Set in the gloomy and not too distant future, the world is dominated by a totalitarian Britain. It controls the bully pulpit and its Chancellor (John Hurt) has a big stick that he has no reluctance to swing at whomever and whenever he pleases. The "former" United States of America is in economic and political shambles, insuring that its superpower days are not likely to return soon.

Evey (Natalie Portman) is a young working class woman who ventures out after curfew and is saved from being raped and possibly killed by government goons. Her savior is known as V (Hugo Weaving), a man who wears a stark white Guy Fawkes mask. Fawkes was a local hero back in 1605, when he and his fellow conspirators plotted to blow up Parliament as protest against tyrannical power. They were found out and later tortured and killed. V sees the reign of terror taking over citizens once again and he’s about doing what’s right against all odds, however great they may be.

Much of what the film is about is showing how fear can impact making the unacceptable acceptable. Although V cares about the common man and woman, he has a personal vendetta that his urge for revenge helps spur on.

Inspector Finch (Stephen Fry) at first looks for V as a suspect in a number of revenge killings; later he turns his eye toward the "I can do no wrong" Chancellor. As Evey uncovers the truth about V’s mysterious past, she also discovers the truth about herself – and emerges as his unlikely ally in the culmination of his plan to ignite a revolution, bringing freedom and justice back to a society fraught with cruelty and corruption.

The dialogue is sharp and witty without being vapid. We see that violence can be used for good in the midst of being told that "writers use lies to tell the truth and politicians use lies to cover the truth up."

Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski, whose projects are often referred to as Wachowski Brothers films, are the guys that brought us the "Matrix Trilogy," and are the writers for this film. Inspired by a graphic novel series, "V for Vendetta" has the look and action of "Batman Begins" and "Spider Man II," yet the plot and message is aligned with the in your face political observations of George Clooney’s "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "Syriana."

First time director James McTeigue does a fine job of blending all of these elements together so that the film is an entertaining political thriller without being preachy. The thought provoking observations about values and the power of the people make you wonder how you had so much fun on a topic (terrorism and civil liberties) that everyone from the far left to the far right takes so seriously. Make no mistake, fear is the number one killer of rational thought. But this film is all about some serious fun, especially if you see it on an IMAX screen.