movies35
07-12-2003, 10:26 AM
THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN
Content Review...
ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
Miscellaneous people have drinks and a man posing as Allan orders a double. Later, Allan and others raise their glasses in a toast.
Skinner sarcastically states that a minute ago it was sherry and giggles (about a meeting).
Dorian asks, "Scotch anyone?" and Skinner then pours himself some.
Dorian drinks from a flask and asks Mina if she'd like a nightcap. She says she's not much of a drinker, but he pours her a small cup anyway (that she nearly consumes before the small glass breaks).
BLOOD/GORE
The masked Fantom has reddish and what looks like scarred and/or torn up skin under his mask (partially seen through the holes in it).
A person is shot and killed (with a small, slightly bloody bullet hole in his shirt)
Dorian is riddled with machine gun fire, but isn't hurt due to his immortality (he does lower his shirt to reveal the many non-bloody bullet hole wounds that quickly heal and turn to dust).
A man holds a knife to Mina, but she then turns into a vampire and attacks him, biting him on the neck (we don't see the impact, but do see the resultant blood on her mouth that she licks off).
Mina has a little bit of blood on her finger from where some broken glass cuts her.
Sawyer has a tiny bit of blood on his head.
Mina stabs a knife into a man's back (with some blood), but he's unhurt by that (due to being immortal). He then strikes her and we see her large facial wound quickly heal.
Dorian wipes blood (not much is seen) from a sword after running it through someone.
A man dies from a curse that causes him to deteriorate/dissolve away (with meaty and then skeletal results).
We see some burned skin on an otherwise still invisible man.
Nemo repeatedly slices a Hulk-like monster with his sword (with a little resultant blood).
DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
The Fantom and those who work for/with him (including a hero who turns sides) obviously have both types of attitudes for killing people and attempting to start a world war so that they can profit from the ensuing ordered weaponry.
FRIGHTENING SCENES
Scenes listed under "Violence" might be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to some younger viewers (all depending on their age, level of maturity, etc.) as might the sight of a gargantuan, muscle bound and hulking creature late in the film, as well as some vampire related material. Older kids will probably have little or no problem with the material.
Mr. Hyde convulses (and the visuals and editing make the image jump around) as he transforms and shrinks back down into Dr. Jekyll (this might be disturbing/scary to younger viewers).
A tiger approaches Allan who prepares to shoot it, but both back down from harming the other.
GUNS/WEAPONS
Swords/Knives/Handguns/Machine guns/Tanks/Rocket/Flamethrower: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details.
IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
Phrases: "What in God's name (is that)?" "How the hell do we stop this thing?" "Buggers," "Bloody" (adjective), "Shut up," "Or it's my boot up your ass," "Sit down you buffoon," "Bastard," "Blow that place to hell," "Minx" and "What the hell are you doing here?"
All of the fighting and stunt work might be enticing for some kids to imitate.
JUMP SCENES
None.
MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
An extreme amount of suspenseful and action-oriented music plays in the film.
MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
None.
PROFANITY
At least 1 possible "s" word, 1 slang term for sex ("nail"), 3 hells, 2 damns, 1 ass and 1 use each of "God," "My God" and "Oh God" as exclamations.
SEX/NUDITY
Skinner (who's naked but invisible) says that he feels a draft in his nether regions that he finds refreshing.
Allan sarcastically/suggestively states that Mina is probably "hip deep" in some sort of trouble. She then appears and states that her hips are not of his concern.
Mina and Dorian briefly engage in some clothed, passionate kissing.
Miscellaneous women show cleavage.
Skinner apparently grabs Mina's clothed butt (from behind, we don't see anything), prompting Allan to tell him to get a grip. Skinner jokingly states he thought he just did and then says that since he's naked in the snow (he's invisible) that he can't feel any of his extremities (and adds that he means any of them).
Dorian comments on a bedroom to Mina and asks her if it gives her memories or ideas.
