V for Vendetta

First off, this movie is not the Matrix. All of the hype (which was long and intense) suggested that this film would be the next big movie from the Wachowski Brothers and the trailers showcased some pretty flashy slow motion fight scenes reminiscent of Neo. Internet rumors started to circulate that the Wachowski Brothers maintained a large amount of creative control (a la George Lucas) over director, James McTeigue. After watching V, I don't think this is true. Yes, there is a Matrixy feel to certain elements, but the Vision of the movie is distinctly different. This is a dark and brooding film that pays close attention to its characters. Despite the involvement of other supporting characters, you find yourself only caring about V and Evey, which were portrayed very strongly by both Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman. This may be Portman's best work yet, and is a big leap from Padme of the Starwars universe. That being said, V doesn't provide a lot of new ideas that haven't been seen before; however, it does a great job bringing them together into a strong story which questions the justification for terrorism. V is not an action movie in the way The Matrix was. The action sequences are few and far between. This is not a big deal (I actually liked it that way), but the movie was certainly marketed as a high action film. Given this, many may find the movie a bit slow moving when expecting more fast paced action. I think the lack of "over-action" makes this movie way more effective. The movie is heavy on character development and heavy on plot - so when the movie reaches its climactic end fight sequence with V, it has a much greater impact. All in all, this was a strong movie with a strong cast and great visuals. 8.5 out of 10.