'V' for vapid

Though revenge may be sweet, "Vendetta" is a bittersweet comic book movie that is highly disappointing, mind-numbing and fails to reach its potential.

Imagine a world in which all culture is banned. There is no music, no art, and no literature. People obey the government because they are afraid of what will happen if they don't.

Picture the glossy violence of "The Matrix" and the waking nightmare of "Dark City" and you'll get "V for Vendetta," the latest film written by the Wachowski Brothers ("The Matrix").

Adapted from a comic book series by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, the film explores the violent world of a futuristic totalitarian England that is trying to rebuild itself after being devastated by war and famine.

Celebrating anarchy in its most murderous and brutal form is V (Hugo Weaving of "The Matrix"), who wears a mask resembling Guy Fawkes, a radical who tried to blow up Parliament in 1605.

V is the modern incarnation of Fawkes, and he calls for a revolution wherein the freedoms of all of England's citizens would be restored. Aiding him in this attempt is Evie (Natalie Portman), who shapes her own identity in the process.

The film relies heavily on dystopian concepts that can be found in George Orwell's "1984," or Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World," in which Big Brother always has his eye on you.

V starts out on his own personal vendetta, but by the middle of the film he has rallied the majority of the population. The reason for his need to include others in his terrorist activities are never made clear, but he manages to kill a lot of people and blow up a lot of stuff in the process.

A terrorist portrayed not as the stereotypical cold-blooded killing fanatic is refreshing, but don't be mislead. Except for its concept, there's nothing intelligent about "Vendetta."

Director James McTeigue ("Dark City") holds a mirror up to the modern capitalist society, but the not-so-subtle references to power-hungry, war-obsessed nations can be trite at times. It's impossible to escape into the world of the film when reminders of the real world keep popping up. With such an original idea on which to base the action, the film never lives up to its hype.

Among its strengths, there are several impressive and entertaining action shots that emphasize the talent of the directors and absorb the viewer into the dark, dystopic vision that the comic book created.

The film does offer impressive action sequences, but sub-par acting and a predictable plot ruin the unique concept on which the film is based.

Hugo Weaving plays V from behind his smiling mask as eloquent and intelligent. He isn't required to do much acting. The burden of his performance lies mostly in elaborate stunt work and skilled knife handling, both of which are likely performed by a stunt guy.

Natalie Portman tries very hard to be a badass, but even after her head is shaved, she still looks like a pretty actress. Casting an unknown rather than Portman would have brought more clout to the character, and a more serious vision to the role.

The tender moments between Evie and V, while sparse, are agonizing in their awkwardness. They exist to offer breaks in the action, but they only trip up the story with an unnecessary romance subplot that is completely out of place in the film.

"V for Vendetta" is a film that is constantly reaching, from one bad turn in plot to the next, to make points based only on far-flung assumptions. It offers a large-scale spectacle that doesn't shy away from glorifying violence and sacrificing originality in the process.