v for vendetta

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

On November 5th, 1605, Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators attempted to save England from the perceived tyranny of its government by blowing up Parliament. In the film V for Vendetta (official site), a modern-day Fawkes tries to free the England of 2038 from the actually tyranny of its Norsefire-party government by attempting a similar act.

V for Vendetta was released this spring and it is based on graphic novels of the same name from the early 1980s. It is a story of the freedoms people willingly surrender in exchange for security, and it is comparable in impact to 1984 or A Clockwork Orange. The screenplay was created by the Wachowski brothers, and Matrix veteran James McTeigue directs.

The movie benefits from a strong cast. Natalie Portman delivers some of her best work since The Professional, and she is joined on screen by some great character actors. John Hurt terrifies as High Chancellor Adam Sutler, Roger Allam generates loathing as Lewis Prothero, Stephen Rea provides hope for the future as Inspector Finch and Hugo Weaving both puzzles and inspires as V.

The sets and cinematography are stunning in V for Vendetta, and a tight plot and well-choreographed action sequences command attention from the opening sequence to the dramatic conclusion.