has never been confirmed and it is only speculation and maybe I am over analyzing the film, but if I am wrong, then I would rather be wrong because it is writing like that and the attention to detail that made me love this film even more then when if first viewed it. As it is well known, this is a comic book film that, while I never read the original comics/ graphic novel that this film is based on, I do say that it is safe to say that this is one of the most well done, most intelligent, and even one of the most horrifying comic book films I have seen. In terms of being well done, this is due to the Wachowski brothers. As it is well documented, I have a distaste towards the famous The Matrix trilogy due to that film basically trying to be a tribute to Hong Kong cinema, philosophy, and tried too hard to be intelligent with the end result being a complete waste of time while being a pretty picture to look at. Here, the Wachowski brothers had written a mature, wonderful, deep and philosophical script that actually works and seems real. Just like how Quentin Tarantinoâ(TM)s Jackie Brown is his most mature in terms of him taking writing seriously, the Wachowski brothers have done the exact same thing. To me, it seems like they looked back on the Matrix films, saw the flaws with their writing, and then wrote a script, that while deep, did work. For this film being intelligent, this would have to deal with the original graphic novel it was based on. While, as I have stated, I have not read that graphic novel, I have done some research and saw that it was meant to be a metaphor for corruption of Government and the Fascist political party. In this film, they apply it while adding traits of the Nazi party and the entire Big Brother idea. Just, how deep this film gets into that idea and how the script and story move around it is, amazing. Plus, just hearing the characters talk about this political group and itâ(TM)s history is pure ear candy for the dialogue and story lovers in the audience. Finally the horrifying factors. This film, when we watching it, does predict the possible outcome of the world and how it might be: America will practically destroy itself and another country will take over. In the real world, it appears that China would before England in that respect, but the overall idea is what I am aiming at. Now, but horrifying, I do not mean horror film type. I mean the type that makes you realize how true and real the writing is and the possibility of this even happening. So, for the writing, it goes without saying that it is excellent. Now for the acting. The two main people to be mentioned are Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman. First, the man who preformed the title role: Hugo Weaving. Weaving is one of those actors that has an incredible career under his belt due to him being involved in numerous films that have become staples in pop culture (ex. Pricilla: Queen of the Desert, The Matrix Trilogy, The Lord Of The Rings, The Wolfman) plus, I will admit, he is a wonderful actor so, for him, this film was a little bit odd in the sense that he could not rely on his face to get across the emotions an actor usually does, but instead has to use gestures with his body plus his voice to get this across. Now, this is the type of acting I like because, if they wanted to, they could have had someone inside the V costume acting out the scenes with Hugo doing voiceovers. While the voiceovers are automatic, the fact that Weaving got so much out of his character in this film with his body is, just amazing in my opinion. He showed better acting here then any other film he has been in and as such, he is a terrific actor. Now for Natalie Portman. She is someone that I have mixed feelings about. Mostly due to me being introduced to her through the Star Wars prequels. But, she once in a while has a movie where she will just shine through (ex. Black Swan (won the Academy Award for Best Actress)). This is not one of those movies she shines through, but regardless, she does do a decent job with her acting in this film. The main criticism I have against her in this film is that she, for the most part, only relies on three emotions: complaining, screaming/ crying, and somber. Personally, I would of liked to see more emotions bleed out of her and onto the film. But, this is the best we got. She was good, but she should of done better. Well, the only other last few thoughts on this film is that this is not a typical comic book film as you can tell and this is one that is in the ranks of films like The Crow and The Dark Knight in terms of seriousness, dark overtones, and pure originality with the characters. The story of this film, as I have mentioned, is interesting but complex. I do recommend that you have something of a knowledge of history and politics to help understand some aspects of this film, but it is not really needed. This dark film would almost be perfect except for some things like some of the acting, a few pieces of character development, and a bit lacking of a distinctive score. But, overall, this is a good film to watch and a great example of an intelligent comic book film.

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Critic Reviews

Bob Mondello
October 18, 2008
Bob Mondello, NPR.org

By the movie's midpoint, the Wachowski brothers' screenplay has gotten so bogged down in back story that it takes 40 minutes for director James McTiegue to get back to the explosions that his 16-year-... Full Review

J. R. Jones
April 18, 2007
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

The swashbuckling first hour is superior to the second, which bursts at the seams with backstory, but a rousing climax makes this the most potent piece of agitpop in years. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
October 7, 2006
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Feels far too starched and clean to do its source material justice. Full Review

David Edelstein
May 12, 2006
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

A welcome blast of pop subversion. Full Review

Peter Howell
March 17, 2006
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

This is not the movie, and these are not the times, for sophisticated arguments. Full Review

Ruthe Stein
March 17, 2006
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

Richly satisfying entertainment the way movies are at their best, when they prod you to think. Full Review

Roger Moore
March 17, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It becomes just another taste of every comic-book movie that isn't Sin City or A History of Violence. Vapid. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
March 17, 2006
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

Movie fans may be surprised to find [certain] questions being raised in a sci-fi movie. They should, instead, be appalled that it took a sci-fi movie to raise them. Full Review

Jami Bernard
March 17, 2006
Jami Bernard, New York Daily News

[An] enjoyable -- if occasionally irresponsible -- comic-book thriller. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
March 17, 2006
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

As manifestoes go, this one's a beauty: draped like a funeral, smart as a whip and full of black-hearted romantic monologues and dramatically slit necks. Full Review

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Facts

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    • V: Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot.
    • Evey: Artists use lies to tell the truth while politicians use them to cover the truth up.
    • V: The building is a symbol, as is the act of destroying it. Symbols are given power by people. Alone a symbol is meaningless, but with enough people, blowing up a building can change the world.
    • V: What was done to me created me. It's a basic principle of the universe that every action causes an equal and opposing reaction.
    • Evey: Is that really how you look at it? Like an equation...?
    • V: What was done to me was monstrous!
    • Evey: And it created a monster...
    • V: Would you... dance with me?
    • Evey: Now? On the eve of your revolution?
    • V: A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having!
    • V: People shouldn't be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.
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V for Vendetta Trivia

  • V for Vendetta was set to be released in theatres the fifth of November, 2005 to match with the tagline, "Remember, Remember, the 5th of November." However, the release date was pushed back to March 2006. For what reason was it pushed back.  Answer »
  • Name the characters movie - Im not who I say I am. My face is unseen. A plot in the autumn a numbered cell just for me. I fight for my freedom with vengance in me. To find out my identity read carfully. and my name will stand for britain and romany.  Answer »
  • Natalie Portman shaved her hair for her role in this movie, starring alongside Hugo Weaving  Answer »
  • In what movie will you hear the line "Behind this mask there is more than flesh. Behind this mask there is an idea, and ideas are bulletproof."?  Answer »
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