Leslie Gray Streeter

"V" For Vendetta: Five Very, Very Important Things To Watch For!

There's a whole lot of shaking going on in Friday's grandly gorgeous, gory and gigantically exciting "V For Vendetta," penned by reclusive "The Matrix" masterminds The Wachowski Brothers and taken from Alan Moore's graphic novel. I saw a sneak preview on Tuesday, and while I'm not sure a lot of it makes sense (you can debate me on this later), it was pretty awesome.

It's the tale of a scary, not-too-distant future in a totalitarian London that's run by a Hitler-esque dictator (John Hurt), and that keeps its minions, like TV station worker bee Evey (Natalie Portman), in check with a healthy dose of oppressive fear and a threatened jackboot to the throat of any opposition. It's the kind of tense terror that breeds a revolutionary, the masked V ("The Matrix"'s Hugo "Agent Smith" Weaving).He's packing a nifty cape, more knives than a Williams-Sonoma, and a mask of Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up Parliament in1605, a nifty cape, more knives than a Williams-Sonoma. It's almost too much to take in at times, but here are five "V"'s to keep your eyes peeled for.

Voice-overs: Natalie Portman, sporting an impressive British accent, sets the film's creepy, paranoia-
squared tone with an ominous history lesson and the promise of a tale of a man she'll never forget.
Vengeance: Everybody, including Evey and V, has a back story and a reason to shake a raised fist - and perhaps a sharpened weapon, in the fierce face of The Man. Try to tie the threads together. It ain't easy. But it's worth it.

Violence: Many of V's butt-kicking scenes are very neo-Neo (although nobody twists through the air in slow motion), and muy bloody. This is not a pacifist vendetta. Watch out for a particularly nasty, thrilling visit to a shower.

Victims: Like I said, there are some non-too-subtle parallels to Nazi Germany, most vividly in scenes showing the vicious torture tactics visited on citizens who resist. Not for the faint at heart.

Verse: "Remember, remember the Fifth of November." It's the famous poem and call-to-arms about Fawkes and his plot. And it's slightly creepy. And very cool. Viva la Vendetta!