When naming a movie, directors or writers usually work on making a film sound mysterious, funny, interesting-anything out of the ordinary. Hopefully, they don’t have to spell it out for you. But in the case of the League of Extraordinary gentlemen, they didn’t even try. The cheesy title obviously doesn’t sell.‘ ‘
Audiences, already wary of what seemed to be a lame flick, must have walked in hoping for some sort of redeeming quality. And did get a little. The story is set at the onset of the industrial revolution, when machines and motors were produced at an exponential rate. The League is called together to combat “The Phantom,” a mysterious burly, maimed man bent on taking over Europe with his technological prowess. Sporting automatic machine guns, tanks, and a factory more likely to be seen in an 80’s war movie, this predictable bad guy embarks on a mission to destroy.’
The League is comprised of characters all linked to classic novels of the 17th and 18th centuries. Led by Allan Quartermain (Sean Connery), the group’s mission is to, yep, you’ve guessed it, save the world. The Invisible Man (Tony Curran), Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), a vampiress bitten by Dracula (Peta Wilson), Dorian Gray, an immortal (Stuart Townsend), Dr. Jekyll/ Mr. Hyde (Jason Flemying) and an American Secret Service agent (Shane West) follow Quartermain into what they think is a call to the heroic duties they must carry out. “M,” (Richard Roxburgh), is the recruiter who is seemingly alarmed at the Phantom’s capabilities and funds the operations.‘ ‘
The movie was carried by many engaging elements, including artful special effects, interesting characters, and the unmistakable commanding aura of Sean Connery.
Despite its apparent appeal, the story was too overblown. The Nautilus, an enormous submarine captained by Captain Nemo, was a technical wonder even for the likes of the late 20th century. The League is transported by what Nemo calls an “au-to-mow-bile,” a very classy Rolls limosine. Don’t see this if you’re prone to comment about reality during a movie, because you’ll undoubtedly be irritated by anachrony of this fantasy.‘
Still, you’ll definitely flinch in pain when you see Mr. Hyde’s transformations, and the Invisible Man might tickle your fancy. The expected father-son drama between Quartermain and the American spy borders the sentiments you’d already found in the Lion King, and leaves you wishing for more cool machines to see. Fight scenes were too quick and not well choreographed: Captain Nemo is just too dramatic with his swashbuckling/Arabian-flavored swordsmanship.
See this movie if fantasy mixed with a sad attempt at tragedy, humanity, and real acting is your thing. Kids would enjoy the effects and characters, but might flinch that the vampiress’ finger-licking obsession with arteries. If you’re looking for action, there are better venues for that that the box office this summer. This one is definitely a rental, if at all. I give it 2 out of 5 stars.
