While better known for its escapist thrills and broad range of humor, the comic book adaptation genre can still offer insightful and thematically powerful tales. For every joyous Avengers adventure, there are gripping celebrations of the modern Black community and clashes between Afro-minorities and native Africans in Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther films, as well as the, albeit mishandled, exploration of mental health and the US’ still-lackluster infrastructure to aid those in need in Todd Phillips’ Joker movies. However, before they all came about, there was V for Vendetta, which is still one of the most powerful 20 years later.

Based on the graphic novel by David Lloyd, Tony Weare and Alan Moore, the latter of whom asked not to be credited in the film, V for Vendetta is set in a dystopian version of Britain which, following the deaths of hundreds of thousands from an apparent series of terrorist attacks 20 years before the events of the film, is run by the totalitarian regime known as the Norsefire political party. The story centers on Evey Hammond, a young woman with a tragic past who inadvertently crosses paths with V, a Guy Fawkes mask-wearing figure who has his sights set on destroying the regime.

V For Vendetta’s Graphic Novel Changes Somewhat Work

Streamlined Characters & Plots Keep Things Moving At The Expense Of Plot Holes

With the original graphic novel consisting of 10 issues, translating V for Vendetta to the screen was ultimately going to require some trimming to fit a feature-length runtime, and in some ways, what writers Lilly and Lana Wachowski chose to cut is ultimately for the movie’s benefit. Certain characters find themselves either excised entirely, their stories rolled into others, or arcs changed in their entirety, namely that of Stephen Fry’s Gordon, who goes from a random man who saves Evey and builds a romantic relationship with her to a talk show host hiding his homoSєxuality out of fear of persecution from the fascist Norsefire police.

Given the Wachowskis also tend to have clear morality lines drawn between their protagonists in their stories, one of the other major changes to come from V for Vendetta‘s adaptation is that it’s far less ambiguous than its source material. Moore has frequently said V was meant to be morally ambiguous in his anarchist actions, but the film instead portrays him with a romanticized swashbuckler personality, which certainly goes a long way to making him likable. However, it also robs the story of its debatable themes when he and the Norsefire regime are so clearly painted as good and bad guys.

One element that does remain intact from the source material, which is also one I’m still decidedly mixed on, is Evey being kidnapped by V, posing as the government, and tortured for an unclear amount of time to teach her how to live without fear of death. While Evey’s evolution to embrace the revolution is both a welcome and important one for the plot, the way she ultimately forgives V and even develops a form of love for him borders on the most egregious tale of Stockholm syndrome since Beauty and the Beast.

Despite some of its missteps, I can’t deny that V for Vendetta still feels like one of the most prescient and frighteningly important comic book adaptations ever. The way director James McTeigue and the Wachowskis update the source material for the modern day is believable. Many of the hateful ideas carried forth by the Norsefire regime are still sadly rampant today, and with the world’s perspective of one another being dominated by media coverage, the movie’s exploration of media manipulation is horrifying to reflect on.

Hugo Weaving & Stephen Rea Are Magnificent In Their Turns

Natalie Portman, While Good, Deserves Far Better Than This

Despite technically being an American production, McTeigue smartly built out V for Vendetta‘s cast with a roster of great British performers to authentically depict its story’s setting. Stephen Fry and Roger Allam bring some wonderful levity to the piece, while John Hurt and Tim Pigott-Smith are appropriately menacing in their villainous turns. However, it’s hard to deny that Hugo Weaving and Irish actor Stephen Rea are the real standouts of the crowd in the film.

Weaving, who actually came on six weeks into the movie’s production after James Purefoy departed over creative differences, is truly perfect as V. I can’t deny that there’s a part of me still curious to see what The Following star would’ve done with the role, but The Matrix alum does something special with his mix of the anarchist’s charming personality and his genuine viciousness. Rea, on the other hand, brilliantly captures the internal strife Chief Inspector Finch goes through across the film’s runtime as he comes to realize the government he trusts and works for may be at the heart of the country’s problems.

The one cast member I’m still ultimately divided on is Natalie Portman as Evey. With what the character calls for, she does capture her well, even if her American accent occasionally slips through her quiet yet captivating British accent. However, with Evey serving as the audience’s surrogate, it seems like she’s only there for wide-eyed staring during bouts of exposition and to cry in traumatic moments, rather than be given any kind of agency or personality.

James McTeigue’s Direction Is Still His Best To Date

Who Needs Gunfights When Daggers Look This Awesome?

With their names plastered all over the movie’s marketing, V for Vendetta is still often believed to be a Wachowskis production, much in the way Tim Burton is believed to have directed The Nightmare Before Christmas instead of Henry Selick. As such, it should really be said that McTeigue, who did work with the siblings on The Matrix trilogy and Speed Racer as a First ᴀssistant and Second Unit director, really deserves a lot of credit for his work as director on the film, especially considering it was his feature directorial debut.

The filmmaker brings an amazing visual palette to translating V for Vendetta to the screen, particularly with its retrofuturistic approach to a dystopian Britain, practical destruction of major monuments and V’s various fight scenes. While the Norsefire’s morally corrupt Fingermen wield plenty of firepower and attempt to use it against the тιтular character, McTeigue’s direction makes it far more exciting to watch how V dispatches his foes with his daggers. With McTeigue and cinematographer Adrian Biddle also making some of the more emotionally powerful scenes feel just as grand, V for Vendetta remains an absolute treasure to watch 20 years later.

V for Vendetta is available to stream on Netflix.