Based on the comic book of the same name this film is set in a hypothetical future London where a totalitarian government, run by a power crazed high chancellor (played by John Hurt), has taken control and the general populous live in fear under constant surveillance and threat of arrest.

Enter a mysterious masked man (played by Hugo Weaving) known only as V who wears a Guy Fawkes mask and is quite handy with knives. He happens upon some enforcers (a sort of secret police called fingermen) who are attacking a young girl Evey Hammond (played by Natalie Portman). He rescues evey and then when the clock strikes midnight and it becomes November the 5 proceeds to blow up the Old Bailey to the 1812 overture.

The film is very much a reinterpretation of the original story reworked by the Wachoski brothers of Matrix fame. It is set in the near future through it doesn't appear to be much from now. The England portrayed is very much an American view of what they imagine England is like a sort of weird combination of Victorian upper class with Dickensian elements and a bit of stereotypical cockney thrown in. The film followed the original comic to a degree most of the major elements are there some alteration in the context of the government and the characters. Graphically it is similar to the art of the comic the Fawkes mask, the shadow gallery, the government meetings, and the overall noir feel is there and the film contains all the usual action and sfx wizardry that one would expect from a Wachoski brothers film. There were some odd elements at one point they mention the 11 plus exam in association with someone at a grammar school in 1985 which to my knowledge was stopped years before that. Cast wise pretty good, some of Natalie Portman's English accent wavers all over the shop but her acting is good, Hugo Weaving's performance is good with a fairly good accent and plenty of expression in his voice which compensates for the mask he wears. The rest of the cast are ok and the film contains some authentic British swear words. All in all a fairly fun action film

Having not read the comic book (although its on the list now) I came to this film fresh, having only seen the trailer.

The overall style of the movie I think is good, with some distinctly comic-like direction (one person pressing a button, cut to another person pressing a fire alarm) that you can almost see in comic frame format.

The setting is a suitably police state, with the government controlling pretty much everything, from a nightly curfew to the news. Texts of religions other than Christianity are outlawed, as are anti-government works of art. It is implied in the film that some music is also contraband. Television shows must be vetted before airing.

The story follows three main lines, the actions of V and Evey, the investigation of their crimes by a high ranking policeman, and government meetings. Propaganda is used by both sides, with general population reactions to them, which I think is a good effect in a film dealing with this subject.

Overall I liked the film. It consisted of fast action sequences and special effects shots interspersed with the gradual revealing of the plot, leading up to a grad finale. I particularly liked the way that characters opinions were swayed by events. It would have been very easy to concentrate only on the main characters and the direct plot, although it would have been a mistake to do so.

All in all, a good comic book adaptation falling a little below the Spiderman series but well above the depths of Elektra and the like.