After a person runs Mina through with a sword (she appears to be dead, but is later okay), he states that he got to "nail" her one more time, but didn't know it would get to be literally.
Mina shows some cleavage.
SMOKING
M smokes once.
TENSE FAMILY SCENES
We hear that Mina's husband has been dead for some time.
Allan says that he's buried two wives and many lovers and is not in the mood for more of either.
We hear that Allan's son died in his arms during their last job for England.
TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
World wars and arms races.
Vampires.
Invisibility.
Immortality.
Witchdoctors.
We hear the Nemo worships the Goddess of Death (and briefly see him doing so).
VIOLENCE
Various British bobbies race down a street and note many dogs running away from something. A tank then rumbles down the street, run over a man (no blood or gore), and then smashes through an outside wall and then various interior walls (where fired bullets bounce off it). It then blasts open a vault door. An order is then given to kill everyone there except for one witness and we then hear what's presumably lethal gunfire.
A rocket is launched into various hydrogen-filled dirigibles, causing various large explosions.
A person is shot and killed (with a small, slightly bloody bullet hole in his shirt) and Allan then shoots that shooter. He and others then open fire on more intruders, but their bullets bounce off the attackers' metal chest plating. Other intruders then come in and open fire on Allan and others with machine guns, hitting and wounding or killing some of them (but with no blood). Allan then fights and struggles with the intruders and uses a table and bottle to strike some of them. Knives are then thrown at Allan and he punches and kicks his assailant. He eventually drives a man back into a mounted rhino head and that man is impaled on its horn (we see it stick out from the object that Allan used to push the man backwards).
Allan shoots and wounds a man (shooting from a great distance).
An assailant takes some sort of poisonous pills and instantly dies.
A bomb creates a huge explosion that destroys a great deal of a large building.
Men with machine guns surround Allan and the others, but Sawyer then steps in and shoots various bad guys who then open fire on the others. The heroes shoot back and fight with the various assailants (punching, hitting and with swords). During this, Dorian is riddled with machine gun fire, but isn't hurt due to his immortality (he does lower his shirt to reveal the many non-bloody bullet hole wounds that quickly heal and turn to dust). Allan head-butts and kicks an assailant.
A man holds a knife to Mina, but she then turns into a vampire and attacks him, biting him on the neck (we don't see the impact, but do see the resultant blood on her mouth that she licks off).
Allan and then Sawyer shoot at Mr. Hyde as a means of guiding him along various rooftops. He then drops something large that nearly hits Sawyer, but Allan keeps shooting and causes the hulking man to fall several stories (quite hard) to the street below where a net grabs and then drags him away.
Although chained, the enormous Mr. Hyde throws one man into a wall and punches various others and knocks them across the room.
Allan turns out the lights and we hear the sounds of him punching Skinner (who's invisible).
We see the enormous Mr. Hyde grab Dr. Jekyll by the throat (what turns out to be Jekyll's vision of that).
Various underwater explosions cause a great deal of property damage in Venice (as buildings get caught up in the collapsing domino effect).
Assailants shoot machine guns at Allan and Sawyer as they speed along in a car that blasts through various pillars. In turn, they shoot back at them.
Various bats attack various assailants and cause some to fall from their perches.
Sawyer rapidly drives a car through Venice as various buildings collapse all around him. He ends up crashing his car (flipping it over into a building) but is okay.
A missile destroys a building.
One of the heroes shoots and mortally wounds a crewmember (no blood) who stumbles out of a building and then dies.
The Fantom stabs Allan with a knife who in turn throws a sword through the Fantom (both live).
Various explosions go off in a sub and crewmembers are hit and/or washed away by flood waters.
Mina slaps Skinner.
While invisible, Skinner repeatedly hits a guard with a gun.
Nemo hits various guards.
Hyde blasts a door open.
There's a gun battle where various people are hit, but Hyde then holds up a metal door that ricochets the bullets back at the other side.
Nemo uses his sword on various assailants (but there's no blood or gore).
