Scathing political views, a guy in a mask, a few pieces of pyrotechnic work, a bald Natalie Portman, and one evil government later, V for Vendetta comes to a close. You'll either leave enlightened by someone else's views or wonder why you wasted the time. This graphic-novel based yawner falls flat since it's not an original concept and the main character is lifeless.
It's hard to act behind a mask and Hugo Weaving does what he can behind the smiling face of V. This masked madman has had enough of an oppressive government, and decides to dismantle it one person at a time. The focus is certainly split between V and the government trying to stop him, neither bringing much to the film.
To say the film has a message is an understatement, one that boils down to a typical cliché-ridden "government = bad/people = free." It stuffs that message into the viewer as often as possible, also dabbling in corruption and a manipulative media. It's been done countless times before, leaving V himself as the only original concept in the film.
Weaving, also known for playing a few thousand characters in the Matrix series as Agent Smith, plays an enthusiastic V. Dialogue is sharp, meaningful, and entertaining. His early speech, using almost nothing but words that start with the letter V, is priceless, and leads into the character's sometimes on, sometimes off sanity.
Sadly, it doesn't amount to much as a predictable ending finishes things off in a blaze. A few fight scenes offer some nice style, gore, and choreography, though that's one of the minor highlights. Natalie Portman plays a regular citizen slowly and violently brought over to V's side with only a little flair.
If tyrannical governments are a fixture of your movie watching, you can view numerous other Hollywood efforts like the upcoming Logan's Run remake, Soylent Green, or, of course, Nineteen Eighty Four. V for Vendetta adds little to the genre aside from a slight super hero angle and extensive preaching. Fiction movies are about entertainment, not constant political bashing. 
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Article comments
1 - Ken Edwards
You clearly missed the point of this wonderful movie -- the message of the film is not "government = bad." Try "don't follow blind faith."
I am beginning to question your judgement Matt, really. *shakes head*
V is an excellent thrill ride, with great acting by hoth Weaving and Portman.
Weaving acted quite well with only a mask, but I get the feeling you could not get past the fact that he never took it off.
The features on the second disc make it worth picking it up. Great stuff there.
We need to see more graphic novels turned into movies like V, and most recently, Batman Begins and of course Sin City.
You should more closely consider the source material. While the movie might have just came out, the novels were written in the early 80s. Britain was quite different then.
Was V political? Yes. Was it over-the-top shove-it-down-your-throat? Not when considering the source novels.
But even without the knowledge of the original writings, the movie stands quite well on its own.
2 - Matt Paprocki
"Weaving acted quite well with only a mask, but I get the feeling you could not get past the fact that he never took it off"
Loved it. How many movies like this do you get that 'slow reveal' as the hero finally reveals himself? It's about time someone changed that up.
"You should more closely consider the source material."
Hell no. There should be no reason to read the novel(s). The movie should stand completely on its own. If it doesn't, it fails.
"Not when considering the source novels."
Nuff said. It's not ok to shove the message as often as possible because the books did it. If the graphic novels were this bad, I would have hated them too. I watch movies to be entertained, not to be preached at.
3 - JonnyO2
I just want to second the bad DVD transfer... A low contrast, bluish tint bugged me in a bunch of the scenes (rooftop scene at the beginning - Nat and Hugo look very obviously "pasted" in.)
4 - Matt Paprocki
Well, the "pasted in" look is a special effects thing/flaw, not the transfers fault.