Hugo Weaving stars in Warner Bros. V for Vendetta, Copyright 2006.

Guy Fawkes (1570-1606) was a determined English soldier who was a member of the Roman Catholic conspirators who attempted to carry out the Gun Powder Plot in 1605. The plot involved the attempted assassination of King James as well as the members of both houses of Parliament. His activities were detected and he was eventually traced and found. After being tortured and interrogated, he was then hanged for treason as well as attempted murder.

Presently, November 5th (The day of the gun powder treason) is a holiday celebrated across England, Africa, as well as New Zealand, celebrating the day of the failed Gun Powder Plot. Dummies and dolls are burned in bonfires as well as launched with fireworks.

James McTeigue’s V for Vendetta is based off D.C./Vertigo’s graphic novel of the same name, written by Alan Moore, artwork by David Lloyd. In the film, we follow Evey (Natalie Portman) a young woman gliding in the streets of tyrannical England of 2020 after the 10 p.m. curfew of the city. She knows it was a mistake to go out when she knows someone is stalking her. What she thinks to be thugs turn out to be police officers. Though, before she becomes arrested, a man in black rescues her, with sleek jet-black hair and a metal Guy Fawkes mask. After some impressive fighting styles and knife wielding defeat the officers, the man introduces himself as V (Hugo Weaving) (for Vendetta- A feud between two families or clans that arises out of a slaying and is perpetuated by retaliatory acts of revenge; a blood feud). V is seen as terrorist by England, but we see him as a brave vigilante.

V believes that in a country ruled by tyrants, no one should have to live the way England does. Years before, Germany won the next World War, America has collapsed in on itself from war, disease and riots. England, afraid of what may become of their country, quarantines people who do not follow their rule and the Supreme Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt) acts as dark as Hitler. One of V’s important beliefs, (he also seems to have a big background of philosophy, is that people should not be afraid of their governments, but governments should be afraid of their people.

That evening after V rescues Evey (he stresses the V), he takes her onto a rooftop and when Big Ben strikes midnight, now November 5th,Tchaikovsky’s Overture of 1812 pours out of the loudspeakers on ever street. At the crescendo, the criminal court, The Old Bailey, blows up in a fantastic explosion of fireworks. Days later, V interrupts TV broadcasts across England inviting anyone who believes they don’t deserve to live in such a country, to go to Parliament next November 5th, to watch it crumble. Evey doesn’t have much of a choice to join him, though she does help him in any way she can.

V for Vendetta is a very interesting film with also the perspective of a terrorist. Whether this film was released at the right time is beyond me, but I do think it was a little risky to shoot considering we at war.

The story, written by the Wachowski Brothers (The Matrix Trilogy) could be considered a feat if it were not adapted from the comic books. There are many monologues in the film, many riveting, some dull and phony. We get an interesting look at the history of the war, rise of England, as well as V’s and Evey’s history. We know that Parliament is going to be destroyed in the end, but we have a lot to look forward to such as how the act will be carried out and exactly how many people of England will show up.
The cinematography by Adrien Biddle is somewhat similar to The Matrix, most actions scenes are in slow motion, you can really watch the knives of V swing in the air and steer themselves into someone, and see the exaggeration of blood puddles and pink mist pour from them, which is sort of redundant to they way the special effects of The Matrix was carried out.

The destruction of The Old Bailey and Parliament played with Tchaikovsky’s Overture of 1812, gives you a rush, considering when Tchaikvosky performed it, he did so with cannons.

Though we cannot see his face, Hugo Weaving, he performs well as the freedom fighter known as V and delivers the philosophy of the character as the Wachowski Brothers intended them. Natalie Portman puts on a much better show than most of her other films, with the shaved head at one point, you can almost tell she’s going for a Sigourney Weaver in Alien 3 role.

“Remember, remember
The Fifth of November
The gunpowder treason and plot
I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot”

Rated R for strong violence and some language. Running time 132 minutes.