There's some brief hitting and a knife is thrown at Allan but lands in a nearby painting.
Mina stabs a knife into a man's back (with some blood), but he's unhurt by that (due to being immortal). He then strikes her and we see her large facial wound quickly heal.
A person runs Mina through with a sword (she appears to be dead, but is later okay).
An invisible man repeatedly comes at Sawyer with a knife, with ensuing fighting and shooting.
A man comes at Sawyer with a flamethrower and burns one man (who runs off on fire). Sawyer then hits the first man who appears to be engulfed in flames.
Hyde hits several people.
Mina runs a sword through a person (but since he's immortal, it doesn't hurt him).
A man dies from a curse that causes him to deteriorate/dissolve away (with meaty and then skeletal results).
Allan and the Fantom fight with punches and shooting occurring.
Hyde battles an ever larger, hulk-like creature (that might be scary looking to younger viewers) that knocks him backwards. The creature then repeatedly pummels Hyde who eventually punches the monster backwards (in a brutal fight).
More sword fighting ensues with Allan and the Fantom hitting each other.
Nemo repeatedly slices the Hulk-like monster with his sword (with a little resultant blood), but it then knocks him backwards quite a distance. When the monster grabs Hyde, Nemo stabs its huge finger.
Allan partially strangles the Fantom with a chain and repeatedly punches him.
Huge icicles nearly hit several characters as a monster tries to get them.
Several big explosions rock a complex and a monster is crushed beneath falling debris.
Allan holds a gun on the Fantom and then shoots an invisible man (who held Sawyer hostage), but is then stabbed in the back by the Phantom.
Sawyer shoots and kills a fleeing man from a great distance.
One of the heroes dies from wounds suffered during a battle.
Regular Review...
OUR TAKE: 3.5 out of 10
Long before his "Matrix" days, Keanu Reeves, along with Alex Winter, took a time travel trip in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" where they encountered various historical figures that helped them pass their history course.
In "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," where the term "dude" is never uttered, the collection of well-known figures is not only historical, but also literary. They haven't been brought together for comedy, however. Instead, they're present to battle evil and save the world, Justice League of America style.
Yet, our superheroes don't come from the pantheon of D.C. Comics, but rather the "graphic novel" comic books by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill from which this film gets its title. Thus, rather than an all-star team of Superman, Batman and the like, we have a great white hunter, a sub captain, a vampire, an invisible man, an immortal being, a Secret Service agent and an infamous scientist and his hulking alter ego.
And thus begins the first problem of many that plague this effort that's been helmed by Stephen Norrington ("Blade," "Death Machine"). While some of the characters will be familiar to everyone, others have been absent for too long to be recognized by some/many viewers. To be fair, that wouldn't be a problem if the film were good and/or the characters and story engaging.
Unfortunately, they're not, and thus the assembling of such literary characters seems a bit of a waste of time and effort. That's not only because the target audience won't know who some of them are and won't get the literary references, but also because they're simply not that super.
A bigger problem is Norrington and screenwriter James Dale Robinson's ("Cyber Bandits") take on the source material. Like "Blade" before it (notwithstanding the subject matter of that graphic novel adaptation), this one's all bark and little or no bite. There are all sorts of action and fight sequences, but few, if any of them are remotely interesting or engaging.
Despite the high stakes involved - stopping a world war from breaking out at the dawn of the 20th century - the film also lacks a sense of urgency. Since the filmmakers don't allow us to care about the characters or their goal, the outcome of their actions and the various battles is relatively pointless.
It doesn't help that Norrington's direction of them is even less exciting than in "Blade," and the cutting between the simultaneous fight sequences only serves to diffuse their potency and momentum even more. In fact, and considering the set-up, the film ends up coming off as a sub-par version of Fox's stable-mate "X-Men" franchise.
