Directed by James McTeigue. Starring Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt. Cert: 15. Running Time: 132 Mins.
Alan Moore is not happy with the way the film world treats his books.
I have just seen V For Vendetta and I have to admit that it is a while since I read the graphic novel, but I enjoyed the film for it\’s own sake and did not sit there obsessing over how faithful it was to the book. That a mainstream film even attempts to deal with political ideas is noble and somewhat rare.
Yes, League Of Extraordinary Gentleman was a major league disappointment and Swamp Thing, well what more need be said? But this film far outstrips them. You get drawn into the world, into the story — the points come across without being hammered home. There are differences to the book, sure, but the essence has translated. Sometimes the purists and the creators need to let go.
V For Vendetta has wonderful set pieces, a compelling story, actors bringing it all to the table. The running time disappears as you get pulled along on a great ride; a great ride with a serious message, and what could be better? Will McTeigue come away from this with much credit? Maybe, maybe not. But the Wachowski\’s have answered the critics who lashed out at the Matrix sequels with a confident vision. It may not be Moore\’s, but it works just as well.