People shouldn’t fear their governments. Governments should fear their people.” With this arresting tagline, V for Vendetta announces its two intertwined themes: Governments and the people that fear them. Based on an explicitly anarchist comic book by Alan Moore, the film is somewhat less explicit about its anarchism but entirely clear on the theme of freedom and what it requires.

free government for the people and a shaved head for natalie portman:

Portman had her locks shaved on screen in a single take. She tried not to lose her head along with her hair. “It was a one-shot deal, and that was the most stressful thing about the experience,” she says, smiling.

Although some marketing materials aim to position this as an action film, viewers expecting a thrill ride might be disappointed. V engages in a couple of satisfying crime-fighting set pieces, but the story is more occupied with mystery and intrigue. Happily, it almost is entirely free of the hollow pomposity that marred the Wachowskis’ last two “Matrix” films. Here, Alan Moore’s graphic novel and the history of real-world oppressive governments is more than enough, leaving no need for the screenwriters to invent hokey mythologies and plenty of room to fantasize about revolution.