Like that film, this one also features extensive special effects that, for the most part, are simply but quite noticeably less than state of the art, don't look real, and only end up lessening the overall entertainment value of the offering (although this one's hulking Mr. Hyde was more convincing than the title character in "The Hulk").
It doesn't help that the plot - despite generally constantly moving forward from the assembly of characters to finding and battling the villain - lacks a sense of building momentum and instead feels like a hodgepodge of loosely connected set pieces.
Some initially clever and fun dialogue all but dries up in the film's second half. All sorts of lapses and errors in logic (the vampire who has no problem with sunlight, for instance), as well as far too obvious set-up elements for later and quite predictable payoffs, unnecessarily distract the viewer and give the film even more of a messy feel.
Even the introduction of the "advanced" technology and weaponry is wasted as we don't feel the same "shock and awe" that the period characters supposedly do (but only briefly) upon seeing cars, tanks and handheld machine guns. To top all of it off, the villain - the linchpin for films like this - is far too weak and uninteresting to battle the heroes, let alone make us care or worry about them.
The one thing the film has going for it is a decent cast headlined by the presence of Sean Connery ("Finding Forrester," "Entrapment"). While his and the performances by the likes of Jason Flemyng ("Below," "Mean Machine"), Stuart Townsend ("Trapped, "About Adam"), Tony Curran ("Pearl Harbor," "Blade II") and Peta Wilson ("Loser," TV's "Le Femme Nikita") never delve much beneath superficiality, at least they're marginally interesting to watch.
The likes of Naseeruddin Shah ("Monsoon Wedding," "The Perfect Murder"), Shane West ("A Walk to Remember," "Get Over It") and Richard Roxburgh ("Moulin Rouge!" "Oscar and Lucinda"), however, can't do much with their sketchily drawn characters.
Perhaps with a better assortment of literary figures, more cohesive direction, and/or a better script, this might have been an okay or even entertaining diversion. As is stands, it never engaged or interested me at any point, all of which means that "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" isn't particularly remarkable or noteworthy. It rates as just a 3.5 out of 10.
PIRATES OF THE CARRIBIAN
See next post.
Content Review...
ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
Miscellaneous people have drinks and a man posing as Allan orders a double. Later, Allan and others raise their glasses in a toast.
Skinner sarcastically states that a minute ago it was sherry and giggles (about a meeting).
Dorian asks, "Scotch anyone?" and Skinner then pours himself some.
Dorian drinks from a flask and asks Mina if she'd like a nightcap. She says she's not much of a drinker, but he pours her a small cup anyway (that she nearly consumes before the small glass breaks).
BLOOD/GORE
The masked Fantom has reddish and what looks like scarred and/or torn up skin under his mask (partially seen through the holes in it).
A person is shot and killed (with a small, slightly bloody bullet hole in his shirt)
Dorian is riddled with machine gun fire, but isn't hurt due to his immortality (he does lower his shirt to reveal the many non-bloody bullet hole wounds that quickly heal and turn to dust).
A man holds a knife to Mina, but she then turns into a vampire and attacks him, biting him on the neck (we don't see the impact, but do see the resultant blood on her mouth that she licks off).
Mina has a little bit of blood on her finger from where some broken glass cuts her.
Sawyer has a tiny bit of blood on his head.
Mina stabs a knife into a man's back (with some blood), but he's unhurt by that (due to being immortal). He then strikes her and we see her large facial wound quickly heal.
Dorian wipes blood (not much is seen) from a sword after running it through someone.
A man dies from a curse that causes him to deteriorate/dissolve away (with meaty and then skeletal results).
We see some burned skin on an otherwise still invisible man.
Nemo repeatedly slices a Hulk-like monster with his sword (with a little resultant blood).
DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
The Fantom and those who work for/with him (including a hero who turns sides) obviously have both types of attitudes for killing people and attempting to start a world war so that they can profit from the ensuing ordered weaponry.
FRIGHTENING SCENES
Scenes listed under "Violence" might be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to some younger viewers (all depending on their age, level of maturity, etc.) as might the sight of a gargantuan, muscle bound and hulking creature late in the film, as well as some vampire related material. Older kids will probably have little or no problem with the material.
