Who am I?
Who am I but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask. I am merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is. But on the auspicious of nights permit me then in lieu of the more common place sublique to suggest the character of this dramatic persona.
Voila!
In view a humble vaudevillian veteran cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vestitudes of fate. This visage no mere veneer of vanity is a vestige of the vox populae now vacant and vanished. However this valorous visitation and bygone vexation stands vilified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and vitilan vermin van guarding vice and vouch saving the violently veracious violation of villain.
The only verdict is vengeance, the vendetta held as a votive not in vain for the value and veracity of such shall only vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. This vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbosely so let me simply say that it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me “V”.
With this most eloquent and captivating oration of the masked man known as "V", I was hooked. A story not original but still well told, starring Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving. Old is the fascist background with a masked man captivating and intriguing to a young damsel in distress, reminiscent of The Count of Monte Cristo, Phantom of the Opera and the like.
The story begins with: “Remember the 5th of November”, a prologue of V as a traitor, who is put to death by hanging. In the next scene, Evey Hammond(Natalie Portman) is surrounded by hoodlums when V appears and saves her. He brings her back to his castle and tells her that she cannot leave, lest she tell everyone who he is and where he lives. He has escaped his own persecution and lives a life of solitude, hidden by his mask. The two are intriguing to watch, V is eloquent like his fantastic soliloquy and enchants Evey by his mysteriousness and style.
John Hurt as Big Brother is daunting, as the new Minister of England the leader of a corrupt government, causing mayhem in the city, biological attacks which have resulted in death. V vows to blow up Parliament in one year on the very same day he was hanged. V makes a name for himself as a crusader and appears on TV to warn the people and the government that he intends to keep his promise. V tricks Evey into believing that she has been captured by the opposition and questions her about V and his whereabouts. Even with torture, she divulges nothing and V reveals himself, explaining to Evey that he had to know if he could trust her and he tells her that he is in love with her. However, his vengeance is stronger than his love for her and he must continue with his plan for revenge.
The story itself is not new, nor the special effects great. V’s dialogues are without question very clever and Portman captivating to watch(because of her beauty, not because of her great character). The special effects and action were lackluster until the final scene where V makes good on his promise. The exploding castle is magnificent, particularly on the large screen. I had no expectations while watching the movie and found that the best part of the movie was V himself.