DVD Review: V FOR VENDETTA Author: Bill Ramey Friday, July 28, 2005, 10:00 PM TEXAS TIME DVD Release Date: August 1, 2006 Distributor: Warner Home Video Director: James McTeigue Writing Credits: The Wachowski Brothers Cast: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea and John Hurt, et al. Genre: Graphic Novel Adaptation MPAA Rating: R OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.vforvendettamovie.com TRAILERS: www.apple.com/trailers I’m not going to rehash my film review of V FOR VENDETTA. OK, I will just a little. I enjoyed this movie (which was released last March by Warner Bros. Pictures) tremendously (CLICK HERE to read my theatrical review). The whole “the hero is a terrorist” and satire of the far political right was compelling stuff to say the least. If you are not familiar with the story, the film is based on the graphic novel V FOR VENDETTA by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. Set in a future dystopian Britain, a mysterious vigilante named V (brilliantly portrayed in the movie by Hugo Weaving) works to destroy the fascist government that controls the country. He soon begins an elaborate, violent, and theatrical campaign to bring down the government. When V saves a young girl named Evey (played in the film by Natalie Portman), he takes her under his wing and she eventually becomes his ally. Now, on the the DVD. Disc 1 features a 16-minute documentary "Freedom! Forever!: Making V for Vendetta" with interviews about the movie featuring the principal cast and crew -- producer Joel Silver, director James McTeigue, star Natalie Portman, and others. There’s no commentary with the film however. Also, but not a surprise, there’s no Alan Moore or the Wachowskis; but David Lloyd is on hand and declares the film as “a very good version.” In fact, Moore was so upset upon reading the script, that he had his name removed from the credits and gave his royalties to Lloyd. Also on disc 1, obviously, is the movie itself. Disc 2 is where most of the good stuff is found, AKA “The Exras.” There is a 17-minute production featurette (“Designing The Near Future“), a 10-minute history of Guy Fakes (“Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot“), and the 15-minute "England Prevails: V for Vendetta and the New Wave in Comics." The last one features Lloyd and others from the comic book industry -- such as Paul Levitz and and Karen Berger of DC Comics, David Lloyd, Paul Chadwick of “Concrete” fame, artist Bill Sienkiewicz, Geoff “Hard Boiled” Darrow, and others -- talk about the history of the graphic novel (like Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, etc.) and how it appealed to a different, older audience, and changed the face of comic books. An interesting note about the interviews. While I was watching, I noticed the background in some of the interviews and thought “That’s San Diego. That’s Comic Con!” Obviously, these were taped in 2006 during the event itself. As I said, disc 2 features “the good stuff,” although my only complaint is that features are a bit too short. There is a second menu on disc 2 consisting a few minor items, including an “Easter egg” of a Saturday Night Live short starring a rapping, F-bomb dropping Natalie Portman! The Film: A- The Special Features: B- JETT’S OVERALL GRADE: B+ Bill Ramey, aka "Jett," is the founder and editor-in-chief of BATMAN ON FILM and ON-FILM.NET.