Mr. Hyde convulses (and the visuals and editing make the image jump around) as he transforms and shrinks back down into Dr. Jekyll (this might be disturbing/scary to younger viewers).
A tiger approaches Allan who prepares to shoot it, but both back down from harming the other.
GUNS/WEAPONS
Swords/Knives/Handguns/Machine guns/Tanks/Rocket/Flamethrower: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details.
IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
Phrases: "What in God's name (is that)?" "How the hell do we stop this thing?" "Buggers," "Bloody" (adjective), "Shut up," "Or it's my boot up your ass," "Sit down you buffoon," "Bastard," "Blow that place to hell," "Minx" and "What the hell are you doing here?"
All of the fighting and stunt work might be enticing for some kids to imitate.
JUMP SCENES
None.
MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
An extreme amount of suspenseful and action-oriented music plays in the film.
MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
None.
PROFANITY
At least 1 possible "s" word, 1 slang term for sex ("nail"), 3 hells, 2 damns, 1 ass and 1 use each of "God," "My God" and "Oh God" as exclamations.
SEX/NUDITY
Skinner (who's naked but invisible) says that he feels a draft in his nether regions that he finds refreshing.
Allan sarcastically/suggestively states that Mina is probably "hip deep" in some sort of trouble. She then appears and states that her hips are not of his concern.
Mina and Dorian briefly engage in some clothed, passionate kissing.
Miscellaneous women show cleavage.
Skinner apparently grabs Mina's clothed butt (from behind, we don't see anything), prompting Allan to tell him to get a grip. Skinner jokingly states he thought he just did and then says that since he's naked in the snow (he's invisible) that he can't feel any of his extremities (and adds that he means any of them).
Dorian comments on a bedroom to Mina and asks her if it gives her memories or ideas.
After a person runs Mina through with a sword (she appears to be dead, but is later okay), he states that he got to "nail" her one more time, but didn't know it would get to be literally.
Mina shows some cleavage.
SMOKING
M smokes once.
TENSE FAMILY SCENES
We hear that Mina's husband has been dead for some time.
Allan says that he's buried two wives and many lovers and is not in the mood for more of either.
We hear that Allan's son died in his arms during their last job for England.
TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
World wars and arms races.
Vampires.
Invisibility.
Immortality.
Witchdoctors.
We hear the Nemo worships the Goddess of Death (and briefly see him doing so).
VIOLENCE
Various British bobbies race down a street and note many dogs running away from something. A tank then rumbles down the street, run over a man (no blood or gore), and then smashes through an outside wall and then various interior walls (where fired bullets bounce off it). It then blasts open a vault door. An order is then given to kill everyone there except for one witness and we then hear what's presumably lethal gunfire.
A rocket is launched into various hydrogen-filled dirigibles, causing various large explosions.
A person is shot and killed (with a small, slightly bloody bullet hole in his shirt) and Allan then shoots that shooter. He and others then open fire on more intruders, but their bullets bounce off the attackers' metal chest plating. Other intruders then come in and open fire on Allan and others with machine guns, hitting and wounding or killing some of them (but with no blood). Allan then fights and struggles with the intruders and uses a table and bottle to strike some of them. Knives are then thrown at Allan and he punches and kicks his assailant. He eventually drives a man back into a mounted rhino head and that man is impaled on its horn (we see it stick out from the object that Allan used to push the man backwards).
Allan shoots and wounds a man (shooting from a great distance).
An assailant takes some sort of poisonous pills and instantly dies.
A bomb creates a huge explosion that destroys a great deal of a large building.
Men with machine guns surround Allan and the others, but Sawyer then steps in and shoots various bad guys who then open fire on the others. The heroes shoot back and fight with the various assailants (punching, hitting and with swords). During this, Dorian is riddled with machine gun fire, but isn't hurt due to his immortality (he does lower his shirt to reveal the many non-bloody bullet hole wounds that quickly heal and turn to dust). Allan head-butts and kicks an assailant.
