Movie Minute

V for Vendetta, not to be confused with the title of a Sue Grafton book, is the new movie written by the Wachowski brothers of The Matrix movies fame. It stars a futuristic terrorist named V who wears a Guy Fawkes mask. Fawkes, you may or may not know, attempted to blow up the Parliament building in 1605 but was thwarted before he could execute his plan. Hugo Weaving, again of The Matrix movies, plays V who is a defender of justice against a corrupt government with a high chancellor who wields his power to create fear and compliance among his people. Natalie Portman plays Evey, a plucky assistant whom V recruits to help him fight the corrupt cabinet in England. This is one of Portman's best roles to date and she does an incredible job. Her role includes a scene in which her head is shaved; Portman literally had her head shaved on camera. Lots of controversy surrounds this film mainly because V kills high members of the cabinet and the movie fingers the government as the perpetrator of deadly virus outbreaks and criminal activity. The movie also courted controversy when a scene was filmed in which London's subway was bombed, mere weeks before the actual bombing. A scary case of life imitating art. I really enjoyed this movie and it got me pumped for summer's bang-em-shoot-em-up season. I did keep wanting the expression on V's mask to change to mimic what his character was feeling at the time but that's just me. The movie also features the best and longest use of free flowing alliteration that I've ever heard. The movie is based on the graphic novel by David Lloyd and the movie too is very graphic. John Hurt (The Elephant Man) plays the tyrannical high chancellor who gives our fear causing President a run for his money.

Another movie you may want to check out if you are into fun teen movies is She's The Man. Inspired by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, my favorite Shakespeare comedy, She's The Man follows Viola (Amanda Bynes, What A Girl Wants and Big Fat Liar) as she pretends to be her twin brother Sebastian as he gallavants across Europe with his band. Much romantic confusion ensues and Viola is out to prove that she can play soccer on a boys team just as well as her male counterparts. I know there are men out there (myself included) who aren't deep-voiced and real macho acting, however, I found myself thinking that Bynes was miscast and I didn't think she acted quite male enough as Sebastian. I did chuckle a few times during the film but no out loud laughs. This might be a better movie on video but if you like the teen set then this is the movie for you. By the way, the funniest part is the scene in which Bynes (as Sebastian) gets hit in the nether region by a soccer ball. If you've seen this in the trailer then you've seen the highlight of the film.

peace out,

paul