V For Very Good - Part Of Natalie Portman Week

Hooray for Natalie Portman. With the release of Black Swan (Which I'm seeing and reviewing tomorrow) and in celebration of her Golden Globe win and her Oscar nomination, I've accidentally managed to watch two other films with her starring. Therefore, I'm dedicating my blog, this week, to her. Three movies: V For Vendetta, Garden State and Black Swan.

I very much enjoy reviewing one of my favourite films because it allows me to talk and talk about something I love. Our first of this week's movies, V For Vendetta, is one of those films. Every Monday, a friend comes over and we watch a movie. This week, V For Vendetta was selected for viewing in the Mega Massive Monday Movie Marathon.

So what it is it? Well, remember remember the fifth of November, gun powder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gun powder treason should ever be forgot. Imagine an almost Nazi London. No contact with the rest of the world, a curfew, a quarantined zone. That is the setting of the movie. V is a futuristic Guy Fawkes character, brought to life through the acting, but mostly voice, of Hugo Weaving. His plan? To crumble the government that ruined the country and himself. Oh yeah... And he'll do it on the fifth of November. Almost accidentally his paths cross with the beautiful Eve (Natalie Portman) and he lets her into his life. With other turns from such favourites as Stephen Fry and John Hurt, the film has some of the most powerful and brilliant performances around. (Particularly from our star of the week.)

Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask.

With numerous plot twists and such a solid story, the film is simply brilliant. Hugo Weaving has one of the most incredible voices and his performance as the powerful yet sensitive V is mesmerising. Combine that with an incredible script crammed full with wonderful expressions and quotes, ("A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having,") and V becomes one of your favourite anarchic characters ever. Natalie Portman as Eve is simply stunning to watch. She is as incredible at acting as she is beautiful, even when she has a shaved head. It is currently my favourite performance by the Oscar nominated actress (But I'm seeing Black Swan in a bit) and there are so many reasons why. Not only is her performance stunning but also her character is simply excellently written. Even smaller roles such as Fry's Deitrich are wonderfully performed.

As for the direction, well what can I say. There's a wonderful thing about mirroring two images. Snatch does it brilliantly when the hare is running from the dogs at the same time Tyrone is running from the mob and V For Vendetta does it brilliantly every now and then. It mirrors everything from someone walking to Eve and V's characters. At parts, the film is very amusing and at others it's devastating. The balance is so ultimately perfect, you couldn't ask for more.

No, what you have is bullets and the hope that when your guns run out of bullets I'm no longer standing.

Other technical aspects, the cinematography is awesome. And the choreography for the fights is absolutely suburb. The classical music included in the score is beautiful, especially when juxtaposing any explosions.

It may not be in every one's taste. Some may argue that it's over the top, that the ending is too cheesy, that a character who just wishes to cause anarchy has no depth. To those people I say, each to their own. But I would strongly suggest this movie. In fact, I say you have to watch this movie before you die.

Best bit? The brilliant finale. The crescendo as V might say.