A man holds a knife to Mina, but she then turns into a vampire and attacks him, biting him on the neck (we don't see the impact, but do see the resultant blood on her mouth that she licks off).
Allan and then Sawyer shoot at Mr. Hyde as a means of guiding him along various rooftops. He then drops something large that nearly hits Sawyer, but Allan keeps shooting and causes the hulking man to fall several stories (quite hard) to the street below where a net grabs and then drags him away.
Although chained, the enormous Mr. Hyde throws one man into a wall and punches various others and knocks them across the room.
Allan turns out the lights and we hear the sounds of him punching Skinner (who's invisible).
We see the enormous Mr. Hyde grab Dr. Jekyll by the throat (what turns out to be Jekyll's vision of that).
Various underwater explosions cause a great deal of property damage in Venice (as buildings get caught up in the collapsing domino effect).
Assailants shoot machine guns at Allan and Sawyer as they speed along in a car that blasts through various pillars. In turn, they shoot back at them.
Various bats attack various assailants and cause some to fall from their perches.
Sawyer rapidly drives a car through Venice as various buildings collapse all around him. He ends up crashing his car (flipping it over into a building) but is okay.
A missile destroys a building.
One of the heroes shoots and mortally wounds a crewmember (no blood) who stumbles out of a building and then dies.
The Fantom stabs Allan with a knife who in turn throws a sword through the Fantom (both live).
Various explosions go off in a sub and crewmembers are hit and/or washed away by flood waters.
Mina slaps Skinner.
While invisible, Skinner repeatedly hits a guard with a gun.
Nemo hits various guards.
Hyde blasts a door open.
There's a gun battle where various people are hit, but Hyde then holds up a metal door that ricochets the bullets back at the other side.
Nemo uses his sword on various assailants (but there's no blood or gore).
There's some brief hitting and a knife is thrown at Allan but lands in a nearby painting.
Mina stabs a knife into a man's back (with some blood), but he's unhurt by that (due to being immortal). He then strikes her and we see her large facial wound quickly heal.
A person runs Mina through with a sword (she appears to be dead, but is later okay).
An invisible man repeatedly comes at Sawyer with a knife, with ensuing fighting and shooting.
A man comes at Sawyer with a flamethrower and burns one man (who runs off on fire). Sawyer then hits the first man who appears to be engulfed in flames.
Hyde hits several people.
Mina runs a sword through a person (but since he's immortal, it doesn't hurt him).
A man dies from a curse that causes him to deteriorate/dissolve away (with meaty and then skeletal results).
Allan and the Fantom fight with punches and shooting occurring.
Hyde battles an ever larger, hulk-like creature (that might be scary looking to younger viewers) that knocks him backwards. The creature then repeatedly pummels Hyde who eventually punches the monster backwards (in a brutal fight).
More sword fighting ensues with Allan and the Fantom hitting each other.
Nemo repeatedly slices the Hulk-like monster with his sword (with a little resultant blood), but it then knocks him backwards quite a distance. When the monster grabs Hyde, Nemo stabs its huge finger.
Allan partially strangles the Fantom with a chain and repeatedly punches him.
Huge icicles nearly hit several characters as a monster tries to get them.
Several big explosions rock a complex and a monster is crushed beneath falling debris.
Allan holds a gun on the Fantom and then shoots an invisible man (who held Sawyer hostage), but is then stabbed in the back by the Phantom.
Sawyer shoots and kills a fleeing man from a great distance.
One of the heroes dies from wounds suffered during a battle.
Regular Review...
OUR TAKE: 3.5 out of 10
Long before his "Matrix" days, Keanu Reeves, along with Alex Winter, took a time travel trip in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" where they encountered various historical figures that helped them pass their history course.
