V for Vendetta (15) (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

V for Vendetta (15)

It is seven years since the reclusive Andy and Larry Wachowski exploded onto the big screen with The Matrix, and we saw a revolution in filmmaking. Though it was a pity the two sequels didn't quite cut the mustard.

They were visually brilliant, but the scripts gave the impression that they were written by a philosophy student at 2am, after an evening spent in the company of substances not sanctioned by the government.

The brothers started on a script for V For Vendetta even before The Matrix, but it was put on to the back burner.

It is an adaptation of the Alan Moore graphic novel "England Prevails" and though written by the Wachowskis, James McTeigue directs it.

Previous adaptations of Moore's work include Johnny Depp starring in 'From Hell' (2001) and 'The League of Extraordinary Gentleman' (2003).

Neither of these films fared well with the critics or the box office returns, so it is understandable that Moore is becoming less and less enamoured with Hollywood adapting his work. He has even had his name removed from the credits.

Indeed the shoot itself has attracted a certain degree of controversy, with the departure of James Purefoy as the eponymous lead for reasons unknown, in favour of Hugo Weaving.

Germany has won World War III leaving Britain a fascist state, with maniac dictator Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt) in charge.

The country is at its lowest ebb with a collapsed economy and everything being rationed. You can't leave your house after curfew or Sutler's fingermen (police patrolmen) will round you up for certain torture.

But fortunately there is still one man who is holding out against the dreaded dictator, the mysterious poetry enthusiast V (Weaving).

As he wears a creepy theatrical mask and a long black cloak, the city's many security cameras have been unable to identify him.

So V continues to be a thorn in Sutler's side as he roams the city at night doing everything he can to undermine the Chancellor's evil regime. Police investigator Finch (Stephen Rea) and his sidekick Dominic (Rupert Graves) have been roped in to track him down.

But on November 4th, significantly the eve of the Gunpowder Plot, V saves young Evey (Natalie Portman) from being raped and arrested by three fingermen.

V then asks her if she likes music and takes her to the top of a building to watch The Old Bailey blown up at midnight, to a resounding overture blaring out from Sutler's loud speakers.

This is followed by him by breaking into the British TV Network, where Evey works, and taking over the government controlled airwaves.

He tells his countrymen to stand up for themselves against tyranny and oppression, promising to blow up the Houses of Parliament the following year, to put the kibosh on the totalitarian government.

Though the plot is different from the written version it is still engaging enough. However there is little chemistry between Weaving and Portman.

This isn't because we never see Weaving's face, but more to do with Evey being pretty but essentially dull. In fact Weaving is rather good at expressing himself given the restriction of the mask.

The action scenes are reasonable, but with the Wachowshi pedigree behind it one feels it could have been a little less run of the mill. However it has an arousing score by Dario Marianelli, which punctuates all the relevant moments.

The three most outstanding performances come from old hands. Stephen Fry is brilliant as a homosexual who dare not come out.

Tim Pigott-Smith is Creedy, the head of Police, just change the D for a P and you will get the picture. But it is Sinead Cusack in only a small part as a doctor with a secret, who holds the screen whenever she appears.

Actually to its credit this is a film full of hideous secrets and shouldn't disappoint any graphic novel enthusiasts. But I do still long to know where V, a man who has no obvious friends, still manages to get so many masks made! 6/10