V for Vendetta: B+

At it's most charmingly anti-social and riveting this gleaming action-thriller from the makers of the "Matrix" trilogy becomes a talky-talky and sly witted envisioning of a darker tomorrow. Of course it had great source material, that being the 1980's comic book written by the genius that is Alan Moore, but the writer-brother duo the Wachowski's still add their own touch of exploding chaos. The movie follows a woman named Evey (Natalie Protman) and her relationship with the terrorist V (Hugo Weaving) over the year that comes before V's promised revolution to overthrow England's totalarian government on the night of November 5th (Guy Fawkes Night, which is also V's mask's namesake). First off, Hugo Weaving (who played Agent Smith in the "Matrix" movies) is brilliant, he tosses off his fiery quips and bravado speechs with the same gusto and the movie is all the better for his charisma, it turns V into the ultimate guerrilla-nazi saint. A political figure for the MTV crowd. Secondly, Natalie Portman, although alittle restrained, still lets through her trademark blend of vulnerability and melancholy. Lastly, Weaving and Portman have a striking and suprising chemistry turning one of the most potentially awkward moments in the movie into it's most charming. The movie's structure stumbles and shambles more often than not but the supporting cast is filled with british greats (Stephen Fry, John Hurt, etc) and their presence helps you along in the scenes where V isn't present. Plus I'll never understand all the metaphors: roses, homosexuality, undead lesbians. It all never comes together but insists on insisting on a greater depth anyway when this movie is already twice as intelligent as any action movie this year. Though it all may get alittle weary, the effects are great, the actors are great, the script is filled with half-crazy half-surreal spoutings from crazies of all kinds, and that is a compliment, and the directing (by Wachowski' protege James McTiegue) isn't bad. A solid, fun ride for the later winter months and a shapely commentary on today, besides.