V for Vendetta (2005)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

James McTeigue

Writers (WGA):

Andy Wachowski (screenplay) &
Larry Wachowski (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

17 March 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Remember, remember the 5th of November, the gun powder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gun powder treason should ever be forgot.

Plot:

A shadowy freedom fighter known only as "V" uses terrorist tactics to fight against his totalitarian society. Upon rescuing a girl from the secret police, he also finds his best chance at having an ally.

Plot Keywords:

Terrorist | Government | Police | Fight | Freedom

Awards:

3 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Natalie Portman	...	Evey
Hugo Weaving	...	V
Stephen Rea	...	Inspector Finch
Stephen Fry	...	Deitrich
John Hurt	...	Adam Sutler
Tim Pigott-Smith	...	Creedy
Rupert Graves	...	Dominic
Roger Allam	...	Lewis Prothero
Ben Miles	...	Dascomb
Sinéad Cusack	...	Delia Surridge
Natasha Wightman	...	Valerie
John Standing	...	Lilliman
Eddie Marsan	...	Etheridge
Clive Ashborn	...	Guy Fawkes
Emma Field-Rayner	...	Guy Fawkes Lover (as Emma Field Rayner)

Also Known As:

V for Vendetta: At the IMAX (UK) (IMAX version)
V for Vendetta: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)
V wie Vendetta (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and some language.

Runtime:

132 min

Country:

USA | UK | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS | Sonics-DDP (IMAX prints)

Certification:

UK:15 | Australia:MA | Ireland:15A | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Malaysia:18SG | Sweden:15 | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Portugal:M/16 | New Zealand:R13 | Argentina:16 | Italy:T | Brazil:16 | Israel:PG | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Japan:PG-12 | Chile:Y7 | Colombia:12 | Greece:K-17 | Iceland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | France:U (with warning) | South Korea:15 | Singapore:M18 (video rating) (cut) | Singapore:NC-16 (theatrical release) (edited version) | USA:R (certificate #42210) | India:A (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Aldwych Underground Station, Aldwych, Holborn, London, England, UK

Company:

Silver Pictures

Trivia:

Interestingly, John Hurt played Winston in the film Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) - in this film he was the victim of the totalitarian state (and the original "Big Brother"). In Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984), TV screens with Big Brother's face were watching and spying citizens.

Goofs:

Continuity: The files on Percy, Keyes and Rookwood, the three 'black-baggers' who either died or vanished the day after the St. Mary's attack, places the attack in 2014. However, Bishop Lilliman's tax records show the events at Larkhill Camp, which predate the attack, occurred in 2018.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Evey Hammond: [voiceover] Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot... But what of the man? I know his name was Guy Fawkes and I know, in 1605, he attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament...

Movie Connections:

References Per un pugno di dollari (1964)

Soundtrack:

Cry Me a River

An amazing feat of Cinema

"Remember, remember, the fifth of November, gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."

I've never read the graphic novel, but I don't think you need to read it to appreciate the movie. I saw the film last night at it's World Premiere at the Berlin International Film festival. Though it became a little weighty in the middle (one part seemed to drag a little) other than that it was a great experience. The story was so topical that I got seriously emotional during a lot of parts. Weaving did an excellent job with the mysterious title character "V", creating a poetic, intelligent, and compassionate yet ruthless character. Portman always seems to surprise me, except with her Star Wars character. She portrays tremendous emotional range and transforms completely throughout the movie. This is one of those movies that really sticks in your head long after you watch it though... and it continues to stir and grow.