The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen [2003] [DVD]

Quite unfairly drubbed by the critics upon its release and ignored by film audiences for the likes of X2. Matrix 2 and HULK was this entertaining action movie that slipped in and out of theaters almost unnoticed in the summer of 2003.
Taking its basis from the well known graphic novel of the same name this movie has a fascinating premise. What if the characters of Victorian literature were actually real people? What if technology that we take for granted now was suddenly thrust upon a world before their time. Thus, we have a bank robbery at the turn of the 20th century involving a tank. Machine gun toting villains tearing up an African country club. An automobile chasing through the streets of Europe and Jules Verne's Capt. Nemo (this time portrayed correctly as an Indian prince as he was in the novel) transporting our team of heroes in the submarine Nautilus.
Leading the group though is H. Rider Haggard's adventurer Allan Quatermain (played with spirit and gusto by Sean Connery). Also included among the ragtag group are the likes of the Invisible Man, Tom Sawyer (an addition to the cast of characters no doubt in an effort to help the movie sell to an American audience) and Dorian Gray.
The team must race across the continent of Europe in an effort to defuse what is fast turning into a growing conflict between the Great Powers. The villain (the Fantom) has designs on making a boatload of money selling high-tech weapons (by 19th century standards) to the competing nations - or is he...there is a surprising twist to the story that eluded me until I checked out the special features.
The narrative to this movie does seem a little muddled and at times it all appears a little too top-heavy with heroes. But if you take LXG (as it was called by Fox marketing) as a fun loving light hearted action adventure, and don't try and think it through too hard, then the movie can promise an entertaining evening.
What this movie does provide is some great action scenes, an ingenious premise and Sean Connery. It's not as bad as some would have you believe, but it's also not as good as it should have been.

Ok, ok the story is far fetched, the script is somewhat wobbly and this film will not tax your brain but if you just want to sit and veg and have two hours of roller coaster fun then it's pretty damn good!! - Sean Connery is not bad in this at all and the special effects are excellent. How they managed to shoe horn an American into the team is somewhat strange and the invisible man did not get a lot of screen time. But Dorean Grey was convinsingly waspish and I for one was glad to see him get his comeupance and overall I found this a good 'boys own' adventure. For those of you who did not like this movie I suggest you go and watch Artificial Intelligence or starship troopers 2 and then maybe you will appreciate the fact that this film is pretty damn good after all.

NOTE: There is no difference between the special edition and the definitive edition - all the extras are exactly the same.

I had never read the "comic" books that the film is based on, so I came to the film with no preconceptions, and I enjoyed it for what it is - a family orientated adventure film.

We open with the dark cobbled streets of London in 1899 and a strange, never seen before, metal vehicle (we know to be a tank) is rolling through the streets and heading straight into the Bank of England, where a German scientist is kidnapped.

We move to Kenya, June 1899, where a man comes in search of the legendary hero Allan Quatermain. Except Quatermain (Sean Connery) is now jaded by his experiences and until attacked he wants nothing to do with the problems of the empire - only then does he agree to return once more to save the world.

July 1899 Quatermain arrives in London and is introduced to "M" (Richard Roxburgh - Van Helsing)) who explains that the villain of the peace is a man known as the "Fantom", and that over the centuries there have been groups of chosen men with special attributes who were known as "The League of Extra Ordinary Gentlemen" or "The League".

This League will be Quatermain, Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), Rodney Skinner aka the Invisible Man (Tony Curran - Underworld - Evolution), Mina Harker (Peta Wilson - La Femme Nikita), Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend), Dr Jekyll / Mr Hyde (Jason Flemyng - Primeval) and Agent Tom Sawyer (Shane West - ER).

This film was going to divide people into those that know the graphic novels and those that don't know them at all. Since I don't know them I have nothing that I can complain about - I enjoyed them. The film not only suffered because of the link to the graphic novels, but because it's release coincided with the release of Van Helsing - even the DVD was released at the same time.

What I love are the references to the older books, such as Moby Dick, Around the World in 80 Days, etc. There are also hints as to who the baddy is very early on in the film. I also like the fact that the Mr Hyde character was not created by the use of CGI but the old fashion way using makeup.

Interestingly, Roxburgh appeared in both films, and moved between the sets, which were being filmed only a short distance apart.

It is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon with the family.