Is it frightening or reassuring that the themes explored in V for Vendetta are as relevant now as they were when the graphic novel was first penned in the 1980s? Alan Moore and David Lloyd created the story about an antihero’s attempts to bring down a fascist government. In their film adaptation, the Wachowski Brothers didn’t have to veer too far from the original to strike a modern chord. It manages to address all the hot-button topics residing on our cultural and political plates—terrorism, immigration, gay rights, censorship, biological weapons, and how a government should best balance freedom and security—while remaining an engaging piece of fiction.

The new special-edition DVD is good but not as thorough as its two-disc presentation would lead you to believe. Disc one includes the film and a 15-minute making-of, while disc two offers three features about the film’s production, the history of Guy Fawkes, and the evolution of the comic-book series, plus a few insignificant odds and ends.

Director James McTeigue and cinematographer Adrian Biddle crafted a beautiful film, and the 2.35:1 anamorphic video does their work justice, presenting the subtle black details and rich textures quite well. The robust Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack makes excellent use of the complete soundfield without obscuring V’s many monologues.

Part Matrix, part The Phantom of the Opera, and part The Wall, V for Vendetta provokes as it entertains. The reaction it provokes will depend on the viewer, and that’s a success in my book.