Product Description

Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, Ruper Graves, John HurtDirectors: The Wachowski Brothers

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2611 in DVD
• Brand: Blu-ray Action & Adventure
• Released on: 2008-07-07
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .26 pounds
• Running time: 133 minutes

Synopsis
From DC comics and the Wachowski Brothers (THE MATRIX) comes this tale of revolution in an England of the future, one that has become fearful and fascist; anyone different, from homosexuals to free thinking artists are black bagged and subjected to torture and inhumane medical experiments. Hugo Weaving stars as V, the mysterious masked avenger who carries knives, has lightning reflexes, lots of explosives, and intentions to blow up Parliament. He's also on a vendetta against the evil powermongers who made him the lonely monster he is. Innocent waif Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) is saved by V and winds up hiding out in his nifty secret lair, which is filled with forbidden books, art and a jukebox that plays Cat Power and Julie London's 'Cry Me a River'. Meanwhile there's a hangdog police inspector (Stephen Rea) picking up their trail, and a plethora of evil British government types regularly bullied into action by the intensely odious Grand Chancellor (John Hurt). Director James McTiegue keeps all these events unfolding at a hypnotically rhythmic pace, like the burning of a long, unstoppable fuse. Some may balk at the film's seemingly pro-explosive, pro-terrorist stance, but to look deeper is to realise the film merely provides a funhouse mirror of our actual messed up world, something that is true of all the best science fiction. V certainly fits that category, especially with Natalie Portman in the lead, as lovely and riveting an actress as a beleaguered nation could ever hope for.

Customer Reviews

"Good evening, London. Allow me first to apologise for this interruption..."
This is a refreshing spin on a superhero - he isn't important, it's what he stands for that counts and ultimately it's the ordinary folk who need to make the difference...

The cast seems nigh on perfect - with John Hurt as "The Chancellor" - the fascist despot at the centre of the regime. Hurt plays the complete anithesis of his role as semi-revolutionary in the big screen version of 1984. And Stephen Fry as closet homosexual TV star Gordon Deitrich adds a dark touch given his true-life parrallels with the role. The dystopian near-future United Kingdom is ruled with an iron fist as it quashes individuality and irridicates anyone not conforming to their ideal (straight, right wing, and white).

I've not read the graphic novels - and my opinion on the film may be different if I had, but to me the film seemed to contain enough action to satisfy those who want it, and enough questions were raised for those who like something a bit more challenging. V himself isn't a hero as such, he's probably a good example of the old addage "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" and there are unpleasant aspects to his character - but with enough appeal to ensure the audience get behind him and his campaign. He chooses to style himself on Guy Fawkes, and that's a choise made with definite purpose - he wants to inspire those around him to stage their own Gunpowder Plot and overthrow the authorities.

This alternate Orwellian Great Britain is close enough to real life to chillingly communicate a warning of what might happen if we remain contanslty obsessed and influenced by the right-wing media, eventually allowing someone to exploit those beliefs and take charge. The media is constantly exploited by the powers that be to re-write history and communicate events as they want them to be seen.

Whilst watching this film I felt constantly reminded of the main sentiment from '1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four' (my favourite book of all time) because true change can't come from a man in a mask it has to come from the ordinary people, the true cogs at the core of society who dwell in the lower social orders, the proletariat; "Hope lies in the Proles".

In a nutshell: I can fully understand how fans of the original novels may feel let down by any deviation in message or content from what they know - I'd probably feel the same. But as someone new to "V" I enjoyed the film and what it had to say. This is an action film which isn't really about the action, it's not even about the hero (he's not in a failry substantial chunk of it) - it's about the central political message. The film asks questions and not enough films do that these days.

stunning film
Well what can you say about this god of a film? If you can get through the first 15 mins without wondering what is this plop then you are a better person than me. But give it a chance and you wont be sorry, the characters are excellent and the story really engaging, its not a no brainer with more teeth than a mister ed convention where you can stick the kettle on every 2 minutes and still pick it up, but a great developing storyline that may well have gone under your top film radar. Dont hesitate buy it today!

V is for very very good.
I enjoyed this movie a lot more than I thought I would have. It Really is worth viewing in my humble opinion and is nowhere near as bad as some professional critics claim it to be. I thought V was a very good character and Hugo Weaving did a great job of portraying him on screen. It's taken me awhile to get around to this movie but now I've watched it it's on my "to watch again" list for sure. Great stuff!