The Verdict is...

...Very, very good.

V For Vendetta is right up there (under Spider-Man 2) as one of the best comic book movies I've seen so far. It was one of those rare movies in which nearly every scene, every character and every bit of dialogue felt necessary...genuine. The Wachowskis et al have created a generally faithful and almost disturbingly relevant screen version of Alan Moore's work, and it's unfortunate that after the laughable LXG and the plodding From Hell, he decided to excise his name from this film. The movie deviates a bit from Moore's core themes to offer a deviously scathing perspective of current world events...and it works.

Strangely, the scene that probably resonated the most for me was one that was created specifically for the film. Reading about the procession of masks at the film's end, I thought that it was cliched and might appear forced. But looking at it in the proper context, amidst scenes of V's triumph, it fit perfectly, and created a resounding affirmation of the idea that V tried his best to personify throughout the film.

As the costumed crowd proceeded in unison through the city streets to create the Land of Do-As-You-Please, I kept thinking...Carnival. It felt, on so many levels, like what Carnival should be, once was, and is no longer. The masked masses, the multitude, of one mind and motive, moving together to mash up dem mudder...look. Magnificent.

(Yeah...the alliteration monologue was mad :P)

It doesn't quite offer the ambiguity and depth of the comic, but it's an outstanding piece of work nonetheless. The DVD and the trade paperback will look good together on a shelf.

Now if only someone does as good as this (or better) with Watchmen...