V for Vendetta is the latest in the string of graphic novels vaulted to the screen, and is the most hyped movie of the year so far. But whereas Sin City and Running Scared claimed only to be Frank Miller's imagination set in motion, and Aeon Flux and Ultraviolet were only ever meant to be action thrillers, V for Vendetta wants to be more, something more intelligent, a political commentary in an age of terrorism and jeopardized civil rights. It is billed as "An uncompromising vision of the future from the creators of The Matrix Trilogy." I found it extremely disappointing, therefore, that it only succeeds in being just another screenwritten graphic novel.

Twenty years ago the United States disintegrated in a chain of events beginning with a misjudged Middle-eastern war, and having turned inward on itself England embarked on totalitarianism. Now a terrorist with style will save his people by sowing too much chaos for the government to control through an intelligent program of popular empowerment. V blows up ancient buildings in inspiring fireworks displays, exposes the government's lies by commandeering Big Brother's media network for his own eloquent purposes, and conducts a campaign of serial justice against high profile figures. He also saves a twenty-something girl from a group of government bad guys, adopts her, and then partly through charm, partly through collaboration and partly through torture frees her from herself and makes her a terrorist, sorry, a freedom fighter, just like himself. And yet through it all, we feel sorry and keep on rooting for the compelling figure who is V.

Right at the very end he fulfills his destiny by bringing down the government, blasting the Houses of Parliament to the beat of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and giving the country back to its people.

Since we never see Hugo Weaving's face, Natalie Portman is the de facto star of the movie, and V for Vendetta proves that she can headline her own film. After her Oscar-nominated role in Closer and now this, the little girl whom Jean Reno died for is on her way to the A-list. Before long, Natalie Portman is going to be a major star.

V for Vendetta is a fun film to go and see, but it is something you are more likely to expect from the creators of The Matrix: Revolutions than the creators of The Matrix itself.