In "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," where the term "dude" is never uttered, the collection of well-known figures is not only historical, but also literary. They haven't been brought together for comedy, however. Instead, they're present to battle evil and save the world, Justice League of America style.
Yet, our superheroes don't come from the pantheon of D.C. Comics, but rather the "graphic novel" comic books by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill from which this film gets its title. Thus, rather than an all-star team of Superman, Batman and the like, we have a great white hunter, a sub captain, a vampire, an invisible man, an immortal being, a Secret Service agent and an infamous scientist and his hulking alter ego.
And thus begins the first problem of many that plague this effort that's been helmed by Stephen Norrington ("Blade," "Death Machine"). While some of the characters will be familiar to everyone, others have been absent for too long to be recognized by some/many viewers. To be fair, that wouldn't be a problem if the film were good and/or the characters and story engaging.
Unfortunately, they're not, and thus the assembling of such literary characters seems a bit of a waste of time and effort. That's not only because the target audience won't know who some of them are and won't get the literary references, but also because they're simply not that super.
A bigger problem is Norrington and screenwriter James Dale Robinson's ("Cyber Bandits") take on the source material. Like "Blade" before it (notwithstanding the subject matter of that graphic novel adaptation), this one's all bark and little or no bite. There are all sorts of action and fight sequences, but few, if any of them are remotely interesting or engaging.
Despite the high stakes involved - stopping a world war from breaking out at the dawn of the 20th century - the film also lacks a sense of urgency. Since the filmmakers don't allow us to care about the characters or their goal, the outcome of their actions and the various battles is relatively pointless.
It doesn't help that Norrington's direction of them is even less exciting than in "Blade," and the cutting between the simultaneous fight sequences only serves to diffuse their potency and momentum even more. In fact, and considering the set-up, the film ends up coming off as a sub-par version of Fox's stable-mate "X-Men" franchise.
Like that film, this one also features extensive special effects that, for the most part, are simply but quite noticeably less than state of the art, don't look real, and only end up lessening the overall entertainment value of the offering (although this one's hulking Mr. Hyde was more convincing than the title character in "The Hulk").
It doesn't help that the plot - despite generally constantly moving forward from the assembly of characters to finding and battling the villain - lacks a sense of building momentum and instead feels like a hodgepodge of loosely connected set pieces.
Some initially clever and fun dialogue all but dries up in the film's second half. All sorts of lapses and errors in logic (the vampire who has no problem with sunlight, for instance), as well as far too obvious set-up elements for later and quite predictable payoffs, unnecessarily distract the viewer and give the film even more of a messy feel.
Even the introduction of the "advanced" technology and weaponry is wasted as we don't feel the same "shock and awe" that the period characters supposedly do (but only briefly) upon seeing cars, tanks and handheld machine guns. To top all of it off, the villain - the linchpin for films like this - is far too weak and uninteresting to battle the heroes, let alone make us care or worry about them.
The one thing the film has going for it is a decent cast headlined by the presence of Sean Connery ("Finding Forrester," "Entrapment"). While his and the performances by the likes of Jason Flemyng ("Below," "Mean Machine"), Stuart Townsend ("Trapped, "About Adam"), Tony Curran ("Pearl Harbor," "Blade II") and Peta Wilson ("Loser," TV's "Le Femme Nikita") never delve much beneath superficiality, at least they're marginally interesting to watch.
The likes of Naseeruddin Shah ("Monsoon Wedding," "The Perfect Murder"), Shane West ("A Walk to Remember," "Get Over It") and Richard Roxburgh ("Moulin Rouge!" "Oscar and Lucinda"), however, can't do much with their sketchily drawn characters.
Perhaps with a better assortment of literary figures, more cohesive direction, and/or a better script, this might have been an okay or even entertaining diversion. As is stands, it never engaged or interested me at any point, all of which means that "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" isn't particularly remarkable or noteworthy. It rates as just a 3.5 out of 10.
PIRATES OF THE CARRIBIAN
See next post.